what are your suggestions for a 3day trip to the big island... this is what we've planned...

suggestions/comments are welcome:

day 1: stay in kona 1 nite, sightsee area
day 2: sightsee in kona, drive to hilo area. sightsee, stay in hilo for 2 nites.
day 3: sightsee waterfalls; volcano national park;
day 4: last day in hilo; fly to maui

Not nearly enough time spent seeing VNP! It needs at least half a day! There really isn't much sightseeing in Hilo, so I'd recommend less time there. How about staying your 2nd and 3rd nights near VNP, and seeing the waterfalls on your last day?

suggestion: i'd stay 1 night kona and 2 nights in VNP. on your way from kona to hilo, you could see all the waterfalls and tour Hilo and still make it up to the park for dinner at Kilauea Lodge, then spend the two nights there. travel time to airport is about 45 minutes and usually no traffic. Hilo's nice (i live here) but you can see everything in a few hours. take the route through waimea as that's the road with the falls and botanical gardens.