We loved the Big Island and I would like to go there again. We rented a house near Hilo and then drove to the Kona side and stayed in a hotel. I also couldn’t go near the volcano due to allergies/asthma. Our neighbors next to the rental house went and had to return because the air was so bad.
If you go to the Big Island, the Hilo side is very interesting, not like anywhere else on the other islands I have seen. Do not miss this absolutely wonderful tropical garden, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. It is 8.5 miles north of Hilo. One of the most amazing, beautiful places I have ever seen and right up there on my favorite places ever. It is 40 acres of huge, rare plants, waterfalls, water views, trails, all integrated into the landscape as if it just grew there naturally. There were only a few people there when we toured and it seemed we had the place all to ourselves. Magical experience and we still talk about it years later. Look at the photos on the web site and it will make you want to go! http://www.htbg.com/
My best friend and I rented this house. It was HUGE for the 2 of us, and could easily accommodate a family. Easily. It was incredible. And inexpensive. For Hawaii. On the water. A private home. http://www.vrbo.com/197703
Most people recommend 1-2 days on the east side aka Hilo side. It’s the rainy side. The sun is on the west side. You don’t need a SUV or AWD anywhere on the Big Island that you can legally drive. The roads where it is legal to take a rental car are perfectly flat and paved. Walking on hot lava is illegal!!! and really really stupid! Huge waves??? Not on the Big Island.
VOG on the Big Island can be an issue. It is most prevalent in VNP and south of Kona - where a lot of the recommended VRBO rentals are. There’s a reason those VRBO rentals are cheap. They’re often in residential communities and are illegal. The legal rentals are in the town of Kailua-Kona and on the Kohala Coast in Waikoloa Beach Resort and Mauna Lani resort area. I highly recommend that you stay in a legal rental.
I love the Big Island. It’s my favourite of the Hawaiian islands. But, please don’t do anything illegal. Mahalo. I recommend tripadvisor forums to get more information.
We stayed at Kohala Coast but there were still VOG, not only that the water tastes bad. But others love it but we won’t come back. I wouldn’t stay at Hilo but if you do the helicopter ride is much cheaper than Kona.
There was definitely no vog near Kohala Coast when we were there (Dec 2013), maybe a seasonal issue. I agree that trip advisor will be more helpful than CC on this topic.
VOG varies greatly, depending on wind conditions and geologic conditoins (how many rifts and vents open around the volcano). Here’s the linlk. http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php You can click on Kileaua or Mauna Loa updates, plus general information. Good luck! It is spectacular, but be very careful for folks who have any lung or breathing issues and talk with your doc.
Hale Mahina in Honokawai, Maui. I wish I could post the pics of the private little beach a few steps from the condo. Turtles galore, quiet complex mostly owner occupied. Heaven.
Post #27, I was at the Fairmont Orchid Jan 2015. I believe the volcano was just started again recently and that may have been the reason for the VOG. The sky was not clear. But beautiful snorkeling, much better than Maui. I saw more fishes there but sadly no turtles which was what I had hope to see. But the dolphins were just too much, jumped up in the air and did all kind of tricks. Definitely go to snorkel near Captain Cook landing place.
I like the Big Island better than Maui but you can’t go wrong with either. Both times I’ve been to the Big Island it was for a conference for DH and it was at the Hilton Waikoloa. The Hilton is a large hotel but there are many lovely looking condos in the area, also a Marriott. We did explore the whole island, loved the Botanical Gardens mentioned above and the Hilo area but fine to just spend a day exploring. When we went to Volcanoes National Park it was torrential downpour as unseasonably stormy weather and impossible to see anything and super muddy besides but the Visitors Center was interesting. In Maui we were at the Hyatt in Kaanapoli but there are also many condos and also houses further up the road where the Honda Golf Classic was to played in the following week. Very nice looking areas.
You may want to look at the Big Island, something like 7 days in Hilo and 3 days in Kona. Rent AWD SUV and do >>day trips. Teenagers will participate if you offer them the opportunities to do scary stuff like walk on hot lava or jump >>into the huge waves. There are many unusual attractions and options to kill yourself. Nature there is overwhelming.
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Most people recommend 1-2 days on the east side aka Hilo side. It’s the rainy side. The sun is on the west side. You don’t need a SUV or AWD anywhere on the Big Island that you can legally drive. The roads where it is legal to take a rental car are perfectly flat and paved. Walking on hot lava is illegal!!! and really really stupid! Huge waves??? Not on the Big Island.<
There is a chance that you did not see all there is to see. It seems our ideas of a vacation differ drastically. We prefer not to be where “most people” are. I need my bamboo big, beaches of all possible colors and my kids insist on having their star fruit from the tree every morning. We need swimming in the ocean then swimming in freshwater lakes under the waterfalls and then playing snowballs all on the same day. We also need to see fresh lava flowing and swim with giant turtles and watch the stars from the 12K+ feet. Mingle with locals at the market. Yes you may need an umbrella but you can always hide under the banyan tree if you forget one. Of course there are huge waves on Big Island, at least big enough to swallow every reader of this forum.
But if you like to stand in lines at the chain restaurants with other tourists and lay on a flat yellow beach - this is good too. We have Jersey Shore for that. Mahalo!