Hawaii's Big Island

Volcanoes National Park was by far the highlight of our trip. There was so much hiking and incredible sights. We spent the entire day (9am to 8pm) there, but we definitely could have spent another full day. My second favorite spot was the Green Sand Beach. Although the hike to get there seems much longer than 2.5 miles, it was well worth it. We had the entire place to ourselves, without another soul in sight. It was a beautiful sight.

Quick Tips:

Pick up a Hawaii visitors book in the Kona Airport. It is free and gives some coupons and suggestions on things to see. Costco members will find the best gas prices there. Also, Costco is a great place to stock up on water.

Best Way To Get Around:

Car rental is the best way to get around.

The lobby was open-air and gorgeous. The hotel itself sat over the tidal pools, which made seeing sea life very easy. The turtles sunning themselves on the lava rocks each morning was fantastic! The rooms were basic, but clean. It is an older hotel, so the walls are somewhat thin. Bring earplugs. The bathrooms are extremely small. The room had a king-size bed, air-conditioning, desk, chairs, and a balcony. There was great snorkeling (with sea turtles) at the beach next to the hotel.

The kayaking and snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay is great. We arrived early before the masses of people. It is an easy 1 mile paddle out from the unloading area to Captain Cooks. The snorkeling around the monument is great, with a variety of fish and eels. The water is very clear.

Kona Brewing Company is a casual restaurant and bar. They serve awesome specialty pizzas and have a great variety of their own beers on tap. Food and drinks are both reasonably priced. A dinner for two with drinks and dessert will run about $30-40 USD. Service is very good. This is popular local hangout on Friday and Saturday nights, so arrive early if you do not want to wait to be seated. There is indoor and patio eating areas. Some weekends there is live entertainment.