Thread: BIG ISLAND of Hawaii - What's fun to do there??

We are going to the Big Island of Hawaii from Feb 12 - 17th and I'd like some help deciding what to do when we get there!

I have looked at the websites (hundreds of them!) but I'd like to hear from my CLF friends first-hand about what's really fun and what wasn't so great...

We are definitely going to Volcanoes National Park. So what else should I not miss ???

PS - We were there once before on a one-day cruise stop. We saw the Place of Refuge, the Painted Church, the town of Kona, and did a helicopter tour over the volcano/lava. But that's all we saw...

take a tour of volcanoes national park.. you can go from lava flow and craters to tropical rain forest in about an hours drive!!!!

stop at the mauna loa macadamia nut factory!

Originally Posted by jstducky

take a tour of volcanoes national park.. you can go from lava flow and craters to tropical rain forest in about an hours drive!!!!

That's the ONE thing I have already planned! We're definitely doing that...

stop at the mauna loa macadamia nut factory!

Oh NO WAY! I don't have to willpower to be good around that much chocolate! I gained ten pounds on our last trip because of *&^!@ chocolate!!

There's great places to snorkel, coffee plantations to visit, but when I go back to Hawaii, I want to spend time at the Hilton Waikoloa. It is the MOST amazing hotel ever. The rooms are built around several connected lagoons, and there are boats on rails and trains to take you around the hotel. There is a Japanese restaurant that looks charming in the middle of one of the lagoons, an Italian restaurant that looks like a villa, among other restaurants as well. They have a program for swimming with the dolphins. The landscaping is phenomenal. The artwork along the corridors rivals some museums. The surf is too rough for swimming, but they built some inland beaches that are very calm with water channelled from the Pacific right behind the hotel. There is also a pool with a rope bridge crossing it, just like at the Acapulco Princess. This is an amazing place to visit.

http://www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com/index_flash.asp

MC, we're staying at the Fairmont Orchid, which is near the Hilton...from what I've heard. I hope to stop by and visit it!

I went years ago, when I stayed at some condos south of Kona, and it was a great side trip! You could easily spend the day there; they may have day passes for the pool, if it is really warm.

Originally Posted by MCcruiser

I went years ago, when I stayed at some condos south of Kona, and it was a great side trip! You could easily spend the day there; they may have day passes for the pool, if it is really warm.

Well, I only have 6 days...and two of them are travel days. So that actually leaves 4 full days on Hawaii. In that time I probably want to snorkel (not sure where...any suggestions?), see whales (I hope!), go to the beach (not sure which is best), maybe go to a luau (not sure where), definitely see the volcano, see waterfalls and rainforests, go out on a party boat (Captain Beans!), spend time in Kona...shop a little...drive to Hilo if we have time... So I don't think I am going to get to spend much time at a pool...even if it's awesome. Not on this trip, anyway. I wish I had two weeks to spend there!!

THL,

I may be slightly biased but I would suggest snorkeling...every day!

Seriously now...over near Hilo there are a couple of wonderful waterfalls to hike to, not too strenuous through. I have been to Rainbow and Akaka falls in the past and recommend them both. If you are in to long hikes, take the side trip from VNP (volcanos national park) down to the active flow and hike out on it for pictures of the lava flowing in to the sea.

and of course, snorkel every day.

SB

Originally Posted by SnorkelBill

THL,

I may be slightly biased but I would suggest snorkeling...every day!

Seriously now...over near Hilo there are a couple of wonderful waterfalls to hike to, not too strenuous through. I have been to Rainbow and Akaka falls in the past and recommend them both. If you are in to long hikes, take the side trip from VNP (volcanos national park) down to the active flow and hike out on it for pictures of the lava flowing in to the sea.

and of course, snorkel every day.

SB

Bill, thank you so much for the info!! But please...tell me the best places you snorkeled if you don't mind!!