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ANNA PACHECO / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
Grey skies and rough waters were visible from the Pololu Valley overlook in North Kohala on the Big Island on Thursday afternoon.
KAILUA-KONA >> The Kohala coast — known for pocket-sized, postcard beaches and resorts carved out of a wasteland of lava — has a new distinction.
Waikoloa is now ranked eighth on the list of the top 10 rising destinations in the United States in the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards.
The popular travel website bases its rankings on an algorithm that measures how much improvement there has been since last year to travelers’ reviews of accommodations, dining and other attractions.
The rating essentially offers a ground truth, said Ross Birch, executive director of the Big Island Visitors Bureau. Like most top 10 rankings, it will give momentum to traveler interest in the island, he said, noting Waikoloa beaches also are popular with kamaaina and offer a quality, easily accessible experience to local residents coming over Saddle Road or through Waimea from the windward side.
The popularity of the Waikoloa resort area is reflected in hotel occupancy that has increased year to year, Ross said.
“It’s on the rise, mainly from the great responses like these from travelers who have already been here,” he said.
“Even though we have one of the lowest occupancy rates in the state, we have the highest return rate.”
Jack Suyderhoud, a professor of business economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said he’s heard from within the industry that times are good at West Hawaii resorts, but it is not clear what’s driving the buzz in Waikoloa.
Suyderhoud spoke with West Hawaii Today via email from Hanoi, Vietnam, where he has been teaching.
“In my talk with tourism folks, including those who are my MBA students here in Vietnam, they believe that word of mouth from sites such as TripAdvisor does have an impact on their sales, either for better or worse,” he said.
TripAdvisor describes Waikoloa as a “Hawaiian village rich in history and culture,” but does not clearly define the area.
“Travelers can experience an authentic luau or explore the cerulean shoreline and its abundant wildlife with AdventureXRafting,” according to the site. “TripAdvisor reviewers recommend ‘a quick lunch on the beach’ at Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club, which serves fresh seafood and coconut cake that is ‘to-die-for.'”
Wildwood, which TripAdvisor bills as a classic New Jersey beach, ranked as the top domestic destination on the rise. Da Nang, Vietnam, was the international destination to receive the greatest increase in positive feedback from travelers.
West Hawaii is no stranger to the Travelers’ Choice lists.
The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu is ranked ninth out the top 25 hotels in the U.S. for 2014. Kua Bay is ranked eighth on the list of top 25 beaches.
Hawaii’s beaches in general fare well — 10 of them are represented on the current list — with the top slot going to Lanikai Beach in Kailua, Oahu, and second place to Kaanapali Beach in Lahaina, Maui.
Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island rank fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, among the top 10 islands in the U.S.
While it’s not always cheap to get here or stay, visitors to Hawaii consistently give high ratings to their experience of the islands and say they plan to return, according to data compiled by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
It’s not just the beaches.
Other attractions and perennial favorites seem to make Hawaii an easy choice for consumer driven awards, said Erin Millard, a spokesperson for TripAdvisor in Boston.
“Reviewers on TripAdvisor commonly cite the beautiful scenery and pleasant weather, combined with a relaxed culture and warm hospitality as a reason to visit,” Millard said.
