I am flying in from the West Coast, what airport should I fly in to and what time should I plan on arriving?

Kailua-Kona is the closest airport to Hawi.  From there you can rent a car.  Or depending on the time you arrive, we can coordinate a ride from the airport to Hawi.  Most flights from the West Coast arrive in the early afternoon.

However, if you are coming a few days early, consider flying in to Hilo and renting a car and exploring that side of the island.  From there it’s a beautiful drive over to Hawi (especially along the Hamakua Coast).

In any case, you might want to avoid arriving in Kailua-Kona the day before the retreat, which is usually the day of the IronMan. The road that goes directly from the airport to Hawi is closed much of the day for the cycling event.  You can still get there, but it’ a little more tricky.

If you are flying in, consider using our affiliate link to Hawaiian Airlines.  This will not only get you an automatic 5% discount on their lowest published fare,  it helps build miles in the retreat’s mileage account so we can continue to transport artists to and from our retreats and festivals.  Our code is HIUR.

Are there any activities planned for Saturday, October 20?

Since most folks are packing up and getting ready to leave on Saturday morning, we usually don’t have anything formal planned other than the usual good-byes, good wishes, and exchange of emails after breakfast.

What is the best way to get to and from the airport to Hawi?

Once we have a clear picture of how many people will be arriving and when, we will try to  arrange an airport shuttle for you.  We’ve also been successful in the past with arranging rides with other retreat attendees who are renting vehicles at the airport and arriving and/or departing at about the same time. We ask all riders to share in the cost of these options and pay their driver directly.  Unfortunately, we won’t know how much that will be until we get a little closer to the date.

My wife would like to join me, but she doesn’t play the ‘ukulele.  Will there be anything for her to do?

Oh, my goodness, yes.  Not only will we be offering some classes and opportunities for “companions” (beginning ‘ukulele and hula, for starters) but there’s also a saltwater pool at the Plantation House, perfect for lounging by….there’s also extraordinary snorkeling just down the road. Companions are also invited  to join us for all the special evening events and on all the fabulous field trips.  And we are just a very short walk into the lovely village of Hawi, with a number of dining and shopping opportunities.

I am interested in the ‘ukulele retreat, but am very much a beginner. Is the retreat suitable for someone with no musical education?

Absolutely.  We will have a specific “track” for beginners and since our workshops are small, we can go at the pace the group needs to go.

Will you have day rates?

At this point, no.  This is a retreat and meant to be a complete immersion for the maximum learning experience for the attendees and to build camaraderie among the participants.  That’s difficult to do if day students are coming and going.

Will you have rates for kama’aina?

Not right now.  Since you no longer have to book your room through us, the retreat registration rate assumes you already have a place to stay and, as mentioned above, the ideas is that you “are all in,” which means you will be taking your meals with us and participating in the evening and extra-curricular events with us, as well.  However, as we get closer to the date, and if we have room, we may be in a better position to offer special opportunities for kama’aina.

How do I get on the mailing list for next year?

The best way to make sure you get the latest information about this retreat (including dates for next year), is to subscribe to this website.  (You will see the logo under the logo in the upper right.)

If you want to receive updates and announcements about other events we put on, i.e. the West Coast ‘Ukulele Retreat, Camp-Oo-Koo-Lay-Lay, New-Uke-Culinary Fiesta, Ukein’/Barge/& Bike, and a few more in the works, add yourself to our Ukulele Adventures Mailing List.

If you have any other questions or need clarification, please be sure to contact us.