acc23nyc

My partner and I are planning on going to the BI for 5 days in early Feb 2009 (after a business trip to Kauai). The main attractions are the volcano and beaches. We have heard that the Kona area will likely be driest at that time of the year, so we were planning on staying there. We would like to keep the cost of accommodation to under $250/night, preferably someplace that's beach-front.

Do you recommend that we stay at one hotel and go to the volcano park as a day trip? Or should we stay at hotel near the volcano for 1 night? Do you have any hotel recommendations? Since we only have 5 days, we don't want to stay at more than 2 places.

Also, besides the volcano and beaches near Kona, are there any other must-do sights that we should try to include?

Thanks!
ACC

Barbara5353

You can find great OCEANfront accommodations in the Kona area, but nothing that is BEACHfront. If this link works, you can click on some of the places listed and see that the shoreline is rough lava rock in the Kona area.


http://www.wizardpub.com/bigisland/bigresort.html

Great beaches are a bit farther north, in the Kohala area. Lodging is more expensive, but due to the drop in tourism you might find some good deals. Check out the Hapuna Prince and Fairmont Orchid to see if they have any specials for your time period. There is also a nice beach at Waikoloa, with the Marriott and several great condos that could be in your price range. They are not directly on the beach, but just a short walk or drive away.
As for the volcano area, an overnight stay would enable you to see more. It can be done as a very LONG day trip, however, if you leave early in the morning. If either of you suffer from asthma or
respiratory problems, you should re-consider going to the volcano.

beanweb24

We just returned from the Waikoloa area of the BI. Hapuna Beach was our favorite, and you can get there by public access OR you can stay at the Prince on Hapuna Beach and walk there from your room.

We stayed at the Halii Kai condos and were THRILLED. We had a garden view, but they also have oceanfront and oceanview rooms as well. The condos are relatively new, and very modern/luxurious in their finishings...huge granite kitchens, walk-in closets, etc. Booked through Hotels.com, but am sure you can find other units for rent through vrbo and other sites.

http://www.hotels.com/hotel_castle-h...oa_258533.html

http://www.haliikai.com/index.html

I would not enjoy doing a day trip from Waikoloa to Volcanoes. It's a 25 minute drive (seems long) to Kona from Waikoloa...then another 75 mi or so to Volcanoes. The speed limit is 45 a good portion of the way.

volcanogirl

We did a combo of the Hapuna Beach Prince and the Kilauea Lodge - loved both. I like staying in Volcano for a night. The lodge also has a nice restaurant with a cozy fireplace, which was great since it got cool at night.

Marginal

I second Hapuna Prince and Kilauea Lodge. There is such a difference in climate/terrain between the beaches and the volcano area that it is worth the extra day to give yourself time to explore the volcano, rather than try to do it all in a day trip. Don't miss the petroglyph area there- it's quite fascinating.

acc23nyc

Thanks for your recommendations! Will look into the accommodations you all mentioned.

Folllow-up questions:
1. What's the best way to get to volcano from the Kona/Hapuna Beach area? Do you drive around the southern coast of the island? If so, is the Puuhonua Park worth checking out on the way?

2. Is Mauna Kea worth checking out? If so, can we get there from either the volcano or from Hapuna beach? Which way is easier?

3. Is Hilo worth checking out? Are there nice sunny beaches there in early February?

Thanks again!
ACC

Marginal

1. I prefer driving the northern/eastern drive from Waikoloa to the Volcano because of the horrible traffic in Kona and the better scenery on the above route. I would do the Place of Refuge as a separate day trip and not try to combine it with the volcano in the same day.

2. Personally, I don't think you have enough time for Mauna Kea. You really need to take a tour there because of the rental car issues.

3. Hilo is worth checking out. Hilo gets a huge amount of rain and in February one would never describe Hilo as sunny. The beaches there are not that great, western side beaches are far superior.

crazy4Hawaii

Seeing the huge telescopes up there, the SNOW, the sunset (a 10!), and then the stargazing atop Mauna Kea was the highlight of our last trip.

Staying the night in Volcano Village was fun because all night we heard the pitter patter of rain on the big leaves outside our window - right in the middle of the rain forest. We stayed in the "Forest House" which may not be available anymore, but there are many B&B options there. A very cool contrast to the Kohala Beach area. The Big Island is so diverse, and that's the JOY of it to me.

crazy4Hawaii

Forgot to add that we took a tour up to Mauna Kea from the Kohala side. (We were staying at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort at that point.) I think it was called Mauna Kea Summit Adventures and they have a nice website. You meet the drivers and vans near the Kohala area in the afternoon and get back to your resort about midnight.

acc23nyc

OK, will definitely try to stay overnight in the volcano area. To avoid wasting time backtracking, should we go to the volcano area at the end of our trip, stay overnight, then fly back to LAX from Hilo? Or should we return to Hapuna Beach and fly back from Kona? If the drive from the volcano to Hapuna Beach/Kona is not too long, we wouldn't mind heading back, especially if it would maximize our potential beach/sun time.

pconte

The Big Island is the best!

We've been for almost 25 years (to escape/recover from the Eugene, OR rains).

Some important facts that are often missed:

* Hawai'i definitely has seasons. Of course it varies year-to-year, but February is the earliest I would go. You should see lots of whales, but the water may be a bit choppy (or even rough) and weather more "iffy". May is ideal weather, but the whales have generally left and, depending on where you live, you may already be enjoying nice spring weather. (We usually go in April to split the difference.)

* There is frequently a lot of "vog" that drifts over Kona and further south. Occasionally ten or more miles north. It can make the view hazy and dim the stars.

* There is also frequently a rain line about 20 miles (plus or minus) north of Kona. It can be rainy over Kona while bright sunny up north on the Kohala coast. Of course, the vog and rain patterns will vary, but the Kohalo coast is a better bet for sun and clear skies.

* In any season, it can be cold and windy in the higher-elevation towns, such as Waimea. Definitely bring a long-sleeve top and windbreaker.

* Kona traffic (on the main highway, at least) has become a nightmare. Avoid routes through Kona or leave extra time.

(Do you get the impression I'm not a fan of Kona? You'll find cheaper lodging and more "night life" -- just like you could find in many mainland cities -- in Kona, but the Kohala coast is really the place to be if you can arrange it.)

* To really enjoy the volcano, you should stay there or nearby. That way you can enjoy the evening and morning and not beat yourself to death driving. If you can work out the flights and rental car, leaving (or arriving) at Hilo at the end (or beginning) of your trip would be efficient.

* Hapuna Beach is absolutley wonderful. If you can, go early or late on weekdays and avoid the weekends. There are many other wonderful beaches (see below).

If you stay on the Kohala Coast, Waimea is a good town to shop. It has an excellent wine shop for provisions and an organic food store, as well two regular grocery stores.

* For the best shoes to kayak or walk on the lava's shores, get "Tabi's" the felt-soled, rubber and nylon booties that the Japanese shore fisherman wear. Find in grocery and hardware stores. These are MUCH better than any of the expensive "diving" or "river" booties.

* Don't let anyone convince you that the "spam musubi", much loved by the natives, is a treat. It's as awful as you would imagine! If you want to eat great Island food, pack a sharp knife and get some just-caught Ahi or Ono at Laua's fish market in Kawaihae (see below). Pick up some pickeled ginger, tamari, and wasabi at a local store and enjoy the best sushi you'll ever have. Or ... go for a big, thick Parker Ranh Porterhouse stake and through it on your own grill with a few chips of Kiawe twigs (which you can gather anywhere along the Kohala coast) -- better yet, use mango wood (harder to come by).

Finally, Here are a few Hawai'i favorite "secret" places (not really, but not too well known).

* Ahalanui County Park
Natural thermal hot pool. Very "laid back", local place.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html...anui_park.html

* Lapakahi historical park
Neat old Hawaiian village. Small beach. Usually no one there.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html...ark_beach.html

* Beach "69" (Waialea Beach)
Secluded beach, often calm when other beaches have rough water.
(It's called beach 69 because the old telephone pole marking the rough track to the beach had "69" numerals on it.)
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html...bay_beach.html

* Kiholo Bay
Mixed fresh/salt water lagoon. Ancient fish ponds. Turtles.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html...iholo_bay.html

* Authentic old "sugar" town of Hawi (up north).

* Waimea Farmer's Market (Saturday mornings). Terrific traditional leis.

* Laua's fish market. In Kawaihae. Little shack across the road from the little shopping center.

Enjoy your trip ... and the anticipation.

-- Paul

Marginal

There'a new grocery store in the Queen's Marketplace in the Waikoloa resort area, and there is a larger food store up the hill in the town of Waikoloa, much more convenient than driving all the way to Waimea.

pconte

Yes, the new store in Waikaloa resort is convenient to Kohala locations and has some nice "upper end items." But it's a pretty small store and more expensive than Waimea or Waikoloa Vllage.

The grocery in Waikaloa is more convenient than Waimea for most locations. And *** important *** this is where you can get custom-cut, Parker Ranch beef. True carnivore "heaven" is a 2-inch Porterhouse cooked over mango wood.

But, you'll find better wine, organics, not to mention the Saturday Farmer's market at Waimea.

We shop them all (and we even make one stop at the Costco north of Kona for Tanqueray and single-malts), just depending on what the need and situation is.

-- Paul

beanweb24

>>If the drive from the volcano to Hapuna Beach/Kona is not too long...

From Kona, I believe it's still about 80 miles. From Waikoloa/Hapuna (which is even farther away), it will take you longer.

Note that the speed limit on these roads is, in many places, only 35 or 45 mph. It will take over 2 hrs.

rickandpat

Our first BI trip was also about 5 days. Check into cutting down on the driving and flying back from Hilo. We didn't have any problems returning our rental car on the other side.

Marginal

You may not find much in the way of direct mainland flights from Hilo. After the loss of Aloha and ATA airlines, I think the Hilo flights all go through HNL now, but make sure and check.

I would not try to fly out of Hilo. All in all, it isn't that far back to Kona.

chris2x

You might think about flying into Hilo, spending the night, seeing the lava tubes and then Volcanos park then driving around to Kona and ending at the beach.

If there is surface flow at Volcanoes park then the best time to see that is often dusk so that would mean staying closer to the park like in Volcanos (the town). You might also find like we have that Hilo (wetter) is beautiful, lush, less touristy and wonderful.

Best beach near Kona is at the 5 mile marker south of town.

more info at http://AmateurTraveler.com/2006/08/2...he-big-island/

Chris Christensen
Amateur Traveler podcast

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