Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island is a massive resort.  How big is it? The resort sprawls over 62 beautiful oceanfront acres. That’s big!

Some folks describe the Hilton Waikoloa Village as Disney-esque with the tram and boat rides that transport guests throughout the resort. Though we found it fairly walkable from one end to the other. Of course the tropical landscaping and corridors of artwork and artifacts certainly provide eye candy as you move about.

Location

This Hilton resort is located about 30 minutes north of Kona airport in Waikoloa Beach Resort. We really love this spot on Hawaii Island and highly recommend it as a great place to stay on the Big Island. The shops, free entertainment, great restaurants and Hawaiian history are some of the reasons that Waikoloa Beach Resort is an excellent base for a Hawaii vacation.

Amenities

Hilton Waikoloa Village’s large area lends space for all sorts of water sports. One natural feature is the large salt water lagoon at the heart of the resort. The lagoon water is quite calm, making it a sheltered spot for kids to play. The lagoon is a great place to try kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and snorkeling. (One recommendation to share that we learned the hard way is that snorkeling visibility is best in the morning.)

Water fun at the Hilton Waikoloa Village salt water lagoon

On the southern end of the lagoon, you’ll find the Dolphin Learning Center where you can watch them swim and play. If you really want to get close to the dolphins you can book an experience with Dolphin Quest. We didn’t have the time to experience Dolphin Quest here, but we have enjoyed swimming with dolphins on Oahu with Dolphin Quest.

There’s pools around every corner at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Some pools have waterslides and one has a lazy river attached. (Another recommendation is to make sure you get a wristband so that you can use all the pool amenities. We learned this the hard way, too. No one explained the wristband requirement or how to get one. We literally only had enough time for one chance for a run down the waterslide, but the pool attendant rudely refused to let us go down, even though we could show her our room key.)

Kona Pool at the Hilton Waikoloa Village

Lounge chairs were easy to find throughout the resort. We liked the fact that beach cabanas for two were available to guests at no additional charge. The cabanas are available on a first come, first served basis so if you see one open, snag it.

Other nice amenities in this village are a spa, wedding chapel, tennis courts, shops, convention space and loads of restaurants including one of our Big Island favorites, Kamuela Provision Company.

Rooms

The rooms were spacious with a sitting area, desk space, lanai (balcony) and a walk-in closet. Some of the in-room amenities include a small refrigerator, coffee maker and tropical toiletries created by the spa.

Our room in the Lagoon Tower of Hilton Waikoloa Village

The bed was very comfortable and the linens seemed fresh and luxurious.

I don’t know if we were unlucky with our room or not, but we felt like our room needed refurbishing. The sofa and carpet were noticeably soiled and stained.

Our room was located in the Lagoon Tower with a view of the lagoon. On the way to our room we could tell that sections of the Lagoon Tower had ah-mazing ocean views. From the looks of it, parts of the Ocean Tower have excellent ocean views, too.

Luau

The onsite luau, Legends of the Pacific, is excellent. The food and entertainment are very high quality. Some things I look for in a luau are traditional Hawaiian foods, imu ceremony and a fire knife dancer. Legends of the Pacific definitely ticked all those boxes.

We thought the luau staff was particularly friendly and helpful even though gratuity is included in the price.

Legends of the Pacific offers guests the option to upgrade to Ali’i seating for $26 more. We think this option is worth doing for the relaxed table service and better seating near the stage.

Fireknife Dancer at Hilton Waikoloa Village Legends of the Pacific Luau

See all our photos from the Legends of the Pacific luau.

Video Tour

Andy captured some excellent video to tour you around the Hilton Waikoloa Village.

(Email subscribers: click here to watch this Hilton Waikoloa Village video tour.)

Final Bits and Pieces

- We only stayed at Hilton Waikoloa Village for two nights, which really didn’t do it justice. We barely got to scrape the surface of the resort amenities.

- With rates starting at $199, this resort offers pretty good value for money.

- I think families traveling with kids would particularly enjoy this resort. That being said, there’s enough relaxation and romance for adult guests.

- For more photos, see our collection from our stay at Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Mahalo to Hilton Waikoloa Village for hosting our stay.

Have you stayed at Hilton Waikoloa Village? How was your stay?

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Vanilla (orchid) growing on a hapu'u fern

Vanilla has the reputation for being, well, somewhat bland, but did you know that vanilla is quite a fascinating plant? Vanilla is actually an orchid that only blooms for one day. If the orchid is to produce a vanilla bean, it must very carefully hand pollenated on that one day of blooming.  I learned these interesting facts while visiting the Hawaiian Vanilla Company for lunch and a tour.

Though learning about vanilla is interesting in itself, the owner Jim Reddekopp weaves a family love story into his presentation about vanilla and how he came to farm it.  Jim and his wife Tracey were living on Oahu with their first two children when they decided that before they had more kids, they wanted to raise their children on a farm. Soon after, they decided to more to Hawaii Island’s verdant Hamakua Coast to start the US’s first (and I believe only) vanilla farm. Jim and Tracey now have five children that he jokes are on a work to eat program.

Jim Reddekopp prepares a vanilla-infused appetizer.

Jim Reddekopp does not hied his passion for his family and vanilla. The two are clearly intertwined. It was inspirational to hear how the Reddekopps grew their farm dream into a viable small business that currently employees nine people. How inspirational was it? Well, on the drive back to Waikoloa, Andy and I started daydreaming and brainstorming what sort of farm we could start in Hawaii.

We enjoyed a very tasty vanilla-infused, three-course lunch as part of the Hawaiian Vanilla Experience ($39/adult and $15/child ages 4 to 12) followed by a tour of the farm. Almost every part of the lunch incorporated vanilla in creative and unusual ways. For example, the roasted potatoes were seasoned in a vanilla southwest spice. I certainly learned by tasting that vanilla is not just for desserts.

Vanilla was added to each part of this savory lunch.

After lunch, we took a tour of a vanilla farm “field”. There, we looked closer at the type of environment and tender loving care that vanilla farming requires.

Vanilla Plant

The Hawaiian Vanilla Company  is located in lovely old timber building that originally housed a coffee mill in the 1920s. It’s roughly half way between Hilo and Kona. We drove there from Waikoloa Beach Resort in about an hour. It’s quite a scenic drive, too. (See this map for directions.) If you’re in this area, you might want to consider also visiting Akaka Falls, Waipio Valley lookout and if time permits, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.

Hawaiian Vanilla Company offers other tours and tastings in addition to this lunch tour we enjoyed. Tour reservations are strongly recommended. You can book by calling 1-877-771-1771.

Having lunch and farm touring at Hawaiian Vanilla Company was far more than a vanilla experience.

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Mahalo to the Hawaiian Vanilla Company for hosting our tour.

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Body Glove Hawaii offers a very nice historical sunset dinner cruise that we had a chance to enjoy on our recent visit to Hawaii’s Big Island. The dinner, entertainment and sunset was very good, but what I especially enjoyed was learning the history of the Kona coast and, oh boy, there’s a lot of it!

Kona Coast

The Body Glove vessel leaves Kailua Kona harbor then heads south, skimming the coastline while the golden sun rays make the coast glow. As we made our way down to historic Kealakekua Bay, the historian, Boyd, highlighted heiaus, village remains, and stories of struggles and misunderstandings of Captain Cook’s visits to Hawaii Island.

Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay

The more I learn of Hawaii’s history, the more I want to learn, which made this sunset sail right up my ally. You don’t need to be a Hawaii nerd like me to enjoy it though. I felt like Boyd shared the history in a way that both new and veteran Hawaii visitors appreciated.

The boat followed the coast as far as Kealakekua Bay where we slowed down inside the bay for smoother water as passengers enjoyed the dinner buffet that included Hawaii favorites like lomi lomi salmon, barbeque beef skewers and lau lau.

While we were in Kealakekua Bay, dolphins came to the boat as if to say hello. They put on a little leaping and spinning show before heading further down shore.

Kona Sunset

On our way back to Kailua-Kona we listened to songs played by a very talented slack key guitar player and singer. That, of course, added to the romantic setting sun followed by the waning rays of the day. By the time we arrived back in Kailua-Kona, the sky was all dark which made the lights of town reflect on the water.

Kailua-Kona lights shimmering on the bay

What to know when you go:

- The cost of this tour is $105.02 for adults and $72. 87 for youth ages 6 to 17.

- This historical tour is offered three nights per week, at the moment – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

- The staff was very helpful. If they offer to carry your drink or food, it’s a good idea to let them help you.

- One drink coupon is included in the cost of the tour. A cash bar was available with soft drinks, beer, wine and cocktails.

- Bring cash for tipping (at the end) and for the cash bar.

- Try to get to the buffet line soon after it opens. Andy and I waited for the rush to die down. Our timing was bad as the boat pulled out of the smooth water of the bay in into the rougher waters.

- You might want to bring a jacket or sweater. After sunset, the wind did have a bit of a chill to it.

- If you have medium to long hair, you might want to bring something to hold your hair back. I have medium length hair and found it difficult to eat with the coastal wind swirling my hair.

- If you are going to Hawaii during whale season (January – March), there’s a good chance you’ll see humpback whales,. So keep your eyes peeled.

- See all our photos from this tour.

Mahalo to Body Glove Hawaii for sponsoring our tour.

Though we’re right smack dab in the middle of Winter, let’s take a seat in this sunny chairadise at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on Hawaii’s Big Island. Who’s the lucky person you’d have sitting beside of you?

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The Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona is set in a location fit for a king, literally. King Kamehameha the Great established one of his royal residences here. As you survey the site, you can see how these grounds would have been chosen with a naturally protected bay. Remains and reconstruction of this royal residence and heiau provide reminders of the site’s importance. (Read more about the history of the Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel.)

Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel celebrates this place’s history with artifacts on display in the main corridor. There, they also have a large collection of museum-quality paintings by Herb Kane that depict historic moments and battles in Hawaii. Additionally, their onsite luau reenacts a royal court procession that may have taken place in this very spot.

Location

The Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel is located in the northern end of the town of Kailua-Kona. The hotel overlooks lovely Kailua Bay. It’s near enough to all the lively action of Kona, but also not smack dab in the middle of it where parking becomes more of a challenge. Navigating in and out of the hotel’s parking lot to other parts of the island is very easy.

That naturally protected bay that once helped sustain King Kamehameha and his people, now provides an ideal spot for swimming, snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, and more. Kona Boys’ watersports hut is right on site to rent gear and provide lessons. The hotel is set on the only permanent sandy beach in Kailua-Kona, that’s enjoyed by both visitors and locals. It’s also the only hotel in Kailua-Kona that’s set on a beach.

Rooms

The rooms have been recently renovated and impressed us from the start. Though only a 3-star resort, we had a spacious oceanview king room that was nicer than some 4 and 5-star rooms we’ve had in Hawaii. The newly renovated rooms are confortable and well appointed with a large flat-screen TV, sitting area and room to spread out.

The bath had a single sink with an extra large granite countertop providing plenty of space for all our stuff. We liked the tropical-inspired Bath & Body Works toiletries.

Other in-room amenities  include safe, coffee maker with Kona coffee and free wireless internet.

What to Know When You Go

- We were treated to an oceanview room on the fourth floor, however, bear in mind that there are a very limited number of rooms with ocean views.

- Ample onsite parking is available for $10 per day.

- Many restaurants and attractions are located within walking distance.

- All of the boating excursions depart from the dock that’s just steps from the hotel.

- At the moment, there’s not a spa.

- There’s only two onsite restaurants, but many restaurants within walking distance. We thought Honu’s provided a nice spread for a well-priced ($17.95) breakfast buffet.

Video Overview

Andy created this excellent video tour of Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel.

Overall Impressions

We were impressed with this hotel. It was clean and tidy and included all the basics you need for a great Hawaii Island vacation.

With rates starting at $159 during Hawaii’s high season, this hotel is a bargain.

For additional opinions about this hotel, see TripAdvisor reviews.

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Mahalo to the Big Island Visitors Bureau and Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel for sponsoring our stay.

Have you stayed at Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel? How was your stay?

A view Waipio Valley at the start of our decent

I have to admit that I looked forward to the van ride down into Waipio Valley almost as much as the horseback ride. As we began our 25% grade (the equivalent of a 45 degree angle)  decent, my heart started racing a bit. We were advised to open the van doors and not fasten our seat belts in case the van tumbled off the road, we’d be able to get out of the vehicle quicker. Gulp!

My second-row view of this steep, winding road from the van window.

Though thrilling, our van ride was uneventful, thankfully. Once we arrived at Na’alapa Stables, the heart rate returned to normal. The slow and steady pace on horseback provided just the right speed to soak in Waipio’s verdantly green valley. As I guided my horse on the dirt road and through several streams, I was able to admire the fertile farms and canopy of trees. I could visualize how this valley had once sustained thousands of Hawaiians centuries ago.

Waipio Valley Taro Farm

While in the valley, I could finally see the many pencil-thin waterfalls flowing down the valley walls. I had heard about them, but had never been able to see them from the lookouts above the valley. The most impressive waterfall seemed to be perfectly positioned in the middle of the valley and its height is at nearly 1300 feet.

This Waipio Valley waterfall stretches nearly 1,300 feet.

One of the most surprising things I saw in the valley was an abundance of wild horses. Though wild, they may have been wearing watches as they seemed to know the feeding time for the horses of Na’alapa Stables. They showed up to steal some nibbles promptly at lunch time.

After thanking our horses for the gentle ride, we hopped back into the van for the vertical ride up out of the valley. That was one last adventure that completed the tour.

We saw a few hikers that made the trek down and painfully steep climb back to the top. I feel like we got to see a lot more of the valley via horseback than if we’d hiked it. Certainly, this horseback riding tour is more time efficient than hiking it.

We both enjoyed this slow paced view of Waipio Valley and definitely recommend this adventure as a great Hawaii vacation activity.

What to know when you go:

- Na’alapa Stables offers a morning and afternoon ride Monday – Saturday. We took the morning ride, which we liked, but I hear the afternoon ride is nice as well.

- The nice staff will match your riding experience and skills with the horse.

- Definitely pay attention to the instructions. The staff know the horses and their tendencies. Listen to their instructions that will keep you out of trouble.

- The price is $88.54 which includes tax, but not gratuity. This tour is well priced for a 2.5 hour adventure! (There’s a shuttle-only service that’s $50 alone.)

- Wear long pants and shoes with a covered toe that you wouldn’t mind getting wet. (I wore these shoes.) We crossed several streams.

- I recommend bringing mosquito repellant to be on the safe side. Mosquitos love my blood, so I wore it and didn’t get bitten. Andy didn’t wear any repellant and didn’t get a single bite.

- You might want to bring a bottle of water.

- You can see all the photos we took from our Waipio Valley horseback riding adventure. Please bear in mind that it’s difficult to take a photo one-handed on a moving horse.

- For more information and directions, see the Na’alapa Stables website.

Mahalo to Na’alapa Stabels for sponsoring our tour.

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Kauai Marriott Resort Pool -- one of the biggest in the state of Hawaii.

* Outrigger Resorts is offering deals up to 65% off with the promotional code DREAM. Outrigger hotels and condos are located on all the major islands.

* Aston Hotels and Resorts is offering a third night free deal. You can double the deal to pay for four nights and get two nights free. Choose from any of the hotel or condo properties listed on this page from all the major islands.   You must book this Threebie Freebie deal by February 17, 2012.

* One of our favorite Kauai hotels, the Kauai Marriott Resort  is offer a special rate of $209 per night for a pool view room. This rate is good through May with a couple blackout dates.

* Via TravelZoo, Celebrity Cruises is offering a special deal on a roundtrip cruise to Hawaii from San Diego. This 15-night cruise starts at $1099. The first 100 cabins booked will receive $200 in onboard credit per cabin. See this link for more details. This deal will likely sell out quickly.

* The second annual Celebrity Chef Tour benefiting the James Beard Foundation returns to the  Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on January 20 & 21, 2012 bringing an impressive line-up of superstar chefs including Jonathan Waxman, Ming Tsai, Tyler Florence, Sam Choy and celebrity cocktail mixologist, Manny Hinojosa. See this link for tickets and more information. Food-lovers are invited to make a weekend of it and take advantage of Mauna Lani Bay’s special Celebrity Chef Tour room rates with rooms starting from $230 per night plus tax – that’s a super bargain, folks!

* The first blog carnival of Aloha for 2012 is hot off the presses.

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*  We are really honored that Go Visit Hawaii was recently selected as one of the top 12 travel blogs to follow in 2012. Mahalo to our readers who nominated and voted for us!

* The Fairmont Orchid on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island is offering an excellent luxury package beginning at $369 per night for ocean view rooms. The deal includes daily breakfast for two, a $100 food and beverage credit, a $50 spa credit to be enjoyed at the Spa Without Walls, complimentary self parking, and complimentary internet access. In total the value of this deal is $609, but you can get all those special deals included at the Orchid Experience Package rate starting at $369 with a five-night minimum stay. See this link for more information.

*  2012 Hawaii Entertainment Books are on sale this week for $20.12 with free shipping. These coupon books are mainly beneficial for Oahu vacations. If you use the luau coupons, you’ll more than recover the cost of the book. See our discussion the Hawaii Entertainment Book.

*  Hawaiian Airlines has a sale of flights to Hawaii’s Big Island starting at $298 plus taxes and fees. You must book before January 10 for travel between January 5 – June 8, 2012. Seats are limited. 

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When it comes to ocean fun in the Kailua-Kona or Kealakakua areas, Kona Boys has you covered. They’re truly ocean sport experts with a passion for caring for the environment.

On our recent trip to the Big Island, we got to experience ocean kayaking, snorkeling, and stand up paddle boarding with the Kona Boys from their station at Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona.

Kona Boy, Eric, got us gliding out on the water of Kailua Bay in a double kayak. We marveled at the gorgeous shades of blue water and coral gardens below. When we could pull our eyes away from the water, Eric shared history about Kailua-Kona and the historic landmarks we could see from the bay. Though Kailua-Kona is often bustling with tourist activity, seeing the town from Kailua Bay was very peaceful. Eric recommends early morning kayaking in Kailua Bay for smooth water and a great chance of seeing dolphins.

After enjoying a relaxed lunch on the sandy beach at the Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, we picked up some snorkel gear from the Kona Boys. We were both extremely impressed with the quality of snorkeling here. We barely had to swim 20 feet from the shore before seeing lots of tropical fish. The snorkeling was so good that Andy was able to capture some of the best ocean snorkeling photos we’ve captured over our many snorkeling adventures.

To complete our ocean adventures with Kona Boys, I gave stand up paddle boarding another try. The protected cove within a bay at the Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel provided really smooth water for learning stand up paddle boarding. It was so smooth, I didn’t even fall off. That’s me on a stand up paddle board in the photo on the right.

Whether you’re looking to rent snorkel gear, paddle boards, beach chairs and/or kayaks in the Kona area, the Kona Boys can definitely help you out. They also offer informative private kayak and outrigger tours. See this photo of their services for pricing information. Also check out their website.

See all our photos from our ocean play with the Kona Boys.

Mahalo to the Kona Boys for sponsoring the ocean rentals for our day of fun.

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Lava entering the ocean, December 2011. Photo courtesy of the USGS.

The ever changing lava activity on Hawaii’s Big Island creates news options for lava viewing. As reported last week, lava is flowing down the pali (hill) to the ocean. I want to provide an update of the various ways you can view this exciting lava activity.

USGS lava flow map issued December 2011. Click on the image for a larger view.

By Land

You have two separate areas for lava viewing by land:

- With lava flowing into the ocean just within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the park has created a beacon trail from the end of the Chain of Craters Road. This 9.7 mile round-trip hike is described as extreme due to the exceptionally uneven terrain over old lava flows. Visit this page to learn more about this hike. Note that you must pay a Hawaii Volcanoes National Park entrance fee of $10 per car.

- Perhaps an easier way to view the lava activity is from the Hawaii County lava viewing area in Kalapana. This viewing area is free and open daily from 2pm to 10pm, with the last car entry at 8pm. You can access this area by driving to the end of Highway 130. Currently, from this viewing point, you can see lava flowing down the hill to the plain. Lava is visible within a short (less than one mile) hike. You can also see the plume produced from lava flowing into the ocean, though I don’t believe you can actually see lava entering the ocean. For more information call the lava viewing hotline number is 808-961-8093.

For these land, please also see my tips for viewing the Big Island lava flow.

By Air

With the lava flow being so widespread at the moment, a helicopter tour provides a spectacular view. Most helicopter tours of the volcano depart from Hilo.

If you’re staying on the Kona side of the Big Island, you can find helicopter tours of the volcano that depart from the west side – Blue Hawaiian is one that I know offers this service. Taking a helicopter tour is the quickest way to see the lava flow, though quite expensive at cost of nearly $400 or more per person.

Lava pouring into the ocean.

By Sea

When lava is flowing into the ocean, the folks at Lava Ocean Adventures offer boat tours to  get an up close view of the ocean entry without an exhausting  hike. If you are prone to seasickness, you might want to skip this option as this tour can be quite a rocky ride.

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With any option you choose for viewing the current Big Island lava activity, you’ll definitely have a thrilling experience.

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* Hawaiian Airlines has some nice sale fares again – like $298 roundtrip from San Jose to Maui. You need to book by December 19 for travel between January 5 – March 14, 2012.

* SpeediShuttle is now the exclusive on-demand shuttle service at Honolulu International Airport. Arriving passengers can book door-to-door service to any destination point between Kahala and Ko Olina on Oahu at designated kiosks strategically located throughout the terminals or through greeters dressed in aloha attire who can issue boarding passes using tablet PCs. For more information, or for booking online visit SpeediShuttle.com.

* Big Island visitors can now take advantage of 10 of the island’s best-known cultural, historical, and science centers at a discount.  For $8, the Big Island Museum Pass provides up to a net $54 in savings on entry fees for two adults to Hawaii’s top educational attractions. Participating museums: Lyman Museum, `Imiloa Astonomy Center, Pacific Tsunami, Laupahoehoe Train, Anna Ranch, Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Space Center, Hulihe`e Palace, Kona Historical Society’s Greenwell Store and Kona Coffee Farm, and Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden. See this link for more information on this discount.

* Maui’s Kapalua Spa has some special offers and discounts.

* It’s no secret that we love Lanai, so this Civil Beat article about an uncertain future is a bit concerning.

* For more aloha reading, check out the newest blog Carnival of Aloha.

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If you’re going to Hawaii’s Big Island for New Year’s Eve, you’ll find festive celebrations that will surely create a memorable evening. Here are some of the top places to welcome in 2012 from the Big Island’s Kohala Coast.

* Mauna Lani Bay Hotel’s beachside restaurant CanoeHouse will offer a lovely five-course dinner from 5:30pm until 10pm. (Use this link and scroll down to see the five-course menu.) From there, festivities will move poolside for a midnight champagne toast and fireworks for guests. Pricing is $180 per person plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call (808)881-7911.

* Also at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, you’ll find an oceanfront New Year’s Eve buffet from 7pm to 10pm. (Use this link and scroll down to review the buffet menu.) At midnight, watch the night sky light up with  fireworks for guests. Pricing is $150 per adult and $60 for children ages 5 to 12. Pricing includes tax and gratuity. For reservations, call (808)881-7911.

* Fairmont Orchid hosts a New Year’s Eve dinner and party including a dinner and dessert buffet, hosted bar, Hawaiian arts and crafts, moonlit canoe rides, Polynesian fire spectacular, dancing, midnight champagne toast and masks. This celebration will go from 7pm to 12:15 am. Tickets for the dinner and show are $200 plus tax for adults and $125 plus tax for guests under 21. For reservations and more information call (808)885-2000.

* Mauna Kea Beach Hotel will offer New Year’s Eve prix fixe dinner from 6pm to 9pm at Manta and Pavilion Wine Bar. Or you could choose to dine under the stars with a buffet on the North Point Lawn. I’m also told that there will be live entertainment and midnight fireworks for guests. See this link for more details. For reservations call (808) 882-5810.

* Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort invite you to ring in the new year at their special New Year’s Eve Luau. The evening includes a luau feast with an imu ceremony plus a countdown of New York’s midnight, which will be at 7pm Hawaii time. The luau begins a 5pm Hawaii Time and goes until 8pm. Pricing is $88 for adults and $40 for kids. Call (808)886-6789 for more information and reservations.

* Hilton Waikoloa Village will host a New Year’s Eve celebration from 7pm to 1am in the Monarchy Grand Ballroom. The celebration includes specialty dinner stations, gourmet coffee station, two drinks per person, party favors, midnight champagne toast, midnight countdown, balloon drop and entertainment. Pricing is $129 per adult, $89 for teens and $49 for children ages 5 to 12. Tax and gratuity are additional costs. Reservations are required. Call (808) 886-1234 Extension 54 to reserve. See this link for more information.  There’s a few more events at Hilton Waikoloa Village , including kids and teen parties, that you can see here.

* You’ll find a New Year’s Eve buffet at Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort from 5pm to 10pm. (See the menu here.) Pricing is $88 for adults and $38 for children. Tax and gratuity are extra charges. Pricing includes admission into the New Year’s Eve celebrations that runs from 9pm to 12:30am on the Paniolo Ocean Terrace. See more after party details in the next item. For reservations or further information, call (808) 886-6789.

* At the  Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort, kick off 2012 in Hawaiian style on the Paniolo Ocean Terrace from 9pm to 12:30am. Includes Evening Tapa’s, Dessert Buffet, Champagne Toast, DJ, Dancing, Midnight Countdown and party favors. Pricing is $35 adults and $15 kids. For reservations or further information, call (808) 886-6789.

Notes:

• I recommend you make reservations as soon as possible.
• All times, events and pricing are accurate at the time of publishing. Please note that events are subject to change.
• I will update this post as needed.
• Practice how to say Hau’oli Makahiki Hou (happy new year in Hawaiian.)
• This content was created by GoVisitHawaii.com

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Private breakfast on the lanai at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel

After our recent visit to the Big Island of Hawaii, we’ve updated our recommendations of where to dine in Hawaii.

Though the Big Island restaurant post was originally published in 2008, we do update it regularly. We aim to try as many new places as we can, which has not been so kind to our waistlines.

As I say in the updated post, we don’t take our recommendations lightly. We prepare our list as if we’re giving it to our closest friends and family.

We think that dining can be an important part of a memorable vacation. So we hope that you’ll find our recommendations useful for making the most of your Hawaii vacation.

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With lava flowing down the pali (hill) in rivers and lava entering the ocean, it’s an exciting time to be on Hawaii’s Big Island! If you’re going, make sure you check out my advice for viewing the Big Island lava flow. I also recommend you arrange a helicopter tour to the full perspective of how widespread the lava activity is.

Lava rolling in to the ocean in the Kalapana area in March 2008.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has opened a path to view lava. Read more about it here.

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Once again lava is rapidly flowing down the pali (hill) towards the Kalapana area on Hawaii’s Big Island. Lava hasn’t reached the ocean yet, but it appears to be well on its way!

I have seen lava flowing down the pali at night in 2008 and it is an incredible sight. It’s like something you might see out of a blockbuster movie, but it’s absolutely real. Hearing that the lava is flowing like this once again makes me want to book a flight back to the Big Island ASAP!

The Kalapana lava viewing area is open to the public daily from 2pm to 10pm with the last vehicle entrance at 8pm. This lava viewing area is located at the southwestern end of Highway 130.  Before you go, do call their hotline at (808) 961-8093 to check that it’s open. Also, be prepared by following my tips for viewing Hawaii’s active lava flow.

Check out this video shot by YouTuber lavaloverbo on Sunday. The video shows lava flowing down the pali like a river. Even rocks appear to be melted by the lava.

Please note that lavaloverbo is a Kalapana area resident and somewhat familiar with the tendencies of lava flows, however being that close to the lava is highly dangerous. I do not recommend that you try to get that close.

(Email subscribers: click here and scroll down to access the video on Go Visit Hawaii.)

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The Kona Surf Film Festival is all set to start December 2 and 3 at the beautiful Mauni Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows.  Obviously we’d all love to be there to see all the top film submissions, but since most of us won’t be able to do that, we can at least watch the cool trailers.

Here are some of the films that will screen under the stars at the 2011 Kona Festival:

Come Hell Or High Water
Keith Malloy brings us a new surf flick featuring Mark Cunningham, Dan Malloy and Mike Stewart. Hell or Highwater gives us a different – beardless – perspective on surfing. The film explores the history and progression of the sport of bodysurfing and the pureness that comes from riding a wave. While Malloy is most widely known for his time in the water as a surfer, his exploration into the world of bodysurfing began some 10 years ago when he wanted to reconnect with the ocean and did so through bodysurfing. Said Malloy about this project, “It’s about taking a breath and kicking your feet in the big blue sea.”

Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOez2mFNk2s

The Drifter
In the summer of 2008 iconic surfer and former Pipe Master Rob Machado flew toIndonesia to experience a different kind of surf trip. A journey that would take him way beyond his comfort zone to the point where he could finally be alone with his thoughts, his desires and the empty perfection of an unnamedIndian Ocean reef. What did he discover? You never stop dreaming, even when dreams do come true.

The Kona Surf Film Festival is proud to welcome Rob Machado as a special guest and friend of the Fest.

Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzEKWreXgp4

For The Love
Quietly hidden from the rest of the world lies a small town filled with ordinary people, with extraordinary stories; Stories that never seemed to matter until now.  Raised in Hilo, on the windward side of the Big Island, Cliff Kapono, screens his debut film and will attend the festival to share his insights and experiences from producing this work of art.

Watch the trailer here: http://vimeo.com/27998272

Leave A Message
Nike 6.0 presents this latest film project, starring the new generation of woman surfers who push surfing to the next level. Starring Carissa Moore (Hawaii), Lakey Peterson (California), Laura Enever (Australia), Coco Ho (Hawaii), Byrne-Wickey Monyca (Hawaii) and Malia Manuel (Hawaii), the film follows the women as they travel the world circuit toAustralia,California,Hawaii andMexico.

The Kona Surf Film Festival is proud to welcome Lakey Peterson as a special guest and friend of the Fest.

Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehkD6tw5opg

Lost & Found
Lost & Found is a documentary based on the discovery of 30,000 black and white surfing negatives at a flea market inPasadena,California. As it turned out, the images belonged to Surfing Magazine from the iconic times of the 60s and 70s. It’s a journey over three plus years of reuniting and sharing the images capturing stories that unless told, would have been lost.

Watch the trailer here: http://www.corduroy.tv/lostandfound/

Year Zero
Year Zero is a modern take on high performance surfing set in a post-apocalyptic world, reminiscent of Mad Max or an HG Wells novel. It tells a story of a band of renegade surfers, including Dion Agius, Yadin Nicol, Nate Tyler, Taj Burrow, CJ Hobgood and Damien Hobgood on a road trip through the apocalypse in search of waves, women and good times.

Watch the trailer here: http://vimeo.com/26600961

Gum For My Boat
Gum For My Boat is a story of hope focusing on the Bangladesh Surf Club and its members. The club consists of around 30 male and female members and is helping to introduce surfing into a culture in a very unconventional method.

Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kHeREaDvJo

Lost Atlas

From Kai Neville, the creator of Modern Collective, Lost Atlas is a view of postmodern surfing.  This is youth on the run set to a killer soundtrack that veers across all genres.

Watch the trailer here: http://vimeo.com/25854235

Sight/Sound

Artsy hip music, an über-talented bunch of surfers on long (and not quite so long) boards, and some very desirable line-ups. “As every surfer matures, so does their taste in surfing,” says filmmaker Mikey DeTemple. “These are my tastes and the people that really inspire me and some of the most unique and fun locations in the world.”

Watch the trailer here: http://vimeo.com/18758953

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For more information, visit the Kona Surf Film Festival’s website.

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“We need to go to the Place of Refuge today.” That was the thought that woke me on the first full day of our recent Big Island visit.

We’ve been to Puuhonau o Honaunau National Historical Park, commonly known as the Place of Refuge, on two other trips and we didn’t have plans to return on this visit, but for some reason, we were drawn back to Puuhonau o Honaunau. Oh, I’m so glad we were as we enjoyed a sunny, peaceful morning.

On previous visits to the Place of Refuge, the skies were a bit overcast. On this recent visit, the skies were wonderfully sunny – making this historic spot so vibrant.

I want to share this morning visit with photos.

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To conclude our visit to Puuhonua o Honaunau, we admired a honu (Hawaiian sea turtle) resting on the shore.

As you can see, that awakening thought that we needed to go to the Place of Refuge resulted in a sunny reward.

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Kohala Coast Sunset

We’re back from a wonderful week on Hawaii’s Big Island. I sincerely love all the Hawaiian Islands, but my love for Hawaii Island grows deeper and deeper with each visit.

After each visit to Hawaii, I like to provide a quick snapshot of all we did in case it helps you for your vacation planning. Of course, I’ll provide all the details in future posts.

Where We Stayed

Due to American Airlines delay in DFW and then missed connection in LAX, our Big Island visit didn’t start on the Big Island. We spent the first night in Honolulu at the Ohana Honolulu Airport courtesy of American Airlines. It’s certainly not fancy, but it was clean and very convenient to the airport with free shuttle service. We were there less than 10 hours as we snagged the first flight out of HNL to Kona.

Our Big Island visit began with a two night stay at Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona. This hotel offered a convenient base for exploring Kona. The newly renovated rooms and historic grounds really impressed us. With rates around $140 per night, this hotel is a Hawaii Island vacation bargain!

Next, we moved to the Kohala Coast for two nights at the palatial Hilton Waikoloa Village, which has so much to offer guests with the ocean front location and numerous pools. We had some mixed experiences here.  I think our stay might have been too short, though.

We ended our Big Island adventure with a bit of Kohala Coast luxury at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel which was where we stayed on our first trip to the Big Island in 2004. Staying here brought back such good memories as we made new ones. We highly recommend the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel.

Where We Explored & Played

We stayed busy our first day with snorkeling, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding in Kona with Kona Beach Boys.

The Kona Coffee Festival was on while we were there. We discovered that this festival is far more than a tasty coffee festival – it’s a fantastic cultural festival.

We took a historical sunset dinner cruise with Body Glove Hawaii which was both tasty, scenic and informative.

Though we’ve been to Pu’uhonau o Honaunau National Historical Park other times, we took advantage of one the the fee free National Park weekends. We were so glad we returned, as more of the grounds have been opened since our last visit. Plus, we were there on a gorgeous, sunny morning with no crowds.

We visited another national park, Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. Here, we learned that many people consider this heiau as the beginning of the united Hawaiian kingdom under King Kamehameha the Great.

We toured Hawaiian Vanilla Company and had a delicious, vanilla-infused lunch. Did you know that vanilla is an orchid that blooms for one day only? I  learned that and many other interesting vanilla facts at the Hawaiian Vanilla Company.

We’ve viewed and hiked around Waipio Valley on other visits, but this time we got to go into the valley for horseback riding with Naalapa Stables.

Pu’uhonau o Honaunau (Place of Refuge)

Where We Dined

We recommend these Big Island restaurants.

In Kona:

- Honu’s On the Beach Restaurant offers a nice and well priced breakfast buffet.

- Splasher’s Grill has casual, open air dining.

In Kohala:

- Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi serves delicious, fresh food in an eclectic bamboo inspired dining room.

- Hilton Waikoloa Village has a very nice luau.

- We loved the Breakfast Buffet at Water’s Edge in the Hilton Waikoloa Village. This buffet is really top notch and the lagoon view is beautiful.

- Eddie Aikau Restaurant & Surf Museum in the Kings Shops of Waikoloa Beach Resort serves excellent food with a farm to table concept. Their facebook page currently offers more information than their website.

- The CanoeHouse Restaurant at Mauna Lani offers fresh Hawaii Island sourced ingredients along with incredible ocean views. If you’re looking for a romantic dinner on the Big Island, you should definitely consider the CanoeHouse.

- Our last Big Island meal was at Napua Restaurant in Mauna Lani Resort for lunch. This restaurant serves great food to go along with the ocean view.

The fearless fire knife dancer at the Hilton Waikoloa Village luau.

Worth Mentioning

- Because Avis was sold out for the day we needed to pick up, we carefully shopped around for another rental company. I’m happy to report that we had pleasant experience with Hertz. Our car was clean and we weren’t carrying around unwanted hitchhikers.

- Our visit was sponsored in part by the Big Island Visitors Bureau.

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Aloha from Hawaii’s Big Island where we’ve been enjoying this magnificent island for four action-filled days. Can’t wait to tell you more about it. In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy this view of Puako on the Kohala Coast. Puako is not only picturesque, but it’s also fun to watch the sea life along the shores. We saw lots of fish, crabs and several honu (Hawaiian sea turtles). Wishing you were here!

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Pololu Lookout on Hawaii's Big Island

Here’s the latest Hawaii news that we’ve found “out standing in our field”. 

*  While most folks on the US mainland turned their clock back an hour over the weekend, Hawaii time remains the same year-round.  I like to think that Hawaii just became an hour closer to the mainland.

*  Waikiki’s 53-year old International Market Place has plans to spiff up into a three-level open air shopping center per Pacific Business News.

*  Don’t forget to enter to win our Aulani prize pack giveaway by the end of the day, Tuesday, November 8th.

*  Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is giving away a two-night stay to a facebook fan. Enter here.

*  This coming weekend is another fee-free weekend across all U.S. National Parks.

*  I’ve updated our list of the best things to see and do on the Big Island of Hawaii. The good news is that everything on the list is either free or very low cost!

*  I’m super excited absolutely giddy to be headed back to the Big Island of Hawaii this week, sponsored in part by the Big Island Visitors Bureau. I’ll be covering some of the Kona Coffee Festival events plus getting loads of fresh ideas to share with you for your Hawaii Island vacation planning. I’ll be posting live updates on our Go Visit Hawaii facebook page if you’d like to follow along and join in the fun.

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