1)  Snorkeling in the Hawaiian Islands is awesome (over 50% of its ocean species are native only to Hawai'i), but the Big Island is ' no ka oi ' (the best!) in our humble opinion.  (The coral reefs next to shore are almost always visible - other islands very often have more cloudy, dirty "run-off".  The beaches on the island are small, but have the most varied colored sand of anywhere - there's a black sand beach, red sand, brown sand, white sand and even a green sand beach at South Point!  (But don't take any sand or rocks home with you, it's "kapu" (taboo) and will bring you bad luck!)  

TOP FOUR BEACHES:

Kona Pier**:   where the annual Ironman Triathlon starts.  Only a few blocks from the condo (8?), this is an underrated snorkel spot -AND the perfect beach for beginner snorkelers and swimmers.  Nice sandy, gradual drop off with swim buoy line marking the area.  Coral and fish start just 25-30 feet out.  Lots of puffers here, and a surprisingly huge variety of every kind of fish (often eels and octopus, also!)  If you choose the King Kam beach (yes, you're allowed even if you're not a guest - all beaches/access are public in Hawaii) it's sometimes a bit nippy with the fresh water springs, but swim out beyond the heau between the buoy markers to some excellent corals on the other side.  Gorgeous! (You can park either at the King Kamehameha Hotel lot, or for free, behind the first block of shops along the waterfront.  Big John and I like to park up the hill behind King Kam hotel in Ilima Shopping strip - it's free and close, too.  There's a public bathroom and shower on the Pier.  Lots of history at the pier, a fantastic luau spot, and cultural site.  Plus, it's in the heart of shopper heaven!   This pier is where most of the whale watches, para-sailing adventures, dinner cruises and the party boat ("Booze Cruise") take off from.

Kahalu'u Beach & Marine Sanctuary is one of the BEST snorkel spots in the islands.  IF YOU'VE NEVER SNORKELED, PRACTICE FIRST AT THE KONA PIER (see above** as you will be able to stand up in water to mess with your snorkel and adjust your mask easy on the sandy bottom of the Pier, not sharp and painful coral/lava rock you'll find at Kahaluu.) 

If you are not a good swimmer, get a life vest, a noodle or a boogie board with a see-through window to float around in here, It's worth it.  Located within Kailua-Kona just 4 miles south from our condo on scenic Ali'i Drive, this protected bay is ALWAYS fun.  There's lots of coral (don't step on it please, it's protected) and the FISH!  You will see a hundred different kinds of fish here and sea turtles galore who'll swim right up to you (turtles are also protected, please resist the urge to touch them).   There are lots of shy eels, starfish, crabs, shrimp - you-name-it.  It's kind of a touristy beach, but numbers sometimes make you feel safer and plus, there are local folks selling shells and shave ices.  You can also rent snorkel gear right here at this beach.  And there's a LIFEGUARD on duty.  The barbecue pavilion hosts local folks having parties almost daily.  Say "hi" from us to our 'ole friend John Allen if he's around blowing his conch shell every evening at sunset, selling his shells, and weaving tapa hats.  His grandfather planted many of the palm trees in the park - don't be afraid to extend your thanks.  (above photo -a snoozing turtle in sand at Kahalu'u, oblivious to us silly humans walking back and forth in front of her, KMB photo 2002)

Ho'okena Beach is located south of Kailua-Kona, about a 30 minute drive through the Captain Cook region.  The two-mile drive down the mountain to get there is half the fun.  Our favorite memory is driving up out of there after sunset and inhaling the lush scents of flowers wafting up the hill.   The new bathroom and shower facility is quite nice and the rinse water is always warm. 

If you've never seen a spinner dolphin, here's your chance.  A group of these little, acrobatic clowns come into Ho'okena bay every day to rest & play. 

Snorkeling is very interesting here on calm day, but tricky as it drops off quickly, so get experienced before trying it here and notice where the locals enter and exit (there's a path so you don't step on lava rock -ouch).   ALSO, as with anywhere, WATCH the waves - and never turn your back to the ocean.  If a wave's coming in, dive or duck under.   

Link to Big Island today's tidal chart and weather!

Link to tidal chart for the next few weeks! (choose Hawaii, Honolulu)

NOT THE SWIMMING TYPE?   TRY . . .

2)  Walking around Kailua-Kona - Every morning while vacationing at the condo, one or more of us will walk the block to Lava Java and have fresh island coffee and homemade pastries while gazing at the waves coming in, reading the newspaper and watching folks walk by.  Many times in the evening we'll walk the block to Huggo's for drinks and sunset seats.  Often we can hear the luau going on next door.  There's a zillion shops to browse, and historical sites within walking distance (i.e. Hulihe'he Palace, the Banyan Tree, Lava Rock Church, etc.)  Wander around for yourself and find out how relaxing doing absolutely nothing can be!  (photo at right:  Larry & Connie Krupp, Kim's folks and condo owners) 

3)  Beach Combing - There's lots of driftwood, shells and odd bits washing up along the stretches of shoreline along the Natural Energy Lab by the new Airport.  Not a good place to swim, but excellent for shell combing.  The Old Airport Beach Park (at the north end of Kailua-Kona) is a local hangout and excellent for whale watching as the sharpest dropoff closest to shore is here.  Also, the tide pools are full of life: hermit crabs, baby fish, starfish, etc.  If you like to explore, you can always check out South Point Beach, too.   That beach collects everything that gets dumped into the ocean from 3,000 miles away.  When we lived here, one time a ship carrying NIKE products capsized in a storm off the Philippines and within a couple of weeks 200 pairs of Nikes washed up here.   It was a sight.  (NOTE:  this beach is NOT the same as the green sand beach, which involves a 4 mile hike over rough, hot lava rock and back.)

4)  Hilo - There's a farmer's market in Kailua-Kona on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, but the Farmer's Market in  Hilo is much better and four times bigger.  (Captin Cook just started a Farmer's Market every Sunday across from Hotel Manago - lots of organic stuff.) A great time for us is buying a few weird fruits (like rambutans and cheramoyas, sour sops,  . . . mmmmmmmm, our mouths are watering just thinking about them) and eating them while sight seeing.  The vendors will give you free tastes and we recommend you not by shy.  ASK questions about what's what, the vendors will proudly tell you about their produce.  Not only does it taste good, you can learn how and where it's grown.   You can buy tropical flowers, orchids, coffee, etc. CHEAP at the farmer's market.   Our family usually tries to go to the Hilo market early on in the vacation so we're stocked up.  There are also clothing vendors, jewelry vendors, batiks, musical instruments, home made soaps (excellent), etc. WARNING:  the farmer's market is only on certain days of the week, Wednesdays and Saturdays?  Check with locals before making the 2 hour drive trip to Hilo from Kailua-Kona. 

Hilo has a lot of interesting things to do.  It has an absolutely riveting Tsunami Museum, tours of macadamia nut and orchid farms, waterfalls (like Akaka Falls) - see photo above KMB 1997), botanical gardens & a free tiny zoo at Pana'ewa Rain Forest Zoo (where you can see Namaste, the big 'ole cross eyed tiger - see photo at right, KMB 2001).  Hilo is the rainy side of the island, so be prepared.  As the locals say: "no rain, no rainbows".

5)  Volcanoes National Park - Okay, if you made it the several thousand miles to the island, you gotta see a volcano up close.   Nowhere else on earth will you get a better opportunity to see our world being created.  You can drive around the Kilauea Crater and stop at the museum and restaurant for a bite to eat.  Or, there are many helicopter and plane tours that will take you over Mauna Loa for a close up look at spouting lava flows.  (photo courtesy of Self Realization 2003)

Helicopter Tours - It's the best way to view lava flows.  Kinda pricey, but you can find deals and coupons all over.  We recommend Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours 'cause they are consistent and have really good customer satisfaction.  They may be slightly more expensive, but worth it.

6)  Mauna Kea Observatory - It feels like you're on top of the globe here.   It's internationally famous for having the clearest, most conducive area in the world for viewing the stars.  We've been there, it's true.   You'll never look at the night sky the same way again.  There are a dozen or so telescope stations operated by about 12 countries up here, who vie for the opportunity to be allowed to build their  research facilities here.  It's a bit of a drive, but well worth it.  (Bring lots of layers of clothes, towels, whatever - it's COLD up there!   In fact, many locals actually snow ski up on Mauna Kea - so it's a fun thing to say that you can snow ski and water ski, all in the same day on the big island of Hawaii.)  Or better yet, forget driving yourself and take a tour in a shuttle instead, while you get regaled with interesting factoids on Hawaii and Mauna Kea all the way there and back.  (Try Mauna Kea Summit Adventures - for the most experienced tour.)

7) Honokohau Harbor - just havin' a big 'ole schooner of beer and a bite to eat at the harbor is always relaxing.  Also, there is a very nice historic park on the north side of the harbor, great for sunsets.  You can park at the northwest tip of the harbor grounds by where they rinse sailboats off, you'll see a sign for the park.   The walk to shore is about 5 minutes.  It's a very peaceful spot.

8)  Whale Watching can be an unbelievable experience.  Maui is traditionally known for hosting the humpback whales, but our most vivid moment involved a breaching 4 ton young'un off the starboard side of a small boat here on the Kona Coast.  The Big Island and Maui are only 20 miles apart, after all.  (We recommend Dan McSweeney's tours - he's a marine biologist and really knows his stuff.)  Peak whale season is January/February, but they start coming November and leave in April.  The whales can be seen from every island.

9) Historic Sites & Hawaiian Culture:   There is a wealth of fascinating history here in the Sandwich Isles.   Local myths and legends abound.  We strongly suggest taking the time to familiarize yourself with local history and sites like the City of Refuge (photo at left, KMB 2000) , or the beach just next to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau is our 2nd favorite place to snorkel as there are ALWAYS big green sea turtles everywhere and lots of interesting coral.  Get experienced first, though, and choose a day when surf's down.  (You can't swim within the grounds of the historic site, but you'll see other people in the water next door, just follow them.)

NEW!  The Body Glove catamaran just started a daily sunset cruise from Kona Pier to Kealakekua Bay.  Fascinating historical narration on the way to Captain Cook monument, and live music on the way back.  Abundant and tasty pu-pus and Kona coffee.  Cash bar.  We highly recommend!  http://www.bodyglovehawaii.com

10) Para Sailing is for ANYone.  In fact, when we were coming in from our trip, a 76 year old grandmother was getting hitched up to try it out on the next jaunt.  They just hook you up, take off and let the wind gently lift you up 400-800 feet.  What a view.  My sister-in-law said it was spiritual and highly recommends it.  I remember clutching my camera so tight I almost forgot to click this photo (at right KMB 1999).  You can't even see the boat down there at the end of the line, can you?  A pod of dolphins swam with our boat for awhile, too.  It was great. 

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