P.S. we're going to visit the Big Island, not Kauai (at least I think that's the plan). Did you do any excursions there that you'd recommend from your cruise?

Thanks for jogging my memory on a memerable trip. Yes, we went horseback riding in Waipio Canyon. I'v heard that they are using all terrain three wheelers as well as horses now. You can also hike the valley floor. It was incredible. You start out a a village called Papaikuo, north of Hilo. A day in Hilo is worth the time. Visit the Liliukalani Japanese Gardens. Volcanoes National park is a full day of hot hiking. Be careful of the sulfur fumes in the air. You get used to it after a while and forget that it can be dangerous. It took me three years to recover the sulfer burnt cillia in my throat. Try to find a nighttime cocktail cruise that will take you past the lava flowing into the sea. It's a comflagration of orange hot lava and steaming water and you can hear it! Punaluu is a black sand beach: it's somewhere in the vacinicty of Volcanoes Nat'l Park (Muana Kea). Rent a car and take a drive through Waimea and the uplands; visit the Cowboy country. Tour a Kona Coffee plantation. Akaka Falls is a short easy hike to two of the most breathtaking waterfalls. We went scuba diving off the Kona coast. If you scuba a drift dive may be the easiest. Thanks for making me think back. As you might surmise, we jumped ship on Hawaii and stayed four days. I hope your 5 days are exciting.

There is alot to do on the BI. There is a series of guidebooks about Hawaii revealed. Get the Big Island revealed book. Things to do include:
Thurston lava tube.
VNP (volcanoes natl. Park)
Place of refuge.
Black and green sand beaches.
Driving to Hilo.
Copter tours.
Aloha! Larry
PS you must go to the Kings Shops for dinner at Roys. Amazingly good food and if you golf bring your clubs