Hawaii (Big Island) Travel Forum

We just booked airplane tickets for a Christmas time, 8 days on the Big Island.
I am presently tying to organize our stay there. We will certainly check out some beaches, try some snorkeling...but we are not the "stay on beach" type. Would like to explore the volcanoes, take easy hikes, see the small places and enjoy nature in general. We will rent a car. So far the plan is:
-3 nights in Kona (Outrigger Keahou Beach Resort?)
-3 nights at Kea'au or Volcano (B&B probably but where?)..maybe Hilo?
-last 2 nights in Kohala ( Marriott?)
Any suggestions on reasonable but good quality accommodations for 2? My guess is that it will have to be hotel or B&B as we will be moving around a lot.
Much appreciated.

I am jealous, Christmas in paradise :)

As for your plans, they sound great. The Big Island is an exceptional place for being active outdoor, with the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as a cherry on top (as you already know).

As for your plans, I can only recommend a B&B in Volcano, but I was very impressed by them. Check out the website http://www.hawaiivolcanovacations.com for very cozy rain-forest vacation rentals in Volcano (+fireplace and hot-tub if you want).

I would also like to give some unsolicited advice to help you make the best of your time:

* Have you considered flying to Hilo and leaving from Kona? Most car rental agencies wont slap you with extra fees (call them ahead to be sure though), and this way you avoid going back to places you have already visited.

* For you stay in Hilo/Kea'au or Volcano, I recommend Volcano. Distances on the Island are doable (Volcano-Hilo is a 45 minute drive), but I think close proximity to Volcano is a very big plus. especially if you want to see the glow above the crater at night (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigislandhawaiianvacation/5855473605/)

* While you are on the east side of the Island, go to one of the volcanically heated hot ponds on the Puna coast and take some food for a picnic

* December is whale season. If you are lucky you can hear them under water while you snorkel, but I also liked very much to go to them and see them up close and 'personal'

* I believe there is a lunar eclipse mid-December. If you are lucky and it happens while you are on the BI, drive up to the Mauna Kea visitor center for a spectacle

* Finally, the picture from the glow above belongs to a very useful website if you want to plan your own activities and hikes. see www.big-island-hawaiian-vacation.com

Have a great time!

I totally forgot the answer to your question. The house we stayed in was Hale Sweet Hale (http://www.hawaiivolcanovacations.com/index.php?inc=house&id=15) and we absolutely loved it!

If you have not made your plans yet, please think about these:

For our last stay on the Big Island, we made 9 nights in three places: Kona, Waipio, and Kehena.

In Kona, we rented unit #212 at Hale Kona Kai (http://halekonakai-hkk.com/). On their main page that opens, look at that photo in the lower left of the building to find unit 212. You have an ocean view out two sides of the unit. It is so close to the water that during big surf, the waves crashing on the rocks will throw small drops of water to land on the lanai. And the sunset from the lanai is truly wonderful and is close enough that you can walk to most places along Alii Drive.

In Waipio, we rented Waipio Cliff House (http://www.cliffhousehawaii.com/). The view is spectacular! Richard, the owner, also gave us the combination to the lock on the gate so that we could walk over to get a unique view down into Waipio Valley that very few will ever see.

In Kehena, we rented Kehena Makai (http://www.vrbo.com/133605). This is oceanfront, too. Look at my video: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTFRIHlcX2I).

On a previous trip, we rented another house closer to Pahoa in Hawaiian Beaches. It was oceanfront, too. I just cannot find a link to it right now.

For our next trip, we are spying a place in Waipio called Waipio Rim B&B. It looks promising. (http://www.waipiorim.com/Welcome.html).

Aloha a hui hou!
Tim