In Kona Today

[lprstn]

I was there this June.

Here's some tips:

Rent a Jeep. You can do the following for free:

- Drive down Waipo Valley
- Drive straight to the Green Sand Beach (yes, you can with your jeep we did it. It's a rocky ride but drive alongside the farm).
- Drive to the Southern Most Point (take a picnic lunch and chill at the view.)

We loved the body boarding beach. Just past Monakea resort. A public beach across the lava patch.

We loved eating the Sunday all you can eat at Bongo Ben's.

 

[Ron98GT]

Can you get prescription masks that are bifocals? I'd like to see my camera controls as well as the fish.

http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-53/Masks-Masks-w--Optical-Lenses.html

 

[slip]

We got our rental car today, they were out of small cars and they upgraded us to a 4 door Jeep
Wrangler.:whoopie: Went to take a quick snorkel at Kahaluu Beach park.
Lot's of fish and we were there in a few minutes.

Then we went to Da Poke Shack. We got a Poke bowl, that had the Wasbi
poke and two sides. My wife picked mussels and white rice. That was $8.50
And I had the special of the day,Panko crusted Ahi and my two sides were
Brown rice and crab salad for $8.99.Then a couple of Longboards. We took it
All back and watched the sun set. Beautiful end to a great day. We have
Pictures we'll post later, but I highly recommend Da Poke Shack.

Going to two step tomorrow and our anniversary dinner tomorrow nite, would
You believe my wife picked the Outback Steakhouse?

Aloha

 

[lynne]

We got our rental car today, they were out of small cars and they upgraded us to a 4 door Jeep
Wrangler.:whoopie: Went to take a quick snorkel at Kahaluu Beach park.
Lot's of fish and we were there in a few minutes.

Then we went to Da Poke Shack. We got a Poke bowl, that had the Wasbi
poke and two sides. My wife picked mussels and white rice. That was $8.50
And I had the special of the day,Panko crusted Ahi and my two sides were
Brown rice and crab salad for $8.99.Then a couple of Longboards. We took it
All back and watched the sun set. Beautiful end to a great day. We have
Pictures we'll post later, but I highly recommend Da Poke Shack.

Going to two step tomorrow and our anniversary dinner tomorrow nite, would
You believe my wife picked the Outback Steakhouse?

Aloha

Aloha Jeff,

Instead of Outback, you may want to go to Sam Choy's Kai Lanai which has recently opened. The views are fabulous, as is the food.

Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary!

 

[jhac007]

We got our rental car today, they were out of small cars and they upgraded us to a 4 door Jeep
Wrangler.:whoopie: Aloha

I hope they are out of small cars next month and will upgrade me to a Jeep. Which rental company was this?

Jim

 

[slip]

We had Enerprise pick us up. They said they only had a couple of vehicles
Left. If your coming during the holiday they all may run short.

We did take a ride to Waikoloa yesterday. We checked out Paniolo Greens.
They let us go in a unit. We really liked the unit but we thought it was too far
Out for what we do on the island. If I was a golfer, I would hesitate to stay
There.
All the resorts have been really nice and let us in units and walk the grounds.
We just told them we were thinking about trading in. Right now when we come back to
Kona we'll go to Sea Village because of the units and the location. We just liked it a little better than the others.

Going to the Place of Refuge and probably another drive. Aloha.

 

[Luanne]

I've always liked the location of Sea Village, but as I remember they don't have a/c. Since we have always visited during the summer that's never been an option for us. We've found the a/c is a must in Kona during the summer. We stayed once at a place without it.........never again.

 

[slip]

Good point on the A/C. We always come to Hawaii October through February
So that's usually not an issue for us. Next time we're on the Big Island I think
We will stay on the Hilo side and use Sea Mountain.
We did check out the Bay Club also but again a little far out for us. We'd have
To come a few more times to get all the touristy stuff out of the way before
We're further from the attractions. Even though it's only a half hour from Kona. Aloha.

 

[Luanne]

Good point on the A/C. We always come to Hawaii October through February
So that's usually not an issue for us. Next time we're on the Big Island I think
We will stay on the Hilo side and use Sea Mountain.

Have you been to Sea Mountain to see where it is? It's kind of out there all by itself. It is closer to Volcano National Park and Hilo than any other timeshare, but would be still quite a drive each day depending on what you want to do.

We did check out the Bay Club also but again a little far out for us. We'd have To come a few more times to get all the touristy stuff out of the way before We're further from the attractions. Even though it's only a half hour from Kona. Aloha.

We like staying a week in Kona and a week in Waikoloa. We find the Waikoloa area (Bay Club, even Paniolo Greens) a great spot for getting to Waipio Valley, Hawi, Waimea, and all points north on the island.

 

[DaveNV]

Jeff, check out the food and beer at the Kona Brewing Company. Great food, excellent beer.

Dave

 

[slip]

Just got back from two step. Great snorkeling, lots of fish and a turtle.

Already been to Kona Brewing, took the tour and had the rest of the pizza for breakfast today.
Been drinking Mai Tia's and Longboard most days.

When we come back we'll want to check out the Hilo side so Sea Mountain will
Be great for the volcano and exploring that side of the island. We know we'll
Be doing more driving on that trip.

Much more crowded in Kona today, cruise ship came in this morning. We're
Going to hit a few more shops now. Hopefully the crowd thinned out a little.
Aloha.

 

[slip]

Another beautiful morning. Slept in a little,got up at 7:30.Sitting on the
Lanai and just had spinner dolphins jumping by. My wife will be made, missed
The picture.We're going to drive south today. No real plans just bumming.
DW bought new Hawaian Spirit luggage. It's so big we can fit my large one
Inside. It will save the extra bag fee. Really nice though,she got it at Da Big
Bags. So much for traveling light.:rofl: At least she'll be ready for Kauai in
February.

 

[ronandjoan]

We got our rental car today, they were out of small cars and they upgraded us to a 4 door Jeep
Wrangler.:whoopie:
Aloha

WOW, what a great upgrade!!!!

 

[ronandjoan]

We did take a ride to Waikoloa yesterday. We checked out Paniolo Greens.
They let us go in a unit. We really liked the unit but we thought it was too far
Out for what we do on the island. If I was a golfer, I would hesitate to stay
There.
:

We stayed at Paniolo greens one year for a week. I did not like it: the pool was so small and it was so windy that it would have been cold to walk back to the unit. Also, we did not have a view. However, it is a good ways on the way to the other side of the island and also close to the great northern beaches.
Some people - it is their favorite. Not mine, though

 

[ronandjoan]

Have you been to Sea Mountain to see where it is? .

Sure have!!!!!!

we love it!!!!
the lack of A/C was not a problem there, even in the summer, a nice breeze and windows kept it cool enough.
We'll be there 2 weeks in November, can hardly wait.

even though our family will be up in Kona for Thanksgiving, we can travel up there for visits. Even drove up Sunday mornig for church!

 

[Cathyb]

Feel earthquake there?

Just got back from Fair Winds. Excellent outfit!! Hot dogs and burgers for
Lunch. They were good too, not all dried out. Enjoying the Lani now. They did
Upgrade us to an oceanfront room for our anniversary. Hear the waves
Crashing all night. We won't want to leave.I'll post some pics when we get
Back, only have the IPad to work with here. BTW, the AT&T service works
Great here. Nice and fast. We even watched the Packer game using our
Dish Anywhere. That worked great here because most places didn't have the
Packer game on. My wife signed us up for that through Dish network before
We left and it works great.She even recorded stuff while we're here so we
Can watch it at home when we get back.

Time for a Longboard, Aloha.

Heard there was a 'small' 4.5 earthquake -- feel it?

 

[slip]

No, didn't feel the earthquake. Sounds like it was on the other side if the
Island. Not many people we talked to felt it. We were in Quinns this afternoon
For a Longboard and a few people said they felt it. Couldn't have been too
Big.

 

[suzanne]

Jeff, your daily update on the Island has become a must read for me. I have become addicted to your posts. So anyone headed there after you leave is going to have to pick up where you leave off. Joan are you reading this?

I would love to see some current photos of everything. I just got my issue of Hawaii Magazine in the mail and have been drooling all over it. its the Food Issue.

We will be at the Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort for our first week and the Hilton Waikololo Resort for the 2nd week. Would love to see current photos of both properties if anyone has any. We have a 2 bedroom unit at each place. Nov. 2012 seems so far away, I wish we could go now. I love the excitement that going to a new place for the first time brings.

Suzanne

 

[slip]

We stopped by the Wyndham, your going to love it there. I didn't have the
Camera with me,sorry. One of the only times I didn't have it with me. I'll
Post some pictures either Sunday or Monday. My wife took over 400 this trip.
Even of our food:hysterical: I'll try to post the most interesting ones.
The only good thing about this trip ending is that we have Kauai in February
To look forward to.

 

[PamMo]

Jeff, I've been following your posts, too, and have been taking notes - so thanks! It's been over 10 years since our last trip to the Big Island. We arrive in Kona tomorrow and will be staying at Kingsland. I can't wait!

 

[ronandjoan]

Jeff, your daily update on the Island has become a must read for me. I have become addicted to your posts. So anyone headed there after you leave is going to have to pick up where you leave off. Joan are you reading this?

I would love to see some current photos of everything. I just got my issue of Hawaii Magazine in the mail and have been drooling all over it. its the Food Issue.


Suzanne

Hi Suzanne
Of course I am reading this !! :whoopie:

Here are summer 2010 pics of Kona Hawaiian resort
http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/f...4484792009","vp":"g","sb":5},"ovm":{"v":"s"}}

 

[suzanne]

Sent you a PM. Snapfish doesn't like me.LOL

Suzanne

 

[Elli]

No, didn't feel the earthquake. Sounds like it was on the other side if the
Island. Not many people we talked to felt it. We were in Quinns this afternoon
For a Longboard and a few people said they felt it. Couldn't have been too
Big.

Jeff, how did you like Quinn's, and what is a "Longboard"?

 

[Luanne]

Jeff, how did you like Quinn's, and what is a "Longboard"?

Longboard is a beer or more correctly a lager. It is one of the Kona Brewing Company's offerings.

http://konabrewingco.com/beers/longboard-lager/

 

[DeniseM]

Jeff, how did you like Quinn's, and what is a "Longboard"?

A long board is a surf board & it's also the name of a beer made by the Kona Brewing Co. which is a great place to eat and have a beer.

Jeff - do they still have a lunch special?