MY STAY
Helicopter & villa
The helicopter arrival gave me a clear view of Kokomo before I set foot on the island. I had come for the reef, but returning from the water to a villa with its own pool was just as appealing. Beach position mattered: a west-facing villa offered different light and shelter than one elsewhere on the shore.
Reef & boat days
Water days needed a little flexibility. An early snorkel could encounter manta rays in season, and a boat outing might find dolphins, but neither belongs on a guaranteed itinerary. I asked the marine team about conditions and left enough space between the island flight and my long-haul connection to avoid turning the trip into a race.
Dining at KokoCabana
KokoCabana was not just a fallback pizza stop. The chef from Naples came to the table to ask what I liked, then brought out several dishes rather than leaving us with a routine order. It was a good reason to try more than the formal restaurant during a longer stay. The inclusions for dining were worth clarifying with the villa rate.
Would I return?
Reef mornings followed by a quiet villa pool sound like a Fiji holiday worth repeating without a tight flight connection. With the flight and villa outlook sorted, the island felt like a holiday in its own right rather than a beautiful but hurried detour.