Thanks for the links, Debit (and BarbAnn)! (But do I HAVE to wear a wetsuit?)

Cjar, it's best to stay in the park (Nāmakanipaio cabins are in your price range) or in the village bordering the park, Volcano (lots of lodging and prices, as mentioned above). Although Hilo is not that far away (and a straight drive), the drive is a very dark 25 miles. (You will notice that overhead road lights are not abundant on the Big Island, in part to reduce light pollution for the Mauna Kea observatories.)
Pahoa covers a large area, and probably isn't what you want.
Hotels.com and many other sites show many Volcano Village lodging choices for less than $100. If you restrict your search to "Volcano" and check the maps for proximity to VNP, you should be fine.

Sylvia, thrust me, that long floating in the water at night, you'll be glad to have a wet suit on. The short ones are perfect; keep your core warm.

Just an FYI, I have read that lots of people get seasick on the Manta Ray tours.

Thanks all.

I will recheck restricting the area to volcano. Too bad about Pahao, we found a couple of gorgeous, serene places that would accommodate a family of four for just under $250 including taxes, cleaning etc. That is more what we had in mind.

Interesting about the seasickness on the tours. I wonder how far out they go ? Is it due to prolonged time on the water or choppy waters?

Probably from eating dinner before the tour!:)

On the matter of seasickness -
You float, dead man style.

We may have had noodles made into to a circle to hold onto, that part I don't remember or that may have been another boat [there are several boats that go to the same location; each boat has their own section to use and method of flotation].

I can get queasy on the water in a boat. I did not on the float.
I was SO busy watching the rays, it's didn't bother me at all.
The time seemed to fly by; when we had to leave, we so wanted more time :(

I only mentioned seasickness as it would never have dawned on me. Like when I booked friends with Gerry RIP for a trike flight. It never dawned on me that they would become airsick. Their minds loved the flight, their body didn't cooperate.

I can get queasy on the water in a boat. I did not on the float

I'm not clear on this -- don't you have to take a boat to get to the float?

Yes.