Big Island Trip
 

Going to the Big Island for the first time the last of this month and will be staying in a condo in the Waikoloa area. We will rent a car and want to take day trips around the island. We are middle aged and do not intend to do any water sports but do like to see new places. We would appreciate ideas of what to do, where to go and places to eat. Also will want to stock our kitchen with snacks but not of the quantity required in shopping Costco. Would appreciate recommendations on local grocery stores in the area from the airport (KOA) to Waikoloa. Thanks

There are no groceries between the Airport and Waikoloa resort; however, a few miles behind you, in Kailua-Kona, are Safeway, K-mart, etc. (several easily accessed on east side of highway).
There's a nice supermarket about 6 miles inland, up Wailkoloa road, in Waikoloa village (great fresh fish).
There was a thread a week or so ago about day trips, etc., from Waikoloa.

Aloha cmlj, you will love the Big Island, there is so much to see and do.

A few of my favorite places are:
In Puna:
Volcanoes National Park (eat at the Keawe Kitchen or Thai Thai both are in Volcano)
The lava ocean entry (if still flowing) Eat at Kalapana Cafe at the end of the highway or grab a sandwich and smoothie to take with you from the Aloha Outpost Cafe in the Malama Marketplace just before Pahoa.
Maku'u Market on Sundays - lots of food and local color

North of Hilo
Onomea 4 miles scenic drive, which includes the Botanical Gardens and the great What’s Shakin’ Smoothie & Lunch stop
Akaka Falls and the Town of Honomu (cute shops and lunch here also)

Hilo:
Rainbow Falls; Queen Liliokalani Gardens; Big Island Candy Company; Wednesday/Saturday outdoor market; Lyman House museaum; Tsunami Museaum; Imiloa Astronomy Center attached to the University of Hawaii in Hilo (good food in the cafe there also)
Food: Café Pesto; the famous Ken’s House of Pancakes; Ocean Sushi Deli; Hilo Bay Cafe; Harringtons (Seafood); Puka Puka Kitchen

In Kailua Kona we like to eat at Kona Brewing Company, Big Island Grill, Lava Java or Jackie Rey's.

South of Kona:
Coffee farms
City of Refuge National Historic Park,
Good food at Mi's Italian Bistro in Capt. Cook.

Kohala/Waikoloa:
Day trip: Pololu Valley overlook and/or hike. At at the Bamboo Restaurant on the way up or back.
Other Food: Merriman's Cafe and the fish tacos at the lunch shop at Hapuna Beach (Hapuna Beach is wonderful if you do want a beach day). Also, John Keawe, a wonderful slack key guitaristand grammy winner plays sometimes on Tues. nights at courtyard at the Kings' shops in Waikoloa. If you are lucky, his lovely wife Hope will dance hulo for you also.

There is a KTA store in Waimea, which is not far from Waikoloa, if you need groceries. Also in Waimea is Tako Taco, Daniel Theibault's and Merriman's if you want to eat out. At the Kawaihae Harbor close by is Cafe Pesto (there is one in Hilo too)

There are helicopter rides over the island and volcano, and tours to the observatories on Mauna Kea. I have not taken those, as I like to just keep it simple and low key. I also like to eat pretty simply, so keep that in mind with the food suggestions I made.
Hope you have a great time!

Thank you both for such insightful suggestions. We are anxious to visit the Big Island!!!!!

Driving north from Waikoloa are some interesting historical sites. Pu'ukohola Heiau, http://puukoholaheiau.areaparks.com/ and Lapakahi, an old fishing village with a beautiful view, and picnic tables. http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html...ical_park.html (lots of info at this site)

In between these two parks is Kawaihae Harbor, which is where the movie, Waterworld was filmed. There is a small shopping area with Café Pesto, a nice restaurant open most of the day, several nice galleries, and gift shops, two deli's, a gas station.

Each resort along the way is open to guests for lunch or a drink, and most have some music. All beaches are public access.

Waikoloa, Kona Village (to the south) and the Mauna Lani have petroglyph fields and ancient fishponds. Very nice to spend a relaxing afternoon exploring.

There is an interesting botanical garden called Pua Mau, There are giant insect sculptures, and it is a good place to walk with a lovely view. http://www.puamau.com/area.htm

North Kohala is a lovely area with two small towns, Kapa'au and Hawi. Kapa'au has a charming new ocean view 6 hole golf course where anyone can play for $6, at King Kamehameha Park

There is a very special new museum in Kapa'au, called Kenji's House, which is a homage to a humble local fisherman. Upstairs is a wonderful art gallery cooperative, and downstairs is a great Mediterranean restaurant called Pico's Bistro. http://www.pualiliacreations.com/kenji.html

In Hawi, there is a small Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings, and music most evenings at Luke's Place, as well as Friday and Saturday nights at The Bamboo.

You can continue to Pololu for the picturesque lookout point, or a steep but not too difficult walk down to a black sand beach.

Kapa'au is home to the original Kamehameha statue, and is King Kamehameha's birthplace.

There are so many charming and picturesque places to drive, shop and eat in North Kohala, There's a great grocery store, Takata's which has been family run forever, and several small old fashioned family stores along the road.

Oh, and Costco can be great for macadamia nuts, papayas and apple bananas, Kona coffee, and very beautiful tropical flowers and fresh leis. The selection of Hawaiiana books and music is excellent, and there is affordable aloha ware for gifts.

Thank you to all who have posted. These suggestions will make our trip very special.

We shopped at the Kailua- Kona Safeway, when we stayed at a Waikoloa condo for a week a few years ago. And picked up a few things we forgot at the Waikoloa Village grocery store that Sylvia mentions.