Heading to Hawaii - The Big Island

Well I am finally getting to take a nice vacation / honeymoon. We are going to be staying in Kona on the Big Island and I was just curious to hear from anyone that had been what they liked most or recommend we do? Also, what should we stay away from (waste of money type stuff)?

We are staying a week so should be a blast.

Thanks for any advise.:)

Wow!!!

Have a blast!

You guys got anymore room in your bags to smuggle me????

:D

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

Well I am finally getting to take a nice vacation / honeymoon. We are going to be staying in Kona on the Big Island and I was just curious to hear from anyone that had been what they liked most or recommend we do? Also, what should we stay away from (waste of money type stuff)?

We are staying a week so should be a blast.

Thanks for any advise.:)

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wow, where to start!
first of all have a great time and enjoy the sun!
I was there last summer and we flew into Hillo, if you fly into hilo you must eat at kens pancake house (i asked a local and he said that was the place to go) not much in hilo but you may fly in there. the drive is breathtaking, not as much beach as other islands but black rocky cliffs and tropical landscape galore! we drove around and went hiking and it was a beautiful walk and i even found a dead jacksons chameleon. depending on how much $ you have and want to spend you could do night scuba diving with mantarays, or go to the Hilton in wi kaloa and swim with the dolphins. there is tons of good food and lots of shopping for your wife in a open air mall in kona and if you go their at dusk look up in the palm trees, their are gold dust day geckos all over right in the kona mall! :) i had a blast snorkeling and all the good food. what a place to be, have fun! :rockon:

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Originally Posted by jeffnme

Wow!!!

Have a blast!

You guys got anymore room in your bags to smuggle me????

:D

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Sure if my wife doesn't enjoy the extra company I am sure I will :D

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Originally Posted by djansen

wow, where to start!
first of all have a great time and enjoy the sun!
I was there last summer and we flew into Hillo, if you fly into hilo you must eat at kens pancake house (i asked a local and he said that was the place to go) not much in hilo but you may fly in there. the drive is breathtaking, not as much beach as other islands but black rocky cliffs and tropical landscape galore! we drove around and went hiking and it was a beautiful walk and i even found a dead jacksons chameleon. depending on how much $ you have and want to spend you could do night scuba diving with mantarays, or go to the Hilton in wi kaloa and swim with the dolphins. there is tons of good food and lots of shopping for your wife in a open air mall in kona and if you go their at dusk look up in the palm trees, their are gold dust day geckos all over right in the kona mall! :) i had a blast snorkeling and all the good food. what a place to be, have fun! :rockon:

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Thanks for the input. I have heard the snorkling is awesome (never tried scuba but I am up for anything - except maybe the night thing...LOL)

The swimming with the dolphins sound very cool the wife (and I am sure Meme ;) ) would love it.

And I am certain she will drag me shopping.

I would totally love to swim with the dolphins!

and if I were there I would drag you off shopping too!

:P

I just got back from there. Amazing place. Lots of day geckos to observe as well. Hope you have as much fun as I did. I would say, dont do the helicopter ride. Huge waste of money and time. Snorkeling has to be the most fun, but make sure you get out in a safe place cuz the entire floor is covered with urchins and they hurt like hell.

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Originally Posted by jeffnme

if I were there I would drag you off shopping too!

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Oh god...I would be sooooo broke. Maybe I should just get you a souvenir and send you some pictures. :P

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Originally Posted by Chase13

I just got back from there. Amazing place. Lots of day geckos to observe as well. Hope you have as much fun as I did. I would say, dont do the helicopter ride. Huge waste of money and time. Snorkeling has to be the most fun, but make sure you get out in a safe place cuz the entire floor is covered with urchins and they hurt like hell.

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Thanks!! Great Tips!

No helicopters (I read they have the highest incidents of crashes than any other flight charters) and now I know there is no reason to risk it.

I have stepped on 2 urchin and been bit by more crabs (on the toes) then I care to remember so we both have water shoes now...LOL (we are wimps):rolleye2:

A souvenir would be fine.

;)

I have been in a helicopter before.

Fun stuff!!!

I love em!

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Originally Posted by jeffnme

A souvenir would be fine.

;)

I have been in a helicopter before.

Fun stuff!!!

I love em!

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From what I found, it was $400 a person and that is jsut rediculous to me. My grandpa went and said it was a waste of money so thats where i'm getting my facts from but I guess it could be enjoyable and worth it to some people.

well I was not in Hawaii.

I flew over the mountains of West Virginia and it was GORGEOUS!

and way tons of fun!

:D

I was there for a couple weeks last summer and it was a blast. Im not sure if its the same Island or not, but I think it is. I went with a couple friends and one of their parents (they grew up there so they knew all the hot spots). I DEFINATELY suggest some of those places u can get plate lunches, that is some of the best food you can find around! That food is one of the things I miss the most honestly. If you want to avoid "touristy" stuff stay away from Waikiki. No locals really go there its almost all tourists. North beach though is definately the place to be. I cant remember the name of the beach we went to the most, but it was relatively small and had a nice cliff to jump off into the ocean which was a lot of fun. Definately suggest a little cliff jumping. Pearl Harbor is a nice place to see too. Ill just add some of my hawaii pics to get you more excited.

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/phot...87615_5336.jpg

by far the best beach (the once I referenced above) you can see the cliff in the back
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/phot...02300_2992.jpg

http://photos-681.ll.facebook.com/ph...33520_9014.jpg

wear sunscreen!
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/phot...18859_9372.jpg