In another post today I mentioned that I’m on the Kona side of the island right now, and yesterday — how lucky am I — the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort invited me to check out, and partake of, their incredible pools/waterfalls/water slides/kids’ pools. I brought my daughter, because who better to help me with that than a 5-year-old.

The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa is at the end of Ali‘i Drive overlooking Keauhou Bay (We Who Have Been Around The Block remember that as the site of the old Kona Surf).

And they have all sorts of special offers right now. Here is a hodgepodge of discounts, freebies and other interesting facts I learned yesterday:

Book a stay there at least 30 days in advance, and prepay, and you can “Reserve & Relax.” This means you’ll receive a discounted rate that starts at $179 per night for two people, and this offer is valid through December 25, 2009. The promotional code is ADV21; check the website or call for full details.

This is a picture of the multi-level “Manta Ray Super Slide & Pool” and the 200-foot-long lava tube waterslide. (It’s named for the manta rays that guests can watch at night from a viewing area at the water’s edges.)

There are so many different features to their pools. This is a sandy bottomed pool, very shallow, for little ones. My little one loved it.

I loved that it was right next to a jacuzzi, which I could sit in while watching her. Don’t ask me why that felt so great to me — it was a very hot day — but it really did. And that’s good enough for me.

I did not know, and was excited to learn, that kids 5 and under eat free at the Sheraton Keauhou when accompanied by a paying adult. I found out when the waiter Jim was getting our bill ready and asked how old my daughter was. He didn’t charge for her peanut butter & jelly sandwich (which came with a nice little cup of fresh fruit and also french fries) or her passion-orange-guava juice.

Similarly, kids 6-12 get a 50 percent discount on their food. I love this.

We ate right there at one those tables between this next pool and the narrow waterway at right, which leads to the little kid water slide. Which my daughter went down, literally, about 40 times.

We just wrote here about the resort’s special A+ package. Hawai‘i residents: Show your child’s “straight-A” report card (dated within 6 months) for discounted rates starting at $139/night and some other freebies while you’re staying at the hotel.

Neat place. We had so much fun swimming and floating and sliding.

For more information, or to book your stay, visit the website  www.SheratonKeauhou.com or call 1-866-924-8746.