I am in the running for being chosen to study, with other educators, the history of Pearl Harbor/WWII. Expenses while at Pearl Harbor will be paid and housing will be at a local university.
If chosen, I want to fly into the islands 7-10 days early to visit the "Big Island" and the national parks of the island.
Are there enough hotels/motels throughout the island that I could find a nightly stop without much problems without a reservation?
I enjoy driving and packing/unpacking is not an inconvenience for me.
The final week will find me settled in the Pearl Harbor area before flying home.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

You DEFINITELY need reservations, especially on the Big Island. All of the lodging near Volcano is B&B's and small hotels, so if you have not prearranged, you could be looking at a LONG drive to find somewhere that has a vacancy at the last minute. Also, the B&B innkeepers often leave keys for the guests, so you may not even be able to find the innkeeper to see if there is a vacancy!

It will also depend on the time of the year, or even week that you travel. Besides hotel rooms, you may find it hard to get an airline seat and car rental. You should plan in advance.

Yes, I would have reservations before I left.

What do you expect to find with the study? Curious.

Thanks for the quick replys. I will find out on April 5 if I'm chosen. 1 of 2 different weeks are offered: June 25-30 and July 23-28. It's close so that's why I'm doing my homework now and can begin immediate reservations upon the notice if I'm selected.
Perhaps "study" was the wrong word. It's more of a workshop for educators. Studying the events leading up to and following the Pearl Harbor attack. Hearing the stories from the survivors of both sides, Hawaii and Japan. As well as guest lecturers from Japan. Numerous readings are required before we arrive for the actual workshop. Developing more indepth lesson plans to present the history of WWII is one of the workshop's objectives.
The Pearl Harbor workshop is one of many offered throughout the United States covering various subjects. The workshop is supported by the National Endowment of the Humanites in Washington D.C.
So...if you are an educator (public, private, home-school, educational assistant) you may apply for any of the given workshops.
I've also applied for the New York/Ellis Island workshop.
I'll let you know on April 5 how I did. And even if I don't get selected...I'm coming to the islands anyway!!