Hi everyone. My husband and I are planning a trip to the BI in May as a present to myself for graduating medical school. So, first my questions:
1) I've read a lot of things, including this forum, and tried to come up with a schedule for us that allows us to see some of the more interesting sites but also allows some lazy free time. When I've planned trips in the past I've tended to over plan and so our vacations turn into go here, go there, finish the checklist kind of things. While we always have fun we wanted something with more free time than we usually allow ourselves. Did I do ok?
2) We are also trying to minimize food costs because, while we love good food, it can get pretty pricey. So, I've tried to find some economical but tasty places. Only a few of which are places we really want in our schedule, so any suggestions are welcome.
3) We are leaning away from going to a luau even though I put it into the schedule, any thoughts for or against?
4) Any must sees or do's that I've left off?

Our first 3 nights will be in a B&B in Volcano, and the last 4 nights are at Hapuna Beach. Any suggestions, tips, or ideas are welcome. Thanks to all who respond!

Tuesday
Fly in
Eat Café Pesto
Sleep

Wednesday
Breakfast - cottage
Hilo farmers market - snack throughout, so lunch here? Or find some little spot
Hilo Down Town
Lyman Museum
Boiling pots
Banyan drive
Big Island Candies
Mauna Loa macadamia nut factory
Dinner - Hilo Bay Café

Thursday
B - cottage
VNP, including trying to see lava at night
L - Kiawe restaurant?
D- Thai Thai

Friday
B - cottage
Hamakua coast - Onomea scenic drive, Akaka Falls, etc
L - Huli Sue’s (Waimea)
Hawi -Komehameha’s statue
Petroglyph field
Evening open for beach, film fest, hammocks, luau, etc
D - King’s shops

Saturday
Waimea Farmer’s market for a bit?
B - Tex’s drive
Wiapo valley - horseback with Na’alapa Stables (9AM-12PM)
L - King’s shops
Mauna Kea summit (dinner incld) (3:30P-11P)

Sunday
B - Buns in the Sun, Kona
Snorkel -Seaquest, Deluxe Morning Adventure (7:45A-12P)
L - Huggo’s on the rocks
Place of refuge
Painted church
Coffee plantation - Mountain Thunder
Naahelu (if we feel like it)
D - picnic from grocery store at film fest?
Big Island Film fest

Monday
B - snacks in hotel room
Beach
L - Bamboo?, hotel, or King’s/Queen’s shops
Beach
D - (Canoe House, Four Season’s, Merriman’s)
(Luau?)

Tuesday
B - Ken’s pancake house
(helicopter ride?)
Fly home

We are going here too in May...looks like you are much more informed/prepared than I! Have a great trip!

I see too much restaurant/activity time, too little beach time and downtime.

Do you really have to plan life out like that?

I see a few days that only mention breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'm picturing hours and hours of downtown and beach time in there, Marginal. I just took it as not listing "beach time 2 to 4" -- that would be even more like "overplanning", while perhaps green33 was just assuming we'd assume those things were part of the plan.

Thanks to everyone who has responded! No, I didn't schedule beach time because anytime we are free we will be at the beach. Also, I plan on compromising some of the activities at will to increase beach time should we want it. The restaurants are not definite. I just wanted options for various areas so we wouldn't be stuck without knowing of a place to eat. If we see some cute hole in the wall place that's not on my schedule then I count that as a great find and the schedule changes. The schedule is actually more flexible than it looks.

If you really want to relax--you've planned way too much, IMO.

A few specific comments, the last I knew the lava was not flowing in the park but near Kalapana. So check before you go.

On Friday,I would lunch in Hawi (either Bamboo restaurant or Sushi Rock), drive to the Pololu Valley overlook, seeing the Kamehameha statue on the way. I'd skip the petroglyphs--they're interesting but you already have a pretty full day.

On Saturday, I'd stop somethere in Waimea for breakfast (Hawaiian Cafe??) then lunch either at Tex or Huli Sue's.

Sunday afternoon -way too much. Na'alehu is an hour from south Kona and I'm not sure why you want to go there.

I'd suggest that you have one or maybe two major activities each day--that will give you more time to sink into the wonderful relaxing Hawaiian ambiance.

I'm impressed with your planning, actually. You'll probably tweak it a bit once you're there and see the distances.

Since I'm most familiar with the Hawi area, I'll comment on that. The Bamboo Restaurant is closed Monday, and has Hawaiian music Friday and Saturday nights. You may want to call and see who is playing. John Keawe is a well known slide guitarist/singer, and his wife Hope, hula dances, and it is lovely.

I don't think Sushi Rock is open for lunch, but there is a nice and affordable restaurant called Pico's Bistro (closed Tues), in Kapa'au with a quaint museum and gallery, called Kenji's Place. There are some other good lunch places: Sammy D's is local style plate lunches and burgers with an ice cream place next door. If you like to golf, you can play 6 holes for $6 at the King Kamehameha golf center in Kapa'au with an ocean view of Maui.

The drive between the Hapuna and Pololu via Hawi/Kapa'au is beautiful, and will take you back to old Hawaii. I love to stop at the Heiau at Pu'uokohola at Kawaihae (near Café Pesto), and the ancient fishing village at Lapakahi. These are free state and national parks (close at 3:30) and are educational and beautiful explorations.

Pololu is a fairly easy hike to a black sand beach, and otherwise is a pretty picture taking spot and drive, with scenic pastures, tiny churches, lush jungle, and galleries along the way.

The King & Queen Shops have schedules of local Hawaiian music. You can probably do without a luau, and still see music and dancing at resorts.

If you happen to be there at the Saturday nearest a full moon, the Mauna Lani has a wonderful "Talk Story" night on the beach with great musicians and dancers or story tellers. Call the concierge for more info, and the exact date.

All the resorts are open to enjoy the beach, or a drink, and the Mauna Lani is especially pretty with the ancient fishing ponds.

Congratulations on graduating medical school! You will get a great sense of the Big Island, and just remember to absorb the aloha spirit, and you'll have a great time.

Green33 are you an aspiring internist ? They are usually compulsive and detail oriented- which is a good thing. The Big Island is very big. It is 2-lane most everywhere and very tedious driving.Takes hours to go from point A to B. Going to Naalehu- the southern most point of the US is beautiful but it is an all-day trip in itself.
Staying at Volcano is great. There are trails to hike during the day within the park. As suggested, night time hiking needs to be checked out after you arrive there.It is pitch dark, no defined trails, need to take precaution with flashlights, etc.
You can get good Hawaiian food at the grocery store instead of a luau. Just pick up some poke, poi, chicken long rice,kalua pork, lomi and rice plate lunch with haupia for dessert.
Have fun.

I just left the Big Island two days ago. Martym is correct, lava flow is only near Kalapana.

Hi green33
We will be visiting Big Island (after a week on Oahu) in June. We have 3 nights in a house at Kapoho (so, close to VNP and the lava flow) and 4 nights in a Kolea condo, Waikoloa. We have nothing planned for our days - we're going to take it as it comes (the only thing definite is VNP and snorkelling in the tidepools). We plan to save both money and time by taking packed lunches with us or picking up sandwiches and fruit from the deli/supermarket/roadside stalls. I doubt we'll actually sit down in a restaurant more than twice in the week! Have a great time; hope you will post a trip report.

Kailani gave you great advice. I would add skipping the Macadamia nut factory - it is tour bus central.

Your Monday night dinner: my first choice is the Canoe House, make a reservation to watch the sunset, it is pure magic. Merriman's second choice, Four Seasons is just too far away.

Congratulations and enjoy.

Wow you did a lot of planning I think you are very wise. We were on the BI two weeks ago and did not have plans for dinner - they have Subway but that wasn't what we had in mind. We love macadamia nuts so enjoyed the factory (it does not take long and they give you free samples). I hope your night on Mauna Kea will be as wonderful as our was. It is very cold up there but it is fantastic. I am sure with all the great advice you will get your trip will be perfect.

In Hawi, we really like Bamboo. the people there are very friendly and love to chat with you. We go there every year when we are in Kona, and they always remember us and greet us like old friends. And we really like the food. Try something with their coconut sauce. Divine! Across the street is the Tropical Dreams ice cream store. The best ice cream on the Big Island!

Huggo's on the Rocks in Kona is very good for lunch or a casual dinner. Unfortunately Huggo's Restaurant is only open for dinner and is very expensive for a poorly executed meal.