Planning Big Island trip, need advice

I am planning a trip to the big island for a week at the end of July with my grandmother for her 70th birthday. She loves Hawaii but has never been to the big island and would really like to see the volcano and catch a luau.

I have been doing some research and I think I would like to fly into Kona, stay the night there and watch a luau then drive to the volcano the next day and stay the night up there spending about two days at the park, then drive to Hilo and check out the lava and the waterfalls and stay the night there. Then I was thinking drive one side of the coast back to Kona and stay there until we left.

My grandmother is pretty active but I dont know that she would be cut out for any super-intense hikes, which I read that the volcano hikes tend to be.

Does any one have any suggestions on:

1) which volcano hikes are mild but still have a lot to offer

2) which luau is best on the big island

3) which coast line should we drive from Hilo back to Kona

Your input is greatly appreciated! :)

Planning Big Island trip, need advice

hikes: Thompson lava tube, the rim hike from Volcano House to Kilauea Iki (level and on pavement but still beautiful), maybe bird park but there is some elevation gain and loss there.

luau: The consensus on this board seems to be Kona Village Resort%26#39;s luau and I totally agree. It is the most authentic. It is also the most expensive. They have shows on Wed. and Fri. The food is excellent. The setting is wonderful. And if you go a little early you can grab your seats and walk over to the petroglyphs.

coast: Drive the north.

Bill

Planning Big Island trip, need advice

Your going to have to pay top dollar and be very limited because of min stay... only the most expensive hotels will offer 1 night

Presently many if the trails and park is closed to entry....you shouls consult the rangers who can assess your physical ability and equipment... The hiles here are without water/shade.... rugged the kiluea Iki might be the easiest but involves a long hot steep climb ...

The Kona Village on wed and friday has the best Luau..$103 pp

From Hilo to Kona there is only one road...Hiway 19 3 hour drive

Thank you so much, that was just what I was looking for! :)

You mentioned that the hotel accomodations are going to be hard to come by. We are planning this trip from Tuesday-Tuesday (July 27th-Aug 4th) and I was trying to see as muchas we could while we were there.

I am afraid if we book one hotel we would not have time to drive to each place and get back to our hotel in the evening... do you have any other ideas on ways we can plan our accomodations to provide us the most flexibilty with the least cost?

Thank you!

hi, what a wonderful present!

Here%26#39;s another way to go:

1) Fly into Hilo and out of Kona.

Book a one way car rental and find the agency with the least drop off fee. Dropping off in Kona is cheaper than the reverse.

Stay in Hilo two nights.

One day go to the park. 4-6 hours is plenty, really. After that I%26#39;m bored, not being a geologist or a naturalist or an avid hiker.

Go from there to the lava flow viewing, if it is still flowing, and back to Hilo that night.

Second day see Hilo sights, gardens, parks, old town, waterfalls, etc.

2) Drive over the northern route and stay in Waikoloa, either at a hotel or a nice condo. Kona is hot, muggy, and gray in July, the worst time of year there. Kohala weather is much better.

Go to the KVR lu%26#39;au from Waikoloa, not much more of a drive than from Kona and all on the highway, no town traffic.

With a 5 night stay you can get a good price on a condo and save a lot on food even if you don%26#39;t cook your meals.

Fly out of KOA.

Way less moving around.

BTW, my reference regarding VH to KI is the rim trail and not the hike that goes into the crater. There maybe be some ambiguity so I want to be clear that I am talking about the rim trail.

Bill

Oh, I really like the suggestion of flying into Hilo, spending a couple days there and then heading to Kona for the remainder of the trip! I think I%26#39;d like to plan on staying at the Outrigger Fairway Villas or the Aloha Guest House B%26amp;B once we get to Kona. Does anyone have any recommendations regarding these locations? Also I am still trying to find a B%26amp;B or rental house or something in Hilo, any suggestions are greatly appreciated. There will be 5 adults and two kids, with possibly an additional 2 adults. I cant seem to find anything that has this kind of space. Any insider tips? All the input has been fantaistic, thank you!

Make that 3 adults and 2 kids with possibly an additional 2 adults...

I like KK%26#39;s plan, I would change just one part, stay the first part of your trip in Volcano Village and rent a house. With a party of that size you can get a nice house in Volcano Village and it will be easy to get around to see everything on your list. July - October is my favorite time in Volcano Village.

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