Dec 07 Trip - Suggestions for 10 day itinerary

Aloha!

I%26#39;ll be out with a party of 5 - wife, 5 year old boy, and my in-laws, and we are staying at KOLEA, bldg 8. I%26#39;m flying everyone out and in-laws are paying for the unit, good deal from my perspective. We%26#39;ll have a rental and will be there 10 days, so I have a couple of questions. I%26#39;m fairly familiar with the BI, but mostly between Waikoloa and Kona.

1. I%26#39;m planning to golf 3 times, once at the Kings Course, once at the South Cours at Mauna Lani, and then the 3rd I don%26#39;t know...played Mauna Kea several times so I%26#39;d like to try something different...any other public courses with good quality?

2. We%26#39;d like to do a snorkeling trip down to Captain Cooks and have heard good things about DD or Fairwinds...if bringing a 5 year old with good swimming skills (whether he actually goes in the water will be determined by roughness when we get there)...any suggestions for what we should lean towards.

3. We%26#39;d like to take a day trip and pickup some good local beef and find a harbor or the like north of us to pickup some fresh seafood to cook in, any suggestions?

4. We need another ';day'; activity to mix in with the lounging at pool/ocean due to our location and desire to simply relax with a cocktail or two...what would be another good day trip.

Not trying to plan too much, but definitely want 3 full/near full day activities without traveling all the way out to volcano activity.

Thanks in advance!!!

Dec 07 Trip - Suggestions for 10 day itinerary

oh boy..... 5 is pretty young to snorkel....Id look ar Sea Paradise.

First however, Id practice foe a week in a pool at home to see how your child does..... can he clear his mask when flooded, .....ok with jumping into 50 to 100 ft deep water ? does not require you t0 attend to him.... he needs to be self sufficient....Before you ever go in..........even with a vest or noodle...

Ocean sports out of Waikoloa is good too... next ot Kolea

Best beef on island is at Waikoloa Village market.....parker ranch beef ( 12 to 15 per lb.... and worth twice that)

best fish is ni Kona, SackN. Save or Safeway in kona dont expect cheap prices Costco has good fish too Fish here is NOT cheap more expensive than any other meat.

Drive to Hawi and explore full day

Dec 07 Trip - Suggestions for 10 day itinerary

Thanks Dan.

Is there any place to buy fish fresh off the boat, like up in Kawaihae?

Also, I%26#39;ve never been up to Hawi, what is there to do up there?

Finally, I understand your concern regarding the 5 year old snorkeling and we have a pool that he swims upon his own power, uses noodles, masks, and even has his own snorkel - but (and this is for those considering something similar) I am still a bit paranoid allowing him out there and will only do so if the waters are calm enough, he is comfortable, and if not, then there will be one of us on the boat to remain with him while we take turns doing our thing (there will be 4 adults so timewise that will not be too bad). That is assuming the voyage we decide on actually allows him to go out...

Anyways, thanks for your information and any other suggestions would be welcome! Mahalo!

If you are out and about on a day trip, JJ%26#39;s Meats in Honoka%26#39;a has fantastic meats at good prices. It would also give you the chance for a stop in this great little town.

I%26#39;d suggest the Fair Winds because it%26#39;s a really big boat with room to move around. We took a 4 year old in May but she is afraid of the water and didn%26#39;t get in. She was fine on the boat though.

My 6-year old has been snorkeling since she was 2. Nothing wrong with your plan if he has good swimming skills. I would lean towards Fairwinds.

Kona Country Club or Makalei are good public golf courses. Makalei is nice if you go early because it%26#39;s up mauka with beautiful scenery and nice cool weather.

With respect to day trips, Holualoa is a fun mauka town with some nice art galleries. Kukio is a nice family beach with some good shore snorkeling. The Mauna Lani has a nice fish pond walk to a lovely little beach good for swimming. Waimea is a nice change of pace and a good place to pick up some local beef.

lots of good advice ...

Hawi -- yes, check it out especially as you seem to be from Northern California, it%26#39;s the most NorCal spot on the island, nice vibe, rolling mac nut orchards, small town, artists, craftspeople, guys with ponytails driving old pickup trucks, life in the slow lane. Some nice shops too, go to Pololu and see the lookout.

Sure you can try buying fish at Kawaihae, and if not off the boat, try the fish market there that buys the catches ... across the street from the gas station.

Hawaii Dan says the best beef is at the Waikoloa Highlands Market in the Village. This market has expanded a lot and is so much more upscale than when I shopped there in 2002! it%26#39;s local beef, per Dan.

I second going to Honoka%26#39;a -- getting nicer all the time.

You might want to drive as far as Laupahoehoe, go down to the point, maybe continue into the little down and eat at the retro 50%26#39;s diner if you like such things ... check out the train museum too.

5 O%26#39;clock,

Day trips:

A good one would be a full day - go to Hilo on a Wed or Sat and check out the Farmers Market, tsunami and Lyman museums, take the kid to Big Island Candies, Imaloa and maybe the Panaewa zoo. Not much of a zoo, but it%26#39;s free (donation) and they have a white tiger. There are many great local places to eat in Hilo and it is a chance to see how locals live. Plus the drive over is nice, on a nice day. Along the way there is Akaka falls, the gulches, Laupahoehoe, Onomea Bay, Waipio, Tex%26#39;s etc.

Another shorter day trip is the Hawi/Pololu area, as others have suggested.

I would also add Pu%26#39;uhonua o Honaunau (place of refuge) as a worthwhile addition. Consider adding this to the snorkel day?

For snorkeling - either will be fine, Sea Paradise or Fariwinds II.

You will have 10 days so you will have time to do stuff. Try and do the longer days/drives early in the trip so you are taking advantage of the time change.

Good luck and happy travels!

To reiterate.........best meat on the Island....I mean anywhere you can buy. here.... AND also the best meat I have ever eaten in the entire USA, Europe or Asia....... Australia , Japan, NewZealand and South America is the Parker Ranch beef...........and since all gets exported to high end restauraunts world wide..... the Waikoloa Village market butcher is the only guy............in Hawaii, on Hawaii to carry it. Cuts the steaks 1 3/4 inch thick....

I drive 70 miles out of my way just to buy this meat...........