Post #200156 by T_lifehater on Sat, Nov 26, 2005 5:25 PM

Probably a little late but whatever:

If you're spending days in Waimea you'll probably want to stay up at Waikoloa- the hilton or outrigger are both kind of spendy but nice places. I sometimes spend a day or weekend at the hilton for my kids- there are some pretty epic pools with slides and a lot of room for the kids to run around. It's kind of disneylandesque though- the kind of environment I normally avoid- but it's an easy commute to waimea.

There are probably a couple B&Bs on the Hamakua side- Honokaa maybe. Also Waipio has some neat B&Bs in the valley- which is one of the must sees that everyone raves about- but you need to remember to rent a 4wd. It's not so much rough as it is super steep entering and exiting the valley.

There are tons of places to stay in Kona. Mike and Simi McMicheals at Pacific Vibrations (Surf shop in town) have a place right near Kahaluu (no pool but excellent diving just across the street and a super cool beach pad- very polynesian and funky) that I think goes for around $150 a night and sleeps two or three couples. Also Mike and Simi are fantastic people and super nice- just a killer family to be around and do business with.

In Kona at the Coconut Grove Marketplace is Kanaka Kava. You can get killer Hawaiian food and bowls of kava in their open dining area or at the bar. No booze- just killer grinds and buckets of kava. Tell them Toby sent you. The owner (Zack) is a big Hawaiian guy who shares the same scottish last name as I do and we've agreed that we're related somewhere in the distant past. Possibly his ancestors bludgeoned some of mine at Kealekekua bay. Zack's cousin Kalani runs a beach concession in front of the King Kamehameha hotel. He'll hook you up with snorkel gear and the snorkeling to the North of the hotel- just outside of the heiau up to Kukailimoku point- is pristine and rarely gets used. Kalani can also take you out for a sunset cruise (or anytime) on a Hawaiian outrigger canoe. He actually just purchased a big expensive boat to do tours, but I don't know if he's up and running with that yet.

The Palace- Hulihee palace. Right downtown across from Hawaiis oldest church (Moku'aikaua Church). Both are pretty and cool. Stop in at Na Makana and check out Uncle Bo and Uncle Lee (Incidentally- right next to Pacific Vibrations- mentioned earlier- and a two minute walfk from the palace.)Na Makana sells hand crafted Hawaiian art and crafts and things. Not cheap stuff and not from china or indo- and not way super expensive (The uncles live next door to me so I gotta give em a plug :wink: )

Kona has the best Thai food around. Orchid Thai in the old industrial and Bangkok house behind the king kam. For Japanese it's Kenichi Pacific in Keauhou (Down past Kahaluu- five miles from the pier in Kona.) Kenichi is just off the scale- so good. Unbelievable. Super nice staff. Bring your credit card- it doesn't come cheap. BUT! way worth it.

For breakfast I'm an orphan- we lost our best little secret spot when the owner- Aki had to return to Japan to take care of his ailing father. WE MISS HIM! best donburi in town and his eggs benedict rocked.

CHEAP SUSHI!!!! You make the roll. like $4 a roll, max- for eight pieces. Long line at lunch. The owner- Mitsu Hayashi- is super cool and never drops in on me at Pine Trees on Sundays (His family works the restaurant diligently all week but close Sundays. Sundays are for surfing Pines. Cool people. SUPER nice (nice is a recurring theme here, isn't it?)On Sunday you can get killer mexican at Pancho and leftys (You make the roll is just behind and across the alley from Pancho and leftys, which is a two minute walk from the palace.) The other GREAT mexican place we have is in Keahou and that is Jabaneros- and yes, the people there are amazingly nice and treat me super great. Like family. and their food is off the hook. They'll make you stuff that isn't on the menu.

For coffee- pardon my language but f*ck Stabucks- we never asked for em but they came anyhow. Corporate yuck. In Lanihau center you can go to Cruisin copffee and talk to Tom. He'll tell you where the surf is and when (Thanks Tom for not dropping in on me at Lymans!) Their shakes are ono times ten.

Oh- in Lanihau canter is a little shave ice kiosk that has the super secret local kine flavors. Ask for Kona Flavors- Haupia and Watermelon. Broke da mout- times six cubed!

And speaking of the bay (at one point I was!)- Kealekekua bay has the absolute best diving around. As you pass through Kainaliu on your way there you can stop at Teshimas- a locally owned japanese family restaurant- and get some killer Donburi. Unreal people and even better food.

Also down that way- at Captain cook (South of the Kealekekua bay turnoff but North of the Pu O Honua O Honaunau turn off (That's the city of refuge- another one tiki fanatics must spend an hour or two at)- geez- I do get sidetracked. Well anyhow- in Captain Cook is the Manago Hotel- totally funky and old and super cool hotel- worth staying at for a night- order the Pork Chops with onions, rice and long rice- you wont be disappointed. The hotel is a LOT like the Plaza Hotel in ensenada. You're there because it's funky- it's not the Four Seasons :wink:.

On your way to kealekekua bay you can also get kayaks, boards and snorkel gear from Kona Boys Kayaks. They are super nice and will set you up with all your gear.

The Volcano is way worth seeing. Check to see if it's flowing into the ocean before you go- that's pretty neat to see an island actually forming before your eyes. Kinda Humbling. There's a lodge you can stay at up on the caldera but make reservations- pretty limited accomodations. There's okay food too- nothing to scream about. Take hiking shoes and warm light clothes- it gets hot and cold there a lot. Mornings are chill.

Hilo- downtown is neat. Historical resto. I'd say 3 hours is about it for Hilo though- not a ton there. I stay at the NaniLoa Hotel in Hilo when I stay there. Kens House of Pancakes is where you eat in the A.M. Nori's Saimin in the afternoon. Harrington's on the ice ponds for dinner.

From Kona to Oahu is a two hour drive, minimum. I take family across that way because the Hamakua Coast is so gorgeous. There is a scenic rout that winds along the ocean- starting a few miles outside of Hilo- and it's way worth seeing. Gorgeous. Stop and walk out to the center of the big bridges. Hakalau valley is worth seeing- Akaka Falls. Kalopa botanical park. KoleKole Beach Park. Stop at Tex's Drive in near Honokaa for Hot Malasadas (Hawaiian Portuguese donuts). Drive through what my daughter calls "hobbitland" just outside of Waimea. Beautiful place.11 different climates or something like that, I read once. Laupahoehoe is a neat detour also but you have to backtrack. It is the site of the disastrous tsunami that killed more than 50 people- wiped out a whole town- and it was the disaster that prompted officials to put the bouys in place that we check every day to see if the surf is coming up. Sad story, dramatic place.

Honokaa is where the entrance to Waipio Valley is- I wouldn't skip Waipio.

In Waimea- Aiolis Bakery has great soups and salads. Just behind Merrimans. The Lilikoi Cheescake is so good it isn't even believable.

The drive over the Kohala Mountains to Hawi is really nice. Pastureland and farms. Hawi is a little artsy community with some decent restaurants. Bamboo is supposed to be good and John Keawe plays there on weekends. I eat at a little mexicantakeout tucked into the back of a building on the main drag. Polulu Valley is near there- it's the other end of Waipio- and I love that place. Bring your hiking boots- beautiful beach but no lifeguards.

Just South of Kawaihae is a very large Heiau (Pyramid size) that was the stepping off place for Kamehameha when he set out on his campaign to unify the islands (He never got Kauai, by the way- Kauai boys are made of tough stuff.:wink:) Right below that heiau is a beach and off of thatbeach is a submerged heiau that is described by Hawaiians as a "shark heiau". I'm not certain what is meant by that but daily you see sharks cruising there and it's pretty neat to see. I regularly stop there for lunch when I'm working that way and just sit really still until my eyes get used to the texture of the windchop and then I begin to pick them out- just the tips of little grey and black fins cruising along. Pretty neat for people who have never witnessed sharks. I've seen tons and I still totally dig it.

Down South there isn't a whole lot but Naalehu is a pretty litle farm town and green sand beach is pretty epic- but it's a long drive with not a lot else between.

Also- if you can get someone to take you to halape it's really pretty. a seven mile hike in to a very secluded beach.

So anyhow- hurry up and come to Kona because Kona is disappearing faster than we can say "California developers raping the land". We're experiencing the biggest building boom Hawaii has ever experienced and Kona is getting all kinds of messed up on the deal. Our county council is too weak to put the brakes on and so here we go. Come visit and look for all da nice people with da smiling faces. Ignore the Humvee driving, obnoxious newbys (and yes- it can be bred out of them. It can even be learned!) and can you make the mean ones go back and you nice, normal tiki obsessed folk can come over instead?

Hope some of this info helps someone! Aloha- TLH