Turo.com is a local car rental. You can use your own car insurance by Declining Turo Insurance because their minimum car insurance is a $3,000 deductible, Use you're own car insurance it will save you money. Call your car insurance to confirm they cover Turo and most do.
Costco has the best deals for groceries, and it usually is super crowded with long lines. The best time to go is an hour before they close.
If you don't want to wait in long lines, Safeway delivers groceries. Go to Safeway.com and you can change Pick-up to Delivery at the top middle of page, just put in the zipcode where you are staying to see if they will deliver to you. You can also leave them instructions on where to drop off groceries if you won't be there.
Please, don't forget to tip well because that helps drivers want to keep delivering. This is how I shop most of the time. They have great organic items.
There are 2 grocery stores near the resorts. These stores have great premade food for picnics on the beach. The Island Gourmet is next to the Hilton and has a great souvenir area, and Food Land is closer to Mauna Lani, and Mauna Kea resorts. I was told Food Land delivers.
The food court next to the Luxury Theater in Waikoloa has the best prices to eat out in that area and has good food.
Google Food Trucks on Big Island to find out where they are because they are the BEST!
You can island hope by taking a commercial airline or a, commuter plane https://www.mokuleleairlines.com/. If you want to spend the day in Maui,, this commuter plane is usually the same price as a commercial plane, but with no TSA security, so you can show up 5 minutes before the plane takes off if you want.  Â
Lava Lava Beach Club is a fun place to have lunch and dinner. If you want the shore you might see sleeping turtles. Please, respect their space. It's against the law to touch them. Thank you!
There are only 5 places in the world where you can swim with manta rays, and there are 2 spots here on the Big Island. I recommend finding a boat that goes out of Keauhou Bay because it is the shortest boat ride to where the manta ray tours go.Â
You can also swim directly from shore near the Manta Restaurant, and you could possibly see manta rays from the beach there as well. For more information, go to MantaRayAdvocates.com.
BiggsHawaii.com provides manta ray tours on the north side of the island, as well as fishing and other tours.
BigIslandCampers.com has a nice camping map on their website, and they rent camper vans.
Do you want to try surfing or snorkeling for the first time? Kahalu'u beach park
is a black sand beach that is the BEST place for beginners who are in Kona town! Talk to the lifeguards there and ask where the safest place is to get in and out.Â
Donkey Balls chocolate are a super funny gift! It's yummy, funny chocoloate! Their small
factory is south of Kona town in Kainaliu, and you can also find their Donkey Balls
in all the ABC stores and other grocery stores on the Big Island.
There is a Kona Trolley that is FREE and it takes you from one side of Kailua Kona town to the other. Make sure to call the operator about where to pick it up and when Trolley will show up because it's usually late. The operator doesn't work Sundays or after 5pm all other days.
The Hele-On Bus will take you all the way around the Big Island for FREE. It can just break down and be very late, so call the operator to find out if the bus is on time. The operator doesn't work Sundays or after 5 pm. Make sure not to catch the very last bus in case it breaks down. Catch at least 2 to 3 buses before the last one to always make sure you'll get a ride back, and they will bring another bus as long as it's not the last bus.Â
There are Fun Bike rentals all over some towns that you can rent by the hour. Here is one site to check out HIBIKE. Be careful because there are a lot of tourist drivers, so always be aware when you are riding, and ride defensivly!
Hilo side https://htbg.com/Â Â is a Great botanical garden to visit on Hilo side! Rent their see thru umbrellas because it could pour rain while you're walking through garden, buy it if you're going to Volcano national park because it rains there too.Â
There is also a small creek-like waterfall going west after the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. People swim there, and swim at your own risk. It's on the Old Mamalahoa HWY right at the wood bridge.
If you’re renting a car, Fissure 8 is like you
are on the moon. Google how to get to Fissure 8, and it should lead you right
there. It’s in Puna. There will be signs that say no go
to the crater. I know people who have hiked up and had no issues, but go at your own risk.
Wear closed-toed shoes because of very loose lava. You can always take a tour through the link.
Isaac Hale is a big black sand beach born in 2018, near Fissure 8.
Sam’s Hideaway is the oldest local bar in Kona
town with Karaoke starting at 8pm. It’s across from the Kona Inn Shopping Village. Google
has directions.
Kona Inn Restaurant is a historical restaurant. Just going in to see their pictures is awesome.
Sunset Kai Lani has the best food and a great happy hour from 4pm-5pm.
Randy's Huli Chicken is the BEST and they usually sell out by late afternoon. They only open Thursday and Friday and they are under a tent outside and if you go to this location on Saturday or Sunday you'll find the BEST Lau Lau made from men who live in Waipio Valley.
Super J's is a GREAT family-owned place, and Lau-Lau is a traditional Hawaiian plate, slow-roasted pork wrapped in tea leaves. They usually sell out by late afternoon.Â
www.TastyKona.com is a real treat in Kailua Kona town with lots of FREE tasty treats to sample!
Do you want to go Sport Fishing on a yacht with AC? Call Capt. Mike Dakil 8172297000 with Beast Mode Sport Fishing. Text me if you book because I'll get a commission 8086994331. Thank you! :)
Are you a movie lover? There is a Luxury Cinema
in Queen Shops in Waikoloa that will serve dinner to you in the theater.
Mauna Kea stargazing summit tours can run $200 per person. I charge $300 total for up to 4 people, and I'll drive you all to the visitor center and back to your hotel. It can be a 4-5 hour trip. For 1 to 2 people, I charge $250. Give a call at 8086994331.
You don't need to go to the Mauna Kea summit to stargaze. The Mauna Kea visitor center is over 9,200 feet in elevation and all cars can drive there. It offers great stargazing and sunset watching! Plus, as far as I've seen, the rangers come out and use a laser to tell you about the stars, and you can ask them questions. You can also hike the hills there!Â
Call
them to check on the weather for the night you want to go, and what time they close. Go early
because they have great documentaries to show, ask if they still show them when you call. They also have fun space items to buy and if you put a star app on your phone you can see the constellations there after sunset.
Only 4X4s with experienced drivers can go to the Mauna Kea Summit because it's 13,803 feet, and brakes can go out, plus no child should go to the summit because of how thin the air is. Call the visitor center to learn more (808) 934-4550
Summit Tours are the safest way to go to the
summit of Mauna Kea,
plus they offer a lot more than just a ride up. No regular car can legally go
up to the summit because it is not safe due to the steep drive down. You can Google Mauna Kea Summit Tours to find the one you want to go with if you're interested.
#1 thing to do enjoy the PRESENT MOMENT and NOT to have regrets of not being able to do somethings because that will never feel good. If you can feel your vacation is fun and perfect as it is, that will always feel better because there's more to do her than in a vacation.
Life is a journey and none of us will ever be able to do everything. Staying happy in what you can experience always feels better.
