I just confirmed our reservations to stay at the Four Seasons Hualalai in late July. We have 7 days. I am looking for good places, other than the hotel to eat, things to do, etc. I have never been to Hawaii before, so I dont know much about the island. thanks

That resort is fantastic, you will not be disappointed. I stayed there a few years ago, bk (before kids). Check out the hyatt waikaloa -- it is disneyland and very very busy compared to the 4 seasons but they have a ton of restaurants. Kona has a charthouse and other chains. Waikaloa has many restaurants as well but it is pretty busy. Have a great time!!!

The Waikoloa Resort that Laura mentions was a Hyatt but has been a Hilton for many years. The Hawaiian hotels change hands so frequently that it's really hard to keep up! I only mention this for those who are looking to cash in points and may think they can use Hyatt points here.

I stayed in Kona last year and Im not sure were 4 seasons is in relation to Kona but IMO Bubba Gump Shrimp in Kona is a fun place and for more of an island experience a place north of Kona off the main road on the ocean side about 10 miles a great, small, very tropical local lunch place.

How is the helicopter tour to the volcano? It is 160 a person. Do you think it is worth it? We dont want to drive 2.5 hours each way to get there.

Depends on how active the volcano is. I don't think it's worth it if the volcano's eruption is not visible, but definitely worth it if it is. There's a phone number you can call to find out the state of the eruption. The number is in the Big Island Revealed book (which is worth getting).

The drive to the volcano may be worth your time, even if the volcano isn't erupting. The Nat'l. Park there has a museum/overlook of the crater, as well as an unreal road thru the park over hardened lava beds, places to get out & explore old lava tubes you can walk in, hillsides that have been denuded of all vegetation, steaming craters that you can walk up to & see lava bubbling out, etc. We also saw what's left of the town that was covered in lava flows in the not-to-distant past. Get up early, enjoy the drive, lunch in Hilo & back again...Also, if you're into history, the "City Of Refuge" site is rather interesting...you could also catch a "local" airline flight to another island for a day trip - people do it all the time; catch AM flight over & late afternoon one back - no problem.

Geoff, please don't omit that drive! It is fascinating, and lets you see how diverse the Big Island really is. I didn't really appreciate the power of a volcano until I saw those cooled lava flows stretching all the way to the sea in the south.

For the price of a helicopter tour or less, you might consider taking a day bag and a toothbrush and kipping out at a BandB in the Volcano area for the night, would give you more time to explore.

I'd suggest a trip to the summit of Mauna Kea. It is amazing terrain, the stargazing is some of the best in the world and the observatories on the top are interesting in their own right. You can get a free tour (if you have your own 4WD vehicle) from the Mauna Kea Visitor's Center (http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/summittour.html). My wife and I took the tour last October and it remains as one of our best memories of the whole trip.

What would be the best car to rent for the drive over? Some kind of SUV?

If you are driving to the Mauna Kea summit, the free tour requires you have a 4WD vehicle of some sort. Unfortunately, all the main car rental companies make you sign something that basically says you won't take the car up Mauna Kea, so if you do you are on your own if trouble happens. We didn't find the road all that bad and had no trouble at all but that was back in October. There was one local car rental place that allowed you to drive up to the top but they were expensive as I remember.

Geoff,

I was on the Big Island a few years ago for a business meeting and stayed at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows on the Kohala Coast. I drove down to Kona on several occasions and found it to be a great place. Plenty of restaurants and beaches, and great nightlife. I would also suggesst a guided tour of the island. I don't remember the name of the tour company, but it was an 8 hour tour which included a tour of the Volcano National Park as well as Hilo. I highly recommend it. The vast contrast of a moonscape scenery on the west side of the island and a tropical rain forest on the east was amazing.

"Great nightlife?" When we were there last year, we planned a trip to Volcano National Park and started our trek back to the hotel (some 3 hours away) right after sunset. Since all the restaurants closed down early, we ended up having a great "meal" at the local Shell Station-yum. Nothing like microwave burritos. We still laugh at it. You don't need 4WD for the Volcano drive. You will park and walk from the Ranger's Station. Just plan your time better than we did!!

I thought it was mandatory for a 4WD?

DON'T miss the Hawaii Vocano's National Park!!! It's incredible. The drive is delightful. Fastest route is up through the Waipio Valley and down via Hilo (southern route takes longer).

Also see the Thurston Lava Tube while you are there. Have lunch at the Volcano House restaurant.

Also, book a snorkeling trip off the Kona Coast with a professional company.

check out the Hawaii tourist board:

www.gohawaii.com

I go to the islands about twice a year....here's what I suggest for the Big Island:

dining:
Canoe House Restaurant - Kohala area
Palm Cafe - Kailua/Kona area
Sam Choy's - kailua/Kona area
Volcano Lodge - Volcano area
Old Theatre Cafe - breakfast/lunch - on the way to the volcano
Bamboo Hut - Hawi area
Francis K. Browns - Kohala area


Things to do:
Must do the volcano nat'l park - try to arrange an overnight stay at one of the B&B's or lodges....that way you're not spending a lot of time driving in one day

in volcano area: Turston Lava tube is something you should do once if you're in the area...then you can say you walked through a lava tube...

in the volcano area: end of chain of craters road for sunset/twilight...(check with the ranger station)...at dusk you may actually see lava pouring into the ocean. daylight makes it hard to see anything but steam. dusk/night gives you the opportunity to see the glow of the lava.

Explore the beach at the Mauna Kea (my favorite resort)

Do the drive up the Kohala Coast - towards Hawi, then around the "upcountry" side....a lush, green, beautiful!

if you're into sea rafting and snorkeling, take "Sea Quest Adventures"...you're on a smallish inflatable raft - about 6-8 people - but you go to great snorkling areas and sea caves (depending on waves)

go to Puuonua oho naunau (sp?) The place of refuge. Interesting artifacts, and shows some of the ancient Hawaiian culture as well as "religious" sites.

up past the Kohala area is a "heiau" or sacred place of ancient worship (I think this one involved human sacrafice)..kinda creepy - but interesting

If you have the $$ to spare:
Helicoptor ride over the volcanoes....although you probably won't see the "fountains" of lava, it's always interesting to see the flows and little "skylights" where you see actual glowing lava. you'll also see water falls, etc

Have fun and enjoy!

My faves on the Big Island:

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens - fabulous if you love flowers and gardens;

Kilauea Lodge & restaurant at Volcanoes Nat'l Park - stay there one night and enjoy the vibes of the park & area. Fabulous!

Roy's Restaurant @Waikoloa Village - I think, the best of his chain in the islands.

Do drive through the ranch country in the Northern part of the island - Awesome, as is the drive through the northern area over to Volcanoes Park!

City of Refuge - just wonderful!

And the fact that it is so different there than probably any other place you'll ever go!!!

Oh yes, "A" Bay, right next door to the Hilton Waikoloa - wonderful for swimming, sunning - just a postcard of a beach!

Enjoy!

Lani

Clarification on the 4WD question Geoff:
To take the free tour up to the summit of Mauna Kea you need a 4WD vehicle. If you want to drive up on your own without 4WD you can but I wouldn't recommend it.
Volcano NP, on the other hand, has good roads and any type of car will have no problem there.