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Touring the Big
Island
(Part 1)
We
recommend starting your Big
Island
adventure on the Kona
side of the Island. Both Hawaiian
Airlines
and United Airlines offer equally comfortable
service. Opt for Hawaiian for afternoon arrivals
and departures and United for late
evening.
Next stop:
Getting a car. Kona Airport offers most big-name
car rental companies including Hertz, Budget, and
National. Consider reserving a seven passenger
mini-van well in advance, even if you're traveling
with a group of four. You'll find the extra space
quickly taken up with boogie boards and beach
equipment.
Head for the
Kohala
Coast
resort area for a great selection of upscale
lodging. The Aston
Shores at Waikoloa
Condominiums is a good choice for families
traveling with children. Prices at this property
are reasonable for a luxury area and offer
good-size, well maintained units available on a
daily rental basis. Directly across from the Shores
at Waikoloa, you'll find the beautiful
Hilton
Waikoloa Village,
a mega-resort with a monorail system and dolphin
lagoon.
For red-carpet
opulence, indulge yourself at the Four
Seasons Hualalai
Resort,
one of the greatest luxury resorts on the Islands.
Even if you don't stay there, it's worth a meal at
their excellent, casual outdoor dining
restaurant.
 Continuing
up the coast, the Hapuna Beach Prince is a favorite
beach with locals. Waves are rougher than most
other Big
Island
beaches and therefore popular with boogie boarders.
Caution, however, is advised as swimming is not
safe during certain times. The Hapuna
Beach Prince Hotel,
directly adjacent from this beach, is a first
class, full service, luxury resort.
At the
Mauna
Kea Beach Hotel,
you'll find one of the most perfect beaches
imaginable. A long, soft-sand crescent shape beach
with moderate waves is perfect for swimmers and
great for snorkeling. Only 30 cars a day are
allowed for general public access to the beach.
Arriving before 10:00 A.M. generally gets you in
without difficulty. Try the tiny, beachside
restaurant at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, open to
the public, and perfect for lunch or a cold
drink.
After you've
settled in, it's time to explore the Island. Start
with a highly recommended escorted tour of
the
Waipi'o Valley. About an hour and a half drive from
the Kohala Coast resort area, this exceptional tour
requires a four wheel drive vehicle to navigate the
steep incline to enter the valley floor. Lush,
tropical waterfalls, streams, and taro farms are
best explained by Kelley, a sixty-something native
Hawaiian born in the Waipi'o Valley.
Kelley has
witnessed two major tsunamis which virtually
engulfed the Valley, the guns and barbed wire
fences of World War II, and the Chinese immigrants
who inhabited the valley for decades while building
the underground irrigation systems. It all makes
for an unforgettable part of your Big Island
Adventure.
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