Trip IdeasFodor's Big Island of Hawaii, 2nd Edition
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About This Book
Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences.
Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend on the Big Island!
•Your vacation never looked better. This Fodor’s full-color guide paints an unforgettable picture of the Big Island with vibrant maps, vividly illustrated features, and stunning color photos.
•Updated frequently, Fodor’s Big Island of Hawaii, 2nd Edition, provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook.
•Fodor’s Big Island of Hawaii, 2nd Edition features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.
•If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places on the Big Island
Experience the Big Island like a local! Fodor’s Big Island of Hawaii, 2nd Edition includes unique photo-features that impart the island’s culture, covering Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the gorgeous white-sand beaches of the Kohala Coast, the rugged uplands of Waimea called “cowboy country,” and much more!
•Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include “Top Reasons to Go,” “Word of Mouth” advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.
•Full-color pullout map
Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.
Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend on the Big Island!
•Your vacation never looked better. This Fodor’s full-color guide paints an unforgettable picture of the Big Island with vibrant maps, vividly illustrated features, and stunning color photos.
•Updated frequently, Fodor’s Big Island of Hawaii, 2nd Edition, provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook.
•Fodor’s Big Island of Hawaii, 2nd Edition features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.
•If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places on the Big Island
Experience the Big Island like a local! Fodor’s Big Island of Hawaii, 2nd Edition includes unique photo-features that impart the island’s culture, covering Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the gorgeous white-sand beaches of the Kohala Coast, the rugged uplands of Waimea called “cowboy country,” and much more!
•Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include “Top Reasons to Go,” “Word of Mouth” advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.
•Full-color pullout map
Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.
Table of Contents
Big Island of Hawai’i
Chapter 1: Experience the Big Island ............ 9
Welcome to the Big Island ............ 10
Big Island Planner ............ 12
Top Big Island Experiences ............ 14
When To Go ............ 16
Great 1-Day Itineraries ............ 18
Weddings & Honeymoons ............ 20
Kids & Families ............ 22
Cruising the Hawaiian Islands ............ 24
A Snapshot of Hawai’i ............ 26
Chapter 2: Exploring the Big Island ............ 31
The Kohala District ............ 34
Waimea ............ 40
Kailua-Kona ............ 43
South Kona & Kealakekua Bay ............ 48
Ka’û & Ka Lae (South Point) ............ 53
Volcano ............ 64
Puna ............ 68
Hilo ............ 74
Hâmâkua Coast ............ 80
Mauna Kea ............ 87
Chapter 3: Beaches ............ 91
Kohala Coast ............ 92
Kailua-Kona ............ 99
South Kona & Ka’û ............ 102
Hilo Side ............ 105
Chapter 4: Water Activities & Tours ............ 109
Boogie Boarding & Bodysurfing ............ 112
Deep-Sea Fishing ............ 113
Kayaking ............ 115
Parasailing ............ 119
Sailing ............ 120
Scuba Diving ............ 120
Snorkeling ............ 123
Snuba ............ 129
Submarine Tours ............ 129
Surfing ............ 129
Whale-Watching ............ 130
Windsurfing ............ 132
Chapter 5: Golf, Hiking & Outdoor Activities ............ 133
Aerial Tours ............ 134
ATV Tours ............ 136
Biking ............ 137
Golf ............ 140
Hiking ............ 145
Horseback Riding ............ 151
Skiing ............ 152
Tennis ............ 154
Chapter 6: Shops & Spas ............ 155
Shops ............ 156
Spas ............ 169
Chapter 7: Entertainment & Nightlife ............ 177
Entertainment ............ 178
Nightlife ............ 187
Chapter 8: Where to Eat ............ 189
Where to Eat Planner ............ 190
Best Bets for Big Island Dining ............ 191
Kohala Coast ............ 193
Waimea ............ 198
Kailua-Kona ............ 205
South Kona ............ 213
Volcano ............ 215
Hilo & Puna ............ 217
Chapter 9: Where to Stay ............ 221
Where to Stay Planner ............ 222
Best Bets for Big Island Lodging ............ 223
Kohala Coast ............ 225
Waimea ............ 236
Kailua-Kona ............ 238
South Kona & Ka’u ............ 246
Volcano ............ 248
Puna ............ 251
Hilo ............ 253
Hâmâkua Coast ............ 256
Hawaiian Vocabulary ............ 259
Big Island Essentials ............ 262
Getting Started ............ 263
Booking Your Trip ............ 266
Transportation ............ 278
On The Ground ............ 284
Index ............ 288
About Our Writers ............ 296
Big Island of Hawai'i In Focus
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park ............ 58
Birth of the Islands ............ 69
Snorkeling in Hawai'i ............ 125
Hawai'i’s Plants 101 ............ 147
All About Leis ............ 161
More Than a Folk Dance ............ 182
Lū'au: A Taste of Hawai‘i ............ 199
Close Ups
Graffiti ............ 39
Green Hawai’i ............ 46
Kona Coffee ............ 54
If Trees Could Talk ............ 77
Pele & the Night Marchers ............ 85
Protecting the Humpback Whale ............ 132
Ironman & Friends ............ 138
In Search of Birdies, Eagles & Whales ............ 142
Hawaiian Cowboys? ............ 152
Hawaiian Healing ............ 171
Roasted Pigs, Poi & Hula: the Lû’au Explained ............ 180
Green Hawai’i: Farm Tours ............ 206
The Plate Lunch Tradition ............ 219
Maps & Charts
The Big Island of Hawai’i ............ 36
The Kohala District ............ 38
Kailua-Kona ............ 44
South Kona & Ka’u ............ 51
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park ............ 60
Puna ............ 72
Hilo Vicinity ............ 76
Hâmâkua Coast & Mauna Kea ............ 84
Big Island Beaches ............ 94
Kohala Coast Beaches ............ 96
Kailua-Kona Beaches ............ 100
South Kona and Ka’u Beaches ............ 103
Hilo Side Beaches ............ 107
The Big Island’s Top Three Water Activities ............ 116
Where to Eat on the Kohala Coast and Waimea ............ 204
Where to Eat on the Kona Coast ............ 207
Where to Eat on Hilo Side & Volcano ............ 216
Where to Stay on the Kohala Coast & Waimea ............ 228
Where to Stay on the Kona Coast ............ 240
Where to Stay on Hilo Side & Volcano ............ 249
Chapter 1: Experience the Big Island ............ 9
Welcome to the Big Island ............ 10
Big Island Planner ............ 12
Top Big Island Experiences ............ 14
When To Go ............ 16
Great 1-Day Itineraries ............ 18
Weddings & Honeymoons ............ 20
Kids & Families ............ 22
Cruising the Hawaiian Islands ............ 24
A Snapshot of Hawai’i ............ 26
Chapter 2: Exploring the Big Island ............ 31
The Kohala District ............ 34
Waimea ............ 40
Kailua-Kona ............ 43
South Kona & Kealakekua Bay ............ 48
Ka’û & Ka Lae (South Point) ............ 53
Volcano ............ 64
Puna ............ 68
Hilo ............ 74
Hâmâkua Coast ............ 80
Mauna Kea ............ 87
Chapter 3: Beaches ............ 91
Kohala Coast ............ 92
Kailua-Kona ............ 99
South Kona & Ka’û ............ 102
Hilo Side ............ 105
Chapter 4: Water Activities & Tours ............ 109
Boogie Boarding & Bodysurfing ............ 112
Deep-Sea Fishing ............ 113
Kayaking ............ 115
Parasailing ............ 119
Sailing ............ 120
Scuba Diving ............ 120
Snorkeling ............ 123
Snuba ............ 129
Submarine Tours ............ 129
Surfing ............ 129
Whale-Watching ............ 130
Windsurfing ............ 132
Chapter 5: Golf, Hiking & Outdoor Activities ............ 133
Aerial Tours ............ 134
ATV Tours ............ 136
Biking ............ 137
Golf ............ 140
Hiking ............ 145
Horseback Riding ............ 151
Skiing ............ 152
Tennis ............ 154
Chapter 6: Shops & Spas ............ 155
Shops ............ 156
Spas ............ 169
Chapter 7: Entertainment & Nightlife ............ 177
Entertainment ............ 178
Nightlife ............ 187
Chapter 8: Where to Eat ............ 189
Where to Eat Planner ............ 190
Best Bets for Big Island Dining ............ 191
Kohala Coast ............ 193
Waimea ............ 198
Kailua-Kona ............ 205
South Kona ............ 213
Volcano ............ 215
Hilo & Puna ............ 217
Chapter 9: Where to Stay ............ 221
Where to Stay Planner ............ 222
Best Bets for Big Island Lodging ............ 223
Kohala Coast ............ 225
Waimea ............ 236
Kailua-Kona ............ 238
South Kona & Ka’u ............ 246
Volcano ............ 248
Puna ............ 251
Hilo ............ 253
Hâmâkua Coast ............ 256
Hawaiian Vocabulary ............ 259
Big Island Essentials ............ 262
Getting Started ............ 263
Booking Your Trip ............ 266
Transportation ............ 278
On The Ground ............ 284
Index ............ 288
About Our Writers ............ 296
Big Island of Hawai'i In Focus
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park ............ 58
Birth of the Islands ............ 69
Snorkeling in Hawai'i ............ 125
Hawai'i’s Plants 101 ............ 147
All About Leis ............ 161
More Than a Folk Dance ............ 182
Lū'au: A Taste of Hawai‘i ............ 199
Close Ups
Graffiti ............ 39
Green Hawai’i ............ 46
Kona Coffee ............ 54
If Trees Could Talk ............ 77
Pele & the Night Marchers ............ 85
Protecting the Humpback Whale ............ 132
Ironman & Friends ............ 138
In Search of Birdies, Eagles & Whales ............ 142
Hawaiian Cowboys? ............ 152
Hawaiian Healing ............ 171
Roasted Pigs, Poi & Hula: the Lû’au Explained ............ 180
Green Hawai’i: Farm Tours ............ 206
The Plate Lunch Tradition ............ 219
Maps & Charts
The Big Island of Hawai’i ............ 36
The Kohala District ............ 38
Kailua-Kona ............ 44
South Kona & Ka’u ............ 51
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park ............ 60
Puna ............ 72
Hilo Vicinity ............ 76
Hâmâkua Coast & Mauna Kea ............ 84
Big Island Beaches ............ 94
Kohala Coast Beaches ............ 96
Kailua-Kona Beaches ............ 100
South Kona and Ka’u Beaches ............ 103
Hilo Side Beaches ............ 107
The Big Island’s Top Three Water Activities ............ 116
Where to Eat on the Kohala Coast and Waimea ............ 204
Where to Eat on the Kona Coast ............ 207
Where to Eat on Hilo Side & Volcano ............ 216
Where to Stay on the Kohala Coast & Waimea ............ 228
Where to Stay on the Kona Coast ............ 240
Where to Stay on Hilo Side & Volcano ............ 249
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