Hi Everybody
We need your help on planning our 20 anniversary trip. Next July we have 14 nights on the Big Island. The last 7 nights I have a house rented on Waialea Bay. Which I will use as a base to explore that area of the Island including Waipio Valley. My tentative plan is some thing like this, 3 nights at a Condo in Kona. Then 4 nights renting a house over in Kapoho and use this as a base to explore the Volcano and Hilo area. I want to see the entire big island. We have already visited Kauai and Maui (twice). Open to all suggestions.

Thanks
Have Fun
GP

Suggestion for a house in Kapoho--It's right next to the Champagne Pond and has its own snorkeling aquarium. http://www.apoparadise.com/lagoon.html

Go to amazon.com (cheapest) and order a "... Revealed" book by Andrew Doughty & Harriett Friedman. There's one for each island. They are titled Big Island Revealed, Maui Revealed, etc. Excellent, excellent books. The author gives an account of everything on each island, from mile post to mile post, along every road. Tells about things you MUST see, things to avoid, best times to do things, all the beaches, scenic stops, best views, places to eat & prices, things a normal person would never find or see. It also has very good maps. You can't go wrong with these books. I have loaned them to several friends before their trips & they agreed they would have missed out on so much without them.

In May, 2006, we spent 8 days on the BI. Used our Fairfield time share in Kona, but drove to VNP & Hilo area. We stayed in Volcano one night at Volcano B&B on Keonelehua Ave. Part of the Chalet Kilauea collection. The check in office was at the Chalet, a separate place. The B&B was about 1/2 mile away. Owner at check in was very polite. It was rainy & cool, so we needed the little heaters they provided during the night. We had the Elepaio & Malia Rooms (son/wife went with us). Clean place, we were not disappointed. Only drawback was a shared bathroom, but there was only one other couple and 2 single girls there, so it worked out. We are early risers and they were late sleepers. Enjoyed visiting in the evening in the main "family rm" & watching tv. Total cost was $176 for both rooms, one night. It was close to downtown Volcano & VNP. Although it was a non-hosted facility, they had someone come in and prepare continental breakfast of fruit, cereal & fresh, warm muffins. Ate upstairs in the sun room. Was plenty for us and very good. After check in, we had dinner at a local restaurant, can't remember the name, and have very good home-made style pizza! Yum-O

Highlight of the trip, watching Dog & Bounty Hunter being filmed on Ali'i Drive one evening, then seeing them set up for his wedding at the Hilton near Kiholo Beach.

Forgot to mention, after we got back from the drive around the island, we then took a plane tour around the whole island. It was fun seeing places from the air that we had just visited the 2 days before.

Hau`oli la Ho'omana'o (pronounced how-oh-lee la ho-o-ma-na-o) is Happy Anniversary. Congratulations!

Dining: Waimea/Kamuela: Merriman's http://www.merrimanshawaii.com/ Fabulous Hawaiian Regional Cuisine in a down-to-earth tropical setting. Divine.

Go to Tex's drive in Honoka'a (near Waipio) for an authentic plate lunch and the BEST malasadas (sugary portuguese donuts...a local delicacy) on earth.

Dine at the romantic (yet casual) Kilauea Lodge in Volcano Village. Grab a table near the old stone fireplace, enjoy the local art and have a pi'ikoi margarita.

Take the Chain of Craters road (to the very end) in Volcano National Park at night to see a gazillon stars and the lava flow (at a distance) into the ocean. Walk out near the edge to get the salty ocean spray on your face. Be sure to pack a flashlight. This ranks as my most memorable experience ever.
http://www.nps.gov/havo

Hike the volcano craters during the day.

Make a guided tour appt. to see the Lava Tubes at Kilauea. These book up fast.

Black Sand Beach at Punalu'u http://www.letsgo-hawaii.com/beaches/punaluu.html

The best white sand (like sugar) on the island is Hapuna Beach http://www.letsgo-hawaii.com/hapuna/

Consider renewing your vows on the beach. There are dozens of planners who can arrange a romantically simple service including leis, officiant, champagne, cake, photos etc. right on the beach. Better yet...make the arrangements and surprise your spouse!

Looking for an adventure tour? This outfit does it all....http://www.hawaii-forest.com/

Mauna Kea Summit tour (ranked as Fodor's top 10 unforgettable experiences)
http://www.hawaii-forest.com/adventu...-and-stars.asp

Kahua Ranch (Horseback riding & ATV's)
http://www.kahuaranch.com/

HILO:
-Check out the old Hilo town's cafes and shops.
-Suisan Fish Market http://www.suisan.com/market/
-Hilo Farmer's Market (W & Sat.)http://www.hilofarmersmarket.com/

Hike to Akaka Falls (11 miles N of Hilo)

Golf at one of the world class courses in Waikoloa.

Deep sea fishing out of Kona Harbor.

Kahalu'u Beach Park: (6 miles south of Kailua-Kona on Ali'i Drive) place to come face-to-face with Honu (Hawaiian Green sea turtles). They also are commonly seen at Honaunau Bay near the Place of Refuge.

Touristy things:
Luau (at a Resort), Helicopter Ride.

Just a thought...we did the entire Hilo area in 2 days and it was plenty. I'd recommend spending 2 nights in Kapono and 2 nights in romantic Volcano Village (perfect for that anniversary!). There are many, many cottages and romantic lodging in the Village that will give you another perspective (climate change) and very close to the Volcano National Park. We stayed at the Kilauea Lodge a few years back and it was amazing. The photos online don't do it justice. I'm a very discerning (aka picky!) traveler and was very impressed.

VOLCANO VILLAGE (they have a gamut of lodging ranges and types from budget to luxe)....here's a few:

(High End) Volcano Mist Cottage
http://www.volcanomistcottage.com/cottage.html#

At the Crater's Edge
http://visitthevolcano.com/

(Mid Range) Kilauea Lodge (a rustically tropical style lodge)
http://www.kilauealodge.com/

Volcano Artist Cottage (this looks incredible at $109 a night!)
http://www.volcanoartistcottage.com

We're planning a trip back to the Big Island in April, so I've just given you all of my notes. Hopefully some will be of use.

Also, I wholeheartedly agree with Payton's Grandma about the "Revealed" books.

Enjoy and Aloha!

On the Kona side you might consider Holualoa Inn (see info at www.holualoainn.com). It was quite beautiful. The room upstairs had a gorgeous view of the coastline.

GP,

Suggest looking into lodging near Volcano as opposed to Kapoho, it is an easier drive. Or even staying a couple nights in Hilo – there are some nice B & B’s there in Hilo. No good hotels though.

A few nights in Kailua-Kona sounds good.

Instead of purchasing the “revealed” book – which I do not recommend, I usually suggest checking to see what you local library has to borrow. Check out a few books, and hey, this IS the Fodor’s site so check their book out too. I like the Mile by Mile series.

Then start planning a tentative itinerary, around what you and your spouse would like to see and do and where you are staying. Leave enough room in your plan to change your mind if necessary. Remember the island is huge and it takes a while to see it all. Two weeks is a good amount of time.

Good luck and happy travels!

GP< I second martym's recommendation. In fact, we've got reservations to return there in March. It's under an hour to Hilo and about an hour to Volcano-- that is, if you can get yourselves to leave your own thermally-warmed snorkling lagoon.