There are many activities you can enjoy on the Kona Coast and on the big island of Hawaii - but you can also just sit back, relax, and stay in! The condominium and the Kona Makai complex are a wonderful place to do just that. Below are a number of activities you might consider during your stays, along with perhaps too many helpful hyper-links, and some of the owner's personal recommendations. (The list below is by no means comprehensive!)

Occasionally, you'll see a link to a book in the text below. Clicking on this link will take you to Amazon.com, where you can immediately order the book.

A generally excellent and often-updated guidebook to the whole Big Island is "Hawaii: the Big Island Revealed - the Ultimate Guidebook, 3rd Edition (June 2002)" by Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman. (There is a copy for your use in the condo - please keep it indoors and "clean and fresh" for other guests.)

Other good sources of information on the web include:

The local newspaper, West Hawaii Today, is published daily except on Saturday. It may be purchased for 50¢ from dispensers around town (including at Kona Makai). If you're planning to visit for a month or more, you might consider subscribing for $8.25/month (329-9311).

The telephone area code for Hawaii is 808; it's omitted from telephone numbers on this page.

Getting There

Kona International Airport at Keahole (airport code KOA) is located approximately 10 miles north of the town of Kailua-Kona. United Airlineshas daily non-stop flights to Kona from the mainland, with connections to all parts of the US and the world: from San Francisco in the morning using a Boeing 767 jet and in the afternoon using a Boeing 757-200 jet, and from Los Angeles in the afternoon using Boeing 757-200 jets. American has mainland-to-Kona service from Los Angeles in the afternoon on a Boeing 757. Aloha Airlines has a morning non-stop flight from Oakland CA using Boeing 737-700 aircraft. Japan Airlines has nonstop Boeing 747 flights from Tokyo. Additional nonstop flights to Kona are expected in the near future.

Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Air provide almost continuous shuttle service to Honolulu International and to other neighbor islands using Boeing 737 (Aloha) and  Boeing 717 (Hawaiian) jets. Most major US airlines, the two Hawaiian carriers (Aloha, American, Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, Northwest, United) and many international carriers have service to Honolulu that will connect with Aloha or Hawaiian. American Trans Air also serves Honolulu and Maui from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix using Boeing 757 aircraft.

You'll typically find the lowest airfares from the mainland to Hawaii on flights which depart on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and the lowest airfares from Hawaii to the mainland on flights which depart on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Other weekdays are slightly higher, and weekends may be substantially more expensive.

The landscape that immediately surrounds the airport is a most remarkable sight if you haven't seen a huge lava field before. It looks (and is) most inhospitable. Think of it as your own personal lunar landing - right next to paradise!

If you'd like to arrange a traditional Hawai'ian Lei greeting for your arrival or departure at the airport, you can do so via the Internet. Several agencies offer this service, including Greeters of Hawai'i, Mango Rose's, and Leis of Hawaii.

Getting Around

You can walk from the condominium into the town of Kailua-Kona - it's a little over a mile. Bicycles can be rented by the hour, the day, or the week. Hawaiian Pedals at the Kona Inn Shopping Village (329-2294) has standard bikes; their other store, HP Bike Works on Luhia (326-2453) has higher-end bicycles. They also have a simple guide to find out which type is best for you. To get you started, see the mountain biking trail guide web page provided by the Big Island Mountain Biking Association. If you want to keep a bicycle at Kona Makai, there is a locked bicycle storage room beneath the tennis courts. Borrow the key from the office as you need it, or take a key away for a refundable $5 deposit.

You're likely to want a rental car to get to and from the airport and to explore things that are beyond walking or easy cycling range; fortunately, rental cars are relatively inexpensive and parking is not too hard to come by. Note that gas in Hawaii is somewhat more expensive than on the mainland - in Kailua-Kona, expect to pay about 15¢ to 30¢ more per gallon than in California. Costco has the cheapest gas on the island - bring your membership card, as you'll need to be able to swipe it through the pump in order to buy gas.

All the major car rental companies have offices at the airport. In general, the best rates will be obtained by renting directly from either Budget or Alamo via the Internet using Internet special rates. Occasionally, Hertz or National will be less expensive. The local rental car company, Harper, has vehicle types you can't get elsewhere and does not prohibit you from driving on the Saddle Road and other less-accessible parts of the island. Even though the other rental car companies prohibit driving in a number of places, many people do it anyway at their own risk.

Taxi and shuttle van service is also available to and from the airport; a taxi is about $25 each way and a shuttle van is about $16 plus $1 per person each way (SpeediShuttle, 329-5433).

Please note that the speed limits on the island of Hawaii will seem low by mainland standards. In the town of Kailua-Kona, the speed limit is 15 miles per hour. When you first arrive, it may seem slow. After a day or two, it will seem natural. When you're ready to leave, you'll think "why so fast?" when you see the 15 MPH sign. Such is the beauty of Kailua-Kona.

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

The big island of Hawaii is a premiere site for both SCUBA diving and snorkeling. Because the island is volcanic rock and the rainfall on the Kona side is small, nearby waters are almost always crystal-clear, with visibilities in excess of 80 feet. There is a wide variety of marine life to be seen, including fish and invertebrates. One often sees schools of dolphins and whales. Underwater topology includes sand, lava, reefs, pinnacles, lava tubes, canyons, and a few wrecks.

It is possible to SCUBA dive or snorkel directly from the Kona Makai property, which has black lava lagoons right out front, but this is recommended only for experienced divers who are strong swimmers and have knowledge of surf entry and exit procedures.

Dive Makai Charters (329-2025) offers truly personal and excellent small-boat SCUBA diving for certified divers. Dive destinations vary and are chosen daily. Reservations are essential; book as far in advance as possible. Aloha Dive Company (325-5560) is another small, excellent, boat-only dive operation. Jack's Diving Locker (329-7585) is a full-service dive centers with multiple dive boats, usually with immediate availability, and they offer a full range of SCUBA instruction with PADI-approved instructors and courses. For dive equipment, visit Jack's Diving Locker (329-7585) or Sandwich Isle Divers (329-9188), both on the mauka side of Ali'i Drive.

Fair Wind Cruises (800-677-9461 or 322-2788) is an excellent choice for snorkelers; they own one of only two anchorages in pristine Kealakekua Bay for their 63-foot catamaran. Kealakekua Bay is a protected marine sanctuary with limited access. It's a spectacular location for snorkeling. SNUBA (surface-mounted air supply and hose) and SCUBA may also be done on the Fair Wind.

An excellent reference book for identification of Hawaiian fish is John P. Hoover: Hawaii's Fishes: A Guide for Snorkelers, Divers, and Aquarists. Superb photography and excellent color printing.

Beaches

The big island of Hawaii does not meet the ocean with endless strands of white-sand beaches, as is the case on more populous Oahu. There are, however, a number of wonderful beaches with many different kinds of sand (white, black, "salt-and-pepper," and even green) within walking, cycling, or driving distance of Kona Makai. A table of beaches with distances from Kailua-Kona may be found on the Beach and Activity Guide's page or see the more detailed descriptions on Alternative-Hawaii's Beaches page.

The pictures are of Magic Sands Beach, about a mile south of Kona Makai, taken while eating lunch at Jameson's. (Click for a larger view.)

Dining

Kailua-Kona is a small town with dozens of very good (and a few not-so-good) restaurants to meet most tastes and budgets. Here are a few of the owner's favorites (alphabetical order):

As usual, you'll find that you can sample many of these restaurants at lunch for much less than it would cost to eat a full dinner. For a quick bite, consider:

A number of other web pages have more information on restaurants, including Konaweb and an encyclopedic listing on Alternative-Hawaii.

You can, of course, prepare a gourmet meal in the kitchen, a barbeque on one of the three gas grilles just downstairs, or just fix yourself a quick breakfast before heading out for the day. Some groceries in Hawaii are usually substantially more expensive than on the mainland; expect prices that are 50% to 100% over what you're used to paying. There are three grocery stores in Kona, including a Safeway (bring your Safeway Club card or pick one up in the store for free; it's worth it!). The best grocery values are to be found at Costco, but you'll have to buy in quantity.

The tap water in Kona is quite salty and many people find the taste objectionable, although it is completely safe to drink. Bottled water may be found in grocery stores; you might want to purchase your first gallon or two of water in one-gallon screw-top bottles that can be refilled at the grocery store or at outside dispensers next to Buns in the Sun and at the Texaco station on Kuakini Highway.

Luau

If you've never experienced one before, be sure to reserve an evening for this traditional Hawaiian feast and celebration. King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel has an excellent Luau, as does the Royal Kona Resort (formerly the Hilton), both in Kailua.

Golf

The Big Island has some of the most well-known and beautiful golf courses in the world. Views from the courses of the ocean and the volcanoes are truly stunning. Many of the courses were designed by world-famous designers, including Robert Trent Jones.

Here is a listing of many of the courses, in approximate order of distance from Kona Makai. Hyperlinks in the listing are to the golf course's web site. The courses closest to Kona Makai are listed first.

Green fees at all courses include cart; prices shown are subject to change. Discounts are sometimes available. Golf Vision Hawaii's web site contains detailed descriptions of these courses. Another list of courses is available from the Island Golf Network.

Mauna Kea Sightseeing and Stargazing

The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy is located atop Mauna Kea, the spectacular volcano with a peak 13,796 feet (4205 meters) above sea level. Mauna Kea is actually the world's tallest mountain, rising 31,796 feet (9691 meters) from the ocean's floor! Although you can drive up to the visitor's center at 9,300 feet (2835 meters), you'll probably enjoy the trip more if you let Paradise Safaris (322-2366) take you from Kona all the way up to the top. You'll also have a guided stargazing session with telescope after the sun sets.

Sunsets

The Kona Coast of Hawaii is known for its spectacular sunsets. One is provided each day at no additional charge. :-) Since Kona is on the west coast of the big island, the sunsets are over water and are almost always satisfying if not truly wonderful. If you're very lucky, you'll get to see a green flash as the sun dips below the horizon.

Volcano

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a 96 mile drive from Kailua-Kona, and makes a good, long day trip by car. You can access the National Park Service recorded Eruption Information Message at 985-6000 or, on the web, excellent information may be obtained from the eruption update page which is maintained by the USGS Hawaii Volcano Observatory.

Kona History

The Kona Historical Society, 323-2005, maintains a museum in the historic Greenwell Store in Kalukalu. It's on Highway 11, 14 miles south of Kailua-Kona, one quarter mile south of Kealakekua town. It also offers guided tours of Kailua-Kona, a coffee farm, Keauhou, and Captain Cook.

Helicopter Tours

Helicopter tours afford a breathtaking view of an active volcano. Safari Helicopters departs from the commuter terminal at Kona International Airport (Deluxe Kona Volcano Safari, $339/person, $269 if booked directly on the Internet, 15% discount available locally through booking agents). Blue Hawaiian Helicopters offers departures from their Waikoloa Heliport, about a 30 minute drive from Kona (Big Island Spectacular, $305/person, also 15% discount available). Don't drive all the way to Hilo to take a helicopter tour. Also see Flying section below.

Natural Energy Lab

Public tours of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, located a few miles north of Kailua, are available weekly.

Driving

Driving on the Big Island is very simple. Most roads are two lanes, and in excellent condition. Highways 11 and 19 form a ring around most of the island - just remember whether you're driving on the makai (ocean) or mauka (pronounced mow-ka, mountain) side of the road, and you won't get lost. Although the island is a big island, it isn't all that big - plan on about 2-1/2 hours tops to get to either Hilo (via Highway 19) or Volcano (via Highway 11).

The Saddle Road that goes to the entrance of Mauna Kea and then to Hilo is in poor condition on the Kona side up to the Mauna Kea entrance. Many rental car companies prohibit driving on this road because it is effectively a one-lane road in many places and has a high accident rate. Here's an additional semi-humorous page with more information on driving.

Flying

If you're a pilot, you might enjoy renting a Cessna 172 for a day to fly all the way around the big island. Contact Tim at Koa Air, 326-2288. They're located at Kona International Airport. If you're not a pilot, Koa Air also offers charter sightseeing flights. Also at Kona International Airport are Classic Aviation (329-8687) that offers open cockpit bi-plane tours in modern replicas of 1934 Waco bi-planes, and Mokuele Flight Service (326-7070) that offers air tours and aircraft rentals in a Cessna 172. (Discounts for Classic Aviation and Mokuele are available.)

From the condominium's lanai, as you look out to the Pacific, you'll often see a boat that is pulling a person high in the air, beneath a colorful canopy - that's UFO Parasail (325-5836).

Movies

There are three movie theatres within a short drive of Kona Makai. The brand-new Makalapua Cinemas complex (327-0444) features "stadium seating" and is located up by K-Mart and Liberty House. The Keauhou Cinema (935-1666, 935-1609) is a modern 7-plex is located in the Keauhou Shopping Center. Downtown Kailua-Kona has three screens at the Kona Marketplace Theatres (329-4488). The condominium has two televisions, both with VCRs and cable, and several dozen movies on video cassette and DVD. The living room home theatre system includes both a CD player and a DVD player. There are, of course, a number of video rental stores in town, most of which have both video cassettes and DVDs.

Health Clubs

If you feel the need to work out while you're on vacation, an exercise bicycle, stair climber, and multi-gym are located in the complex below the condominium. For those who want more complex equipment, Kona has two health clubs both of that have daily, weekly, and monthly guest rates, Gold's (334-1977) and The Club in Kona (326-2582).

Surfing the Web

Although surfing is quite popular in Hawaii, web surfing has no doubt overtaken it. The condo is conveniently equipped with a high-speed Internet connection (cable modem), as well as a conveniently-located telephone connection, to plug in your own laptop computer. There's no charge to use the high-speed connection, and you don't need an internet service provider on the island to do so, but your computer must be equipped with an Ethernet jack. You can also use your laptop's modem to connect to a dial-up ISP.

Should you need to send or receive a fax, the Kona Makai office will do this for you at a charge of $1/page, which is much lower than commercial rates in Kona. (Sending is to US phone numbers only.) Sending and pick up of received faxes must be done during normal office hours, which are weekdays from 12 noon to 4pm.

Photography

Of course, you'll want to bring your camera! Print film is readily available at prices comparable to the mainland, and quality one-hour developing of print film is also available. Costco, Wal-Mart, and Long's Drugs are the recommended stores for print film and developing. It's a good idea to have your prints developed on the island, rather than back on the mainland - the photo processors in Kona know to not color-correct that green sand beach back to a light brown! At this point, just about all photo processors will give you a CD-ROM containing scans of your images for a few extra dollars. Even if you have a scanner at home, getting a CD-ROM at the time of developing is well worth the price.

Slide film is not so easily found (try Long's Drugs), and it will be significantly more expensive than on the mainland. Zac's Photo and Copy Center (329-0006) in the North Kona Shopping Center, behind Firestone, stocks a reasonable selection of film, and has two-hour E-6 (slide) processing available at about $10 for a 36-exposure roll. They can also produce high-quality digital scans of your slides on either floppy disk or CD-ROM media; prices for digital scans, if done at the time of processing, are quite competitive.

If you'd like to take pictures underwater, several of the SCUBA diving shops on Ali'i drive have both economical and mid-quality camera equipment available for purchase and rent. I don't know of any place which rents Nikonos underwater cameras. You can also get inexpensive single-use underwater cameras from Wal-Mart and K-Mart. Be sure to get the version with flash, and remember that you must be very close to the subject (3 feet seems to work well) in order to get an adequate picture with these cameras. If you do take underwater pictures, I strongly recommend getting them developed right away - that way, when you take more underwater pictures the next day, you'll know what worked and what didn't!

What Else?

Bicycling, bowling, fishing, golfing, horseback riding, jogging, paddling, parasailing, polo, rollerblading, running, sailing, shopping, snow skiing, sunbathing, surfing, swimming, tennis, triathlons, water skiing, windsurfing - and I'm sure I've left out a few - you'll find plenty to do on the big island of Hawaii! But don't forget to simply relax too.