First Time in Hawaii

Best Things Nearby:
Hapuna Beach

Best Things About the Resort:
Roomy, relaxing with everything we need. Quiet area with the golf course behind it.

Resort Experience:
If you want a place that's more like home, this is it. Not much to do on-site, it's more like condos, but we like that it feels more like home.

y bad thing is that Waikiloa is really windy. We couldn't leave our windows open much, especially at night, because the wind would whip our blinds around!

It's 30 minutes away from touristy Kona, so it's very relaxing -- ot crowded.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Great place to start your day. Cafe sits on top of a hill overlooking the ocean and coffee plantations. INCREDIBLE view on the patio deck. The banana, coconut, and macademia nut french toast is AWESOME!! It's worth it to get a latte, relax, and enjoy the view.

We knew we would be snorkeling a lot so we bought our gear at Wal-Mart. Kona Boy kayaks steered us on the right course. We had never kayaked before, but started in Kealakekua Bay and kayaked to the Captain Cook momument to snorkel. Awesome snorkeling sight. Big area with lots of varieties of fish and crystal clear water. Buy a disposable underwater camera at Wal-Mart. They take great pictures in the clear water. We hopped back in the kayak and stayed in the bay until sunset when the spinner dolphins came out. They swam and "spun" right in front of our kayak!! It was incredible. We can't wait to do it again!

This is the BEST guidebook we've ever seen: Hawaii: The Big Island Revealed by Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman. They tell everything like it is because none of their listings are paid advertisers. They can be as candid as they want and we found them to be pretty accurate. They recommended the Coffee Shack and Kona Boy kayaks that we talk about in our journal. Easy and fun to read info with lots of details as well as tons of tips and little known places to visit. They've been to every place they review. Also have written books on the other islands. Worth it to check them out!