|
Can't decide where to stay in Hawaii? Here are some things we have discovered
over the years.
 | Some people love ocean front, but it's not for everyone. It is
hotter and more humid, salt gets on everything, and appliances tend to be
rusted. Personally, I can't sleep with the ocean crashing on the
rocks, while Glen enjoys it. Much of the Kona coast is not beach, but
is lava rock. Which is pretty, but is not quite the same as being on a
beach. Of course there are some wonderful homes that are ocean or
beach front, but nice ones are extremely expensive (over $1000 a
night.) Personally, we love the panoramic coastal views! We've discovered an interesting
phenomena; if we can't see the ocean and coastline, we feel
kind of trapped, like we have to be out at the beach or we are "missing
out". But if we have the panoramic view, we don't need to be at the beach all of the time.
We enjoy the place we are staying more.
|
| "Ocean view" can mean a lot of different things. Often it
is just a sliver of ocean on the
horizon. Sometimes photos have been taken to strategically avoid ugly
power lines, and occasionally those power lines are even airbrushed
out! Sometimes there is a view from the corner of a yard or
lanai. No matter what they say, if you don't see a photo with an awesome
view, it probably isn't there.
|
| Where to stay on the island? That's the hardest question of
all. On our first trip to the Big Island we traveled around the
island spending 2-3 days in each place. That does make a great first
trip. Here are some thoughts on the West side of the island: North Kona (where we are) is great because it is sunny and dry, and has
Hawaii charm. Neighborhoods such as ours have an
upscale, beachy feeling. You can get great views like we have because
the land is steep, plus you have the city lights at night and cruise ships
in the harbor during the day. South Kona (Captain Cook, Kealakekua) is
more tropical and jungly, kind of "classic Hawaii", but definitely
more remote. To me, it's a fun place to spend a few days, but not a
full week. Traffic has also gotten pretty bad between there and
Kailua, as people have moved south due to rising housing prices.
The night views are not as interesting because you don't have the city
lights. Kohala has great beaches, and if you like a resort atmosphere with lots of
golf courses and condos, it may be the best choice for you. However, it is often
windy, you rarely get a view, and it's too desert-like/artificial for my
tastes. No matter where you stay, keep in mind that on weekdays afternoons, especially around 4
pm, there can often be traffic coming from Kohala south into Kailua. This is
primarily from workers at the Kohala resorts commuting home to South Kona or
beyond. |
Places to Visit
| Beaches: Kahaluu Beach, just a few minutes down the road, is great
for kids and snorkeling, with frequent visits from sea turtles.
Ku'a is a beautiful new beach park that mostly just the locals know about,
so it is pretty empty during the days. Since it is located just past
the airport, it is much closer than driving all the way North. Turn
left at the Veteran's Cemetary. Napoopoo is another fun local beach
south of Kealakekua. It is a "black" sand beach (gray
actually.)
|
| Coffee Farms: There are many coffee farms in the region which give
tours.
|
| Shopping: Wal-Mart, Lowes, and Borders are just North of us.
(Also Starbucks, Cold Stone's, Burger King, Wendy's, Denny's, Taco Bell,
Ross.) Macy's and Kmart are just a little further. Costco and Home
Depot are about 5 miles North. (Costco has the best prices on
gas!) Grocery stores: Safeway, KTA (Kailua-Kona or Keauhou) and
Pak d Save are nearby. Longs has locations in Kailua-Kona and Keauhou. |
Did you know?
The entire Big Island of Hawaii is one county in the state of Hawaii. Kona is a
region, not a town. Actually it is split into two, North Kona and South
Kona. The town commonly known as Kona is Kailua, but because there is a Kailua on
Oah'u, we
are often called Kailua-Kona to avoid confusion. (The beaches up north are
in a region called South Kohala.)
The Big Island of Hawaii is the most ethnically diverse county in the United
States.
See us on these vacation rental websites:
VacationsFRBO.com
|
