When
Where
CostSpace is limited: sign up now.
Details
Aloha! Join us again for the 12th Annual Hawaiian Juggling Festival. The adventures are endless......swimming, snorkelling, lava watching, diving, golfing, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, steam venting, warm ponding, whale/sea turtle/dolphin watching and sometimes swimming, oh yeah... and juggling with your friends from around the world. There will be live music or renegade every day, several kayaks, and an outrigger canoe (for two) for ocean tours and moonlight paddles.
Location: The festival will be held for the third year running at Spencer Beach State Park, about an hour's drive north of Kailua-Kona on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island, Hawaii. Spencer Beach Park is right on the ocean, facing breathtaking ocean sunsets with a lovely white sand beach, a huge lawn, level shaded campsites, volley club courts, a large pavilion for Meals, Workshops, Bands, Club Renegade Shows, and round the clock Juggling, not to mention bathrooms and showers. Turtle lurk in the coral offshore and humpbacks cruise the coast. The last two years we saw whales breaching every day. It is said that of the 14 climactic zones in the world, Big Island has 11. Close by are the beautiful valleys of the North Shore, to the south are the Island's best snorkelling spots at the City of Refuge and the dolphins hang out at Kealakekua Bay. On the windward side, the lava is still flowing from Kilauea Volcano. The eruption has been continuous since 1983, with lava flowing over beaches, roads and homes, creating new black sand beaches. If you have never seen an active lava flow, be sure to go there before, during, or after the festival. Lava watching is an awesome experience. To the north-east is the lush Waipio Valley, and hiking beyond this green gulch beneath mountains and breathtaking waterfalls you can find hidden beaches. In the centre are the snow-capped peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, the largest mountain in the world. If you dare, you can jump into the ocean from the 10 meter cliffs at South Point, the southernmost tip of the US.
Food: Join the optional meal plan. For $150, you will get 14 gourmet catered meals beginning with dinner Feb. 11th through breakfast Feb 18th. The closest convenience store and restaurant are a mile up the road, better shopping and restaurants are 15 miles away in Waimea.
What to Bring: This is a camping festival, so travel light. Besides sunscreen and juggling props, bring a tent, lightweight sleeping bag and pad, flashlight, towel and swimsuit (sorry, Spencer is a public beach during the daytime). This is the dry leeward side of the island. Average annual rainfall is 0.5" (12mm) so rain isn't expected. You will need sunscreen (SPF15 or better!!), also a hat, shades, light long sleeve shirt, and more sunscreen. Optional: hiking boots, snorkelling gear (this can be hired - I seem to remember the cheapest places were in Kona - Rupert), camera, surf board, musical instruments, golf clubs for the annual Earth Crack Open Tournament, and whatever other toys you fancy. Did we mention sunscreen??
Wildlife: There are no snakes in Hawaii, nor are there tigers or elephants, but there are mosquitoes, centipedes, and many beautiful spiders. The mosquitoes don't care for the dry climate and it never rains at Spencer. No special vaccines are required, but it is a good idea to be up to date on your tetanus shots.
Transportation: Some airlines offer direct flights in and out of Kona, but most connect with inter island flights in Honolulu (usually booked with your mainland or international flight). Shop around. Good deals can be found, especially if you make your reservations well in advance. If you have to spend the night in Honolulu, a cheap place to stay is the Shower Tree Inn (Tel: +1 808 833 1411). They offer a bed in a quad room for $20.00 with a free airport shuttle. Reservations are suggested.
From Kona airport, we recommend renting and sharing cars if possible. The best deals are usually through Aloha or Hawaiian Airlines, but shop around as prices vary widely. For better rates, always reserve your car far in advance (when I went I booked in the UK, as it was much cheaper - Rupert) and reconfirm before arrival as shortages can cause problems.
You can also:
- Ride in our scheduled shuttle van for $10.00 per person. Pick-ups are
tentatively scheduled (subject to change) to begin Sunday Feb 11th at 10am,
1pm, 4pm, and 7pm. Reserve the van when you pre-register, and call +1 808
965 0134 before boarding your Kona flight to reconfirm your arrival.
- Hitchhiking, though technically illegal, is not a problem.
- Share a taxi, call C&C Shared Ride Shuttle, +1 808 329 0008 ($48.00 plus tip, $40 for group shuttle, advance reservations).
Bonus: For those interested in a longer stay, we have Spencer Beach Park booked reserved from Feb 8th to Feb 20th. There will be no food, transportation or Festival activities on non-Festival days, and there is no extra cost. You are on your own.
For More Information Contact
145 Surf Side
Santa Cruz
CA 95060
Tel: (+1) 408 425 7996
Europe: Stevie G & Susi Q
Imbisbühlstr. 156
CH-8049 Zürich
Switzerland
Tel: (+41) 1 342 4804
Fax: (+41) 342 480 47
Japan: Dave (Rave) Gomez
Naniwa Ku
Sukuragawa 2-11-4
Osaka 556
Japan
Tel (+81) 6 568 7585