Big Island Hawaii Questions and Answers

Big Island Condo Rentals - an authentic Hawaiian experience at the Big Island's most popular beach resorts.

Going to Kona, Big Island what is the best authentic hawaiian restaurant on the island?
I want eat authentic hawaiian food. I personally do not know anyone their so restaurant is my option. What is a good place to eat that is near the Kona side or a place anywhere on the island that just surpasses the rest. Any recomendations on what I should try. I want personal expierences not refrences to websites that offer information on places to go. Thanks.

What to see on the Big Island in Hawaii?
I'm going on vacation to Hawaii and staying in Kona. I'm planning to rent a car and see all the beautiful sights there, however I don't know what those sights are. Do you know what the 'must-see' sights on the Big Island are? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated as well. I would prefer cheaper solutions and maybe some hints on cheap car rental and cheap dining. Thanks in advance.

Have you been to Hawaii?
My family is going to hawaii for spring break and we are looking for a good place to stay on the Big Island. Cost isn't to much of a problem but we would like a condo on the beach (sandy beach not lava). Do you have any good suggestions on where to stay on the West side of the Big Island of hawaii? THanks so much!

Hawaii?
I'm thinking of going to Hawaii for a while. Seven people including me. I was thinking of going to Hawaii (Big Island) for a couple of days and then spending a week or so at Kauai. Sound good? Any ideas? Also I need to find a nice hotel or condo something cheap on the Big Island. Help!

My wife and I are visiting Hawaii for the first time. What should we do on which island?
We arrive in Maui and plan to stay on West Maui coast in a condo. Then we will go to Kona on the Big Island (only flights open to use my award miles). We are looking for snorkeling, nature sight seeing, beach time, dolphins, and experiencing anything Hawaiian. How would you split your time between the 2 islands and what acitivities are better experienced on either island?

Need help with honeymoon to the Big Island, Hawaii or Kona?
I need a cheap vacation package deal but nice hotel. Please help.

Going to Kona, Big Island what is the best authentic hawaiian restaurant on the island?
I want eat authentic hawaiian food. I personally do not know anyone their so restaurant is my option. What is a good place to eat that is near the Kona side or a place anywhere on the island that just surpasses the rest. Any recomendations on what I should try. I want personal expierences not refrences to websites that offer information on places to go. Thanks.

A. Authentic hawaiian food is usually only served at a luau, where you will get poi, fish, and kalua pig. I suggest you check what Island Breeze Luaus offer (at both the King Kamehameha Hotel and the Fairmont Orchid Hotel -). Their shows are awesome, especially the Gathering of the Kings (totally different from other luau shows).

Local food is where you will find a better selection of choices. Local food is any combination of hawaiian, chinese, japanese, american, etc., food. In Kona (where I am from), I suggest you check out Kona Mix Plate at Lanihau Center and Teshima’s Restaurant in Kealakekua (79-7251 Mamalahoa Highway). Both offer great local food at great prices. Just remember, these are local favorites so if you go at the peak of lunch time, there will be a line.

If you are driving around the island, there are some highlights like getting malasadas in Honoka’a, loco moco in Hilo, and sweet taro bread in Na’alehu. Of course, there are many excellent, gourmet style restaurants in Waikoloa and Waimea, but prepare for $$$.

Best thing you can do is to ask some locals where they like to eat when you get there. Just remember, aloha is all about respect. You give it, you’ll get it back. Enjoy Kona! Aloha.

A. I haven’t been there in a few years so I can’t tell you which restaurants to go to. However, I can make some recommendations on what to try.

If this is your first visit to the Islands, you should consider going to a luau. Most offer some type of dinner show along with a buffet dinner. This is where you’ll be able to try a variety of “authentic” dishes. Amongst them should be:
Lomi Lomi Salmon
Potato~Mac Salad
Kalua Pig
Lau-Lau
Kalbi Beef Short Ribs
Huli Huli Chicken
Chicken Long Rice

You’ll also find Poi but this is not something that I would recommend in large quantities for beginners. Take a little dab, either you’ll love it or you’ll hate it. Me, I stay away from it.

Two things you should know about Hawaiian food. First, many of the dishes are modified versions of dishes from other countries. There is a large influence from the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Phillipino and Portugese cultures. The second is that the modern versions of Hawaiian foods may not be the healthiest for you. Take, for example, Loco Moco, a working mans breakfast. Two scoops rice covered by two fried hamburger patties (with onions and garlic mixed in), covered by two fried eggs, and the whole thing covered with gravy.

One of the best meals I ever had was on Hilo side at a restaurant south of Turtle Bay. I ordered the blue plate special. It came on a three-section plate that was not blue. Piled high on the plate were seven different food items. Don’t ask me what they were, I don’t remember but it was darned good. Price? How’d we find it? There were two restaurants at that T-intersection. The one we chose had two police cars parked in front of it. Aloha!

~~~~

What to see on the Big Island in Hawaii?
I'm going on vacation to Hawaii and staying in Kona. I'm planning to rent a car and see all the beautiful sights there, however I don't know what those sights are. Do you know what the 'must-see' sights on the Big Island are? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated as well. I would prefer cheaper solutions and maybe some hints on cheap car rental and cheap dining. Thanks in advance.

A. I'm going to Kona too this Sat for a week. Some of the places I've visited on previous trips are White sands beach south of Kona village, Kekaha Kai State park which has a really nice, large beach, Volcanoe national park, Akaka Falls on the Hilo side of the island, ect.

Volcanoes National Park is really cool and you can walk through volcano craters and there is a spot you can drive to where you can watch lava flow into the ocean, going around sunset is best. Also going to some of the really big resorts is fun, especially the Waikaloa resort, it's huge and there is plenty to see and do there. Go snorkeling, scuba diving, or fishing on a boat. There are shops and resturants in downtown Kona. Take a drive to the other side of the island to Hilo or the northern section and check out all of the sites there.

If you want to do cheap dining the best way is to rent a condo/vacation rental and just make food there. My dad has a condo there and that is usually what we do instead of eating out every night.

A. Two main things on the Big Island, the volcano's and coffee plantations. This is the island where Kona coffee is grown.

~~~~

Have you been to Hawaii?
My family is going to hawaii for spring break and we are looking for a good place to stay on the Big Island. Cost isn't to much of a problem but we would like a condo on the beach (sandy beach not lava). Do you have any good suggestions on where to stay on the West side of the Big Island of hawaii? THanks so much!

A. We stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island. If you go to the website, you will be amazed! They have everything in the resort: a dolphin pool, pink flamingos, about 5 pools, a couple waterslides, a huge snorkling lagoon, several restaurants, waterfalls, and so much more! We just got back from there and it was amazing!

A. You can contact the Hawaiian Convention and visitors Bureau to begin with, they will tell you. It's been a while since I've been there (Big Island). My family lives in Oahu and Maui. I go there every two months.

~~~~

Hawaii?
I'm thinking of going to Hawaii for a while. Seven people including me. I was thinking of going to Hawaii (Big Island) for a couple of days and then spending a week or so at Kauai. Sound good? Any ideas? Also I need to find a nice hotel or condo something cheap on the Big Island. Help!

A. Or you could spend 5-6 days on Maui. Maui is about twice times the size of Kauai & has about 3x more things to do. I don't know if there is enough things to do on Kauai to fill up a week for you & your friends. There are 2 cruise ships that stop on 4 islands & you don't have to pack, go to the airport, check in to another hotel, pack, go to the airport, fly, check in. You can spend more than 2 days on the Big Island because it's so spread out (about twice the size of Maui), maybe 3-4 days on Hawaii & 4-5 days on Maui is what I would do, that's 9 days plus half day for travel/switching islands. Yes, that's doable.

Or 3-4 days on Kauai & 4-5 days on The Big Island.
Kauai: 552 sq. mi.
Maui: 727 sq. mi.
Hawaii: 4038 sq. mi.

A. If you're going to be staying in Hilo, I would suggest you stay at either the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel or the Dolphin Bay Hotel. The Hilo Hawaiian is a regular hotel but has a pretty nice restaurant attached to it. The Dolphin Bay is a motel type hotel that has a kitchenette in each room. Both are nice places.

A. I'd see a travel agent maybe. Be sure to see the volcano! it's easier to see at night.

A. Spend more than a couple of days on the Big Island. Its a treaure and...quite big

I recommend you look to rent a house. They are quite reasonable (I beleive) and with 8 people you would do well. They usually have all the ameneties of home... sometimes even including boogie boards, grills, and usually maps and hints about local sightseeing. Consider staying on the Hilo side but north of Hilo. I've stayed in Laupahoehoe a few times, and the location was perfect. Takes less than an hour to reach the Kona side beaches, and about 35 minutes to Hilo. Hilo has a great farmers market on Sat. mornings, and south of Hilo you will find awesome tide pools and of course Volcano National Park. I've also gone open range horse back riding in the mountains near Waimea. Absolutley glorious!

~~~~

My wife and I are visiting Hawaii for the first time. What should we do on which island?
We arrive in Maui and plan to stay on West Maui coast in a condo. Then we will go to Kona on the Big Island (only flights open to use my award miles). We are looking for snorkeling, nature sight seeing, beach time, dolphins, and experiencing anything Hawaiian. How would you split your time between the 2 islands and what acitivities are better experienced on either island?

A. Ok... this is a little difficult because the Big Island is....well,*big* and it's hard to see it all in such a brief period of time. That being said, here is what I recommend:

While on Maui, I suggest you snorkel in two different coves (The Aquarium and Fishbowl) along La Perouse Bay. It's not an easy spot to get to, but it's well worth the trek. Once you are there you will see schools upon schools of fish, eels, a turtle or two and a vast quantity and variety of stunning sealife. The visibility is amazing (particularly in the early a.m. hours). Another activity I would recommend is going to a luau. Old Lahaina Luau is certainly fun and entertaining, but there is also another one called The Feast At Lele which is a bit more intimate and has more of a romantic feel (table served meal vs. buffet). I've been to both (Old Lahaina Luau three times) and I'm not sure which I prefer. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either one. Front Street is cool to walk along. There are so many shops, restaurants, bars and an awesome view of the ocean. I never grow tired of seeing the sunrise on Haleakala. This is something to do early in your trip since you will still be suffering from jetlag. Chances are you will be up rather early so you mine as well hop in the car and see the sunrise atop of an inactive volcano. If time allows, I would certainly take the Road to Hana. There are interesting stops along the way (The Seven Sacred Pools... Charles Lindbergh's grave...etc.) and the hairpin turns throughout the journey make it truly an adventure. Once in Hana there is a black sand beach which you should spend some time at. In Sept. the surf may be a little too rough to go for a swim but chances are you will see some local fishermen out there looking for a catch. There are also some really awesome hikes and sights of nature. Given the time frame, I would opt for Iao Valley State Park which isn't too far from where you will be.

As for the Big Island... hmmm. Ok, you are staying in Kona which is a good thing. You should definitely go snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay. It has incredibly clear water, an amazing assortment of colorful fish and frolicking spinner dolphins. Probably one of the best spots on the Big Island to snorkel. I would also recommend going to Volcanoes National Park. I'm not sure what Kilauea is up to these days but it is certainly a great park to visit regardless. There are so many different hiking trails and interesting areas of discovery. One of my favorite hikes is the Devistation Trail and also the Thurston Lava Tube. If time allows you may want to visit Hilo. It is quite far from Kona but a pretty interesting town to see. The weather may or may not be the best (it tends to rain a lot there) but I enjoyed visiting for a few days during my trip. There is a quaint movie theater which I adore. If you get a chance, I recommend catching a flick in Hilo. It will be worth the effort. If you're into star gazing, then I suggest you and your wife go to the summit of Mauna Kea to see the night time sky. It is by far one of the coolest things I've ever done.

No matter what you choose to do, you will be happy. It is hard not to be while visiting any of the islands. As long as you remember to enjoy the surroundings, soak in the scenery and let the Aloha Spirit take over.... you should be fine. I'm a bit jealous you will be going there but I hope you have a great time.

A. On Maui, I would see the Lahaina Luau - Make reservations in advance, they sell quickly. The Luau is the top rated and really gives you a sense of old Hawaii. Shopping in Lahaina is neat as well.

Take a trip up Haleakula, start early in the morning for the best views. Head to Hana, Fly there or Drive out (long and windy) but Hana is just worth it.

The Big Island, book a Helicopter Tour for fabulous views of the Volcano. Meet the locals, it's much slower lifestyle on the Big Island, so meeting locals is much easier. They'll be sure to point you in the right direction for your trip.

A. First of all, while on Maui, I recommend a helicopter ride. Snorkeling will be great. You need to go to a Luau. I recommend you to that the last night you are in Hawaii. Go to the Wailea Marriott's luau.

While on Kona, you will have to go to the Hard Rock Cafe. I tend to try and go visit the Hard Rock Cafe when I am in a city that has one. I would try jet skiing. Do a volcano lava tour would be good. There are still some active volcanos.

A. Maui has nice beaches -- snorkeling is pretty good there. You can take a boat out to Molokini and do some pretty amazing snorkeling out there! The aquarium on Maui is also very nice (on the road between Kihei and Lahaina -- sorry, I can't remember the name). Wailea Beach is one of my favorites. La Perouse Bay is also very pretty. The Old Lahaina Luau is supposed to be very good -- I would opt for it over most of the ones on the Big Island which tend to be very kitschy.

Visit Pu'uhonua o Honaunau on the Big Island (Place of Refuge). Very Hawaiian, very interesting, very historical. You will get lots of great pictures there, especially if you go late in the day and catch a sunset. You can experience dolphins up close (for about $170 pp) at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. My son did it for his 6th birthday this past January and it was wonderful! You may get lucky and see spinner dolphins if you take a boat tour like Fairwinds, but they are protected by law so it's best not to get into the water with them on excursions like this. A great nature hike is the "back way" to the Pu'u O'o vent (Kilauea volcano). Buy a copy of Big Island Revealed by Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman (there is a Maui version also) and it will tell you how to get there. Driving down Chain of Craters road in Volcanoes National Park is a must! You have to see the flowing lava at night. Just spectacular!

A. If you ever plan on going to Ohau, Honolulu, stay at the Kahala Hilton (5000 kahala street). It is the nicest hotel in the entire world! The staff, food, and environment is amazing!!!! My family has been going there for over 50 years!!! I recomend hiking diamond head, my aunt and uncle did it last year and loved it!!! sorry, I know it is different from your question. good luck though!

A. I suggest a luau - it is perfect and romantic.

~~~~

Need help with honeymoon to the Big Island, Hawaii or Kona?
I need a cheap vacation package deal but nice hotel. Please help.

A. Kona is ON the island called Hawai’i, which is also known as the Big Island. Kona is a district on the west side of the island. Kailua-Kona is a touristy town there.

A. King Kamehameha Hotel - I guess it is called the Kona Beach Hotel. I have stayed there for the Canoe races. It is pretty nice.