Does anyone have any specific cabin,condo, or small house recomendations on Big Island and Kauai? I have looked at VRBO and alternative Hawaii many times. We are going for the first time to the islands and want the trip to be memorable, but not for a bad room! Looking at South of Kona, a few days at volcanoe area and maybe north of Kona for a few days. In Kauai on north shore. Thanks!
hapata

Aloha hapata,

What's your budget and what amenities are you looking for?

I would like to stay under $175.00 a night. Amenities would be close to beach (except at Volcano)-willing to drive to beaches if parking is plentiful.We like places that are unique in some way that we wouldn't find at home in Colorado. A kitchen or kitchenette would be good for saving on some meals. We will be on the big island 2 weeks and Kauai for 10 days so a few rentals of a week or longer are fine. Thanks.

If I may make a suggestion about the Big Island - staying at or near the beach has its appeal, certainly, but we prefer staying up in the mountains. The prices are much lower, the views are stupendous, you're never more than a few minutes' drive from the ocean, and you don't need air conditioning at night because it gets very cool when you're at 1000 ft. elevation or higher. There are some really nice B&Bs in South Kona.

I have heard great reviews about these places... you may want to pull them up on tripadvisor.com

For Big Island...
The Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort http://www.outrigger.com/hotels_detail.aspx?hotel=93
The Kilauea Lodge
http://kilauealodge.com/

For Kauai...
Pali Ke Kua
http://www.remaxkauai.com/rek/rentals/pv-condos.html
You might also look at these...
http://www.napaliprop.com/vr1.htm
http://www.kauai-vacation.com/index.htm

Happy planning.

If you're interested at all in Hilo on the Big Island, we stayed at the Inn at Kulaniapia Falls last year. They are up above the town of Hilo and they have their own waterfall. It was great falling asleep to the sound of the water!

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I just got our flights - now its for real! It will be great fun deciding where to stay - I think we will do a combo of time "upcountry" and then by the beach! This is going to be a great trip!!!

We stayed at Pali Ke Kua #106 on Kauai last June...bright, clean condo with gorgeous views up the coast and a secluded beach down below with awesome snorkeling. I have lots of details in my trip report here: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34508517

We used www.kauaivacationrentals.com and they have tons of condos and awesome looking houses all over the island and most units have great color photos and little 360 degree viewer thingys.

love
roxy

In Volcano we stayed here in the Bamboo Cottage last Sept. and LOVED it.

http://www.volcanoretreat.com/