Hi!

My husband,7 year old daughter, and I are going to the Big Island from 12-26-02 to 1-3-03. We are staying at the Aston Kona by the Sea condos. Does anyone have any feedback on these condos? Where is the best luaua? Is the Body Glove the best snorkeling tour? If not, what is? Please share all your rants and raves about the island and adventures.

Thank you!

Body Glove is NOT the best snorkeling tour. Fair Winds is--they may cost more money, but they are well worth it. They are the only people to have a mooring right for Kaleakelua Bay (sp??), which is an Hawaiian underwater state park. Its GREAT. They take you out on a big catamaram (about 100 people). It takes 45 minutes to get there, then you dock. The snorkeling is wonderful, the water is warm, the people are very helpful. They have a water slide and a high dive. They provide breakfast and a great burger lunch. We just got back from BI--and the Fair wind cruise was the highlight of our trip. My kids liked it better than the Dolphin Quest at the Hilton Waikoloa where we stayed. Other good walk-in snorkeling by Kona is Kahuulu (sp?) Beach. Its a little rocky and the sand is not soft, but you walk right in, and the fish are just right there. Further north from you, but worth the drive to spend the day is Hapuna Beach. A very pretty soft golden sand beach, with awesome perfect boogie boarding waves. They rent chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, etc, and there is a good snack bar there. Its worth the drive, because its a wonderful place to spend hours and hours if you like the beach. Right in Kona-Kailua to pick up supplies and junk is Costco, K Mart and Wal Mart. Also, in Kona is Huggos on the Rocks, where you can have an afternoon cocktail, some snacks, and watch the sun set. Awesome!

Do a post heading Body Glove VS Fairwinds which is better? I would not want to be on a vessel with a large group of people think this along with the large craft needed to hall these numbers would alienate fish. Sliding board in Donnas comment suggests large craft. Also remember that frequently those party groups will have smokers, sometimes even cigars! Groups can be loud not to mention the dozens around you in the water.

Although the boat was large (maybe 100 people tops) it did not feel crowded--not like a ferry boat for instance. There was plenty of room for all snorkelers, and as I said they are the only Boat with mooring rights to that bay. The walk in snorkeling places are far more crowded from my observations.
Body Glove cruises goes to a different bay, and my research told me that the bay had not as nice of snorkeling, and they crammed many more people on their boat. Also, not ONE person was smoking on my trip. As I said it was a Big Island trip highlight for my family. In fact,my children ages 10 and 14 both gave it a '10'--first thing in life they both gave a '10 to. Also, your 7 year old should be fine--they have innertubes and view boards, and the staff was very helpful. They helped my 70 year old mom get in and out of the water. SHE even had fun!!!!

I do not know anything about the Body Glove but I did go on the Fairwinds snorkel cruise with my wife and 7 yr. old daughter. The boat was/is a lot of fun and they even let the kids take turns at the helm. My daughter loved the boat (as did we) because of the waterslide and the platform you can jump off the boat and into the water. I also thought the price was very reasonable (about $35-$44) for a 2 1/2 hour snorkel and ocean cruise. My daughter actually enjoyed this more than the Dolphin Qwest adventure she did on the big island. Enjoy!

Why would you get on a boat with 100 people? yikes!!! Only if there is no other option. I have snorkeled in the Red Sea, Hawaii all islands. Best experiences are on boats with small groups plain and simple. I am guessing Donna did not know the difference never having been on a smaller boat. If you don't have any options other than large boats go. I would want a boat in an area away from the large fair winds vessel so it sounds good that they go to secluded areas. It is my experience that good snorkel boats anywhere find their own place and don't piggyback in popular spots. The smaller boats are more dependent on word of mouth I doubt they would take you to an inferior area.

Hi--I also did the Fair Wind cruise with an 8 year old--she loved it and had fun with the other kids.It is probably your best best with a child your age-I read once that the Kaleakelua Bay was considered to be one of the TOP snorkeling places in all of Hawaii. They are very family friendly, and your child will love it!!

My friend and I did our own thing and we were so glad we did. Before leaving the mainland we researched the above-mentioned trips, but when we arrived on the Big Island a local suggested we just rent a canoe/kayak (one of those plastic deals) and go off on our own, and that's what we did. We got it from a place in Kailua-Kona and they put it on top of the car for us and showed us how to do it, gave us some paddles and life jackets and off we went. (We never used the life jackets, but of course if we had had kids along, they definitely would've been wearing them.) We drove to Kealakekua Bay and parked the car. We were in the water in minutes. We took our time and meandered our boat across to the Captain Cook Monument. Along the way we saw dolphins EVERYWHERE and we would jump in the water and they would swim around us checking us out, we checking them out! It was so much fun. No hurries, no crowds! When we got over to the monument we put our boat up on shore and got out our snorkeling equipment and snorkeled for an hour or so. Then we had a bite to eat (we had bought sack lunches and brought them with) and then we paddled back across the bay to where our car was. We would NEVER have thought of doing it this way, but now I can't imagine doing it any OTHER way. I can honestly say that it was one of the top two highlights of that Hawaii trip. In fact, I can't wait to do it again! Btw, we saw the Fair Winds boat while we were out and told each other there was no comparison! All those people...UGH! You CAN do it yourself. Your daughter will love it! And it's more of a family thing that way. I've been to Hawaii many times and they are so good at marketing trips...they make you think to go anywhere you must do one of these organized trips. NOT! NOT! NOT!

Thanks for all your wonderful tips! Probably the best thing to do is just figure out what to d owhen we get there. Any feedback on "Kona By The Sea" condos or best luauas?

Thanks

Unfortunately I'm not much of a help with the condos (but the name sounds familiar) nor the luau. My favorite luau is not on that island. But what I CAN tell you is that I did the luau at Kona Village Resort and I did not like it at all. It was high-priced (not a problem if it had been any good,) the stage was FAR away and the food was so-so. And the way we were seated I felt like I was at one big communal dinner. We were so disappointed with it. We've done 5 different luaus on various islands and that one had to have been the worst. I expected a lot more from a 5-star property. (We did not stay there, just went to their luau.) Oh well, live and learn.

Btw, of all the islands the Big Island is my favorite, so good choice IMO!

You brought back memories, Melissa. A few years ago, my husband, son and I went to a luaua that I'm pretty sure was the one you describe. Next to an historical site in downtown Kona? We were seated indoors, as it was raining. First, after dozens of us waited in a hallway, we were given leis and photographed so that the management could sell us photos. Then we were all herded into a huge room with long tables stretching back a good distance. This meant that those entering first got to sit near the stage, if they wished, while those farther back got to go to through the buffet line way before, and had longer to eat, but had virtually no view of the performance. Somehow we ended up at a front table with a good view of the stage. We were pleased with this arrangement, as the show proved to be better {not great} than the food. I do remember that there was a particular hotel luaua that has a great reputation as standing out from the rest, and wished we had payed the higher price to go there! Sorry, the name escapes me.

I do not want to get into a debate but I certainly would encourage you to go to the www.fairwind (or fairwinds).com web site. I think your daughter and you will have a marvelous time. I used to live on the big island and believe I know a little about what I'm saying. PS: If you're never NOT NOT NOT going to do any of the things mentioned, make it the luau. PS: In the midwest we call them a pig roast!