Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort

[DeniseM]

Uh oh! Tipping over an outrigger must take some group effort!

Two step-

We like to make a day of it at 2-Step and Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park.

First we pay admission and park right in front of the ranger shack for security. Then we lock our "stuff" in the trunk and take our snorkel gear and walk back out the park entrance, turn left, and turn left again into the 2nd drive. At the end of the 2nd drive you will find a lava rock shore line, often with people lined up at "2-step" to enter the water. At "2-step" you sit down on the edge, take one big step down (1.5 ft.?) and then glide off into the water. It's crystal clear and the snorkeling is fabulous!

We bring a picnic lunch, and after we snorkel we head back to the car, and drive to the back of the parking lot, to the dirt road on the left which leads back to a nice picnic area next to the tide pools. We eat lunch, explore the tide pools or the park displays, and settle in for a beautiful afternoon.

 

[slip]

2 step is awesome. We were just there in October on Denise's advice.
Saw lots of turtles that day. There were a lot of people there when we went
but there's plenty of room and we didn't have to wait long to get in the
water. This is a must while on the Big Island.

 

[MuranoJo]

Agree with the 2-Step recommendation. Great water and snorkeling.
You can easily spend a day here with the snorkeling and the historic area to explore.

I have comments on the restaurants, but trying to dig up links first, so will do that later. We were just there in Sept., after being away about 5 years.

 

[abbekit]

28a is our favorite unit, but you do hear some extra noise from carts... But it's close to the front for the better view, see our BLOG for pictures from various....

Thanks we'll request that unit or something similar. This time I!ll know to go look at the unit before we accept it when we check in. We did this in Maui last year and scored a fabulous view.

How do I access your blog?

 

[ronandjoan]

Unfortunately, it's hard for exchangers to get an ocean view. We were there for 2 weeks and were told flat out that they reserve ocean view units for owners. That's only right, but it would discourage me from going back on an exchange. However, we can't travel during the off-season, and I'm sure you have more of a chance for a good view, then.

We got those units as exchangers.

 

[DeniseM]

We got those units as exchangers.

We have to travel during school holidays, so we don't usually get the best views when we exchange. It was the 4th of July week when we were there and the resort was 100% full! I'm looking forward to when we weill be able to travel off-season!

 

[redkayak]

Went there in 2005 (can't believe it's been that long) and got there the day the Ironman was going on. That was fun trying to navigate all the detours! I traded my 1 bedroom Sudwala (back in the good ole days) thru RCI and still got a room (9A) with a few of the ocean. Room 28A would have a good view as it is right in the front. I want to think sales had theses rooms when I was there. Bubba Gumps had a good view right along the water. Cheaper than Huggos! Would like to go back but am sending the DIL there Aug to Shearwater for her honeymoon. Keep telling her she may have an additional guest in the second bedroom. Looks like a great place with an awesome view.

Doug

 

[Sandy VDH]

I think the best snorkeling on the Big Island is at 2-Step which is right next to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park http://www.nps.gov/puho/index.htm

You can park in the secure parking lot at Honaunau and walk over.

two thumbs up for me.

This is a spot that we scuba dive at least two days on our visits to the big island. Love cheap shore dives. Big island is great for that.

 

[cgeidl]

Going back in late March

We like to be on the second floor and we have had an ocean view a couple times but it is very limited IMHO and no units that I have seen have knock out views. We are going for the 6th time to this resort and it is our favorite on the BI.
1. Friendly employees
2. Plants and rocks with Hawaiian music
3.Hawaiian style architecture
4. Great 2nd floor deck
Restaurants
1.Jackie Reyes-We go early and have half priced appetizers as a light dinner
2.Poke Shack
3.Huggos
4.Fish hopper
5.The one fifty club.On one trip I heard two locals discuss meeting at the 150 club for lunch. Come to find out it was the $1.50 Costco hotdog and drink.We usually go when we get groceries.Costco there has local products and the pineapple and poke are as good as anywhere we have found.Years ago when Costco and Walmart came in it seemed a disaster for small businesses and it seemed a third of space was empty but the ones who couldn't compete by offering service or different products went under but others have filled the spaces.have fun.
We have never heard of snorkeling at two step but will try this year a dive or snorkel trip.

 

[MichaelColey]

5.The one fifty club.On one trip I heard two locals discuss meeting at the 150 club for lunch. Come to find out it was the $1.50 Costco hotdog and drink.We usually go when we get groceries.Costco there has local products and the pineapple and poke are as good as anywhere we have found.

We're proud members of the $1.50 club. We plan lunch there just about every time we go to Costco. We usually splurge and get a $10 pizza (or at least a couple big $2 slices) as well. Cheapest lunch on the island. Love the pineapples, too. I think we bought (and ate) about a dozen on this (three week) trip, and we plan on buying a couple cases to duct tape together and bring back as checked luggage.

 

[scrapngen]

We're proud members of the $1.50 club. We plan lunch there just about every time we go to Costco. We usually splurge and get a $10 pizza (or at least a couple big $2 slices) as well. Cheapest lunch on the island. Love the pineapples, too. I think we bought (and ate) about a dozen on this (three week) trip, and we plan on buying a couple cases to duct tape together and bring back as checked luggage.

Yep, us too! When Costco came to Kauai, we discovered that not only could we do the 1.50 meal deal, they also have great samples!! We've managed to practically have a meal due to the samples alone. Of course, we always buy quite a bit as well, since we typically stay for two weeks. Then we hit it one last time before leaving for chocolates to take home as gifts for teachers, etc.

 

[Sandy VDH]

pricing at costco food court is the same everywhere across the entire country. You can imagine that in places where food is high that does yield a big bargin location.

The Hawaii stores have the largest and busiest food courts in the entire country.