Hawaii - big island - what do do, where to go?

[jurgenph]

Hi,

i'll be spending a week on the big island in august, we'll be staying a couple miles south of Kona airport.

i've never been there. it's going to be my wife, me and our two kids (two and four years old). staying at a beach condo.

my wife pretty much wants to spend some time at the beach with the kids each day, me on the other hand, i'd like to see the sites :) but i've never been there, and searching online only gets you that far. so i'd like to hear from people who have been there, any must see or do things?

so far i came up with;

- spend time playing on beach and swimming with wife and kids
- visit volcanoes national park (family event)
- go snorkling (family event)
- visit kona brewin co. :D (just me)

are there any nature hikes/treks that i should know about?


any hints/tips/pointers/etc... appreciated.

J.

[hooookup]

http://www.hawaii-forest.com/
Rob Pacheco is the best tour guide on the entire Big Island. If you can, hook up with Buck Rogers on the Mauna Kea Summit and Star Gazing Adventure that Hawaii-Forest offers.

Gotta take your fam to Hapuna Beach. One of the nicest beaches in all of Hawaii.
Check out the Fairwinds Snorkeling tour to Kealakekua
Kona Kava on Ali'i Dr (gooood stufffff)

Cruise up to Waimea town and check out Parker Ranch. Beautiful up there. Doesn't even look like Hawaii. Looks like Nor Cal almost.

Have fun.

[jdmhon]

im from oahu and can give you some places if your going to be here!