kangamom

Hawaii experts, I would love your advice...

I'm in pre-planning mode for Hawaii Summer 2010. We're planning on renting a house for a week on the Big Island. I've been to the Big Island in the past, so I'm familiar with most of the areas. I'm looking for something beach front, not too far away from Volcano for a day trip, good snorkeling, nice beaches...

A little insight into what we'll be doing and what we like:
*We will be cooking most of our meals so we don't need to be in proximity to any restaurants, but would like to be fairly close to at least one supermarket for supplies.
*We love the lushness of Hilo, but are afraid that it will be too rainy with our kids. The kids love the beach and hate long drives, so we want to be close to as many types of beaches as possible.
*We have spent the last 2 visits on the North Shore of Kauai, which we love.

I was initially thinking maybe Kealakekua Bay? Any other suggestions?

Marginal

www.vrbo.com

Marginal

Also, take a look on www.tripadvisor.com

Many of the posters on the Hawaii forum live on TBI, or own homes there.

kangamom

Thanks. I've used vrbo many times. I would like to more about recommended areas on the Big Island more than individual house rental.

bon_voyage

Hi kangamom,

Ditto Marginal's recommendation to check in with the folks on TA's Big Island forum--they're very knowledgeable.

We spent 10 nights on the Big Island at the end of August last year. The trick will be finding the nice beaches (and, in particular, a house on a beach; very important here to distinugish beachfront from oceanfront), good snorkeling, and not too far from Volcano for a day trip all in one package (you might consider a night or two at the volcano and a beach base on the other side of the island). The big beaches are north of Kona. It's easier to find a condo than a home rental in that area, but there are houses for rent in the some of the resorts and in Puako. Kona Bay Estates, very close to Kailua-Kona, is another possibility. Kealakekua Bay/Captain Cook felt too remote for our first trip to the Big Island. We spent two nights in Waimea, one night at the Volcano, and a week at a rental in Kailua-Kona (www.konabeachhouse.com/threebedtour/seasidehome). White Sands beach (small) and Kahulu'u Beach Park (very good snorkling) were nearby.

martym

Another suggestion is to stay a few days at least in the Kapoho area. The snorkeling in the tidepools is awesome and one of the houses--the Lagoon House-- has a private snorkeling pool behind the house. Here are a couple of sites that have rentals there. http://www.apoparadise.com/ http://www.hpvacationrentals.com/
You are about an hour from Volcano. There is a small supermarket in Pahoa about 10 minutes away.

joeyi

I have to second martym's suggestion. have rented 2 times from his first link and both times very happy with houses. Kaphoho is are favorite place on the big island but we like to get a way from it all. besides the great snorkeling in the warm ponds there are usually turtles to swimming in them too.
The kaphoho area claims to be drier part of that side of the island so you do not get as much rain as hilo. There is a wonderful drive down along the "red road" where there is black sand beach, although it can be swim suit optional so you may not want that with children. if you go all the way to the end of the red road (shave ice stand) and take a short hike over the lava flow you will find the new black sand beach, when we walked out there we were the only people there.

kangamom

Thanks for the Kapoho suggestion. I will take a look into it. We've been to the Big Island several times, staying on the Kona Coast as well as the Kohala Coast, as well as staying in Volcano for several nights.

I'd like to avoid staying in too many places as we usually try and plan a trip with several families with children so packing and unpacking can turn into a full day affair. I'd rather just take one full day to visit Volcano, that's why I'm asking about the proximity to Volcano.

Its great to have the insider knowledge, keep it coming!

joeyi

I was trying to find you good link about Kapoho and the champagne pond. You didn't say how old your children are but we also see lots of kids there. I don't know if any one mentioned that the warm ponds are geothermally heated by warm springs that come into the ponds.

I did find this description on a site and thought it described it pretty well:

"This rural area offers scenic beauty that most tourists miss. Kapoho Beaches is a gated community located on a turquoise -blue private bay about 9 miles from quaint, old fashioned Pahoa town. Unique Italian, mexican and Thai restaurants along with art galleries and shops are there. You can snorkel and swim in the thermally heated waters of Champagne Pond, Ahualanui Park or the marine preserve tide pools (1 mile), or surf the waters of Pohoiki Bay and Isaac Hale Park.(5 mi). We're just about 29 miles to Volcano National Park which makes a great afternoon trip to see the volcanic craters, museum and a huge lava tube that you can walk through. Or take the scenic Kalapana highway along the coast to the end of the road where lava covered the small town of Kalapana. At night view the clear star studded sky from the deck or hike to see the unforgettable lava flowing from Kilauea volcano to the sea (20 miles). Visit the botanical gardens, orchid farms or see breathtaking waterfalls"

Welbourn3

You might want to take a look at Puako Condos. We stayed on the top floor (the "exec suite" and it had more than enough room. I think it was two units at one time, and had been converted into one. The view from the balcony is nice, and the best beach there(IMHO)- Waialea Bay, is only about a 5 min. or less drive away.

I also noticed that there are a few small houses for rent on the beach at Waialea Bay, so that's another option.

Happy Travels, Valerie

MelissaHI

Hmmmm I just talked to the woman who runs this site.....a castle on the Big Island! They'll be open next year.
www.castleinhawaii.com
she's also running a contest to win a home there, BTW.
www.winhawaiianhome.com