Monday, December 19, 2011

Big Island Recommendations

Given our love of the Big Island (and our many visits), friends and coworkers planning vacations to Hawai'i have begun to ask us what we suggest. We figured it's about time we compiled some of our favorite spots, activities and resources in one place.

The first thing we recommend is to get a copy of "The Blue Book" - Hawaii The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook. This is an incredibly comprehensive guidebook to the entire island of Hawaii, and it's indispensable as a resource while you're there (and before you go).

Places to Stay
  • The Falls at Reeds Island - this is the place we got married, and though pricier than other options, it's well worth it for the privacy, gorgeous setting, and comfortable, fully appointed home. It's also a short walk into Downtown Hilo - though the walk back can be a little spooky at night.

  • Mika Taki - another amazing property on Reeds Island, with several bedrooms and a Japanese soaking tub.

  • Kapoho Shangri-la - like a resort all to yourself, this rental house is truly a shangri-la. It's located in the Kapoho subdivision - one of the greatest and safest snorkeling spots on the island - and even has a lava rock pool in the yard that you can snorkel in - though you'll share the pool with koi and tilapia. It also has a hot tub, three bedrooms and a fully stocked kitchen.

  • Hale Kipuka - we're not sure if they're still renting this home out (they were working to sell another house and planned to move into this one back in 2007), but if it's available, it's a great deal in a beautiful spot. Just a few minutes walk to Kehena Beach on the Puna coast, it's part of a small community in the jungle, and the grounds have fruit trees where you can pick fresh limes for your Mai Tais!

  • Kehena Beach Oceanfront Retreat - This beautiful home just a short walk from Kehena Beach was where we spent 2 of 3 weeks during one trip to the island. It has a pool, hot tub, sand floor meditation room, and is filled with artwork with a very Bali feel. Although there's just one bedroom in the main house, the place is huge - not including the two guest rooms in the adjacent building.

  • Royal Kona - this is the hotel where we've stayed during every visit to the Kona side of the island. It's not a high end spot, but the staff have always been great, the hotel includes a full bar and a great restaurant right on the water, and it's right on the end of the main drag of Kona - making it easy to walk to shops, restaurants, etc.

  • Hilton Waikaloa Village - though we've never stayed there ourselves, some of our family stayed here after our wedding, and had a blast. It's an all inclusive resort that's a short drive to Kona, but our family found they never really felt like leaving - since the grounds have everything from restaurants & bars to a ocean-fed lagoon for swimming with turtles, and even dolphins! The place is so enormous, there's a train to take you from one end to the other. It's not cheap and a you can't walk to downtown Kailua-Kona, but if you've got kids or are looking for a pampered experience in a beautiful setting, it's worth considering.

  • Hilo Hawaiian Hotel - though we haven't stayed at any others, we're told this is the nicest hotel in Hilo, located right along Banyan Drive.

  • VRBO - nearly all the vacation homes we've stayed in on the islands have been places we've found while searching Vacation Rentals By Owner. We've never had a bad experience or been disappointed.



Food & Drink

Before we reveal our favorite spots to eat around the island, there's one island treat you gotta try: Shave Ice (aka Ice Shave). If you've never had one before (and even if you have), you should DEFINITELY get a Shave Ice while in Hawai'i. It's like a snow cone, only way better in terms of texture and flavors. Instead of gritty bits of ice with cherry/grape/lime syrup that just runs to the bottom of the cone, the ice is literally shaved paper thin, which allows it to hang onto the delicious syrups. If you wanna go all out, get ice cream and azuki beans in the bottom. There's a little cart on Ali'i Drive, right by the Royal Kona in Kona, and Wilson's By the Bay and Hilo Bay Sugar Shack are good bets in Hilo. Dan G's favorite is liliko'i (passion fruit).

    Hilo
  • Ken's House of Pancakes - a great 24-hour diner in Hilo, with the most delicious macadamia nut pancakes you'll ever taste. Be sure to get the trio of syrups to try on top: Coconut, Guava and Passion fruit!

  • Cafe Pesto - a relaxed yet upscale Italian restaurant that uses fresh local ingredients to create unique island-inspired dishes. Casual enough for a quick lunch in shorts & flip-flops, but fancy enough that we held the welcome dinner for our wedding here - and they treated us wondefully. The service has always been great and the food is excellent.

  • Reuben's Mexican Food - looks like a hole in the wall from the street, but the place is really big and the food is too. Friendly service and tasty margaritas, right in Downtown Hilo. The Mexican flag on your table is how you let your server know you need something - like a liliko'i margarita in a pint glass.

  • Cronies Bar & Grill - a Midwestern sports bar in Downtown Hilo, where you can watch a game, drink a beer, and enjoy a burger (or the delicious Kalua Pig Caesar Salad).

  • Cafe 100 - known as the (possible) originator of Loco Moco (rice topped with egg, ground beef and brown gravy), this Hilo drive in is well worth a stop in to select one of the dozens of varieties of Loco Moco on the menu.

  • Two Ladies Kitchen - tucked a few streets off the main drag of Hilo, Two Ladies makes hands-down the best fresh strawberry mochi on the planet... or at least in Hilo.

  • Hilo Bay Cafe - We've now been to this high end eatery twice, and the service and quality of food is impeccable. Along with Kaleo's in Pahoa and Cafe Pesto downtown, this would be a great pick if you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just want an excuse to dress up a bit

  • Hilo Burger Joint - Excellent burgers in a tavern style atmosphere. A bit dark, but the food and beer are well worth it.

  • Big Island Pizza - Awesome pizza spot off the main drag (right near Hilo Burger Joint). The Coconut Prawn pizza (with Thai flavors like peanuts and sweet chili sauce) is not to be missed.

    • Pahoa
  • Kaleo's - in the heart of rugged little Pahoa sits this fancy yet comfortable restaurant featuring a wide range of dishes, from steak and pastas to curries and katsu.

  • Luquin's - pitchers of margaritas and lots of vegetarian options at this Mexican eatery. Full bar available, unless it's not.

  • Ning's Thai Cuisine
     - awesome Thai food. Be sure to get the Thai Iced Tea with Coconut Cream.

  • Sirius Coffee Connection - Pahoa's local coffee shop, where you can get your morning caffeine fix along with plenty of aloha.

    • Kona
  • Don The Beachcomber's - located at the Royal Kona, Don's is a destination in and of itself, whether you want to enjoy a flight of Mai Tais at the oceanside bar, a casual breakfast, or want to treat yourself to an elegant dinner with a view of humpback whales. Also the host of a Mai Tai contest every August.

  • Lulu's - Burgers, sandwiches, beers and cocktails in a tiki-bar type atmosphere, on the second floor with a great view of the bay.

  • Huggo's On The Rocks - kick off your slippahs and feel the sand between your toes while you sip a Lilikoi Chi Chi and watch turtles graze on limu just a few feet away.

  • U-Top-It - the home of taro pancrepes, a hybrid of the pancake and crepe made with taro flour and topped with your choice of tons of savory and sweet ingredients. Dan G always seems to get the Hula Girl.

  • Wasabi's - a small but wonderful sushi spot on Ali`i Drive, featuring some interesting rolls.

  • Kona Brewing Company - a long walk or a short drive from the main drag, but worth the effort for great beer and even greater pizza.

    • Other
  • Luke's Place - Hawi's own tiki bar and restaurant, serving local grass-fed beef burgers that are as incredible as the staff are friendly. Walk through the dining room to the tiki bar to the left, and grab a spot at the bar.

  • Tex Drive In - if you're driving North out of Hilo, or just want to try a decadent, historical treat, stop in Honokaa at Tex Drive In for a malasada - a Portuguese doughnut brought to the islands by plantation workers from the Azores back in the 1800's.

Natural Wonders
Beaches, Swim & Snorkel Spots
  • Punalu`u Black Sand Beach - a large black sand beach on the South side of the island, with plenty of parking and a near guarantee of seeing green sea turtles.

  • Kehena Beach - known for its nudists as much as its black sand, this secluded beach on the Red Road is a fun spot to catch some rays.

  • Kahalu'u Beach - it's well worth fighting the crowds at this prime snorkeling spot in Kona, where we've seen turles, rays and tons of fish. Possibly the most abundant spot for fish and the easiest snorkling in terms of accessibility, as the beach slopes gently into the water. The area is guarded from the open ocean by a rock wall, life guards are often on duty, and the water is waist deep in most areas, making it a safe spot for less experienced swimmers.

  • Captain Cook Monument - rent a kayak and paddle across the bay to Captain Cook Monument, where you can park your boat and snorkel in the clear waters filled with fish and the occasional dolphin pod. Be sure to secure your valuables and food, as the mongoose population is out of control, and they'll dig through your things to find something good to eat.

  • Kapoho Tidepools - some of the safest and best snorkeling on the East side of the island, these tidepools trap fish that swim in during high tide, creating fully enclosed, calm pools teeming with life at low tide. Keep an eye on the tide, however, and don't stray too far out, as the currents can become strong.

  • Ahalanui Hot Pond - a natural hot pond near Kapoho that's been cemented in a bit to create a giant hot tub where you can soak away that last bit of work stress you haven't been able to shake yet.

  • Richardson Beach - A great Hilo-side snorkel spot with lifeguard on duty. Beach is shady but water stays relatively shallow (good snorkeling depth) for quite a ways out. We ran into our waiter (Wesley) from Reuben's and Amy from One Gallery at this favorite of locals.

Organized Adventures
  • Big Island Candies - The 'tour' consists of looking through a big window at workers making the signature candies and cookies, but they are RIGHT THERE on the other side of the glass. Free samples and lots of interesting sweets. Chocolate covered Ika is not for the squeamish.

  • Body Glove Snorkel Tour - Super fun cruise out of Kona, with music, food, cocktails, a slide, and lots of time at a prime snorkel spot. May also include upgrade options to Snuba or Scuba. Dan G did the snuba with guide Caleb Wolfson, and it was a great experience. You're connected to the surface, but can dive down 20 feet or so to see things on the bottom or tucked in caves. Caleb was a great tour guide to the ocean, and made Dan realize how much you can find by turning over rocks while snorkeling.

  • Kona Honu Divers Manta Ray Dive - One of many groups doing the Manta Ray dive, which should not be missed (unless you're deathly afraid of the water, the dark, or both). The experience of floating above a bright light while huge manta rays swim around you is unbelievable. And it's pretty crowded. If you scuba, it's a little less so down on the bottom than on the surface.

  • Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden - Beautiful tropical gardens to walk through. Don't forget your bug repellant!

  • Nani Mau Gardens - A great spot to go if you want to see a variety of tropical plants and trees, in particular fruit trees. Tram tours and self-guided walking tours available. Caters heavily to Japanese tour groups.

  • Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo - A donations only zoo where you can visit Namaste the white tiger!

  • Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm - A bit pricey (over $75 per person, if memory serves), but you get to touch a seahorse. Where else can you do that?

  • Wailoa Park

  • Maunoloa Macademia Nut Factory - Self guided tour, parts of which may be off limits if wild pig activity is high.

Relax & Renewal
History & Science
Living Aloha
Resources
Things We Want to Do
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1 comment:

SUDHIR said...

Amazing!!! Thank u so much for posting.

April 26, 2019 at 1:50 AM

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