Fun Occasional Alternative To Aulani

[monsterkitty]

Rough itinerary for upcoming Big Island trip, would love peoples' feedback.

Day 1: Stay overnight at the Hilton Boston Logan
Day 2: Fly Boston to Honolulu, Honolulu to Kona. Check in at HGVC Kings' Land
Day 3: Church at St. Michael the Archangel, Costco run, and resort time (HGVC or Hilton Waikoloa Village)
Day 4: Leeward side of the island. National Historical Parks, Greenwell Farms coffee tour
Day 5: Beach full day. Kauna'oa (Mauna Kea) or Hapuna
Day 6: Check out. Drive to the town of Volcano around the North side of the island. Waipi'o Valley, Akaka Falls.
Day 7: TBD. Either a beach around Hilo or Volcanoes National Park.
Day 8: TBD. Either a beach around Hilo or Volcanoes National Park.
Day 9: Hilo Farmer's Market, beach, church at St. Theresa.
Day 10/11: Drive back to Kona using the saddle road. Fly Kona to Honolulu, Honolulu to Boston.

Depending on what time you land in Kona, Costco is on the way to Waikoloa. It may be easier to stop on the way from KOA later on a Saturday that after church on a Sunday. I feel this is the busiest Costco I've ever visited!

If you don't stop at Costco after church, the Kaloko-Honokohau NHP would be a great stop on your way back to your resort. It is very near Costco, so stopping there then Costco would work.

Take time to walk around Kailua-Kona while you're there after church. The Kona Farmers Market is much better than the Hilo market. Or at least it was when we were there in 2022.

Island Lava Java is one of our favorite places to get something to eat while in Kona. It's about a 5-minute walk from St. Michael the Archangel. Kailua Pier where we start the Ironman World Championships is about 10 minutes from the church. There are tons of shops and ice cream places along the walk.

While at your resort, walk to Anaeho'omalu Beach that the Marriott Waikoloa is on. It's a great beach with a great place to swim.

The LavaLava Club is a fun place for dinner. It's right on the same beach.

Puukohola Heiau NP is one of my new favorites. Despite visit the island multiple times, I finally visited the park in 2022.

Pololu Valley Lookout and trail is my favorite place in the world. Even if you don't do the hike, it is well worth it just to go to the Lookout. Go as early as you can because parking is limited. If you do hike, it's an easy walk down, but a bit of a challenge going up. My mom did the hike at 75, but she also walks her dog about 5 miles a day and we are in CO. There is oxygen in Hawaii so hikes are much easier!

I will get back to this later. Or you can tell me to be quiet haha!

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[alohamom]

While at your resort, walk to Anaeho'omalu Beach that the Marriott Waikoloa is on. It's a great beach with a great place to swim.

It is a very pretty bay, my husband I got married there!
There is also a really cool area of preserved ruins of a historical old royal village on the other side of the palm tree ring in front of the Marriott plus a petroglyph trail that runs through the Waikoloa area. It gets hot though and if you do the trail, wear a solid shoe, it gets super rocky.

 

[WinterSolider]

Does anyone know if you get daily housekeeping services when you stay at HGVC as a cash guest? I've googled and can't find anything reliable with lots of old COVID information out there.

 

[Great3]

Does anyone know if you get daily housekeeping services when you stay at HGVC as a cash guest? I've googled and can't find anything reliable with lots of old COVID information out there.

That's a good question, sorry I don't know the answer for a cash guest. As a timeshare owner stay or exchange, they only do a mid-week tidy up, definitely no daily housekeeping.

I wouldn't be surprised if they don't come by every 4 days as well. Perhaps you can just call the front desk and ask?

Great3

 

[WinterSolider]

Love the Grand Hyatt Kauai. We sometimes do a split stay with Kiahuna Plantation down the road because we LOVE Poipu Beach but it's been a while since we have been to either.

I'll throw another Aulani alternative into the ring. There are Hilton managed condos over on the Big Island called Kings Land. Staying there gives you full access to the Hilton Waikoloa Village which has an pretty impressive pool system (although I find it very cold) plus an big onsite snorkelling lagoon. It has a boat/tram system to get around with because it is so sprawling and although there is really no beach, just up the highway about 15 mins is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to called Hapuna Beach. Pictures do not do this place justice, it is never overcrowded, the sand is like golden soft powder and the water is warm and shallow. I wouldn't say the Hilton Waikoloa Village or the Kings Land condos are comparable to Aulani, but certainly an alternative for a two island stay combined with Aulani and a way to stay a little bit upscale without breaking the bank.

Absolutely, Hapuna Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches and is my absolute favorite beach in Hawaii!!!

I do love HGVC King's Land also, but here I will say Aulani is nicer.

Great3

Is Hapuna Beach definitely the play on leeward Big Island rather than Kauna'oa (Mauna Kea) Beach?

 

[alohamom]

Is Hapuna Beach definitely the play on leeward Big Island rather than Kauna'oa (Mauna Kea) Beach?

I think it depends on what you are looking for but in general terms there is a lot more parking at Hapuna, it is a longer stretch of beach and is more shallow further out. For families, Hapuna just makes more sense. If you are looking for a something romantic, I feel that might justify Mauna Kea.

 

[WinterSolider]

If you are looking for a something romantic...

Maybe someday...

But alas.

As it stands my priorities are "will my kids drown?" and "are the bathrooms reasonably clean?"

We wake up at like 3am in Hawaii so we don't expect parking to be an issue wherever we go.

 

[alohamom]

The other thing to note is that there is a charge to enter Hapuna as it is technically a state park. There never used to be but now it is $5 per person for out of state visitors and credit card only (I think)

You do have to pay to park at Mauna Kea. A plan we sometimes go with is if we want to go to Mauna Kea/Mauna Lani area beach we try to get a spot there first and if we cannot, we head over to Hapuna.
One other good thing about this beach is there is a fairly decent Foodland as you enter the resort area. Its great to grab drinks, snacks etc

 

[alohamom]

Hapuna is hands down one of the best natural beaches for children, unless its a stormy day as the waves can get fairly high but then that will be the case on any beach that day. My son learned to stand on a paddle board there when he was quite young, the water is usually nicely warm (for the ocean) and shallow

 

[monsterkitty]

I agree that Hapuna is hands down one of the best beaches for children. I, however, do not like the location because it's so far from everything.

Maybe it was our mood, but it just was not our favorite because of the location of the resort. While we aren't go to a bar or shop kind of people, we would have liked the resort to be closer to restaurants and shopping. It also took longer to get to the Kona area for snorkel tours.

The resort is very nice, though.

 

[Great3]

Is Hapuna Beach definitely the play on leeward Big Island rather than Kauna'oa (Mauna Kea) Beach?

While Hapuna is my favorite beach in terms of sheer beauty, and soft powdery sand… Mauna Kea beach is very very nice also. You can’t go wrong with either. As already mentioned, Hapuna now cost $5 per person to enter + $10 parking per car. Parking at Mauna Kea is free if you get there way early enough to get one of the free parking spots, which is rare. It's usually available in the late afternoon, but the waves seems to be much bigger by than. For a family, I still think Hupuna is nicer. For a decent nice (but no where close to competing in beauty to Hapuna) beach with plenty of free parking, I would say Spencer Beach could be the alternative.

Great3