We are going to be spending 8 days in Kona late April/early May.

While we’ve been to Hawaii before, this is our first time to the Big Island. On the list is Volcano NP, attempt some Milky Way astrophotography, and snorkeling.

Will have a rental car, so pretty much open to anywhere on the island.

Recommendations?

Best luau on the island, and possibly any island, is at the Kona Village Resort.

Kayaking out to the Captain Cook monument.

Go to Don the Beachcomber and see if they'll set you up with an original 1941 Mai Tai (not on the menu).

Dining (both at the Four Seasons Resort @Hualalai north of Kona):
The Hualalai Grille (food, view)
Pahuia (view, food)

And a tip when you fly in: after deplaning, even if you have checked baggage, go straight to the rental car pickup. Everyone else goes to baggage claim and waits. By the time the baggage is unloaded, you'll have the car and avoid the line. Just drive back to baggage claim and get your bags (if a non-driver in the group, they can wait for the baggage and be picked up curbside, or alternately park in the nearby Ampco lot, free for the first 30 minutes, plenty of time).

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
And a tip when you fly in: after deplaning, even if you have checked baggage, go straight to the rental car pickup. Everyone else goes to baggage claim and waits.

This! I can only speak for the Avis lot, but it was the most unorganized Avis location I've ever been to.

JP

Big Island Brewhouse. Puako Petroglyphs. South Point. Volcano. Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park. Kealakekua Bay. Annie's Island Fresh Burgers. Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill. Kona Brewing Company.

In no particular order.

Don't want to be Debbie downer but at kona coast area be prepared to see lots of lava rock that looks like the surface of the moon. we stayed at Waikoloa resort which is on the kona coast as was a bit shocked at how it lacked any type of greenery. I expected lush forest but you need to go on the other side of the island for that.


downtown kona at the board walk area was cool though been about 15 years since I have been there.

XLT is correct, much of the beaches on the B.I. is fairly stark coastline where lava met the sea. So get ready for that.

But, on the upside concerning beaches... in all Hawaii, genuine black sands beaches are only found on the Big Island. And probably the best example is Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. (If you decide to swim there, be very careful as there's some very powerful riptides. Stay close to shore.)

I knew I could count on the forum for suggestions. Keep them coming and I imagine I will have every free minute planned well before our arrival

Rental car tip is awesome, can’t believe I’ve never thought of that before. Wife will wait for the checked luggage and I will beat feet to Alamo to get the car.

quote:

Originally posted by XLT:
Don't want to be Debbie downer but at kona coast area be prepared to see lots of lava rock that looks like the surface of the moon...

Not a problem, have been looking and planning for awhile so already aware of the landscape on that side.

Here is where we are staying...



One of my big hopes is to get a halfway decent shot of the Milky Way, and west coast side of the island should give me the best hope.

Should see plenty of jungle when we go looking for water falls.

quote:

Should see plenty of jungle when we go looking for water falls.

Ahh, waterfalls... Akaka Falls on the Hamakua Coast. 2 gorgeous waterfalls on one short hike, less than half-a-mile. (While in the area don't miss Waipio Valley Overlook and Onomea Bay.)

If any of you have any sort of breathing/lung problems be aware the big island has lots of fumes. My wife had a very hard time there in 2012.

quote:

Originally posted by gjgalligan:
If any of you have any sort of breathing/lung problems be aware the big island has lots of fumes. My wife had a very hard time there in 2012.

Are you talking about the VOG? Yes, it can be a significant health concern, especially for residents.

If you’re around Waimea hit up Hawaiian Style Cafe for breakfast/lunch.

The Pu'u O Umi Natural Area Reserve is awesome but you need a 4x4 for sure and be ready to do some hiking. That whole area around Waimea is awesome and not what you expect to find in Hawaii.

If you like quality wood bowls stop at Dan Deluz.

quote:

One of my big hopes is to get a halfway decent shot of the Milky Way, and west coast side of the island should give me the best hope.

Good plan! All the cool kid astronomers head up to the Kohala coast from what I hear.

Are you also planning the drive up Mauna Kea to the astronomy center?

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:

quote:

One of my big hopes is to get a halfway decent shot of the Milky Way, and west coast side of the island should give me the best hope.

Good plan! All the cool kid astronomers head up to the Kohala coast from what I hear.

Are you also planning the drive up Mauna Kea to the astronomy center?

I tried to go to Mauna Kea with 2 of my kids but they wouldn't let me take the past 13,000 feet. It's an oxygen thing, their lungs can't process the oxygen in their blood quick enough. Also had to have a 4WD to get to the summit. Worth it anyway to me. Also you might want to go to Volcano National Park.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SigM4:
If you’re around Waimea hit up Hawaiian Style Cafe for breakfast/lunch.

This..^^ Very tasty homestyle stick to your ribs food.

And 'Place of Refuge' at the south end of Kona area. A good historical village and right across the way is a fun snorkeling place, I think its called the "shelf" as you step off some underwater lava into the water.

Have fun

There is an excellent free dive shop in Kona. They can tell you great places to dive and spear fish.

First off, get this book.

https://www.hawaiirevealed.com

Great book for doing the island on your own. Not your typical travel book, It's got all kinds of useful info like where to find the cheapest gas, equipment rentals, hidden places, etc. We've found it extremely useful whenever we've been there.

Whatever time you plan on spending in Volcanos National Park, double it. Not sure how it is now with the recent eruptions, but I really want to find out. Unlike anything else I've seen on earth, nature in the raw.

Drive across Saddle Road. Yes, there's warnings of road conditions, etc., the conditions are not that bad. Pack for cold weather if you plan on going up there, 13,000'+ in altitude. Probably also a good place to get your shots of the Milky Way. I absolutely flogged a Chrysler Sebring convertible rental car across it once on one of our trips down there. It was our last day on the island with a redeye flight and the volcano had just started a new eruption.

If you like fishing, go out on a charter from Kona. Some of the best fishing in the world for Marlin. Not only that, being out on the water gives you a totally different viewpoint of the island.

Go to Cafe Pesto, great italian restaurant, one in Hilo and the other on the west side of the island in Kawaihea Harbor. Find a restaurant that serves kamueala beef. That's beef that's been grass fed on the big island and it is delicious.

Pay the extra money and get a Jeep for a rental. Two reasons, it's fun to drive around with the top down, and you can go places that your typical rental car can't like a couple of the hidden beaches in the book I mentioned at the start.

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
Best luau on the island, and possibly any island, is at the Kona Village Resort.

Kayaking out to the Captain Cook monument.

Go to Don the Beachcomber and see if they'll set you up with an original 1941 Mai Tai (not on the menu).

Dining (both at the Four Seasons Resort @Hualalai north of Kona):
The Hualalai Grille (food, view)
Pahuia (view, food)

And a tip when you fly in: after deplaning, even if you have checked baggage, go straight to the rental car pickup. Everyone else goes to baggage claim and waits. By the time the baggage is unloaded, you'll have the car and avoid the line. Just drive back to baggage claim and get your bags (if a non-driver in the group, they can wait for the baggage and be picked up curbside, or alternately park in the nearby Ampco lot, free for the first 30 minutes, plenty of time).

Damn good and solid.

I'll add, for first timers, divide the island into thirds: Kona-side from Kona all the way north to Kapaau, the Southern side, everything South of Kona up to Volacano and the Eastern-side everything east of Volcano, to include Hilo all the way north Honokaa. The island is MASSIVE, don't think you can drive around the entire island in a day, just don't.

Check-out all the National Park sites, there's a lot of interesting places and if you're into collecting passport stamps

Spend a night or, two in Volcano and/or Hilo, it's a long drive and there's a lot to see in the park and it's a long drive back or, around. There's a ton of hikes worth doing, right now, I understand there's a number of trails/areas that are closed due to the volcanic activity of the last year, the visitor center will clue you in. Bring a soft-shell/sweater and light rain jacket, you're at elevation and it gets cold, it's a complete weather change compared to when you step off the plane. You will need two wardrobes when visiting.

Best restaurant on Big Island, Merriman's, spendy but worth the splurge.

Best breakfast, hands down Ken's House of Pancakes. Located in Hilo this is THE place where everyone goes and it lives up to being Hawaiian.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens- Pretty spectacular place, you hike through the jungle environment from on the hillside all the way down to the oceanside. You hit the water and you think you're in a scene from Mutiny on the Bounty.

There's a juice smoothie shack nearby, the name escapes me (i'll edit later) but, it was fantastic. I don't know if it's me but fruit tastes a whole lot better when you're in a humid/jungle environment. Hawaii, particularly the Big Island has a lot of fruit stands and smoothie bars, take advantage, there's an abundance of fruit grown there.

If you stop by the Mauna Kea resort after dark, you can see the manta rays swimming around in the light they have for them. Just ask when you get there.

Is that the Sheraton you're staying at? Not to be a Debbie Downer, but you might want to do a little more research on where to stay. Local superstition has it that it is haunted. It's been under multiple ownerships over the years and no one has been able to make it a successful resort. It's also in a pocket where the VOG tends to settle.