DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS: From the Kona Airport, follow signs south to Kailua-Kona. After approximately eight miles, turn RIGHT on Palani Road. Continue through several (3 or 4) traffic lights all the way to the Bay where Palani curves and becomes Ali'i Drive. Now the harbor is on your Right and you will drive through the village of Kailua.

After the 3-way stop (at Hualalai Road), continue on Ali’i Drive approximately three miles to Kona Bali Kai, a large gray complex on both sides of the street. Look for the blue awning on the Right side of the street. Shortly after, you'll see a small sign that says, ENTRANCE KONA BALI KAI

GETTING READY FOR YOUR VACATION. We're excited that you will be sharing our beautiful Kona home. To get in the mood - and gather some valuable information BEFORE you arrive in Kona you might visithttp://www.konaweb.com ORwww.101thingstodo.com - two of the best Internet sites to search for everything to do/see/experience on the Big Island..

On both web sites you'll find information galore about beaches all over the island. There is a chart that shows the specifics -- including whether a 4 wheel drive vehicle is needed or a walk to the beach is required. They also include descriptions, maps and phone numbers. It also gives a phone number to call for lava flow information, and will show the way to the volcano.

For the Mauna Kea summit, we recommend a tour (listed in 101 Things to do). It's a bit expensive, but worth it. They all have specially designed 4 wheel drive vans and the driver is a tour guide who tells interesting facts about the terrain, flora, fauna, volcanos and Hawaii. We always wear warm clothing (a jogging suit for example) for the trip and they provide parkas and gloves. We're glad to have both. All tours stop at the reception center (9000' elevation), serve a box lunch and stay for half an hour so all the bodies can acclimate before going on to the summit. Anyone with heart problems, high blood pressure or health problems should not go to such an elevation. You'll think you've landed on the moon, with all the twenty-plus telescopes and a sunset like no other. Then on the way back down, they set up telescopes for stargazing and provide hot chocolate and hot soup.

Perhaps you'd like a little personal pampering. We'd recommend Ali’i Massage Center and Spa for massage. It's very close, within one block on the mauka side of the street at 75-5929 Ali’i Drive, they can be reached at 808-329-9553. There's also a massage school in Kealakakua, available on certain days, where the costs are even less. It's called Big Island School of Massage.

Whatever you do, remember the Hawaiian chant, “hang loose.” Nothing gets done in a hurry here on Kona – particularly the traffic. People are gentle and relaxed here. Don’t fight “the culture” – join it and enjoy it – after all you ARE on vacation!. Who knows, you may even get to like it!!

Fun And Exciting Activities On Kona

In addition to “hanging loose,” enjoying the pounding surf, the soft breezes and the comfortable condo furnishing, there’s lots to do and see on Kona -- more than you will likely have time to do. To help you choose what to do on your beautiful Kona vacation here are a few suggestions.

We’d begin with the following two links:

Then there are several “big” activities:

These are a sampling of the commercial activities available on The Big Island.

· Outfitters Hawaii ATV Tours

SOME OF OUR FAVORITES

Restaurants

Edwards at Kanaloa (our favorite)

Jameson’s By The Sea

Huggo’s

Huggo’s On the Rocks (breakfast)

Bubba Gump (breakfast or lunch)

Oodles of Noodles - anytime

Chart House

Kona Country Club (breakfast or lunch)

Sibu’s

Royal Thai at Keauhou Shopping Center

Drysdale’s at Keauhou for good, casual food and Sports

Aloha Theatre Café (great breakfast) now called Aloha Angel Cafe -- On the way to Kealakakua, if possible sit at the farthest table, view over the coffee trees to the ocean. Very casual

Sam Choy’s – an island favorite near Costco. Very casual ambiance, good food

Daniel Thiebaut for lunch in Waimea

Merriman’s dinner..in Waimea

Things to Do

Mauna Kea Stargazing (for the hardy only) Nowhere else on the planet can you see what you see here. Cold at the top – need warm clothing, best to go with a tour group, several hours.

Visit the Volcano –call the 800 number to see what’s happening with lava flow.Takes a day trip to get there and back. Best to stay overnight in Volcano so you can walk to the glowing flow at night. Can be chilly. Hardy only.

Drive around the island, visit Hilo Farmers’ Market, Akaka Falls, macnut and orchid farms, Botanical Gardens, scenic route. Take two days if you can.

Helicopter flight around the island, see all including the volcano. Amazing sight.

Snorkel at Kahaluu Bay – it’s free and one of the best.

Farmers’ Market in Kailua Town – produce Wednesdays and weekends, great flowers, jewelry and fun things.

Alii Drive Market – weekends, some weekdays, also arty and fun things.