first time to Big Island, ten days, with teen boys. (HELP!)
Jul 18th, 2013, 03:52 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
first time to Big Island, ten days, with teen boys. (HELP!)
We are going for ten days, over Christmas and New Years. Yes, I know, busiest time, and, for a reason, only time kids can have enough time out of school to go!!
Flying into Oahu for several days to see sights, then over to BI. Leaving after ten days from Kona.
Question? Where to stay? Two locations? or one and drive. Don't like a lot of moving around, but want to see as much as I can.
Wants??
SUN, don't want to stay in an area that clouds hover with rain...and a few miles over...sun.
Don't prefer huge commercial hotels with elbow to elbow people. Would rather find a house, or a smaller community that we would feel more 'at home' in, as opposed to a big hotel.
Close/walkable to fun stuff....snorkeling, beach, fishing, etc. No interest in being near shops and restaurants, rather be close to nature!! If that makes sense. We will stock up at Costco and eat at home some, out some too. But don't want terribly commercial
I guess it makes sense to stay several nights near Hilo and several nights near the Volcano? Comments? Or perhaps there is a midway point that we could see both, BUT stay in a really special natural area that we could get to know, and DRIVE into the more crowded Hilo area and Volcano??
We rent alot thru VRBO, and any links to a place YOU like would be appreciated. Just seems some are big condo developments and IDK that THAT is what we prefer. We do need two bedrooms minimum, and a kitchen/dr/lr area.
Many thanks!!
Flying into Oahu for several days to see sights, then over to BI. Leaving after ten days from Kona.
Question? Where to stay? Two locations? or one and drive. Don't like a lot of moving around, but want to see as much as I can.
Wants??
SUN, don't want to stay in an area that clouds hover with rain...and a few miles over...sun.
Don't prefer huge commercial hotels with elbow to elbow people. Would rather find a house, or a smaller community that we would feel more 'at home' in, as opposed to a big hotel.
Close/walkable to fun stuff....snorkeling, beach, fishing, etc. No interest in being near shops and restaurants, rather be close to nature!! If that makes sense. We will stock up at Costco and eat at home some, out some too. But don't want terribly commercial
I guess it makes sense to stay several nights near Hilo and several nights near the Volcano? Comments? Or perhaps there is a midway point that we could see both, BUT stay in a really special natural area that we could get to know, and DRIVE into the more crowded Hilo area and Volcano??
We rent alot thru VRBO, and any links to a place YOU like would be appreciated. Just seems some are big condo developments and IDK that THAT is what we prefer. We do need two bedrooms minimum, and a kitchen/dr/lr area.
Many thanks!!
Jul 18th, 2013, 04:48 PM
#2
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've always stayed at Hali'i Kai on the BI. It's at the Waikoloa beach resort area and it's beautiful. Lots of options on VRBO.
I went there last year with my family and wrote a detailed trip report on Oahu and BI. Maybe it will offer some insight. Hope this helps!
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm
I went there last year with my family and wrote a detailed trip report on Oahu and BI. Maybe it will offer some insight. Hope this helps!
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm
Jul 19th, 2013, 06:08 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First of all, rent a car right now if you haven't already. Don't commit to anything (flights, condos, etc.) until you have the car. They are in short supply and ALWAYS run out around the New Year holiday. You don't need 4WD but you DO need a car on the Big Island. It is simply too big to do without a car. So, get that locked in right now.
Spend the majority of your time on the west side. Kohala Coast for sun and great beaches. Sounds like you want a condo. Really no condo on the Kohala Coast is walkable to a beach. So, plan on a drive (super short but still needing to get into your car). That is fine, too, as there are so many great beaches on the Kohala Coast that you are going to want to get out and visit different ones each day. Hapuna for boogie boarding, the beaches at the Mauna Lani for snorkeling, the beach at Mauna Kea as it is just the most gorgeous, perfect beach anywhere, Kua Bay, Kukio, Beach 69, etc.
A couple fun West side ideas for your family and boys....snorkel boat trip with the Fairwinds, night time manta ray snorkel trip with Dave's (super fabulous and the one thing your kids will talk about forever), and Place of Refuge (for both snorkeling and touring). Depending on their ages, you could take a tour to the Mauna Kea Observatory (think you have to be 16).
On the East Side, pick either Hilo or Volcano. No need to do both. If your boys are old enough and fit, do a night time hike to see the lava flow into the ocean. Use a reliable, safety-oriented licensed guide. Volcano Discovery Tours or Kilaua Cultural Tours. Read up on the hike and make sure it is something your boys are up for. Wonderful, only on the Big Island memories.
Have a great trip.
Spend the majority of your time on the west side. Kohala Coast for sun and great beaches. Sounds like you want a condo. Really no condo on the Kohala Coast is walkable to a beach. So, plan on a drive (super short but still needing to get into your car). That is fine, too, as there are so many great beaches on the Kohala Coast that you are going to want to get out and visit different ones each day. Hapuna for boogie boarding, the beaches at the Mauna Lani for snorkeling, the beach at Mauna Kea as it is just the most gorgeous, perfect beach anywhere, Kua Bay, Kukio, Beach 69, etc.
A couple fun West side ideas for your family and boys....snorkel boat trip with the Fairwinds, night time manta ray snorkel trip with Dave's (super fabulous and the one thing your kids will talk about forever), and Place of Refuge (for both snorkeling and touring). Depending on their ages, you could take a tour to the Mauna Kea Observatory (think you have to be 16).
On the East Side, pick either Hilo or Volcano. No need to do both. If your boys are old enough and fit, do a night time hike to see the lava flow into the ocean. Use a reliable, safety-oriented licensed guide. Volcano Discovery Tours or Kilaua Cultural Tours. Read up on the hike and make sure it is something your boys are up for. Wonderful, only on the Big Island memories.
Have a great trip.
Jul 19th, 2013, 07:01 AM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We just got back from ta Kauai and Big Island trip with our 16 year old. We stayed in a beautiful house right in the rain forest in Hilo., and a condo in Mauna Lani resort.
Our friends were down the road in Waikola and we both found that area much more commercial and busier.
Highlights for us and our Australian friends were:
Kohola Coast- west side:
Manta Ray snorkel. - just do it. Words can't describe
Place of refuge
Mauna Lani Beach excellent snorkeling, fish ponds, beautiful cabanas and Napua restaurant . What more could you want. plus it wasn't very busy at all
East side-
Lava hike with poke a stick lava tours. It's long and hot . Take lots of water. But when are you ever going to see massive amounts of lava flowing into the ocean.
Hawaii Botanical Gardens. Plus a stop atWhat's Shaking for lunch.
Puna Coast- the Humaka Coast gets all the attention and reviews but we ( and our Aussie friends) loved the Eastern coast. It's quite wild and windy but there are lava pools to swim in and the coastline is just beautiful.
Get the big Island revealed book as an app and you can use the gps feature for directions and for nearby sights. It was invaluable for us as getting a working sim card in the US is always a giant hassle. This way we didn't need one.
Have fun
Our friends were down the road in Waikola and we both found that area much more commercial and busier.
Highlights for us and our Australian friends were:
Kohola Coast- west side:
Manta Ray snorkel. - just do it. Words can't describe
Place of refuge
Mauna Lani Beach excellent snorkeling, fish ponds, beautiful cabanas and Napua restaurant . What more could you want. plus it wasn't very busy at all
East side-
Lava hike with poke a stick lava tours. It's long and hot . Take lots of water. But when are you ever going to see massive amounts of lava flowing into the ocean.
Hawaii Botanical Gardens. Plus a stop atWhat's Shaking for lunch.
Puna Coast- the Humaka Coast gets all the attention and reviews but we ( and our Aussie friends) loved the Eastern coast. It's quite wild and windy but there are lava pools to swim in and the coastline is just beautiful.
Get the big Island revealed book as an app and you can use the gps feature for directions and for nearby sights. It was invaluable for us as getting a working sim card in the US is always a giant hassle. This way we didn't need one.
Have fun
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
klam_chowder
United States
12
Apr 4th, 2013 07:44 AM
