Tomsd

Check the local places for their luaus. Churches, etc - really put on the best - most authentic ones, and usually they are much less expensive than the commercial ones. Having said that - went to a luau yeaaaars ago at the King Kam hotel in Kona - that was very good.

And the drive from Waimea town to Hilo is beautiful - especially when you get over to the ocean - as that is the greenest part of the island. Be sure to stop by Akaka falls - and enjoy the walk through a botanical like garden to get to the viewing area for the falls.

sylvia3

I think the OP wants the polynesian luau show that goes with a $75 ticket, not just a roasted pig in the ground and side dishes. (The King Kam hotel is under new ownership; part of the Marriott chain now, a Courtyard.)
Here's that vrbo link:
http://www.vrbo.com/413069
I assume that's the one that failed, because the others worked for me.

sylvia3

My post went missing: the Marriott and Hilton luau pages are available from the hotel pages, sorry about that (one of them still works)!

ChiSue

I doubt many visitors want to stay far from the beaches in Paniolo Village. It was lodging built for the tradesmen building the Waikoloa resort properties below.

I wouldn't want to drive across the island twice in one day, especially with two small children: Kohala Coast - Hilo - back again. I would also not want to do it after dark. This also limits you to a very short time at VNP. (Think about, "Are we THERE yet?")

sylvia3

I've done it many times; always enjoy the scenery. Certainly it can be a long day, and not everything will be seen that's on an "east side" list, but I think it's well worth the effort.

I suggested Paniolo condos as an alternative to someone's suggestion of Waimea; I agree that Wailola resort and other coastal west side places are far better than more inland towns such as Waimea and Waikoloa village.
(Although, to be fair, if Waikoloa village is the choice, it's only a 6 mile drive to the main highway, not "far from the beaches" at all.)

FaceInTheCrowd

It would be a huge step down from the Four Seasons obviously, but as a last resort, I think you could get a room under $200 at the Royal Kona Resort in downtown Kailua-Kona. No good beaches nearby (but with your budget, you'd have to drive to one anyway), but it's got a nice setting, and one of the best Mai-Tai bars in the state (gotta have your priorities in order .

The deal with condos is that most require minimum night stays of 3 or more, plus tack on a cleaning fee that would drive up the cost of a 2-night stay $75 +/- per night over the stated rate.

sylvia3

As I stated, the one I mentioned waived the minimum for us; cleaning was very reasonable ($125), I thought. Plus, by the time you've looked at the extra expenses not usually mentioned on hotel websites, such as parking, resort fees, and taxes (and even wireless internet), not to mention the now-mandatory restaurant dining, a condo wins for me, hands down. Not to mention the fact that you don't have to clear out when the maid service comes around, you can schedule naps and snacks and all your meals, pack picnics, plus the sheer space and quiet, I would always pick a condo over a hotel.