KAILUA-KONA, HI--(Marketwired - Dec 30, 2014) - You don't have to don a wetsuit and plunge into the Pacific to appreciate the triumphs and travails of the surfing culture. In fact, all you need is to be at the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel on January 30 and 31, 2015. There, the goal isn't to catch the next wave, but to catch the next movie during the 11^th-annual Kona Surf Film Festival.

The festival returns to this beachfront hotel in Kona for its second year of screenings, concerts and art, all of which center on surfing. Guests arriving between 5 and 10 p.m. will dive into performances by Leche de Tigre or Ms. Demeanor and the Felons before settling down to a selection of independent short and feature films.

This year's movies include "Bella Vita," the story of how one man returns to his ethnic roots in Italy while trying to assimilate that culture with his surfing identity; and "Wild Child," which chronicles how one woman ended up on the hit TV show, "Naked and Afraid."

Filmgoers can shop in between screenings at booths operated by local vendors; and a variety of food and beer will be available for purchase. Guests are encouraged to bring their own beach chairs and/or blankets, and admission to the festival is $25 per adult, $15 per child and free for small children.

This Kailua village hotel makes an ideal location for the film festival. Not only are its surroundings worthy of royalty -- it was, after all, once home to King Kamehameha -- but its spacious guest rooms, white-sand beaches and award-winning restaurants are available at special rates for festival attendees. Rates start at just $145 per night when guests mention the Kona Surf Film Festival.

As one of the most accommodating hotels close to Kona Airport and located on the water in the center of Kailua-Kona, the property offers plenty of reasons to linger a few days after the film festival. Guests can book a sunset cruise, try their hand at canoeing or make the trek to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see the world's most active volcano. Plus the historic Kailua village is also close by for a unique perspective on Hawaii's history and future.

Whether visitors arrive solely for the festival or as part of a longer vacation, this Ahu'ena Heiau hotel makes sure the experience is one with a happy ending.

About the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
Offering guests a quintessential Hawaiian experience, the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel features breathtaking scenery and island-inspired luxury. Activities like canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding and more are all easily available from the property and complement the hotel's beautiful outdoor pool and whirlpool. The Spa at Kona Beach inspires further relaxation with scrubs, wraps and massages, while the hotel's guest rooms invite travelers to recharge with crisp linens, thick mattresses, flat-screen televisions and dramatic views. Guests can also indulge in an authentic luau on site, or try one of the hotel's three other dining venues, including the award-winning Honu's on the Beach Restaurant.