Makani Stargazing and Glow Golf Experience
Big Island Guide
Travel Guide
Makani Stargazing Activities Overview
Makani adds stargazing and evening glow golf to itʻs line up of activity offerings. While the golf course is still a huge part of Makaniʻs focus, the club has so much more to offer than just golf. Makani recently added an evening activities focus to provide additional access to the land through stargazing, glow golf, StarDomes, and campfires for tour groups.
The evening activities area is offered through select tour vendors and provides families, groups and couples the opportunity to spend an evening under the stars while enjoying fun activities and the comfort of a “glamping” style experience.
An added benefit is that with the lower elevation and more comfortable temperatures, many visitors who can not travel to the top of Mauna Kea for stargazing can enjoy this experience, including children.
Originally opened in 1997, the Big Island Country Club was reborn as Makani Golf Club on May 1, 2018. In the Hawaiian language “makani” means “wind or breeze”. With their beautiful upcountry location, emphasis on the natural environment and authentic Hawaiian hospitality, you can experience the land as nature intended. Enjoy lush foliage, exotic birds, natural terrain, cool breezes, and panoramic ocean and mountain views as you enjoy this tropical paradise.
Then, as evening arrives and the sun sets, the glow golf area comes to life with LED lit flags and holes and glowing golf balls, reminiscent of a sci-fi movie set while the StarDomes in the background give the feeling of a moon mission. Gather around the campfires for a bit of warmth and family time and then relax and settle in for an incredible view of the skies above.
Makani Stargazing Grand Opening
Makani announced their new activities at a fun grand opening event on June 5th, 2019. They kicked off the event with several speakers who explained why it is so important to offer sustainable activities on the Island of Hawaii, spoke about the history of the land and the families who live there, and offered us insights into how the early Polynesian voyageurs used the stars for navigation.
Ross Birch, the Executive Director of the Island of Hawai’i Visitors Bureau explained that as tourism continues to make an impact on fragile lands and increased visitor numbers stress available resources, it is wise for companies to offer a wider variety of sustainable tour options that will help relieve the pressure on the most heavily trafficked areas.
Leina’ala Keakealani Lightner a.k.a “Aunti Lei” is a generational descendant of the families who have lived on the land that includes Makani Golf Club for many generations and can trace their lineage to the times of Anahulu and Waʻawaʻa. She spoke of the Paniolo Ranch history of the land and how the rolling hills of the course were historically used as pasture lands by her family for many generations. Her father, “Papa Robert” was the leading Kapuna in supporting the establishment of the golf course in Puʻuanahulu. Many of the families still live in the area surrounding the course and many family members work at Makani today, maintaining their connection to the land.
Kalepa Baybayan is currently the Navigator in Residence at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center and serves as captain and navigator of Hokualak’i , a 58-foot canoe. He recently completed Malaama Honua Worldwide Voyage, the epic around the world journey of the double-hulled sailing canoe, Hokule’a. Kalepa demonstrated the traditional Polynesian pacific deep sea voyaging and oceanic wayfinding method, the indigenous system of orientation and navigation at sea.
The speakers really highlighted how the new Makani stargazing and evening activities tours can help visitors experience Hawaii Island in a fun, unique and sustainable way. The guests enjoyed the evening and Iʻm sure visitors to the Big Island will enjoy this new stargazing experience.
Makani Stargazing Contact Info
(808) 747-0077
stargazing@makanigolfclub.com
Website
Makani Location and Map
71 -1420 Mamalahoa Hwy
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
