Kona Coast anyone?
- Thread starter SIMJUN
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bookwormde
<font color=darkorchid>Heading out now, another ad
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My brother owns a 3br timeshare at Kona Coast 1 and they are very nice (he is actually in Hawaii now). Since it is the big island they is not much in the way of sandy beaches but the views are spectacular and the weather is great, if you do not like the temperature you just change elevations. It is on the dryer side of the island (although further north is dryer). Exploring the island if fun, and the volcano and the observatory are definitely worth doing, although it is a lot of driving and if you can swing it I would get a 4wd vehicle. Going all the way around the island is a very long day so be prepared. Almost everywhere you go is like something off a post card.
Have fun
bookwormde
Have fun
bookwormde
fijidoc
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2006
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- 161
we have been to the Big Island twice. Don't know about the kona coast resort. But we absolutely love the the Big Island. There is so much to do and see. Definitely need a rental car. Can't get by without it on the Big Island. Things do take a while to get to but worth the drive and time. A trip around the island is great and it does take a full day leaving early in the morning and getting back late at night to see things and do it justice. So much to do and see it is hard to list here. If you like to snorkel there is a trip that you must take. It goes via catamaran to a secluded area with one of the top snorkeling areas in the world. Almost have to go with a tour group because to hard to get to on your own. It was amazing. I will need to look up name of it when I get home to get back to you. Also the best guide book in my opinion is Hawaii the Big Island Revealed. There are several editions so make sure you get the latest. It is an amazing resource with information on everything you would ever need. I am going to put the internet site for the book which also has a lot of information in it. There is a section about the resorts that you can go to and it has their review of Kona Coast.
http://www.wizardpub.com/bigisland/bigisland.html
http://www.wizardpub.com/bigisland/bigisland.html
WDWBW09
Mouseketeer
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- Apr 11, 2009
- Messages
- 334
I traveled to Hawaii twice...
I believe in my heart everyone should be required to go to Hawaii once in their life. It really is heaven on earth. Very hard to put into words how beautiful it is.
I stayed at the Hilton Waikaloa on the big island and truly a beautiful resort. I agree the big island is beautiful. Kona was not as developed when I was there last. I spent a short time on the Kona coast.
Maui - Lahania most beautiful sunsets and so festive. Peaceful and serene. The road to Hana, diving off of the water falls was surprisingly cold but it didn't matter.
Oahu was nice but commercialized, Wakiki beach was fantastic with diamond head as a backdrop - Dukes on the beach is a great restraunt to dine at, going to Pearl Harbor was a humbling experience. The warmest rain I've ever felt in my life it could of been bath water. Watching the locals take on the waves at sandy beach which I believe is the North Shore. Lifeguards every 10 feet to the best of my memory. Changing of the guard is also something to see.
I'll brag the rest of my life about how blue the water is. I've yet to see water that blue since the day I left. I've yet to find another tropical location that compares. Enjoy your time there it really goes by fast and your not going to want to leave!
I believe in my heart everyone should be required to go to Hawaii once in their life. It really is heaven on earth. Very hard to put into words how beautiful it is.
I stayed at the Hilton Waikaloa on the big island and truly a beautiful resort. I agree the big island is beautiful. Kona was not as developed when I was there last. I spent a short time on the Kona coast.
Maui - Lahania most beautiful sunsets and so festive. Peaceful and serene. The road to Hana, diving off of the water falls was surprisingly cold but it didn't matter.
Oahu was nice but commercialized, Wakiki beach was fantastic with diamond head as a backdrop - Dukes on the beach is a great restraunt to dine at, going to Pearl Harbor was a humbling experience. The warmest rain I've ever felt in my life it could of been bath water. Watching the locals take on the waves at sandy beach which I believe is the North Shore. Lifeguards every 10 feet to the best of my memory. Changing of the guard is also something to see.
I'll brag the rest of my life about how blue the water is. I've yet to see water that blue since the day I left. I've yet to find another tropical location that compares. Enjoy your time there it really goes by fast and your not going to want to leave!
Golden Rose
Princess by Choice
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- May 8, 2007
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- 1,093
I haven't done the timeshare, but have been to the Kona side of the Big Island multiple times. I have family who lived there for many years, and my family has always loved visiting Hawaii (which is why some relatives moved there for a time.)
As others have said, rent a car, preferably 4 wheel drive. Make sure you go to the black sand beach. There aren't many in the world, so it is a moderately unique experience. Go to Volcanoes National Park. It's a drive, but definitely worth it, again, because it is a fairly unique experience. You can continue the drive to the Hilo said for more traditional, tropical feeling beauty. (Kona side is beautiful in it's own way, but parts of it feel very stark because of the all the visible volcanic rock.) There are nice botanic gardens and waterfalls, plus a huge banyan tree, on Hilo side that really make you feel like you're in a lush, tropical paradise. Particularly if you haven't been to Hawaii before, and you're expecting beaches and tropics and greenery, you need to spend some of your time at least one day around Hilo.
If you're the adventurous type, and you don't mind violating your rental car agreement (which will almost certainly say don't take the Saddleback road), go up to the observatory tourist center at night (you can drive there during the day, but plan to stay until after dark). (Pack a warm jacket and have warm clothes with you if you decide to do this.) The views of the stars, even from the visitor's center where local amateur astronomers set up their telescopes, are like nothing you've ever seen before. Seriously, this is an amazing experience. The very long drive back to Kona side in the dark on a not great road (the aforementioned Saddleback) is an experience of another sort, and one I would gladly forgo... but you can't do the observatory at night without doing the drive. It _is_ stressful; it is bumpy because it isn't well-maintained and dark with no places to stop because a lot of the road goes through land owned by the military. Make sure you have a full tank of gas. Only you can decide if it is worth it for your family.
The Big Island is big, but if you're willing to do a very long day, you can manage everything I've talked about in one day. We've done it when doing the hard tourist sightseeing thing - start nearish Kona, drive to the black sand beach and walk around and point at sea turtles, drive through volcanoes national park (stopping at several key spots to explore), drive to Hilo and see a few sites, drive to the observatory visitor center and look at stars, then drive back to where we were staying in Kona. Now, I think it ended up being about a 17 hour day because of the late night at the observatory, but it was doable for a group of adults. I would take it in smaller pieces with kids.
As others have said, rent a car, preferably 4 wheel drive. Make sure you go to the black sand beach. There aren't many in the world, so it is a moderately unique experience. Go to Volcanoes National Park. It's a drive, but definitely worth it, again, because it is a fairly unique experience. You can continue the drive to the Hilo said for more traditional, tropical feeling beauty. (Kona side is beautiful in it's own way, but parts of it feel very stark because of the all the visible volcanic rock.) There are nice botanic gardens and waterfalls, plus a huge banyan tree, on Hilo side that really make you feel like you're in a lush, tropical paradise. Particularly if you haven't been to Hawaii before, and you're expecting beaches and tropics and greenery, you need to spend some of your time at least one day around Hilo.
If you're the adventurous type, and you don't mind violating your rental car agreement (which will almost certainly say don't take the Saddleback road), go up to the observatory tourist center at night (you can drive there during the day, but plan to stay until after dark). (Pack a warm jacket and have warm clothes with you if you decide to do this.) The views of the stars, even from the visitor's center where local amateur astronomers set up their telescopes, are like nothing you've ever seen before. Seriously, this is an amazing experience. The very long drive back to Kona side in the dark on a not great road (the aforementioned Saddleback) is an experience of another sort, and one I would gladly forgo... but you can't do the observatory at night without doing the drive. It _is_ stressful; it is bumpy because it isn't well-maintained and dark with no places to stop because a lot of the road goes through land owned by the military. Make sure you have a full tank of gas. Only you can decide if it is worth it for your family.
The Big Island is big, but if you're willing to do a very long day, you can manage everything I've talked about in one day. We've done it when doing the hard tourist sightseeing thing - start nearish Kona, drive to the black sand beach and walk around and point at sea turtles, drive through volcanoes national park (stopping at several key spots to explore), drive to Hilo and see a few sites, drive to the observatory visitor center and look at stars, then drive back to where we were staying in Kona. Now, I think it ended up being about a 17 hour day because of the late night at the observatory, but it was doable for a group of adults. I would take it in smaller pieces with kids.
Anal Annie
at least I KNOW I'm a kook...I just can't help it
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- Dec 8, 2006
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- 13,976
We spent 3 nights on the Big Island a few years ago. This was before we owned DVC. We stayed on a budget in a no frills old Outrigger property down in Keauhou (which is just south of Kona). We were right next to a public access park with off shore snorkeling. REALLY GOOD for off shore. 
TONS of very colorful fish. The Kona Coast has some beautiful sunsets too.
Since we only had 3 days and wanted to see as much as possible our big splurge on that island was a helicopter tour (booked through Blue Hawaiian) of the island. It lasted for about 3 hours if I remember correctly. We crossed over the middle of the island and flew over Kilauea (the active volcano) and then went up around the northern end of the island to see the coast, valleys and waterfalls. ABSOLUTELY gorgeous trip. The terrain on this island is the most diverse of any of the islands I think. It has a little bit of everything. Highly recommend if you can fit it into your budget.
TONS of very colorful fish. The Kona Coast has some beautiful sunsets too.Since we only had 3 days and wanted to see as much as possible our big splurge on that island was a helicopter tour (booked through Blue Hawaiian) of the island. It lasted for about 3 hours if I remember correctly. We crossed over the middle of the island and flew over Kilauea (the active volcano) and then went up around the northern end of the island to see the coast, valleys and waterfalls. ABSOLUTELY gorgeous trip. The terrain on this island is the most diverse of any of the islands I think. It has a little bit of everything. Highly recommend if you can fit it into your budget.
Dean
DIS Veteran<br><a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis
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KCR is with both II and RCI. There is at least one member of this board who has stayed at KCR on a DVC exchange and was very happy. As many times as we've been in HI (and lived there for 3 years), we've never made it to the Big Island, that's on our next trip in 2012.
dopeynme
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2006
- Messages
- 553
Hi! You can go to the top of the volcano (Mauna Kea) with a tour: Hawaii Forrest and Trail's Summit and Stars tour. It was outstanding! Took 8 hours!! The guide drives a small jitney-type bus. You go thru ranchland and see horses, Then stop about 6000 feet to acclimate to the altitude and have dinner. Adequate food, not great! Then you continue up to 13000 feet, where the telescopes are. They lend you parkas because it's COLD!!!! (Low 40's F in August!) They also have oxygen in case anyone has difficulty with the altitude. You watch the sun go down from there, then go back to the observatory area, which has no lights allowed. There, your guide provides hot chocolate and guides you in star gazing. I have never seen so many stars in my life. It was absolutely amazing. Truly a once in a lifetime adventure.
You can also see petroglyphs near Kona. We stayed at a Sheraton (Keaneau Bay, something like that). Very nice.
Don't miss volcano on the other side of the island. The rangers in the national park will tell you where the lava is flowing. It was fascinating to see. We did the helicopter tour and I got motion sick, despite wristbands.......but we saw the flowing lava from the ground and it was cool! (Well, actually it was very hot
)
You can also see petroglyphs near Kona. We stayed at a Sheraton (Keaneau Bay, something like that). Very nice.
Don't miss volcano on the other side of the island. The rangers in the national park will tell you where the lava is flowing. It was fascinating to see. We did the helicopter tour and I got motion sick, despite wristbands.......but we saw the flowing lava from the ground and it was cool! (Well, actually it was very hot
)We have stayed at the Kona Coast several times. It's a very nice resort and the location is great. You can just drive down Ali Drive and you're right in downtown Kona. Drive up the hill and you're on the highway that takes you around the island.
Before we went several years ago we got a book called "Hawaii The Big Island Revealed." Super book. It tells you all kinds of secrets.
One of our most favorite places to swim or snorkle is Honaunau. It's a very small beach by the Place of Refuge. No sand, hence no cloudiness in the water. It is absolutely beautiful! But you must get there early. So we just head out of Kona Coast, stop by the Aloha Angel for breakfast and take our little picnic, and towels and SUNSCREEN to Honaunau and have a wonderful day.
DO NOT miss Volcano National Park. We find out what time sunset is and then we hike out onto the lava while it's still light and then watch the sunset and then the magnificent light show after dark. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A FLASHLIGHT. Otherwise you won't be able to find your way back to your car. YOU MUST wear athletic shoes and long pants. Lava is actually as sharp as glass. It can get very cold, so a sweatshirt or jacket is in order. It's an amazing experience.
Fortunately, we don't have to use our DVC points to trade into Kona as we have two other timeshares that trade beautifully into that property. You'll love it.
Have a great time!
Leslye
Before we went several years ago we got a book called "Hawaii The Big Island Revealed." Super book. It tells you all kinds of secrets.
One of our most favorite places to swim or snorkle is Honaunau. It's a very small beach by the Place of Refuge. No sand, hence no cloudiness in the water. It is absolutely beautiful! But you must get there early. So we just head out of Kona Coast, stop by the Aloha Angel for breakfast and take our little picnic, and towels and SUNSCREEN to Honaunau and have a wonderful day.
DO NOT miss Volcano National Park. We find out what time sunset is and then we hike out onto the lava while it's still light and then watch the sunset and then the magnificent light show after dark. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A FLASHLIGHT. Otherwise you won't be able to find your way back to your car. YOU MUST wear athletic shoes and long pants. Lava is actually as sharp as glass. It can get very cold, so a sweatshirt or jacket is in order. It's an amazing experience.
Fortunately, we don't have to use our DVC points to trade into Kona as we have two other timeshares that trade beautifully into that property. You'll love it.
Have a great time!
Leslye
Hi just joined the forum after using it a bunch to plan our first family trip to Disneyland a few months ago. Anyway, I live on the Kona coast! Kona Coast Resort is a nice place to stay. It's a little dated compared to some other places, but well kept and clean. It's location is nice but a little ways from Kailua town where most of the restaurants etc are. As others have stated, get a car! I don't think a 4WD is necessary unless you plan to go into Waipio Valley or Mauna Kea. I know both places will be off limits on your rental car contract, and you can get on a tour to see both places anyway. Just as much fun without the risk of liability (many have learned the hard way, I know because I work for the Fire Dept and have seen more than one "accident" at these two places). Some things you may want to see that haven't been mentioned yet: Imiloa Astronomy Center is in Hilo and a great experience with shows, food etc. Akaka falls is probably the most "scenic" waterfall on the island with a beautiful hike to get there. And if you go around the Island, make sure to at least stop at Waipio Valley. It would be awesome to go down into the valley on a tour, but just looking down from the top is breathtaking! On your way out, stop at Tex's Drive in and get some fresh baked Malasada's! Hope that helps some, Steve
jekjones1558
Always happy at Disney
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2000
- Messages
- 9,489
SIMJUN,
Just to reiterate what another poster stated: When you leave the Kona airport you will be surrounded by black lava fields. It is very stark. When you get to the highway you will see plants (sorry, don't know the names) with lovely flowers growing from the lava. It is always shocking to me when we land in Kona, especially if we have just come from Maui or Kauai. As you drive around the island you will feel like you are in entirely different places because the landscape is so varied. The Parker Ranch area doesn't even feel like what I think of as "Hawaii" and some of the views along the coast on that side of the island are wonderful. We have done a circle island tour in a car once, but it is such a long drive that we didn't really have time to enjoy the sights along the way, so now we do a day at a time--one for Hilo, one for Volcano park, one for the ranch area, etc. We end up spending a lot of time driving around, but we are not the type to just lie around the pool or beach for too long anyway and the scenery as you drive is great.
We adore WDW and have lots of points to vacation there but if I were going to meet my maker soon I would want my last vacation to be in Hawaii. It is idyllic. You will have a wonderful trip.
Just to reiterate what another poster stated: When you leave the Kona airport you will be surrounded by black lava fields. It is very stark. When you get to the highway you will see plants (sorry, don't know the names) with lovely flowers growing from the lava. It is always shocking to me when we land in Kona, especially if we have just come from Maui or Kauai. As you drive around the island you will feel like you are in entirely different places because the landscape is so varied. The Parker Ranch area doesn't even feel like what I think of as "Hawaii" and some of the views along the coast on that side of the island are wonderful. We have done a circle island tour in a car once, but it is such a long drive that we didn't really have time to enjoy the sights along the way, so now we do a day at a time--one for Hilo, one for Volcano park, one for the ranch area, etc. We end up spending a lot of time driving around, but we are not the type to just lie around the pool or beach for too long anyway and the scenery as you drive is great.
We adore WDW and have lots of points to vacation there but if I were going to meet my maker soon I would want my last vacation to be in Hawaii. It is idyllic. You will have a wonderful trip.
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