WAIKOLOA, BIG ISLAND HOTELS

Waikoloa, Big Island Hotels are some of the premium hotels in the Big Island. They belong to the high class quality hotels that big names in the tourist industry are often staying in.

When you come to the Big Island, you will have your stay in one of these fabulous hotels and you will be grateful you did.

The following are the eight prime hotels in Waikoloa:

1. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa. Featuring picture perfect façade and swimming pools, you will want to stay here for so long. The beach is just a few steps away from your room.

2. Hilton Grand Vacations Club. Fronted with beautiful grown palm and coconut trees, the grand hotel is utterly fantastic.

3. Kolea at Waikoloa. With beautiful sceneries in all over the place, don’t mention the Pacific Ocean and the clear blue skies that stretch beyond the horizon. You will love it here.

4. Aston Waikoloa Colony Villas. With bright colors surrounding you, you are feeling bright each time you go for the day’s adventure at the island.

5. Paniolo Greens at Waikoloa. With lots of greeneries in sight, your eyes and body will be relaxed with this hotel’s amenities.

6. Outrigger Fairway Villas. Accommodations are at its best. You can be what you want to be and do whatever you want to do.

7. Aston Shores at Waikoloa. Featuring swimming pools for seawater break. Just minutes from the beach.

8. The Fairway Villas Waikoloa Condominiums. Condominiums that cater to your daily functions and maids available for your requests.

Waikoloa, Big Island Hotels are costly compared to cheap hotels out their but you will instantly know the difference.

Tags: Hawaii's Big Island, Waikoloa

Where to Stay on the Big Island on Vacation

The Big Island is not that big when you know how to trek its beautiful features.

Where to stay on the Big Island?

Follow the coming advice:

Arrange to split your time between the Hilo side and the Kona side. When you have a week on the Big Island, plan to spend two to three nights on the Hilo side and four to five nights on the Kona side.

By hanging about on the Hilo side for two or more nights, you will be able to walk around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and perhaps watch lava flowing at night – two things that you should not miss. From the Kona side, you’ll have more time for recreation varied in with cultural and historic sightseeing.

You can fly into one airport and depart from the other. You might have to pay an added fee for recurring in your rental car at a different location, but we think it’s worth the fee in order to make best use of your vacation sightseeing time.

If at all possible you should to fly into Hilo first and then fly out of Kona. It is better to stay on the Hilo side first because the volcano activity is an awesome and magnificent splendor to view.

You can spend the second portion of the vacation on the sunny Kona side where you can find it is easier to blend in relaxation with sight-seeing and tiresome adventures.

When you are driving from the Hilo side to the Kona side, you should take the northern route in the region of the island along the Hamakua Coast and through Waimea. This is the more scenic route to judge against to driving along the southern route.

From the Hilo side, you can stay in or near the village of Volcano. There are plenty of villages between Hilo and Volcano.

You can enjoy staying in Volcano mainly because it is so close to the Volcanoes National Park and it is in a rainforest which is a noteworthy contrast to the dry lava fields that you will find on the Kona side.

On the Kona side, you can stay on the Kohala Coast whichever in a condo or hotel. It feels a bit more remote and relaxing here. Staying on the Kohala Coast has less likely to make you experience rain and volcanic smog.

Follow these tips on where to stay on the Big Island for you next Hawaii vacation!

Tags: Hawaii's Big Island, vacation, where to stay

Big Island Wilderness Snorkeling Spots

Here is a great article that is part of a series on the Big Island done by Donald MacGowan and published at EzineArticles.com

Hawaii Snorkeling Tips Part VI - Big Island Wilderness Snorkeling Spots
By Donald MacGowan

Coming to my island for a vacation? There are three things I always recommend the first-time visitor do.

- First, go on an air tour.

- Secondly-go to a luau.

- Finally, I advise people of every age to get in the water and go snorkeling. The “one-one-one, experiencing the world through the fishes’ eyes” magic of swimming in those bath-warm lagoons surrounded by clouds of tropical fish is an amazing, restful and restorative pursuit-you will find your mind going back to that experience over and over through the years much more so than many of your other travel experiences.

Part I of this series discussed Snorkeling Gear; Part II of this series will discussed Snorkeling Technique and Part III covered Snorkeling Etiquette; Part IV of the series discussed Snorkel Safety and Part V covered Big Island Snorkel Spots.

Of all the Hawaiian Islands, because it is the youngest, the Big Island has the fewest and smallest beaches…this leads to crowding during the height of tourist season at some beaches. Because Hawaii is still rural, there are still some wilderness (hike-to-only) beaches; a few of them are among the best on the island.

Many wild beaches may be camped upon but you must apply for a permit from the appropriate agency. Overnight camping on Hawaii beaches is simplified because of the mild climate-usually I take a few quarts of water, a couple sandwiches, my camera, dry clothes for post-snorkeling comfort, a fleece blanket and rice mat to sleep on (a beach towel will suffice) and a small tarp on the off-chance it rains.

The key here is that if the weather turns truly ugly, you are rarely more than an hour from your car. You may wish to bring a few extra quarts of water to rinse the salt off after swimming-it’s difficult to sleep comfortably with salty skin.

Two things to bear in mind-although is sometimes doesn’t seem it, Hawaii DOES have tides…camp well back of the beach area. Secondly, beach fires are not only illegal, they are hugely dangerous on most beaches on the west side.

Ke-awa-iki Beach (park off Highway 19 just north of Mile 79; walk along gravel road towards the ocean to a fence and foot trail; about 15 minutes to beach): A little walking over a lava road and a’a rewards you with a beautiful beach many locals don’t know about.

This tiny black-sand beach has good snorkeling on the south side, where there is still a pocket of white sand. This unique black and white sand beach was created after the 1859 eruption of Mauna Kea, when lava reached the north end of the beach, where the black sand is today. Further south along the beach, the recent black sand has not had time to thoroughly mix with the pre-existing white sand.

If one continues south there are numerous tide pools to explore.

Hiking north, one comes to Pueo Bay, where freshwater springs make the snorkeling interesting but weird, with large temperature and salinity gradients. If one takes the trail heading inland towards a conspicuous growth of hala trees, one comes to a pair of lovely golden pools.

A golden algae gives these pools their distinctive color, but be sure not to damage the growth by walking on it. Finish the trek by hiking back across the a’a…approximately 4 miles, round trip.

Makalawena Beach (turn off Highway 19 south of Mile 90 at Kekahakai State Park; at the end of the road, take obvious trail north over lava field; the trail traverses rough lava and keawe breaks, so shoes are required): Makalawena is the finest swimming and snorkeling beach on the island and the most beautiful beach setting.

This beach sports a series of coves, refreshing shade, big sand dunes and a nice freshwater pond to rinse-off in. A great backpacking getaway, do not forget your camera; this hike will be a major highlight of your trip to the Big Island.

The land fronting the beach is owned by Bishop Estate and is slated to be turned into a development of condos and resorts; vigilance and protest on the part of locals and visitors is the only way we can keep this last, wild Kona beach wild.

Pawai Bay (in Kailua Kona, drive to the end of the Old Airport County Beach Park; hike along the ocean to the first, obvious, sandy bay): Spectacular, secluded, secret; Pawai Bay is perhaps the most interesting snorkeling spot on the island.

Walk along the sea cliffs and coves about 15-20 minutes north, to the Queen Lilioukalani Children’s Camp at Pawai Bay. Remember, non-Hawaiians are restricted to travel along the tidal zone and only the edge of the shoreline…to venture even a few feet inland is trespassing.

Pawai Bay hosts a choice sandy beach with a small channel leading to open ocean and exciting snorkeling. Many charter snorkel tours bring clients here, but you can visit free. Submerged caverns, arches and caves are filled with fish and coral and pristine water. From the shore, this is not a snorkel adventure for rank beginners.

Swim through the sandy bay to the channel and out to the cliffs. Be wary of surginess and don’t go in when the surf is big. Once in the larger bay, look back toward shore where numerous small channels lead shoreward but dead-end in cliffs; your passage back is the only channel through which you can see sand at the end.

The bay itself lies on Queen Lilioukalani Trust lands. Non-native Hawai’ians are not allowed on the land or to use the facilities. State beach access laws allow you to visit as long as you stay immediately along the shoreline; the beach is patrolled 24/7.

Captain Cook Monument (The trail leaves the Napo’opo’o Road right at telephone pole number 4, just 500 feet below where it drops off Highway 11; parking is tight, but safe): This hike is a fine walk through tall grass, open lava fields and dryland forest, opening onto one of the most pristine ocean beaches in the world. Hiking down to the Monument is great fun-the return is hot, thirsty and strenuous but rewards with panoramic views of the coast.

The 2.5-mile hike takes about an hour down, somewhat more to return. The trail runs straight down the left side of a rock wall toward the sea. As the pitch straightens out, keep to the left at the fork and proceed to the beach through the abandoned village. You strike shore several hundred feet northwest of the monument-remember to bear right at the trail junction when returning, or you face a long and unpleasant time wandering the a’a fields.

Snorkeling at the monument is wild and scenic, from shallow tidepools north of the wharf to the steep drop-off under the cliffs. There is a concrete marker in the tidal zone denoting the exact spot Cook fell somewhat north of the actual monument.

Honomalino Beach (turn off Highway 11 just south of mile marker 89, drive through Miloli’i; start hiking between the county park and a yellow church. Keep along the right at forks in the trail, in and out of the surf line, to avoid private property):

A true gem of West Hawai’i and rarely crowded, Honomalino Bay is reached by a 20 minute hike from the south end of Miloli’i Beach County Park. Snorkeling is very interesting on the north side in the rocks, when the surf is low. The water, though very clear, is sometimes quite cold due to spring discharge in the sand on the beach.

Mahana Green Sand Beach (Turn off Highway 11 to South Point, follow signs to Mahana Boat Launch. Park just above the boat ramp for the 2 1/4 mile hike to the Green Sand Beach): Absolutely unique to Hawai’i, beautiful and strange, are the green sand. The green sand beach at South Point is the best known, largest and most accessible of these. The sand grains here are olivine crystals, washed out of a cinder cone that has been partially breached by the sea.

When you reach the end of the trail, you are a hundred or so feet above the beach on the rim of the remnant of the crater. At the start, there is a tricky spot edging over a 3-foot ledge, but below this the trail is wide and clear One can also easily scramble down middle of the cone, but this can be slippery. Although tricky to spot on the way down, from the beach looking up the way back to the crater rim is easy to follow.

The beach lies in the interior of the cone, and the protected cove makes for a wonderful swimming/snorkeling spot but be wary of currents. Do not go out far, nor in at all in high surf or strong winds. The bizarre color of the water shrieks for color photographs, particularly underwater photographs taken while snorkeling.

For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general, and snorkeling and wilderness on the Big Island in particular, please visit http://tourguidehwaii.com and http://lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com.

Tags: Hawaii's Big Island, snorkeling

4 Big Island Hawaii Attractions

Are you in the process of planning a Big Island trip? Hawaii’s Big Island is a popular vacation destination, partly due in fact to its size. Why? Because there is so much for you to do and see.

Once your Big Island travel arrangements are made, you may want to shift for your focus to what you can do and see. Creating an itinerary for your trip has a number of benefits. It is important to
remember that Big Island is filled with so much for you to do and see; so much that you may not have enough time to do so.

Familiarizing yourself with popular Big Island attractions before your vacation can help you make sure that you visit the mostly highly rated and recommended sites, a few of which are outlined below.

1 – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must see for all Big Island tourists. This National Park is situated on 377 square miles of a vast array of landscaping. Whether you are interested in traveling
by car, foot, or bike, there is a large part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that you can examine.

When traveling by car, you can visit the summit of the Kilauea volcano. Chain of Craters Road is also a must visit in the park, as this is where lava once flowed over the road. With so much to do and
see in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including guided tours and themed wilderness tours, you may want to stay onsite. What better way to end your day than camping? Camping is free as long as you paid admittance into the park.

2 – Waipio Valley

Waipio Valley is also known as “The Valley of the Kings.” This Big Island attraction is a must visit if the history and culture of Hawaii is of interest to you. Here, you will be able to explore an
area that was once populated with native Hawaiians. There are unlimited hidden treasures in the area, including beautiful waterfalls, rivers, and tara fields.

To learn the history of the Waipio Valley, not just see it, a guided tour is recommended. Guided tours of “The Valley of Kings,” are available by way of car, horseback, and foot.

3 – Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is often referred to as “A Garden in the Valley of the Ocean.” Due to close proximately, a visit to the gardens is advised either before or after a visit to
“The Valley of the Kings.”

Guided garden tours are available for multiple trails, including the Onomea Falls and Palm Jungle Trail.

4 – Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park

If you are unable to visits the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park is a must visit for you. Situated on 180 acres of land, this National Historic Park is
considered sacred ground. It was once refuge and home to those who broke the law.

When visit the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, you can see the black lava rock, a sacred temple, wooden statutes of Hawaiian gods, and so much more! The area is filled with beautiful fish ponds; therefore, you can enjoy a fishing adventure in addition to hiking and examining the historical background of Hawaii’s Big Island.

In addition to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, and Waipio Valley, there are other popular and well-known attractions that you should place on your
vacation itinerary. Those visiting the North Side of Big Island will want to examine Parker Ranch. Those visiting the South Side of the island should checkout the views at the Ka Lea South Point.

As you can see, there are a number of must visit Big Island attractions for your next Big Island vacation. The above mentioned attractions are just a sample of what you will find on the island. For that reason, you are encouraged to use the internet to your advantage or request free Big Island travel guides, which are relatively easy to find online.

Tags: Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii's Big Island, Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, Waipio Valley

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