scottiedogluvr

We are planning on going to the big island of Hawaii in August. We've never been there before. We are trying to plan out our trip now and have a few questions.

We plan on flying into Kona airport and we are staying for 7 days. We plan on renting a car too.

We don't want to do the resort thing. We would prefer to stay in a condo (with a washer/dryer). Can someone recommend a good condo place to stay in? Price range would be $150 + a night.

We can't decide whether or not to stay in the Kailua-Kona area or go up to Kohala. Aren't all of the condo's located in the Kailua-Kona area? I know the Kohala area is very expensive.

We plan on buying groceries...at least for breakfast and snacks. I know food is expensive there. What's the average cost of milk and cereal? Coffee?

What's the average price of gas?

Can someone please recommend some good restaurants to try in the Kohala or Kona area? Thanks Price is no concern.

We have several activities we would like to do. We want to go snorkeling, check out the volcano, tour a coffee plantation and go to a luau. Can someone recommend some good places to check out?

We would like to go through a tour company for most of the above activities. Suggestions are welcome.

I've read that the best beach is Hapuna beach. We plan on visiting there.

I keep reading about safety and rental cars. I've read that you're not to supposed to leave any valuable in the car trunk. Common sense. But, I've also read to leave your car doors unlocked so someone won't smash the windows. Is this a good idea?

We plan on booking our trip through Pleasant Hawaiian Holiday's. Is this a good idea or is there something better?

Thanks
Debbie

sylvia3

There are many condos in your price range in the resort area of of Waikoloa Beach (not the village of Waikoloa, which is farther inland). Just look at VRBO. There's a grocery in one of the 2 shopping centers there (more expensive than Kona, but handy), restaurants, and A-Bay is very nice. From there, you have easy access to the other Kohala beaches.
You don't need a tour for any of those activities: if you happened to stay in the Waikoloa area, the Marriott and Hilton both have luaus (as does seemingly every major hotel up and down the coast).
If you can get good airfare through Pleasant, that's great (everything else you can easily book on your own).
The drive to Volcano National Park is simple. Tours of coffee places abound (just check out the kiosks full of advertising and coupons at the airport). Snorkeling is terrific in many spots: for example, Two Step at the Place of Refuge and Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook monument) to the south are great (a boat tour would be ideal for those; some tours stop at both places), Mauna Kea beach 10 minutes north, Kua Bay, too many to list. There is no "best" beach; it's all personal preference.
Rental car safety is the same as anywhere. We've never had a problem, even on remoter beaches (although we always leave windows open for airflow).
Groceries are cheaper if you have a Costco card (also gas, which is usually ~$1 more per gallon), or just sign up for a Safeway card at the store for the discounts if you don't have one already (here's the weekly ad for the Kona Safeway: http://weeklyspecials.safeway.com/cu...howFlash=false). Some things are as much as 30% more, some things are about the same, but doing your own cooking is always far cheaper than dining out.
p.s. If you are flying for a vacation to Hawaii, do you really care if milk is $1.03 more expensive per gallon?

taitai

Debbie

I am a fan of the Kohala area. Personally, I find the Kailua-Kona area touristy and tacky and find the Kohala area with the historic heaius (I probably butchered that), fishponds and wide open spaces more my liking. YMMV. We have always rented condos and have stayed in both the Waikola Beach Resort area as well as the Mauna Lani area. I like the fact that the good beaches are in Kohala as well as great shore snorkeling.

My favorite restaurant on The Big Island is The Beach Tree at the Four Seasons. Gorgeous waterfront setting, wonderful food, perfect experience. It must be one of the top rated restaurants on the island. Merrimans in Waimea is also quite good. Lava Lava Beach Club has okay food but a fun atmosphere and could be a good place for happy hour.

My favorite beach, close to Hapuna, is Kuana'oa located in the Muana Kea. It has a limited amount of parking so a bit difficult to get to sometimes. Waialea (Beach 69), Kukio are also good.

I had never hear do keep the car door unlocked. I just don't leave anything in it.

I would just book everything on your own and not use a travel agent. Seems like a waste of money to me but maybe it increases your comfort level.

Discount Hawaii Car Rental is a great place to find a good deal on rental cars.

I am not a fan of luaus as I find them tacky and not authentic. At least those on the big island. Maybe find a hula dance performance or slack key guitar if you want island culture.

Have fun planning your trip.

martym

I agree with what Sylvia said about condos, and not needing to book activities through a third party and things being cheaper at Costco (though you do have to buy in quantity).

As I recall from our trip to the Big Island in March, milk was ~$7/ gallon and gas was about $4+ a gallon.

Here are some of the restaurants we have enjoyed on the Big Island.
Holuakoa Café is one of our favorites-we had lunch there on our recent trip and it was delicious. http://www.holuakoacafe.com/
Bamboo in Hawi in north Kohala is another favorite. love the kalua pork and cabbage and lilikoi margs http://www.bamboorestaurant.info/

Village Burger in Waimea in the plaza where Foodland and Starbucks are located--great burgers and milkshakes http://www.villageburgerwaimea.com/

Tex Drive-In http://www.texdriveinhawaii.com/ right on the highway on the drive from Waimea to Hilo--burgers, plate lunches and malasadas (Portuguese doughnuts--warm and yummy)

Hilo Bay Café http://hilobaycafe.com/ our favorite in Hilo--a little upscale and right on Hilo Bay

Ken’s House of Pancakes http://kenshouseofpancakes-hilohi.com/ Has everything--if you want to try loco moco--this is the place

Harbor House http://harborhouserestaurantkona.com/ A local Kona favorite at Honokohau Harbor--get the fish sandwich -- also good fries

Lava Rock Café Volcano http://www.volcanoslavarockcafe.com/ in Volcano Village--burgers, stir fry, pies

Here are our favorites in south Kona
Mi’s Italian Bistro in south Kona—good Italian food--http://www.misitalianbistro.com
Ke’ei Café-fresh fish, Brazilian inspired dishes, beautiful décor http://www.keeicafe.net/
Strawberry Patch—inexpensive, good food http://www.kona123.com/strawberry.html
Coffee Shack—great place for breakfast--http://www.coffeeshack.com/
Some information about beaches
the link explains how to get to go to the beach at the Mauna Kea resort (Kauna’oa Beach) since there are only 30 or so parking spaces for the general public --http://www.best-big-island-hawaii.com/mauna-kea-beach.html

Here is another beach we enjoy-- though the road there is not fun--we have made it there many times in a rental car--just go slowly - Kekaha Kai Beach--http://www.best-big-island-hawaii.com/kekaha-kai.html

Kaloko Honokohau Beach-- this beach is just north of the Honokohau Harbor--we usually park at the Harbor (take the first right when going into the harbor (past Harbor House-see above)go to the end of the road-near the yacht club), I think, and park walk down the trail 5 minutes and you're at the beach--it appears to me that very few people go there, especially during the week--the swimming area is gently sloped with a mostly sandy bottom--it is the remains of an ancient Hawaiian fish trap--pretty cool http://www.to-hawaii.com/big-island/...kohaubeach.php

FaceInTheCrowd

Yes, condos along the Kohala Coast are generally more expensive than in the Kailua-Kona area. But you get what you pay for, and on the Kohala Coast that means reliably good VOG-free weather, and proximity to beautiful, remote beaches with some of the best snorkeling in the state. In contrast, there are no good beaches in Kailua-Kona, and it's not unusual that skies there are grey with a VOG haze.

For those wanting to see Volcanoes National Park, usual recommendation is to spend a night in the area, if for no other reason than to see the night-time glow from the crater. Because, while the drive to the park may be simple, you don't want to be making the drive back to the Kohala Coast after dark.

I'm confused that you're concerned about the price of gas and groceries, but not about the price of a nice restaurant meal. Whatever, I think you're safe figuring 15 - 20% above where you live, maybe less if you live in CA or a large city.

Is this your first time to Hawai'i? If so, why'd you choose the Big Island?

scottiedogluvr

Thanks to all for the good advice. I appreciate it.

I guess I'm just curious about the cost of gas and groceries. I don't mind paying more.

I have been to Oahu and Maui before, but that was in the 90's.

This trip is for our anniversary. My husband chose the Big Island this time. He's interested in seeing the volcano.

I'm really torn between the Kohala area and Kailua-Kona area. I would prefer to be closer to the nice beaches and good restaurants.

taitai

Please make sure your husband is aware that right now there are no accessible surface flows of lava. That could change any day, of course. You can still see the glow from the crater at night and should double book one night in Volcano so that you can do that (it is not advisable to drive across island at night). There is still a tremendous amount to see and do at VNP....Chain of Craters Road, Kialua Iki hike, Lava tubes, etc.

Good restaurants are somewhat subjective, of course. Go on Yelp or other online reviews sites and check out what might be of interest. Does it have to be waterfront? Farm to table? cheap happy hours?

My favorite beaches are all in Kohala and in North Kona. They are gorgeous and not all build up like Maui and Waikiki beaches with loads of hotels and condos on the sand.

You will pay more for gas and groceries. Costco is good for gas if you have a membership. Target isn't bad for groceries however we didn't find the Foodlands in Waimea and Mauna Lani to be THAT much more expensive.

Have fun planning!

FaceInTheCrowd

The reason I asked about the Big Island is because the Kohala Coast is nothing like what you've seen on Maui or Oahu, so flying into Kona, you may wonder what you've gotten yourselves into: http://m2.i.pbase.com/g9/35/512135/2...2.P4toZzou.jpg. The several resorts and beaches that line the coast appear as islands between a sea of lava and the Pacific. Not what most of us imagine when we think of Hawai'i, but it has a beauty all its own, and it grows on you quickly.

Others have mentioned loyal shopper programs, and Foodland has one too. We like them because it's a local chain, and most of them have a great selection of fresh poke. Yumm.....

voyager61

I would highly recommend the Kohala area over Kailua-Kona. Kohala is just much nicer, less crowded with better beaches. Waikoloa has a lot of condos, but if you want an old-Hawaii feel, the town of Puako has a few smaller condos and is well located to take advantage of many beaches, but you would have to get most of your groceries in Waikoloa, because the grocery store in Puako is tiny and limited.

The Blue Dragon was our favorite place to eat in Kohala area; it is north of Puako.

ChiSue

In the heat of August, you might want to stay longer than one night on the eastern side of the island. Being farthest south, and with all that bare lava, the west side can really *bake*.

We have stayed Keauhou twice and Waikoloa Beach area more often -- but only in winter months. Kona is too 'cruise ship port tacky' for me...but obviously somebody stays in all those concrete condos that completely obscure the pretty bay.

IMO August is a great time to stay north on Kauai, Oahu and Maui. (I haven't stayed on Lanai or Molokai.)

scottiedogluvr

We are going to book everything this weekend. I think we will stay in the Kohala area. We still want to do the condo thing. I like the idea of more space, able to make food, washer/dryer, etc.
We are just trying to decide what condo place to stay at. I noticed a lot of them are in the Waikoloa area.
I'm used to Maui and Oahu. I enjoy all of the activity and the beaches. My hubby is the opposite. He wants less people and he doesn't really care about the beach.
I sort of worry that there won't be enough to do on the big island. I like to keep going. My hubby loves to sit back and relax. LOL
We definitely want to do the volcano thing, snorkeling, luau, etc.

sylvia3

"I'm really torn between the Kohala area and Kailua-Kona area. I would prefer to be closer to the nice beaches and good restaurants."

Why torn? From your preferences, you should rent on the Kohala coast.

sassy_cat

There is so much to do on Big Island you need longer than a week!
There's plenty of ways for your husband to enjoy relaxing too..!
A few ideas..
Snorkeling with manta rays
Volcano hikes
Fantastic botanical garden, waterfalls, coffee plantations, beaches galore
Star gazing at the top of Mauna Kea
Boat trip for snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay
Pololu Valley lookout
Horse riding
Visit a Heiau (hawaiian temple).Try Puukohola http://www.nps.gov/puhe/index.htm
Swim with turtles

scottiedogluvr

I love the manta ray idea. I would love to give that a try. Same with the snorkeling tour.

Is the water fairly calm?

I love coffee, so the coffee plantations would be cool.

I'm sure we will find stuff to do.

I'm really looking forward to iit.