Hawaiian Resort Offers Knife Forging Blacksmith Experience
"Four Seasons Resort Hualalai wants to ensure every guest leaves with a one-of-a-kind souvenir. And that begins by taking part in one of its exclusive Only at Hualalai programs, the Blacksmith Experience. In 2021, the resort announced the addition of its Only at Hualalai programs, which provide guests exclusive access to some of the coolest people and places throughout Hawaii Island. That includes Neil Kamimura, a third-generation blacksmith from Hilo, who will happily show you how to forge your own knife. 'Knifemaking is my passion, my therapy, and my life,' Kamimura shares in a statement. 'I pour everything into my knives, they represent my home of Hawaii, my culture, and the people who surround me.' Though originally an electrician by trade, Kamimura turned to blacksmithing following the death of his mother, which provided him with a renewed creative path and inspiration. As a spokesperson for the resort explained in a statement, Kamimura's signature style utilizes recycled metals he's salvaged from old cars and machinery for the blade and natural elements, including petrified wood, bone, and semi-precious stones for the handle. After an initial consultation, guests will travel to a remote coffee farm on the hills of Hualalai to meet with Kamimura and learn about how he forges his state-of-the-art specialty knives. Those taking part in the experience will then get to assist Kamimura in creating a personalized knife. The experience also includes a delicious bento lunch featuring local ingredients and dishes made by Kamimura's wife, who happens to be a gourmet chef by trade. Once guests finish the experience, they will head back to the resort, where they will be presented with their one-of-a-kind creation. They can then take part in a knife skills class with one of Hualalai's expert chefs to show off just how good their new forging skills really are. The Neil Kamimura Experience runs at $12,000, excluding accommodations." - Stacey Leasca
