The Big Island
 

Anybody been? What to do? What to see? Should we rent a car?

My girlfriend and I are going for 6 days in a few weeks. Staying at the Fairmont Orchid. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

Basically two different islands in one. Dry side (Kona) and wet side (Hilo). Worth it to rent a car and drive the whole island. Have a drink at the southernmost bar in the US (Shaka Restaurant - Naalehu, HI | Yelp). Check out the Hilton Waikoloa Village. The place is a trip.

Just for this time only, allow her to pay.

Yes on the car.

Do NOT freak out when you drive from the airport, seeing only barren landscape - The airport is on a relatively new lava flow.

You must rent a car. Couldn't imagine being trapped at a resort for a week. Lots to explore on the big island, including Volcanoes National Park.

Go down into Waipio valley

Cars have been expensive lately in Hawaii. Check Costco.com and here: discounthawaiicarrental.com

When I went to Moorea, I rented a moped and was able to cruise the entire island........no problem, brah.

Must see the volcano!

I would say to stay at volcano house, but I believe the volcano ate it.

Oh, oh, update. It was rebuilt. Definitely stay there. Never again will you get such an awesome view of an active volcano.

Something like 4 or the world's 5 major climate zones exist on the big island. Go to the top of Mauna Kea where the Keck Observatory is, you can also ski on that mountain. The volcano for sure, golf, lava, Hilo, Kona, different color sand beaches, there's a lot there. We rode on horseback on one of the cattle ranches and spooked cattle- that was fun!

6 days is not a lot of time there - it's a Big island. (surprise)

Where you are staying should be very dry and out of the vog (volcanic fog)

You'll be fairly close to the Four Seasons (great spot for dinner) https://www.google.com/maps/@19.829516,-155.991307,3a,75y,144.69h,86.38t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sANpPhW0Za64AAAAAAAADow!2e0!3e1 1

So many options. What do you want to do there?

Go to Waimea one day to eat and drink here: http://www.bigislandbrewhaus.com

Well I had a big reply typed out and then my MacBook pro crashed...again. I will respond tomorrow from my work computer...a Win7 box.

I used the Hawaii Revealed Hawaii Revealed | The Ultimate Travel and Vacation Guidebooks tourbook (there's a different one for each of the islands) on my trip, and must admit that almost everything I did was pretty accurately described in the book.

You must have a car. The island is about the size of Connecticut. I don't think you'll be happy stuck in one place the entire time. There's so much to see.

I regret not having done the Waipio Valley as someone advised above. But then again, the vacation's only so many days long.

It's the only Hawaiian Island with no beaches. Well, not literally. But your image of Hawaii is probably an island surrounded by Waikiki-type white sand beaches (and some black and pink and green). The Big Island has those, but it's a lot of black lava rock.

If you're a diver, do the Big Island Divers Manta Ray dive.

Last time I rented a car and drove From Prince Hapuna beach hotel all the way around the north side to Hilo and back and saw most of the things recommended above. Lots of fun!

Been there twice, once for honeymoon (did not see much of island, LOL) and once with the kids and my mother along. Kona coast (dry) is great for snorkeling and seeing fish/turtles, and there are plenty of calm bays to do that. We all did a whole day just snorkeling. We also spent a whole day at Volcanoes National Park. And that wasn't enough. I hiked my ass off there. And loved it. We visited coffee and mac nut plantations, ate sashimi in Hilo, visited Waimea - the whole trip was pretty damn cool. And because we had a 6-hour layover in Honolulu, we went to Pearl Harbor and went to the Arizona Memorial. That was almost worth the trip in and of itself.

snorkeling and the volcano kept me happy, couple of cool waterfalls as I recall.

Rent a jeep and explore!

Lots to do on the Big Island just depends how adventures you are, rental car mandatory you will be driving everywhere unless you just stay at the resort. Start going online, look at you tube vids of the island plot and plan your visit. There is a book called Hawaii the Big Island Revealed has a lot of great info and places to go. Try and get it before you go. You really don't have alot of time to see it all been here over twenty years and still haven't seen it all. Aloha Ted