I've been looking at the different resorts so much, I really didn't stop to think if the Big Island was the place for us.

I really don't have a lot of interest in Volcanos. What else is there to see and do here?? All I keep hearing about are the Volcanos.

Is the island pretty & lush like Maui??

I did not care for the Big Island. It was dry and hot, espcially on the Kona side where all the mega resorts are. From the air you can see that the big resorts are green spots carved out of the black, barren lava flows. There is not a lot to do unless you snorkle. That is spectacular but it is hard to do it all day every day.

If the volcano is erupting, I would go there in a heartbeat, even if you are not interested. How many times do you get to see that in a lifetime? If it is not, I would save my Hawaii time for another island.

Hilo is green and lush. Kona is dry. If you are interested in much more to see & do, maybe you should try Oahu?? Check out your options at www.gohawaii.com

I would be staying in the Kohala Coast area. What is that like?

We really like snorkeling and nice beaches.

If YOU had 5 days here, how would you spend them??

We have always stayed in the Kohala Coast area as the best beaches are there. As other posters have said, the Big Island is essentially a big lava field on the Kona side and very wet and tropical on the Hilo side, although the Hilo side has far fewer touristy areas and accommodations. The main accommodations are in Kailua Kona or the Kohala Coast. Kohala Coast has mainly larger pricer resorts. Kona has a larger array of low to medium priced accommodations. Alot of people love the casualness of the Kona area. I prefer the Kohala Coast because of the beaches. Hapuna is a wonderful beach and loved the beach by the Mauna Kea. If you want a lush island I would suggest you condsider Kauai. Its lovely, and the North Shore of Kauai is hard to beat for tropical laid back beauty.

If youre into fishing, Kona is the deep sea fishing capital of Hawaii. Also, waipio valley is scenic and a great place to get away. Parker ranch area is a big cowboy town, cool and scenic. Hilo is wet, with rainforests and flowers galore. A lot of people are thrown off when they land in Kona and see miles of barren lava fields, but the island has a lot more to offer.

I have an article on the Big Island called Big Island Beauty on Epinions.com. You might want to look at it for a description of some of the exotic sights. Search for Big Island Beauty or my penname "LindaS". I wrote that article in reply to someone who asked the same kind of questions.
Also I agree with one of the first replies..if you don't see the volcano (pictures cannot do it justice), you are really missing the most incredible thing!
Have a great trip...anywhere in Hawaii is great. Aloha, Linda

There are also the observatories at Mauna Kea. A fun day trip and amazing stargazing. The snorkeling is great, especially at Captain Cook monument. Rent a kayak and paddle there, or take a snorkeling boat. Lots of great golf courses on the Big Island if you're into that.

I was on the Big Island for the first time last September and loved it!

Although the entire island is not lush and green like the others, there are lush green places. One of my favorite places in the world is Waipio Valley. It is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Very tropical with wonderful plants and waterfalls, etc. It is a great place to go hiking and there are other wonderful places to hike also.

Contrary to some of the rumors, there are many, many beautiful beaches on the Big Island. There are also fun places to snorkel, kayak, horse back ride, etc. The volcano was neat, but there are many other things to do. There are some cute little towns to look around with neat little shops.

One of the best things about the island is that it is not as touristy and crowded as many of the other islands (except for in Kona).

If you go, I would reccommend staying on the Kohala coast and make sure to get the book The Big Island Revealed. This book has so many fun activities and suggestions it is amazing. We didn't even get to do 1/4 of what we wanted to!

Have fun.

A friend from Hawaii was visiting last week, and she tells me that the volcano eruption is now quite visible.

From all the questions and how particular you appear to be, why not stay at home and beat your poor husband some more? Good grief lady, make a decision and live with it! PS: 5 days is not enough time for the Big Island. I suggest Las Vegas or some other trailer park socialite destination.

The Big Island book revealed looks great, Thanks!

How long does a volcano usually erupt for?? I guess that would be pretty cool.

That book is awesome. Use it as your island bible and you won't go wrong.

For a great adventure bring or buy a powerful flashlight (one per person) and venture into the back end of the giant lava tube.

Few people venture beyond the gate at the end of the well-lit larger portion of the tunnel - but as the book points out, you can continue underground for quite some time. Spooky, but cool.

Not sure of your personal style but I'd go back to the Hilton Waikoloa Village without hesitation. It's a huge resort that caters to your every need.

They've done a wonderful job of breaking up the property. There are three towers that are quite a bit apart. One dedicated to families with kids, one to visitors from the Far East, and one for singles and couples on romantic getaways.

I have mixed feelings about the swimming with dolphins feature, but the rest of the hotel is right up my alley.