We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

Basically, that's the question!

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

My husband and I went to Kona Village and loved the resort. We also hiked up to an active volcano which was an unforgettably amazing experience. We snorkeled with tons of sea turtles, and overall, just had an amazing experience, as you will too! Enjoy!

ETA pictures

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Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

We stayed at Four Seasons Big Island. We really just stayed in the resort as it is almost like its own private island. it was so beautiful. There are a million restaurants there where you could see the sunset- there is nothing like it. A million activites and if your FH or you are golfers, it is the tops!

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

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Posted by sept20yay

We stayed at Four Seasons Big Island. We really just stayed in the resort as it is almost like its own private island. it was so beautiful. There are a million restaurants there where you could see the sunset- there is nothing like it. A million activites and if your FH or you are golfers, it is the tops!

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We stayed here too and loved it!
We also went to Volcano National Park. It was amazing!

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

We stayed at the Four Seasons as well and we pretty much just hung around the resort. We went into town (Kona) a few times and ate over there... it has a bit of a nightlife and there are some fun restaurants. But pretty much we vegged and soaked up the Four Seasons ammenimities.

Just a little side note-- The Volcano National Park is 2 1/2 hours from Kona and the Four Seasons... and it's a loooooooong drive to get over there. We stopped at the Macadamia Nut factory along the way. But the drive was worth it. We had a great time seeing everything.

But there was a downer for us... you may not see actula lava like the pic of the lava posted above. (I'm totally jelous!) When we were there 3 months ago the only lava that was flowing was way up on top of a mountain and it was a 3hour hike to get to see it! It would be too long of a day for us (2.5 hours to get there... 3hr to the top of the mountain...3hr to get down...2.5hrs to get back to the hotel) Plus we weren't prepared to hike. So that totally bummed us.

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

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Posted by CherylBooch

We stayed at the Four Seasons as well and we pretty much just hung around the resort. We went into town (Kona) a few times and ate over there... it has a bit of a nightlife and there are some fun restaurants. But pretty much we vegged and soaked up the Four Seasons ammenimities.

Just a little side note-- The Volcano National Park is 2 1/2 hours from Kona and the Four Seasons... and it's a loooooooong drive to get over there. We stopped at the Macadamia Nut factory along the way. But the drive was worth it. We had a great time seeing everything.

But there was a downer for us... you may not see actula lava like the pic of the lava posted above. (I'm totally jelous!) When we were there 3 months ago the only lava that was flowing was way up on top of a mountain and it was a 3hour hike to get to see it! It would be too long of a day for us (2.5 hours to get there... 3hr to the top of the mountain...3hr to get down...2.5hrs to get back to the hotel) Plus we weren't prepared to hike. So that totally bummed us.

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When we went (in July of 2002), the lava was literally surrounding us .... children were picking lava up with tongs....it was nuts! My inlaws went shortly thereafter and they said they were no longer allowing people to get that close to the lava. Don't know if this is still the case. It was the strangest experience I've ever encountered. I'm so happy I had it though!

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

I was there in November 2003 and we stayed at the Hilton Waikola Village. It is a beautiful hotel. When we went to Volcanoe National Park we were not able to get that close to the lava which was disappointing.

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

sorry, posted twice

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

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Posted by 2003fallwedding

I was there in November 2003 and we stayed at the Hilton Waikola Village. It is a beautiful hotel. When we went to Volcanoe National Park we were not able to get that close to the lava which was disappointing.

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Hey! Were were ALSO at the Hilton Waikaloa Village in November,but in 2002! That place is AWESOME! We saw the lava flowing into the ocean, but the trail there was bumpy and on the way back, it was pitch black b/c of the black lava rock you walk on...and the only thing to guide your way back are little yellow reflectors on the ground and a flashlight...make sure you bring your own!

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

We went in Nov 2003 too and were not able to see lava- it was so rainy and cold there. But it was still cool to see the dried lava.

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

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Posted by matron
When we went (in July of 2002), the lava was literally surrounding us .... children were picking lava up with tongs....it was nuts! My inlaws went shortly thereafter and they said they were no longer allowing people to get that close to the lava. Don't know if this is still the case. It was the strangest experience I've ever encountered. I'm so happy I had it though!

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Do you know how jelious I am of you? That was one of my DREAMS to see the lava! That's all we talked about. And you see all these pictures on TV of the lava flowing all over and into the water etc... and then you get there and the Ranger tells you, Oh that only happens like 1X every 10 years! Darn media!!! We were so bummed because we just expected the lava to be like that all the time!

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

Hey! Were were ALSO at the Hilton Waikaloa Village in November,but in 2002! That place is AWESOME! We saw the lava flowing into the ocean, but the trail there was bumpy and on the way back, it was pitch black b/c of the black lava rock you walk on...and the only thing to guide your way back are little yellow reflectors on the ground and a flashlight...make sure you bring your own!

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Good advice! People were actually begging us to BUY ours from us as we were returning and we just gave them away.

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

Do you know how jelious I am of you? That was one of my DREAMS to see the lava! That's all we talked about. And you see all these pictures on TV of the lava flowing all over and into the water etc... and then you get there and the Ranger tells you, Oh that only happens like 1X every 10 years! Darn media!!! We were so bummed because we just expected the lava to be like that all the time!

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Yeah, the rangers kept telling us how lucky we were but I had no idea about the 10 year thing. Wow, guess I am really lucky! I wish I had more pix scanned in to share with you.

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

Thanks so much for the ideas ladies, keep em coming!

Re: We are going to Hawaii VERY SOON, wanted to know if anyone has been to Big Island and what you did or would recommend!

I just returned from Hawaii, but I did not visit the big island. I wanted to take a helicopter tour of the big island from Maui, but they don't do that anymore. I would definitely say try a helicopter tour - I was told the lava is flowing a lot right now and it would be an awesome way to see it.