Hawaii at last

We took a helicopter tour of the Big Island and I have to say it was really one of the highlights of the trip. How often to you get to see an active volcano? It was flowing into the ocean when we saw it. A thrilling experience. We attended a traditional Hawaiian barbecue, otherwise known as the luau. The show was really a display of all of the cultures that make up Hawaii.

Quick Tips:

We went into Kona for shopping and that was nice too. You can find some real bargains if you look. If you can wait, take the time to shop in Honolulu. There is a mall, kind of an open air one, that has about 300 or more shops. I really got carried away here. It is located on the shoreline drive. Very easy to find.

Best Way To Get Around:

Rent a car if you're staying at The Bay Club at the Wailkola Beach Resort. It is a beautiful place, but you will need a car to get to Kona or around the island.

Best Things Nearby:
Hilton Resort was close by and it is somethng everyone should see. It has an open-air lobby and a huge lagoon off of that. The Kings shops were close by and had great shopping at reasonable prices.

Best Things About the Resort:
There were five people on our trip and the unit was so spacious that no one felt crowded. The patio started off of the living room and continued on around to the master bedroom. There was a wet bar on the patio too. Very handy.

Resort Experience:
The grounds of The Bay Club were beautifully kept up and the flowers and trees made this a true Hawaii experence. There is a golf club at the resort and we could watch people playing from the condo. We would like to visit here again.

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

We wanted to attend an athentic luau, and were told this was one to go too. We really enjoyed the show. It was what we were expecting, hula girls and all. The food was typical island fare--pork cooked in the ground, beef, fish, fresh fruits, and the traditional poi. Lots of drinks to wash it down with.

We remembered this name from the movie Forrest Gump, and decided to try it. They have very good seafood. Some in our party had the coconut shrimp and that was too tasty. The bucket of shrimp that they serve in a real bucket was very good too. We ate outside by the ocean and really hated to leave when the meal was over.

We found a brochure in the resort office and decided to give snorkeling a try. We went on the Fairwinds boat. It was a trip that included snorkel gear, drinks, and snacks. It was an all afternoon activity and we absolutely loved it. Our son is a scuba diver and he even enjoyed it. The boat crew was very friendly and helpful. If you want to really enjoy snokelling and you haven't done it yet, I would recommend the Fairwinds boat for it.