# We're going to be in Kona (Hawaii) for Christmas and New Years. Suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307 "2013-12-14T15:28:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/1 "2013-12-14T15:28:37Z")
My husband is already there (lucky bugger) and I arrive this coming Wednesday. We are spending the holidays there with my parents (who arrived on Thursday), and one of my sisters and her husband. We’re in Kailua-Kona, just off Ahii Drive (on the Ironman route). I’m just looking for suggestions on places to go and things to do for my husband and I. My parents are there about four months of the year and have some stuff for us all to do during the four week stay, but they are not active like my husband and I are, so don’t have any insight in to our type of activities. We are taking our road bikes and are avid cyclists. I considered doing the Ironman course, but it sounds brutal for a Canadian currently on a trainer inside, and as my husband is still recovering from an ACL replacement this summer, this might not be a good idea. Any other ride suggestions are welcome - we’d be looking at something around 40km - 80km with scenery or nice stops along the way, and are fine with hilly rides (I hear there is a good ride up the volcano?). I am training for a half marathon, so will be doing a few runs a week. It appears running along Ahii Drive is fine, but is there anywhere else? My longest run while there will be 18km, so interesting running locals are appreciated! We are both open water divers (I’m just a standard open water diver, my husband is a professional technical dive master - he dives as part of his job - so he can do the more interesting stuff). I know any diving in there area is spectacular, but any specific suggestions? My husband bought a surfboard yesterday, and I plan on taking a few lessons when I get there, but any other water activities that we should try out? Is paddleboarding a regular activity there? We both enjoy a good cup of coffee or espresso/cappuccino. I really like Kona coffee and would appreciate any suggestions for nice coffee shops we could visit. We are also foodies, but my husband is Celiac, so needs to have options where ever we go. Finally, my parents are buying a car during this trip. Not new, just something to leave at the house for when we visit (a Corolla or similar). They are Canadian, so I’m not sure if insurance works differently for them or not. Any advice? Thanks for any input and suggestions! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/2 "2013-12-14T17:26:52Z")
Yes, but making them would get me banned. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kalea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kalea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalea)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/3 "2013-12-14T18:47:05Z")
We did a tour up to the observatories on Mauna Kea. It was fascinating, and a real treat for my husband the space buff. While you don’t get to go into any of the observatories, you get to watch them at work. Sunset is spectacular, and the stargazing is amazing. We also did a night tour where you swim (snorkel) with manta rays. Very cool! As a diver, you may be able to really get in the midst of the swarm. I’m sad to report that we weren’t able to find great dinners Kona-side. Hilo was better. Do try out Da Poke Shack for some of the best poké in the world. We had a nice, laid back brunch at Holuakoa Cafe. Coffee is good almost everywhere. Avoid chains and go for the local shops - Starbucks is Starbucks, even in Hawaii. Enjoy your trip! I’m jealous… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/4 "2013-12-14T18:50:26Z")
My wife and I have visited the Big Island three times now. We enjoyed the historical sites a lot. > **[Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)](https://www.nps.gov/puhe/index.htm)** > **[Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)](https://www.nps.gov/puho/index.htm)** > **[Day Hike - Puʻuloa Petroglyphs - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (U.S....](https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/hike_day_puuloa.htm)** Beaches are few and far between. One of the best is Hapuna Beach State Park. You might want to look into a trip up to the observatory. A bit pricey but if the sky is clear, the view should be fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/5 "2013-12-14T19:17:43Z")
Excellent, thanks folks! A trip to the observatory is on the list already! Mom and Dad did it earlier this year and INSIST that we go. Dad also said the tour was expensive ($200 or so a person, I think), but well worth it. I’m looking forward to it. Thank you for all the other suggestions, keep 'em coming! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/6 "2013-12-14T20:21:12Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > …tour was expensive ($200 or so a person, I think), but well worth it. Note that you can do this drive yourself, for the cost of the gas. I’ve done this 5 times and have never had an issue. It’s a looong way up there, but the road is good the whole way - any decent 2WD vehicle can make it. Yet the driver had better know something about how to descend a _very_ long, rather steep grade without cooking the brakes (use low gear). And I don’t think it would be a good idea to do this at night. (Note that your night view of the stars will be good from any remote place on the island - being at a high altitude helps, but doesn’t make a huge difference.) Also note that the altitude gain is over 13,000’ from where you’ll be staying. Even if you are in good shape (as must be the case if you are ready for a half-marathon) you’ll find that any serious exertion at the summit is an issue. But having time to hike around and explore a bit is nice - and something the expensive tour is unlikely to give you. As recently as 6 years ago (the last time I was there) car rental companies were still proclaiming the Saddle Road (aka Hilo-Kona road, Route 200 - from which you access the Mauna Kea summit road) to be off limits. This is nonsense - that route is a good paved road without problems (though due to being bordered by black lava, perhaps not the place to be at night). The road to the summit is definitely off limits to rental cars - but all that means is that if you break down there, you’ll be responsible for the tow (which would certainly be expensive). Because it’s a good road leading to one of the notable spots on planet Earth, you should ignore this negativity and go for it. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/7 "2013-12-14T20:29:30Z")
We loved a nice little coffee place located smack in the middle of all the coffee plantations, just up the hill from Kona. It’s the Holuakoa Cafe, and they make excellent fresh Kona coffee and espresso. It’s on a road called Hawaii Belt Road, which runs north and south along the fertile coffee slopes. It’s an interesting and verdant drive which will take you through acres and acres of coffee plantations. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/8 "2013-12-16T19:47:08Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > Excellent, thanks folks! A trip to the observatory is on the list already! Mom and Dad did it earlier this year and INSIST that we go. Dad also said the tour was expensive ($200 or so a person, I think), but well worth it. I’m looking forward to it. Indeed, totally worth it. They even include a sandwich and a borrowed parka! What a deal! (but seriously, totally worth it.) I assume you’ll go see the Volcanos at some point. It would be silly not to. Absolutely gorgeous. Akaka falls is nice to see, too. We enjoyed this: > **[SITUS SLOT BIG368, AGEN SLOT BIG368, SLOT ONLINE TERPERCAYA 2023 MUDAH MENANG](https://www.flumindaditch.com/)** > > Website Gacor BIG368 2023 Meskipun Gacor adalah situs judi online terpopuler di tahun 2023 dengan banyak pilihan permainan seperti casino, poker, togel although it might be a bit tourist-trappy for some. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/9 "2013-12-16T20:06:30Z")
Thanks for bumping with more information. 🙂 We are indeed doing the observatory tour - it’s booked. We are also spending a couple of days in Hilo to check out Volcano. We are doing the Manta Ray dive shortly after I get there (two more sleeps…yaaayyy!). They guys are heading out fishing on Boxing Day too (VERY expensive!). ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/10 "2013-12-16T21:00:59Z")
Other worthwhile items: Snorkeling at the Capt. Cook monument (north side of Kealakekua Bay) - Probably the best snorkeling spot on the island, but hard to get to. There’s actually a road that runs there, but it’s really just a walking track (it descends over 1200’ in less than 2 miles and would destroy any normal vehicle 4WD that tried to climb it). You may be able to get a boat ride there from the south side of the bay (which is readily accessible by road). South Point - Good short walks, waves crashing on rocks, very scenic. Interesting swimming/snorkeling (if you climb down a long ladder), but be careful of strong currents. Humpback whales often in view (starting late Dec). Waipio Valley (~45 miles N of Hilo) - Ultra-steep road down into this deep valley requires (4WD low range) - but it’s not a brutal walk. Interesting beach and walking opportunities. Hawaii Tropical Botanic Gardens (~7 miles NE of Hilo) - Drop-dead gorgeous; not to be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/11 "2013-12-16T22:07:35Z")
Rent a big car. That way, when the tsunami warnings come and you have to leave your beachfront resort and spend the night with your two kids in the car up the hill, you won’t be quite so crowded and miserable - you’ll still be miserable, but you won’t be saying “why didn’t I let my husband rent the SUV?!” OK, maybe that was a little specific. ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/12 "2013-12-16T22:10:31Z")
Here’s a previous thread that is chock-a-block with Big Island suggestions: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=672332&referrerid=63084](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=672332&referrerid=63084) If you do decide to bike on Haleakala, do be careful. There’s not a lot of room for error, and way too many people who drive like they are on vacation. Which they are, but still… ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/13 "2013-12-16T23:00:26Z")
We did the night manta ray snorkel. It was outstanding, even though I got sicker than a dog from my motion sickness. There’s a zipline on Big Island, too. We did one on Maui, and it was more fun than a human should be allowed to have. [http://thebigislandzipline.com/](http://thebigislandzipline.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/14 "2013-12-17T05:07:03Z")
Good burgers at [Huggo’s on the Rocks](http://huggos.com/), but what’s even better is that a coffee company rents the same space starting at the crack of WTF until around 10:30 am. They serve Kona coffee, and they’ll make egg dishes with the espresso steamer. Mmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/15 "2013-12-17T05:31:04Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Other worthwhile items: > > Snorkeling at the Capt. Cook monument (north side of Kealakekua Bay) - Probably the best snorkeling spot on the island, but hard to get to. There’s actually a road that runs there, but it’s really just a walking track (it descends over 1200’ in less than 2 miles and would destroy any normal vehicle 4WD that tried to climb it). You may be able to get a boat ride there from the south side of the bay (which is readily accessible by road). 1. Get a copy of [the Big Island Reveled](http://www.amazon.com/Hawaii-Big-Island-Revealed-Guidebook-ebook/dp/B00929900Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387257784&sr=8-1&keywords=big+island+revealed). 2. You can rent kayak and paddle across the bay to the Cpt Cook Monument. The Big Island Revealed will recommend places to rent from. 3. I enjoyed visiting several coffee farms and tasting their wares. I still order from Greenwell Farms. 4. Stop and get some [Mac nut pie](https://store.macpie.com/contact/) damn good, you might want to take one home. 5. Get the Big Island Reveled and read it. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/16 "2013-12-17T06:05:26Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > 1. Get a copy of [the Big Island Reveled](http://www.amazon.com/Hawaii-Big-Island-Revealed-Guidebook-ebook/dp/B00929900Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387257784&sr=8-1&keywords=big+island+revealed). > 2. Get the Big Island Reveled and read it. A thousand times yes! They have the entire book as an app, too. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/17 "2013-12-17T06:06:49Z")
> [@Furious\_Marmot](#): > > If you do decide to bike on Haleakala That’s Maui. ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/18 "2013-12-17T12:15:51Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > That’s Maui. Doh! You are, of course, correct. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-going-to-be-in-kona-hawaii-for-christmas-and-new-years-suggestions/676307/19 "2013-12-17T15:06:55Z")
> [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](#): > > A thousand times yes! > > They have the entire book as an app, too. Doubled trebled, whatever, this book is awesome. We had the Big Island one, the Kauai one and the Oahu one and never had a unhappy experience with their advice. Well worth picking it up as the app as the book is, like most guidebooks, a couple pounds. You already have most of my Big Island favorites booked but if you’re looking for a long day outing a drive over to Volcano National Park with your bikes on a trailer would be a great idea. There are some really interesting lavafields (cold ones) right beside the road as you drive through and I think biking there would be a great way to explore.