Planning a trip to the Big Island and want to see it all? Well, we have put together a sweet little package for you to stay on the East and West sides of the island!
Choose from any of the following units and receive 10% of your nightly rate when you book 2 stays!
On the East Side of the Big Island
The wonderful thing about the 2 bedroom condos offered in Hilo is the location to the beach! They are oceanfront and right next to Carlsmith Beach with the most pristine water and easy swimming access for the whole family!
What to See and Do
These are some of my favorite things to see and do on the East Side. Akaka and Rainbow Falls, Kulaniapia Falls, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Umauma ATV Waterfall and Zipline Tours.
Farmers’ markets on the Big Island are nothing short of amazing. The fresh produce and locally made food and products are so fun to explore! The best in Hilo is on the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Mamo Street. Dolly’s little Lauhala store across the street is one of my favorite stores to drop in and buy handheld fans and lauhala bags; great for the beach and very inexpensive.
Where to Eat
Favorite places to eat in Hilo are… Short n Sweet Bakery, Cafe Pesto, Pineapples, Kawamotos Lunch Shop and Sugar Cane Cafe (for all the freshest and most delicious vegan options).
On the Kohala Coast
The West Side condo is the Shores at Waikoloa! Another 2 bedroom unit that is across the street from the ocean. Rent a bike from Bike Works and ride to the beach, the grocery store, restaurants, and shopping. They even have a luxury movie cinemas all within a mile away! Waikoloa is also centrally located on the West side of the island so easy access to Waimea, Hawi and Kapaau as well as Kona.
What to See and Do
Here are some of my favorite things to see and do on the Kohala Coast. The Manta Ray Night Dive tours either in Puako or Keauhou are unreal, a surreal and majestic experience for sure! Snorkel and Dolphin Tours are a super fun and safe experience for the whole family. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters has a Kohala Waterfall tour that is out of this world amazing…taking off from the Waikoloa heliport location. Any of the Luaus along the coast are a must-see and do. The entertainment at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is my absolute favorite…stunning sunsets all year round! Not to mention the list of beaches along this coast…Hapuna, Waialea, Anaeho’omalu, Kua Bay and Mahae’ulas or Kona Coast State Park…just beautiful!!
Farmers’ markets happen in Waimea every Wednesday and Saturday, roughly a 30 min drive from the Shores condo. Great food wagons and vendors on Saturdays while most of the freshest veggies are sold at the Wednesday Market. Lots of locally sourced products and live music make this gathering in Waimea a very special experience! Markets can be found at the Parker School yard and the Pukalani Stables, both in the heart of Waimea.
Waimea is a special little town with green rolling pastures and home to what was at one time the largest single-owned ranch in the country, Parker Ranch. To learn more about Waimea, click this link; lots to do and see up there! And please don’t forget a delicious cup of coffee from Waimea Coffee Company at Parker Square or a delectable pastry from ARVO.
Where to Eat
A couple of my personal favorite things to do and places to eat on the West side are… Fish and Hog in Waimea, the brisket is killer. Merrimans for a fine dining experience, first farm to table dining here in Hawaii. Copper Bar at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel around sunset is phenomenal for food, drinks and atmosphere. Fresh fish from Kawaihae Market is a must stop and while you’re there treat yourself to a Shaved Ice and the Anuenue Ice Cream Shop next door…perfect on a hot day or after the beach. Horseback Riding up at Na’alapa Stables on the Kohala Mountain Road, Scuba Diving with the guys at Kohala Divers and a great hike is up to Pu’uwa’awa’a or on the Mountain Road to Kohala. Great hikes on the Big Island can also be found here.
Book Your Big Island Trip
We here at Hawaii Life Vacations want you to have the best experience here on the Big Island, and we thought what better way than to connect you to both sides with a flurry of information to make your trip as easy as possible! Hawaii Life also has a concierge service for all of our guests. It’s super easy to work with and has the best info for all things Big Island! I encourage you to book through our reservations department to reserve your stay at these vacation rentals for your next trip to the Big Island.
Until then a hui hou and always with aloha,
Noelani
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