This two-week vacation had been planned for nearly 18 months in advance, thanks largely to a couple of timeshare exchanges that became available via RCI the leading timeshare exchange company in the world. We were especially fortunate to be able to book two consecutive weeks at the same resort, making it possible for us to be in the same unit for both weeks. It was great!

I had stayed at Paniolo Greens in Waikoloa back in 2000. The resort itself was pretty much the same as I recall it back then. What had changed, however, was the amount of traffic between Waikoloa and the Kailua-Kona area. There was an actual "rush hour" in the morning and late afternoon making travel into the more touristy areas a bit of a hassle.

Because we were staying off the beaten path, it somewhat forced us to do things that we otherwise may not have done because of the distance from Kona. This actually enhanced the quality of our vacation and the experiences we had during our two weeks on The Big Island.

Activities on the northern shore of the island like the ATV adventure and the Waipi'o Valley Wagon tour were both things that I've wanted to do, but because of the time and distance from Kona, we always took a pass on them. On this trip, we were less than an hour from these places (versus two!) so they because very feasible without killing ourselves with getting up early in the morning or long drives after an exhausting day.${QuickSuggestions} I am a big proponent of advanced planning for a decent vacation. Don't get me wrong, I think you need to have some free time from impromptu activities but . . .

The Big Island is, well, BIG! There are a lot of things to see and do there. If you go into it without some game plan, it is possible to run yourself (and your family) ragged and waste a lot of time driving and not doing.

With Hawaii, where you stay will have a profound impact on what you do and how much you can really explore around the island. If you are staying in Hilo, there will be many things you will not be able to see that most think of when they hear "The Big Island" and start planning. Even on the western side of the island where the districts of Kohala and Kona are, there is a lot of time and space between many of the more popular resorts and tourist attractions.

The good news is, regardless of what resort area you stay in, you'll be pretty close to beaches and will be able to find decent areas for swimming and snorkeling. The exception might be the northern shore/coast, between Hilo and Waimea. But heck, there aren't a lot of resorts or accommodations in that region of the island, so you should be ok!

We strongly believe in doing a mix of organized tours with activities companies along with some self-guided tours, exploring on our own time schedule based on our personal interests. Hawaii is an especially wonderful place for self-directed exploration. If you are adventurous enough to take on the challenge, you will want to pick up the book "Hawaii - The Big Island Revealed" by Andrew Doughty. The 4th edition was published in 2007, so that is the one you will want to buy. You can find it on Amazon.com for around $11 + S/H. Some of the local stores on the Big Island do sell it, but at the cover price of $15.95.

Another decent guide book is "Snorkel Hawai'i The Big Island" by Judy & Mel Malinowski. Unfortunately, the 2nd edition (C) 2002 is the most recent version and it is a bit out of date. With that being said, it is still a good resource for those who like to snorkel right off the beach shoreline.${BestWay} Picture this . . . you arrive at your place of accommodations and you ask the desk clerk "What time do I need to leave in the morning to get to an event in Hilo tomorrow?" and the response is . . . "Two hours."

The conversation proceeds . . . "Can I take a cab?"

"Well of course you can, but it will probably cost you a couple hundred bucks." OUCH!

True story of the couple who checked in before us late on a Saturday night is: THEY NEEDED A RENTAL CAR!

I cannot imagine vacationing on the Big Island without a car. I've been there on four vacations, traveling along (2000), with family (2005), with girlfriends (2006) and just with my hubby (2007) and every time I am glad I had a rental car. Even in 2006 when we stayed literally in Kailua-Kona, the tourist Mecca point of the Big Island. Sure if you just want to shop and dine around the Alii Drive area, coping with the mobs of people who are also staying down there . . . along with the hundreds who come into port once or twice a week on the big cruise ships . . . you won't need a car.

But if you want to go snorkeling at beautiful coral reefs and sunbathe on pristine golden sand beaches, you will need a car to get there.

We have always found the best deals through Alamo. On this trip, we paid right at $300 for two weeks. Gas will be an expensive outlay, $3.35 per gallon during this trip, but you will be glad that you didn't scrimp in this vacation expense.

If you want to see the entire island and don't want to drive it yourself, there are a couple of tour operators who offer Circle Island Tours by ground. They run about $75 to $100 per person and are well worth it for first time visitors. You will get to see all that there is to see, and not have to worry or hassle with reading maps, guide books or keeping your mind (and eyes) on the road rather than the sights around you.
From journal Waikoloa - The Big Island's Remote Resort Area