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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
 Posted - 02/06/2010 : 6:13:44 PM
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Thanks for the plug, bubba. Anyone who is interested in the Big Island would do well to check out KONAWEB. We try to keep an up-to-date list of who is playing where... in the world of Hawaiian Music.
We also keep a "Reader's Restaurant Recommendations" page, and the forums are an excellent place to ask questions about the Big Island. The Big Island is seriously under rated. Most people head for Maui or Kauai.... or Oahu. Being older islands, they all have more white sand. Big deal! The Big Island has so much beauty. Huge mountains, and a few world class white sand beaches. A live volcano.... HELLO!!!??? Where else can you experience the power and awesomeness of a live volcano? And yes, the other island do have a lot of great things to enjoy, but the Big Island should DEFINITELY not be missed!!!
Hilo is really a great town. Waimea is Paniolo Country, Naaleahu has Dennis Lake, Hawi has John Keawe, and Kona is where the humuhumunukunukuapua'a goes swimming by!!!
We would love to have you visit.
Aloha,
-Konabob
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Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2010 : 6:40:02 PM
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Thanks everyone!
Mika ele: We'll be doing some hiking on the BI and we might try geocaching. I've done it with friends and it looks like a lot of fun.
Alika: We looked at the Hilton Waikoloa, but we can stay a week in a nice condo for the cost of a couple nights there. It looks amazing, though.
Bubba: The Kona Tiki is on our shortlist of places to stay. We've found too many great places online in the Kona area that I'm sure we won't be disappointed. We've been scouring Konaweb for all the info we can, including rentals for our stay. It seems that it is harder to find a good, cheap place in Hilo these days. Again, wherever we are, we'll have fun.
Jesse |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 08:05:36 AM
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quote:
The Kona Tiki is on our shortlist of places to stay
If you are talking about the Kona Tiki that is right on the water (Makai Side of Ali'i), we have stayed there too. I found the Kona Billfisher to be more comfortable and better for the buck (at the time). Two main problems with the Kona Tiki are 1) It is VERY CLOSE to the road (barely fits between the road and the sea rocks) so it is a little hard to get the car in and out of safely, and 2) It is pretty noisy with the traffic so close and there is also a nearby all night convenience store with the late-night cruisers with thumping bass making visits to get booze. This is a problem with the Mauka-side bedroom. On the other side the Master Bedrooms are very close to a sometimes loud ocean.
From my previous post, you can tell that I am sensitive to unwanted noise in the night. Even with Huggo's nearby the Billfisher was quieter than Kona Tiki. If you have noisy kids, or are from a big city, then this noise issue may not bother you at all.
We have also stayed at the Sea Village and it was the most comfortable of all places for us so far, but I think it is a bit pricier (we made sure we got a Full Ocean-View unit at this place), and I understand that the quality of experience can vary from unit to unit.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 02/08/2010 08:13:55 AM |
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Volcano
Akahai
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 08:59:56 AM
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The Big Island isn't called that for nothing. You should definitely consider breaking up your trip into East side and West side. Hilo is like a step back in time and you'll want more than a day trip there. The best hotel there by far is Dolphin Bay. Great for the family. All the rooms have kitchens. From there you can spend a day in Volcano Park, go snorkeling at Richardson's, or take a great ride up the Hamakua coast. If you like to hike, you might consider a couple of days at a house rental in Volcano Village, a very magical place. With the family, I would stay away from most of the hotels in Hilo you will find on Travelocity. The Hilo Hawaiian would be the best with children. If you do stay in Hilo and you like Hawaiian music, try to stay for a tuesday and catch Ben Kaili and friends at the Orchid Emerald from 6 - 9. Very special.
Kailua-Kona is like a very mini Honolulu. Crowded, with mostly tourists. Gets old in a day or so. Great beaches about 40 miles north. Hapuna, A-bay and Beach 69. Also Disappearing Sands downtown. There are a couple of great rentals in the Hawi area in North Kohala. This is a quiet area with much nature. Incredible hikes and some of the best snorkeling in the world. Fairly easy access to Waimea. Great Mexican food in Hawi as well as John Kiawe most friday nights at the Bamboo. If you are looking for typical Hawaiian tourist fare, Kailua is hard to beat. But . . .Anyway, one of the best places to look is under "Vacation Rentals" on Craigslist or www.vrbo.com.
If you want more specifics, please feel free to contact me. lbroido @ hawaii.rr.com |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2010 : 04:59:14 AM
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| Where's your condo? Maunalani by any chance? It's amazing in that area too. The one I stayed at was right near the golf course. I didn't play, but my mom and dad did and could not stop ranting and raving about how amazing it was. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2010 : 09:52:59 AM
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Volcano, Thanks for the many ideas on the East side. 'Alika, We're still not set where we'll stay, but we probably won't golf on the Big Island. Too many other wonderful things to do.
The more we learn, the more we realize we need to spend more time on the East side than we planned. Has anyone hiked into the Waipi'o valley rather than take a four-wheel drive? Is it pretty strenuous to get down to the beach?
Jesse |
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Peter Medeiros
`Olu`olu
546 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2010 : 11:47:09 AM
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Jesse,
If you and the kids are in good shape you should be able to make the hike okay, but if you or anybody in your party is not physically fit than you should take the 4-wheel drive into Waipi‘o it will be way easier. Hawai‘i is a young island and there are few reefs on the north side of the island. The beaches are not the white sandy beaches that you will find at Hapuna or down in Kawaihae side. In Waipi‘o they are made of black sand, and as you get near the stream the beach is comprised of pebbles and stones. From about September through April there is big surf coming into the bay so it is most dangerous during this time. I surfed down there several times and it was good, but you should be aware that there is a very strong current coming along the coast and can just pull you out to sea in no time at all. In other words it is not a beach for tourists or swimming leisurely. If you are not a good swimmer or ma'a to the place stay out of the water. You have to respect the ocean. Have a nice safe trip.
PM |
Edited by - Peter Medeiros on 02/10/2010 11:04:10 AM |
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Volcano
Akahai
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2010 : 12:19:51 PM
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| An easier and just as dramatic and beautiful hike is down to the beach in Pololu Valley. Much better with the kids. Don't try swimming there. Take Highway 270 to the very end. You'll be able to stop and enjoy Hawi on the way. If you like Mexican food, there is a very small hole-in-the-wall there that has some of the Mexican I've ever had. Also the Bamboo has great food and super ambience. Also one of the greatest drives. Come back on the high road and time the drive for the sunset. If it's clear, it's magical. In Volcano Park, you should do the Kilauea Iki hike. Kids usually love it. |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2010 : 06:22:09 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Volcano
An easier and just as dramatic and beautiful hike is down to the beach in Pololu Valley. Much better with the kids. Don't try swimming there. Take Highway 270 to the very end. You'll be able to stop and enjoy Hawi on the way. If you like Mexican food, there is a very small hole-in-the-wall there that has some of the Mexican I've ever had. Also the Bamboo has great food and super ambience. Also one of the greatest drives. Come back on the high road and time the drive for the sunset. If it's clear, it's magical. In Volcano Park, you should do the Kilauea Iki hike. Kids usually love it.
Yes!!!!!!! Don't miss Kilauea. And if you have time afterwards, be sure to go to 'Akaka Falls. Nani! |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2010 : 10:22:38 AM
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In addition to the volcano, which cannot possibly be described adequately, I liked Nani Mau Gardens. So many beautiful things there, oh my the flowers. And that is where I saw my first mongoose. Scared the you know what outta me, because he came out of nowhere. Gosh, I thought it was a rat or something. I am not sure where Nani Mau is, but I know we were Hilo side, because we had gone to Rainbow Falls that day. Auwe, no rainbow. It was raining.
I remember somewhere on here was a picture of a mongoose that Braddah Ed posted. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 02/10/2010 10:23:22 AM |
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Heading to the Big Island
