big island
Jul 10th, 2005 | 07:36 AM
#1
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Joined: May 2005
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big island
going to the bi in august. 2 kids 17 14.
want to visit the volcano and seems like a good idea to stay in hilo. any suggestions on a good place to stay? we plan on staying at the hilton waikoloa in kona the rest of the trip unless someone has a better suggestion?
want to visit the volcano and seems like a good idea to stay in hilo. any suggestions on a good place to stay? we plan on staying at the hilton waikoloa in kona the rest of the trip unless someone has a better suggestion?
Jul 10th, 2005 | 08:00 AM
#2
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Vango, I would stay in Volcano Village, right at VNP, rather than Hilo. There are many wonderful B&B's there, Kilauea Lodge, for one. Very charming, excellent restaurant (see kilauealodge.com). Hilo is not one of my favorite places to stay, mainly because it seems to rain non-stop whenever we, our family or friends go through there. There are some nice B&B's there, but it's just not for me ... too wet too often! Whatever you decide, have a great trip! 
Jul 10th, 2005 | 08:32 AM
#5
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Vango, I am posting an excerpt from Frommer's Hawaii for you below, regarding Hilo and VNP, because it says it so well:
HILO --When the sun shines in Hilo, it's one of the most beautiful tropical cities in the Pacific. Being here is an entirely different kind of island experience: Hawaii's largest metropolis after Honolulu is a quaint, misty, flower-filled city of Victorian houses overlooking a half-moon bay, with a restored historic downtown and a clear view of Mauna Loa's often snowcapped peak. Hilo catches everyone's eye until it rains -- it rains a lot in Hilo -- and when it rains, it pours.
Hilo is one of America's wettest towns, with 128 inches of rain annually. It's ideal for growing ferns, orchids, and anthuriums, but not for catching a few rays. But there's lots to see and do in Hilo, so grab your umbrella. The rain is warm (the temperature seldom dips below 70°F/21°C), and there's usually a rainbow afterward.
Hilo's oversize airport and hotels are remnants of a dream: The city wanted to be Hawaii's major port of entry. That didn't happen, but the facilities here are excellent. Hilo is also Hawaii's best bargain for budget travelers. It has plenty of hotel rooms -- most of the year, that is. Hilo's magic moment comes in spring, the week after Easter, when hula halau (schools) arrive for the annual Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition. This is a full-on Hawaiian spectacle and a wonderful cultural event. Plan ahead if you want to go: Tickets are sold out by the first week in January, and the hotels within 30 miles are usually booked solid.
Hilo is also the gateway to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; it's just an hour's drive away up-slope.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park --This is the location of America's most exciting national park, where a live volcano called Kilauea erupts daily. If you're lucky, it will be a spectacular sight. At other times, you may not be able to see the molten lava at all, but there's still a lot to see and learn. Ideally, you should plan to spend 3 days at the park exploring the trails, watching the volcano, visiting the rainforest, and just enjoying this most unusual, spectacular place. But even if you have only a day, get here -- it's worth the trip. Bring your sweats or jacket (honest!); it's cool up here, especially at night.
If you plan to dally in the park, you can find a great place to stay in the sleepy hamlet of Volcano Village, just outside the National Park entrance. Several terrifically cozy B&Bs, some with fireplaces, hide under tree ferns in this cool mountain hideaway. The tiny highland community (elev. 4,000 ft.), first settled by Japanese immigrants, is now inhabited by artists, soul-searchers, and others who like the crisp air of Hawaii's high country. It has just enough civilization to sustain a good life: a few stores, a handful of eateries, a gas station, and a golf course.
HILO --When the sun shines in Hilo, it's one of the most beautiful tropical cities in the Pacific. Being here is an entirely different kind of island experience: Hawaii's largest metropolis after Honolulu is a quaint, misty, flower-filled city of Victorian houses overlooking a half-moon bay, with a restored historic downtown and a clear view of Mauna Loa's often snowcapped peak. Hilo catches everyone's eye until it rains -- it rains a lot in Hilo -- and when it rains, it pours.
Hilo is one of America's wettest towns, with 128 inches of rain annually. It's ideal for growing ferns, orchids, and anthuriums, but not for catching a few rays. But there's lots to see and do in Hilo, so grab your umbrella. The rain is warm (the temperature seldom dips below 70°F/21°C), and there's usually a rainbow afterward.
Hilo's oversize airport and hotels are remnants of a dream: The city wanted to be Hawaii's major port of entry. That didn't happen, but the facilities here are excellent. Hilo is also Hawaii's best bargain for budget travelers. It has plenty of hotel rooms -- most of the year, that is. Hilo's magic moment comes in spring, the week after Easter, when hula halau (schools) arrive for the annual Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition. This is a full-on Hawaiian spectacle and a wonderful cultural event. Plan ahead if you want to go: Tickets are sold out by the first week in January, and the hotels within 30 miles are usually booked solid.
Hilo is also the gateway to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; it's just an hour's drive away up-slope.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park --This is the location of America's most exciting national park, where a live volcano called Kilauea erupts daily. If you're lucky, it will be a spectacular sight. At other times, you may not be able to see the molten lava at all, but there's still a lot to see and learn. Ideally, you should plan to spend 3 days at the park exploring the trails, watching the volcano, visiting the rainforest, and just enjoying this most unusual, spectacular place. But even if you have only a day, get here -- it's worth the trip. Bring your sweats or jacket (honest!); it's cool up here, especially at night.
If you plan to dally in the park, you can find a great place to stay in the sleepy hamlet of Volcano Village, just outside the National Park entrance. Several terrifically cozy B&Bs, some with fireplaces, hide under tree ferns in this cool mountain hideaway. The tiny highland community (elev. 4,000 ft.), first settled by Japanese immigrants, is now inhabited by artists, soul-searchers, and others who like the crisp air of Hawaii's high country. It has just enough civilization to sustain a good life: a few stores, a handful of eateries, a gas station, and a golf course.
