Well, I highly concur with the Kountry Kitchen recommendation, but also wanted to mention that we had a couple of really good dinners at Josselin's in Poipu if you happen to be in the area. It's "small plates", meant to be shared, and a very innovative menu.

Thanks! Made note!

two hundred nine.

91 Days before JFK --> HNL! Made it down to double digits.

cd -- I'd be interested in hearing how you like WBV. We stayed there two years, but long ago. We enjoyed watching the canoe clubs and once had a monk seal visiting for a few days on the beach alongside the road across from Coco Palms.

ChiSue, tell me all you know about it! It is ocean front but I can't find a path to the ocean. You lived there? How did you walk to the ocean?

cd--you asked for the following
1. favorite beach --though I'm sure you know about the beautiful Kohala coast beaches (Hapuna, Mauna Kea, etc) here are three we like--that are often deserted or nearly so especially during the week--
Kaloko Honokohau http://www.nps.gov/kaho/index.htm
Kekaha Kai http://www.hawaiigaga.com/big-island...each-park.aspx it is a very rough road to get to this beach--but we have done it in a rental sedan--just go slowly
Ke’ei http://mapcarta.com/24043946 it’s located at the south end of Kealakekua Bay on an unmarked road—if you think you would like to visit it—I can send specific directions
2. favorite luau--we've never been to a luau
3. favorite attraction--here are several we've enjoyed through the years
High Tea at Onomea Tea http://www.onotea.com/
Tide pools in Puna http://www.tropicalsnorkeling.com/sn...ide-pools.html
Circle Drive to Hawi from Kailua—hwy 19 to Kawaihae—hwy 270 to Hawi (have lunch at Sushi Rock or Bamboo; continue east to Pololu Valley overlook; then back to Hawi)—take hwy 250 over the Kohala volcano back to hwy 19 then back to Kona
Holualoa http://www.holualoahawaii.com/ art galleries and a nice restaurant see blow
Buddhist Temple in Ka’u (if you're driving the southern route from Volcano to Kona) http://www.nechung.org/
whale watching www.ilovewhales.com--Captain Dan is the best, IMO
4. favorite seafood restaurant -- don't have any favorite restaurant specifically for seafood; the restaurants all have very fresh seafood;--we like
Sushi Rock http://www.sushirockrestaurant.net/
Hilo Bay Café http://www.hilobaycafe.com/
Holuokoa Café http://www.holuakoacafe.com/
Ke’ei Café http://www.keeicafe.net/
Sam Choy’s http://www.samchoy.com/
Super J’s if you want to try authentic Hawaiian food—located south of Kona on hwy 11, ocean (makai) side of road; easy to miss and nothing to look at—wonderful lauluas—the owner is a lovely Hawaiian lady—if you want to try poi this is the place to do it—closed Sunday—cash only
5. any reasonable places to golf--first of all as I'm sure you know, the term reasonable is relative in Hawaii -- sometimes, if he is going to play several times, he buys a golf card that helps a little
Golf card http://www.hawaiigolfdeals.com/big-island-golf/
Courses he likes play are
Makalei http://www.makalei.com/
Big Island Country Club http://www.bigislandcountryclub.com/
South Kona Country Club http://www.konagolf.com/

Wow, great list Martym! Thanks so much!

cd -- You can't swim there. The unit LR's overlook Wailua Bay, and the BR's are in back. Downside is the mini-mart on the BR side. We used the A/C as 'white noise' at night. It's not far from the Coconut Marketplace. If you want to be on a swimming beach, look in Poipu.

ChiCue, we just like to walk the beach, not swim. Can we do that there?

cd -- Yes, but it's not a very LONG beach within the bay. You can go look at the derelict Coco Palms, never rebuilt after Iniki. LOL Ocean is pretty rough along Kapaa, especially in winter. It is a convenient 'middle' place to stay -- driving south to Poipu and Waimea Canyon and north to Princeville/Hanalei.

cd,
I think NeoPatrick stayed at Wailua Bayview two years ago. If you were to post a question with WBV in the title, he might see it and give you his experience.

Chi Sue, that is the reason we chose Kapaa, because it is in the middle.

wekewoody, thanks I'll give it a try.

ChiSue? What's funny about the demise of Coco Palm?

With the ever continuing beach path project in Kapaa, I think you are going to have a fantastic time cd. More then ever, it is a wonderful central home base to explore the island.

Thanks Lookin_Glass

Heading for the airport--if we can get though the rain and wind in San Francisco this morning--we'll sleep in south Kona tonight -- woo hoo!

I will be more than happy to keep this coundown thread going in your absence marty. Have a great trip and I hope the weather here lets a bit so you can get to Kona! Right now it it storming like banshee where I live about 30 miles from SFO.

martym, have a great time and please write a report!!

Oh dear, in just a few hours poor martym is going to be hit with a full forced tradewind of that horrendous stench of plumeria and ocean breezes. Oh the humanity! Not to even mention the fact that when they land, they will think they were on the space shuttle and somehow got diverted to the moon.