Getting around the Big Island is very simple since there is (pretty much) one highway going around the whole island. Check out the map of the island included in our photos. It's an excellent idea to get the book 'Hawaii The Big Island Revealed' before your visit.
SIMPLE BIG ISLAND VACATION PLAN OF MUST DO's: (see more details below)
1. Have Breakfast and coffee at Lava Java downtown 75-5799 Alii Drive- 327-2161 You may want to start every morning this way... Our # 1 'MUST DO'.
2. Lunch at The Coffee Shack. The view is 'wow'. (11 miles south on highway 11. (808) 328-9555)
3. Go to Huggo's for a fantastic dinner and view of the ocean followed by Huggo's on the Rocks (next door). downtown Kailua-Kona. http://www.restauranteur.com/huggos/. 808 329-1493. Needs reservation for Huggo's. Alii Drive, right of Royal Kona Resort.
4. Have Drinks at The Kona Inn- downtown on the water- Go for the view and the Mai Tai's. 75-5744 Alii Dr, 329-4010
5. Go to Hawi and eat at the Bamboo Restaurant for a very Hawaiian experience. Shop Hawi then go to Polulu Point (see more below).
6. Go Zip-Lining near Hawi!
7. Do the Sea Quest snorkeling and Cave trip boat tour with Captain Liam (2 miles from the house).
8. Drive to Volcano National Park (dont miss the Chain of Craters Road) and have lunch at Cafe Ono.
9. Drive to Hilo and see the Botanical Gardens, see Akaka Falls and eat at the 50's restaurant on the way.
10. Have a Lava Flow and snorkel at Kahalu'u Beach (2 miles away from the house, best snorkeling on island) and/or spend a day at (the more lush beach) Hapuna Beach, perhaps have lunch at the price Hotel next door- (45 minutes north).
11. Stroll through the Kona Outdoor Market open Wednesdays through Sundays. Downtown Kona next to St Michael's Church.
12. Go to a luau the Royal Kona Luau (2 miles from the house).
13. Check out some traditional Hawaiian take-out food to keep at the house. Kailua Pork gotten at the Kava Bar next to Wasabi's downtown and the 'Dynamite Poke' from Da Poke Shack on a mile away. Also Killer Taco's is a legend in Kona for take out tacos and the famous 'Barnyard Burrito'.
14. Consider para-sailing and Jet-skiing in close by downtown Kailua-Kona.
See below for much much more!
BEST BOOK TO GET: 'Hawaii The Big Island Revealed' (the blue book)- hands down.
The house offers a solar heated pool, an infra red sauna, an extensive video collection, a guitar and ukulele, and some toys.
We have boogie boards, surf boards, towels, beach chairs, coolers etc etc. Feel free to use anything.
A fantastic WALKING PATH is just up the street- (the Walua trail is 3 blocks up the hill to the right). This is a historic trail where donkeys used to deliver goods to this town. It is a fairly flat trail (hard to find in a hilly town like Kailua-Kona) and if you look you'll see mile markers, so you will know how long you've walked.
The house is close to one of the best snorkeling beaches on the island (Kahalu'u Beach Park), one of the best surfing spots (Lyman's Beach which you can see from the bedroom), 'Magic' Sands Beach (the beach is there... then it's 'not' there!) and Keauhou Bay (that offers many water activities- we love Sea Quest fast boat snorkeling and cave tours 329-7238 and dolphin excurions (see below for much more). In downtown Kona / Alii Drive you can sign up for parasailing, kayaking and jet-skiing.
Zip-LINING is now open on the Big Island and it is fantastic!!! We think it is THE MOST EXCITING activity to do on the Big Island. The ziplines go over gorgeous scenery, waterfalls, Hawaiian foliage and cliffs. It is a 4 hour activity and there are 8 different zip lines on the course. And a new advanced course has now opened! The lines proceed from a 'bunny slope' to more challenging terrains and finish with a zip line off of a steep cliff over a valley below! Even the more challenging zip lines become doable (even for the most timid, like Laurie) because the order of the courses ease you into the next bit-more-challenging course and you feel very secure and fastened in your zip lining gear. If I can do it anyone can!! 808-889-5111 or bigislandecoadventures.com.
-SEA QUEST FAST BOAT SNORKELING AND CAVE TOURS mentioned above. (With Captain Liam- he's so funny). seaquesthawaii.com or 808 329-RAFT (7238).
THE VOLCANO!-
.....Ask Laurie for the complete list of activities and restaurants- also included in our guest book in the house!
