These are my opinions based on a number of trips to the Big Island over the past 20 years. They are not intended to start a flame war, but some do reflect my strongly-held views. (There are far too many squabbles on TA that start when Person A likes one hotel or beach and Person B prefers another!) If someone else wants to list their top things, great. The more information, the better for people trying to research their trips.
In the past few years, I%26#39;ve done reviews of several things (hotel, restaurants, activities). When my opinion or facts have not changed, I%26#39;ve left the old ones up. I re-did the Mauna Lani one this year.
You can find them by clicking on my name and scrolling thru...for convenience, here are some relevant ones:
tripadvisor.ie/ShowUserReviews-g60588-d13712…
tripadvisor.ie/ShowUserReviews-g60588-d13090…
tripadvisor.ie/ShowUserReviews-g29217-d11159…
tripadvisor.ie/ShowUserReviews-g29217-d11159…
tripadvisor.ie/ShowUserReviews-g60592-d65835…
tripadvisor.ie/ShowUserReviews-g60872-d63393…
1) THE ISLAND OF HAWAII IS A *BIG* ISLAND. If you want to do stuff at VNP and also go to beaches, consider flying into one airport and out another. We actually did that only once, on our first trip in 1990. We stayed at the old Kona Hilton (now Royal Kona) and Volcano House (seedy but crater view rooms cannot be beat!). If you do day trips from one side to another you have about 7 hours of nonstop driving for the RT, not counting the stops you make. We do this now and are happy with 4 hours in VNP for a couple of hikes, but we are repeat visitors and fast-movers. If this is a first or only trip, slow down and savor!
Also, read the ';PONO PAGE';: tripadvisor.ie/Travel-g28932-c79918/Hawaii:U…
2) READ THE INSIDE PAGE ON ';SNORKELING';
tripadvisor.ie/Travel-g29217-c7522/Island-Of…
3) TIME OF YEAR MATTERS FOR SNORKELING! Summer is easier for shore snorkeling all along the west side. Winter surf conditions and storms can strip away sand, creating rocky and difficult entry conditions, stir up sand making visibility poor, and/or slam you HARD onto the rocks as you try to enter or exit. When you get a recommendation, ask what time of year the person was there. If they went in summer and you go in winter, you may find high surf and no visibility. When you read about a spot, check about seasonality. (Surfing and snorkeling don%26#39;t mix well!)
If you are not a novice, West Hawaii shore snorkeling can be great if you choose sites and seasons wisely. But, even in Kona, shore snorkeling can be seasonal. The northern (Kua) portion of the Kekaha Kai State Park and mm4 on Alii Drive are prime example. In summer, lots of nice sand and some nice snorkeling. In winter, little sand, shore break, no visibility. I%26#39;ve never been able to snorkel at Old Airport during my January trips. Even Kahaluu can get closed out in wintertime.
In Kohala, Puako is calm and easier in summer. In winter, we actually get in at Puako from shore with calm and clear enough water in about 1 in 3 January visits. Not good odds for a short trip.
4) BOAT TRIPS CAN BE A BETTER VALUE. Sure going in from shore is ';free'; (except for all the money you are spending to be in Hawaii). Boat trips offer much more certainty of decent conditions and therefore can be a better value, especially during a short visit where you can%26#39;t outwait or out-travel surf conditions. If you are a poor swimmer, have never snorkeled, or only have time for ONE snorkel day during your stay, budget for a boat trip. They leave from Kona and Kohala. You will go to a good spot, given that day%26#39;s conditions, and the crew will teach and help you.
Regardless of skill level, if you want more certainty with respect to quality and safety during a WINTER trip, budget for at least one boat trip to get away from shore break and stirred up sand.
Sandy areas that might appeal for their beauty or ease of entry tend to get stirred up. That%26#39;s why the island%26#39;s stark lava coasts make for clearer water.
5) DON%26#39;T ABUSE THE LAND AND SEA. Don%26#39;t EVER step on coral or underwater ';rocks.'; Or drag a kayak onshore at a marine reserve. I am glad I can say I have never, ever done those things in almost 20 years of visits. Or touched a turtle. You can don flippers, clear masks, rest, all without standing up. I never stand even in 2 feet of water...search and read the posts or ask on TA to learn how.
6) DON%26#39;T SET YOURSELF UP FOR ANGST BY BEING OVERLY RIGID OR EXPECTING THINGS TO BE A CERTAIN WAY. It%26#39;s good to be prepared and informed (don%26#39;t be shocked and ';have your trip ruined'; when you fly into KOA and see all that black lava). But it is even better to be flexible, to avoid sticking to an overplanned agenda in favor of more serene pleasures and serendipity, and to be surprised by what sticks in your mind the most once you%26#39;ve returned home. It%26#39;s just as likely to be the image of a sunset, or the sound of birds in the morning, or the contrast of blue water and black lava as it is to be the expensive luau you agonized over choosing and rushed back from a beach walk to attend.
Most visitors are spending ';a lot of their hard-earned money'; on their trips. Many visitors are there for their ';trip of a lifetime'; or for a special reason (birthday, anniversary, last trip with an ill loved one). Don%26#39;t become honeymoonzilla or anniversaryzilla about the trip. Because so many people are doing special occasion trips, you are not guaranteed an upgrade or free champagne, although everyone will be happy for you and wish you well.
7) GO SEE SOME PETROGLYPHS, Check out the Puako petroglyphs and/or the Waikoloa ones. There are also %26#39;glyphs at Kona Village and VNP. See the Inside page on ';PETROGLYPHS';:
tripadvisor.ie/Travel-g29217-c56173/Island-O…
8) ';VACANT LAND'; BELONGS TO SOMEBODY. Unlike a lot of places on the mainland, private property on this island may be covered with recent lava, sacred, unfenced, unposted, gorgeous, dangerous, and/or all of these. Just because beaches have public access does not mean the quickest or easiest way to get from your car to the beach is legit--there is a ';beach access'; route if you look or ask. Similarly, things that one may read about or hear about are not always the right thing to do. See the ';Pono'; page tripadvisor.ie/Travel-g28932-c79918/Hawaii:U…
9) LEAVE THE DOLPHINS ALONE. If you end up near them by sheer chance, you are blessed. Paying somebody to chase them down for you? Repeatedly approaching them (because they move away) when they are trying to circle and rest? Ummmm...what%26#39;s the opposite of sheer chance and blessed?
If you haven%26#39;t, please read the ';SNORKELING'; page for why: tripadvisor.in/Travel-g29217-c7522/Island-Of…
If you are still unsure, please take a look at some NOAA documents. The first documents some of the harms done by the dolphin industry%26#39;s boat tours and swimmers. The second summarizes the ';Protect Dolphins'; campaign. It encourages people and boats to stay 50 YARDS AWAY from them.
…noaa.gov/Library/…Potentialthreats.pdf
…noaa.gov/pr/education/protectdolphins.htm
Enjoy your trip and pay it forward by helping others! I look forward to continuing to learn about the place I love.
Honu_Ohana's 2009 Top 9 Things to Bear in Mind
Hono Ohana,
Thanks for this. I have a question for you:
I realize that you have a different demographic than my family but maybe you can help. Our kids are 6 and 8. They are really excellent swimmers and we really want to do a snorkel boat tour. Kids want the extras on board to keep busy, the help with snorkeling (the boards with see through windows) etc Which one do you think would best fit us? We can only afford to do one trip as it will be quite pricey for a family of 4. We are staying at Mauna Lani for part of our trip and your description sounds just right for us. Thanks for that review.
Honu_Ohana's 2009 Top 9 Things to Bear in Mind
If you want to stay close to the hotel, both Ocean Sports and Mauna Lani Sea Adventures always seem to have kids having fun. No water slides for cannonballing, but they have the see-thru boards. You can call them (phone on website) to double check about that. They have flotation, etc. Puako reef is quite nice but not so spectacular as farther south in the ';punchbowls.';
From Keauhou (an hour away), Fair Winds has slides for cannonballing. And a LOT of people. Sea Paradise does not have the slides, but fewer people, and more personal attention from the cew from what I have seen. You can doublecheck about the see-thru boards but I%26#39;m pretty sure both have them. You will go to Kealakekua Bay.
The Mauna Lani boat also has ';family snorkels'; with kids half price. Call them--they do not seem to do email. 808-885-7883
I LOVE this list and I am saving it so I can link to it ...
THANKS Honu Ohana, I%26#39;ve missed your postings so much.
Well done......4.0
One comment... boat snorkeling is unchanged all year long and no set season better or worse.
Summer is better for shore snorkeling north of Kona
South of Kona, it makes little difference from my experience summer or winter except when the swells arrive.. for short periods.
The kick boards with view ports are extremely poor.. sun and water on the top surface of the view port makes them very limited.... I would not even consider them... Mask and fins and life jacket are way better.....like 10000% better
Practice makes perfect... try snorkeling and fitting masks, clearing masks without removal, how to kick, learn not to swim when snorkeling..
Rule of thumb... the smaller the boat and the number of passengers the better the experience.
Excellent advice - thank you!!
This is one that may get referred to a lot - I hope.
Need more caffeine - but it is soooo good to see Honu Ohana again!! I have missed you.
Thanks for all that info. Great for a newcomer or an experienced visitor.
Our first trip we flew into Hilo and out of Kona. I agree it is a good way to go. We spent two nights in Volcano, one or two (?) in Waipio and the rest in Kohala. If I was doing the same trip over I would eliminate staying in Waipio and just drive from Kohala area. Volcano was great also.
Honu Ohana your advice is great. I love reading your informative post. I especially agree about not harrassing the dolphins, turtles etc. The Golden Rule should prevail with all things!
Thank you so much for this post! I%26#39;ve book marked it for a lot of future reference.
bump
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