Hello,

We are heading to the Big Island for 2 weeks.
Is a week in the Hilo area too long?

Thanks!

It would be for me. (A little background-DH and I have gone to the BI over 20 times since 2000. Our next trip is next week.) While we love Hilo-side and do go there yearly, we usually only spend 4 or so days there. We prefer to spend more time on sunny Kona-side--mostly in south Kona--though we also enjoy the Kohala coast beaches.

We usually stay in Kapoho in Puna when we are in the Hilo area--though don't know how the current lava outbreak from Kilauea will affect that in the future. (Here's our favorite place to stay--www.lagoonhouse.com)

The beaches on Hilo-side of the island do not compare to those on the west side. And it rains a lot in Hilo, but, because of that, it is very green there. Hilo has a fabulous farmer's market on Wednesday and Saturday (the Saturday one is bigger) with fruits, vegetables, local goat cheese, prepared foods, arts and crafts, souveniers, etc www.hilofarmersmarket.com

Hilo is also not that far from Akaka Falls and Hawaiian Tropical Botanic Gardens www.htbg.com --so if you were staying in Hilo could visit those as a day trip. You can also easily tour the Hamakua Mushroom Company www.hamakuamushrooms.com and tour and do a tea tasting at the Onomea Tea Company www.onotea.com from Hilo. (Reservations needed for both)

(The Tea Company is right next to the Hawaiian Tropical Botanic Gardens on Onomea Bay.)

Volcano is only about a 45 minute drive from Hilo--though many people prefer to stay in Volcano if they are going to visit the park.

A couple of our favorite (for different reasons) restaurants in Hilo are the Hilo Bay Café (upscale with a view of the bay) and Ken's House of Pancakes (local grinds). www.hilobaycafe.com www.kenshouseofpancakes.com

Hope this is helpful.

In Winter, a week in Hilo would be too long for me. It is gorgeous and green but very, very wet (which is why it is so gorgeous and green). I guess it depends on what you are looking for. I want more sun and clear skies so tend to stay on the Kohala Coast and hang at the beach.

Hilo does provide you close proximity to Akaka Falls, the Botanical Garden and Volcano National Park. I have only stayed in Volcano when visiting the park but you can do it from Hilo as well.

Hilo also is closer to Lava Tree (State Park), Laupahoehoe beach park (and train museum), snorkeling at Kaphoho, the Hilo Zoo is pretty, etc. But a week? Too long, IMO.

I've heard that Hilo occasionally dries out, but it's hard to believe. (It's ideal if you are an insect, an orchid or a mold.) Hilo is largely a commercial port and government town. I'd spend two/three nights in the town of Volcano.

Kohala Coast has the sunny, usually-vog-free beaches.

Great! Thanks so much everyone for the responses. It seems like a week would be too long. Part of the reason to also stay the week is because lodging in Kona/Kohala is pretty hard and EXPENSIVE to come by in December. But this info helps!

If you are going in December, particularly during the holiday season, reserve a car ASAP if you have not already done so. Don't book anything else until you have locked in a car. They sell out during the holidays and the rates you can be quoted might be astronomical. The Big Island without a car is not really possible.

In terms of lodging, try for condos. They tend to be less expensive than hotel rooms overall although can't imagine there will be a ton left for December.

Good luck!

If you smoke pot and listen to Rasta, then go to Hilo. Otherwise stay on the other side of the island.

Do the helicopter tour of the volacano. Absolutely awesome.

With the lava flow being so active, a helicopter tour should also be reserved in advance.
(Hope everyone in Pahoa is doing ok with the chaos.)

Also, go immediately to VRBO and input your desired dates; there's still condo availabilty (for example, in Waikoloa Beach Resort), but December, January and March are pretty popular on the west side.

For your car rental try discounthawaiicarrental.com
They are a wholesaler and get good rates from the majors.
Good advice from others about getting your car reserved now.

Thanks so much for the tips on car rentals and condos.

We only stayed two days in Hilo and it was enough to see what we wanted to see. The car rental tip is really important, once the cars are gone, they are gone, it's an island, you can't bring more in....
We stayed in Kona because it is cheaper: http://www.gotokonareef.com/ We stayed in an oceanfront condo and enjoyed ourselves tremendously. They have a nice pool with BBQ area and it is within walking distance to good restaurants and the downtown Kona area. We enjoyed exploring Kona and the fresh fruits in the outdoor market. The Kohala beaches are the best and within 1/2hr drive.