The Big Island with Kids

I am so excited since we just booked a trip to the big island over our kids spring break at the end of March - they are 8 and 11 years old and have never been to Hawaii. Any tips on sites or tours they might enjoy? I am also interested in the best places we can get a bite to eat that would be good for the whole family - doesn%26#39;t have to be the fanciest places - we are out for yummy food even if it is from a whole-in-the-wall type place! We also would like to attend a luau if you have any recommendations. We are staying at the Hilton and I am sure the kids will have a blast there! THANKS in advance for your help! I appriciate it! :-)

The Big Island with Kids

Ok, aroung the Hilton ( good choice) are many restauraunts...,no hole in the walls. The most family places will be Big Island Steak House and Merrimans Market cafe dinners around 30 pp.

Over in the Queens cneter will be Subway, and Dairy queen. Thats pretty much it for economy. Its the gold coast....nothing is cheap. or close

In Kona, a 45min to 1 hour south will have Big Island Grill, Tante, Hard Rock, Quinns, Rocky Pizza,

Bubba Gumps. are the family places and the normal fast food places. On the upper end is Jackey Rey,

and Don The beachcomber.

Local food will be at Big Island and Tantes....its not focused on fish however but things like Fried pork and sausage, lots of rice, Potato and Mac salad, (mixed) Spam, Loco Moco, Katsu chicken,...there are very few local type places...locals here dont go out and eat at home expect prices at these places to be around 25 per person, entre, drink, tip, tax

Activity....1. snorkel tour on enther Dolphin Discoveries Sea Paradise.

2. volcano park 12 hrs day

3. Evening at the ranch in Kohala mt..hawiian cowboy, campfire, bbq dinner, Star gazing..

use the left menu to research. Best guide is Hawaii by the mile.. or lonely Planet.....the worst guide is Big Island revealed,( dangerous and stupid advice)

4. Kona and Place Of Refuge national park

6. Hamakua coast/Akaka Falls, Tour of Wiapio

The Big Island with Kids

I agree with most of dan%26#39;s suggestions for activities although we always disagree on restaurants :-)

The one downside to the Hilton (which your kids will *love*, btw), is the food situation at lunch. The expensive dinner options are pretty darn good, the (relatively) inexpensive lunch options, like the lunch place at the dolphin lagoon, and the boat landing food court, are pretty lousy and not even all that inexpensive. When I go with my kids, we don%26#39;t like to go off the property (we%26#39;re usually just there for a weekend), so we like to eat a late breakfast/brunch at the breakfast buffet, which isn%26#39;t cheap, but has lots of pretty good food. Then we skip lunch or just eat some fruit or something and then eat a nice, hearty dinner. My kids%26#39; favorite is the Kamuela Provision Company. Great view, decent steaks, etc. My favorite is Donatoni%26#39;s. Quite good Italian food with a nice ambiance. Excellent wine list.

The other two choices are Chinese (Kirin) and Japanese (Imari). I believe they, like KPC and Donatoni%26#39;s, are only open for dinner. They are quite good as well.

Off the property, walking distance or short drive, as dan says you have the King%26#39;s Shops and the Queen%26#39;s Shops. The food court at the Kings shops is closed now, so at the Queens Shops Charley%26#39;s Thai is supposed to be opening there, does anybody know if it has? It%26#39;s good Thai, they have a place in Waimea and used to have one in Kona. Sansei is now open, it%26#39;s a Japanese place, but I haven%26#39;t eaten there.

Big Island Steak House and Merriman%26#39;s Market Cafe are just OK.

Driving a little ways north (10-15 minutes) there%26#39;s a nice public access beach at the Mauna Lani (a bit of a walk, but beautiful, through fish ponds) that has a lunch place with surprisingly good and affordable burgers and wraps. It%26#39;s a nice place to spend a beach day. If you%26#39;re going through Waimea (after a day trip to the Hamakua side), Tako Taco is really good Mexican, Huli Sue%26#39;s is interesting local style BBQ, Charley%26#39;s Thai...

You%26#39;ll find a lot at the Hilton to entertain you and the kids, hopefully their pools will be warmer by the time you get here because they have been *cold*.

I%26#39;m also heading over to Kona from the atctic of Wisconsin. My father-in-law has a deep sea fishing charter, The Linda Sue III, so a lot of our time will be spent with him. My 4 and 6 year old will tire of that fast. We%26#39;re staying at the Royal Kona, only because the location can%26#39;t be beat. Is there any place we can purchase discount tickets to any of the local activities? Is the submarine worth the money? I noticed the volcano helicopter rides have risen in price, considerably.

By the way, pumpkin1027, if you are interested in deep sea fishing charter..look up Jeff Heintz in Kona. His info is online. He%26#39;s not as fancy or ';corporate,'; but he is a great deal on a really nice, relaible boat.

Also, make sure you purchase the hawaii entertainment book, it has discount coupons for meals.

Thanks so much...

I took the kids last summer, and we had a great time! Snorkel Kahalu%26#39;u- great spot to see shallow reef fish and sea turtles-(we counted 13 on our visit!) Easy beach access for the kids. White Sands beach is great bodysurfing... board rental there for $5-10. Also, keep in mind Costco and Safeway...cheap pizzas and BBQ/sandwich fixings. Most beaches have grills available for use. We always tried to save $$$ by making a late lunch our main meal out. Have fun!

Generally the Hawaii entertainment book is not worth purchasing for the Big Island.

For what kind of activities are you looking for discounts? Most of the better activities are free....snorkeling, swimming, bodyboarding. But it is a good idea to go on a snorkel cruise as they go to some nice places. Dolphin discoveries, sea paradise or both good. You might want to google and see if there are any discount coupons around.

I personally think the snorkeling at Kahuluu is overrated. Crowded, no reef, lousy visibility, dirty facilities. Yeah, there%26#39;s some big overfed fish hanging around the tromped-on reef, but you can do much better. Cruise ship passengers have been flooding Kahuluu.

Ask for a remodeled room at Royal Kona.

Aloha, lot off great advice! Just some fill in stuff:

UFO Parasailing - my kids love it.

http://www.ufoparasailing.com/

Parker Ranch

http://www.parkerranch.com/

Anna Ranch

http://www.annaranch.org/

Atlantis Submarine - only do this if the kids do not want to snorkel..

http://www.atlantisadventures.com/kona.cfm

Pu%26#39;uhonua o Honaunau National Park

http://www.nps.gov/puho/

%26#39;Imiloa Astronomy Center - a drive but check it out.

www.imiloahawaii.org/

SeaHorse Farm - expensive yes, fun yes.

http://www.seahorse.com/

Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo %26amp; Gardens - a drive but check it out.

http://www.hilozoo.com/

Kona%26#39;s Kailua Candy Company

http://kailua-candy.com/

Kahalu%26#39;u Beach Park - a must.

Thanks for the great info.

FYI: I found this coupon site and Huggo%26#39;s in Kona has a weekly coupon to print out. I bought the entertainment book for the big island. There are several coupons that will work for my family. I figure if I earn back my $25, it%26#39;s still a deal. Eating out for a week with a family of 4 really adds up. The car rental deals are pretty good as well. I%26#39;m hoping to use one to upgrade to a larger car.

www.ecouponshawaii.com/default.aspx?nid=94

http://www.huggos.com/

I might sound cheap, but who doesn%26#39;t want to eat for less!

Thank you to the person who listed all the websites of activities.

cupons that you buy are soet of a joke here...you can get just as good deals in the Thursday section of West Hawaii Today, in Kona. and in many of the visitor books.

Problem is that many of the places are rather expensive..( Huggos most expensive in Kona dinners start at about 30 and go up...) Using cupons at more expensive places will end up actualy costing you more than having regular priced dinners without.

I looked in this last thursday paper and found, specials like 19.95 lobster and prime rib dinners

all over the place....

The places I list are not haut cusine, as Shey, who is a gourmand here,mentiond My places are for good wholesome food, in a place that will be comfortable with and for children and casual dress is the order.

Oh and where the menu will appeal to kids ( no ';Foie Gras, with a sublime %26amp; subtile madera and caviar reduction on a bed of artichoke hearts, brased cellerac, garnished with fresh urchin roe';...)

Stuff like Loco Moco and Katsu chicken...

They are inexpensive by Kona standards, where food costs about 20% to 40% more than on the mainland.

To take the sub is pretty neat,,, but the kids have to be taller than 3 ft to go. Try the glass botom boat for 1/3 the price.... Then too Blue Sea cruises has a twice day trip ...larger glass bottom

Then run down to Kahalulu for some shore shorkeling.

and a drive to Place Of Refuge national park... or up to see Koloko nmational park.... great for turtles and no crowds....not even the locals know about this place..... a gem

ready4break, eating out for a family of four doesn%26#39;t have to break the bank, unless you go to places like Huggo%26#39;s. There are many moderately priced eating establishments here. No, you will not get Four Seasons kind of service, maybe even you have to serve yourself, but the prices are reasonable. Check out the restaurant reviews at http://konaforum.com.

I%26#39;ve eaten at the Thai restaurant in Queen%26#39;s, before Christmas. It was OK ... the seating not too well designed for children.

No one mentioned Kawaihae -- Cafe Pesto, Something%26#39;s Cooking in Paradise, Kawaihae Harbor Grill, Tres Hombres, and the window for great ice cream and shave ice.

clear cream