Just returned tonight from a trip to Hawaii (Big Island). Loved it and would highly recommend it! If anybody has any ?s, please feel free to email me. Just wanted to say thanks to several members of this board who were so kind with recommendations and assistance prior to me going!

Where did you stay? What were your favorite activities and restaurants?

I stayed at the Orchid in Mauna Lani. My favorite activities were the following:

snorkeling (some great bays on the island)
the Volcano National Park (walking through the rain/fern forest was wonderful), the different stops along the way and the hike to the right of the lava tube. Stopping at the L point (can't remember the name) on the way back was breathtaking - looked like all of the blue Crayola crayons had been dumped into the water!
Seeing the petroglyphs (I enjoyed comparing them to the ones in New Mexico)
Relaxing on the beach!

Restaurants:

Merriman's (great food, great service!)
Cafe Pesto (ditto from above)

The other ones that we visited weren't my favorites, so I won't mention them here.

Some other things that we did were:

visited the King's Palace (interesting tour), and the first church of Hawaii (across the street - interesting architecture)

Akaka Falls - the circle route

Played golf (great golf!)

Was there from Thursday PM - Tuesday AM. Would definitely recommend a longer stay but this is doable if you're from the west coast i.e., not that long of a plane ride. Hope this helps!

Hi ldsant, my husband and I are going to the BI next April and want to do some golfing. What were your favourite courses and why? Are the green fees expensive or do they vary from course to course. Any info you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi ldsant, my husband and I are going to the BI next April and plan on doing some golfing. What were your favourite courses and why? How expensive are the green fees. Any info you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi ldsant, my husband and I are going to the BI next April and want to do some golfing. What were your favourite courses and why? How expensive are the green fees. Any info you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks

Liz:

I only golfed twice (north and south courses) at the Francis Brown golf course. Fees were $95 per game included golf club rental, golf cart, practice balls for the driving range. If you weren't staying at one of the hotels, it was $110 per person. I know this sounds steep, but quite frankly, if you enjoy golfing it was a beautiful (and challenging!) course. There are many other courses on the island; these were the closest to where we stayed.

Thanks for your info. We are going to the BI next month.

Can you describe how to get to the "L point" you describe?

Thanks

Sure - we took the northern route to get to Hilo (from Mauna Lani). Along the route (before you get to the falls and way before the park) you will see a sign for Scenic Drive - 4 miles (in blue signage). Follow the drive for 4 miles and voila! There is the lookout point. You can walk around the rocks and there is a park around this site as well. For me I found it absolutely breathtaking. When I get my pictures back this week I'll know exactly what the place was called (I know it was a harbor of some sort). Sorry, hope this helps.

ldsant,
Could the L point be Laupahoehoe?

CAthy

Dear ldsant,
My wife and I are going to the Big Island May 13, for a full week, staying on Kona Coast. Would you suggest taking the 8-hour "round the island" tour bus...or just rent a car (how much are they going for for a week) and do it on our own?
Thanks,
Lyle

Lyle - if you possibly can, try and spend a couple nights on the east side of the island, so that you can really emjoy Hilo and volcanoes national park. Trying to see it all in an 8 hr trip, whether by car or by bus, would be a huge mistake. This also gives you more time to enjoy the incredible scenic drives on the east side. Enjoy!

Lyle:

I agree - rent a car! Not only did we go to the eastside (Hilo) and the Volcano Park, but a car enabled us to go to Waimea for dinner, out of Mana Lani, over to Kona, etc. There were many places that we found just by being lost and driving around *yes, I know, you're on an island you can't get lost. . .right!

Anyway, car rentals aren't that expensive (outside of the convertible) and it really allows you to come and go. Have a great trip! Please feel free to email me if you have any other ?s.