Visiting over Xmas - single mom w/10 year old (Hilo: rentals, condos)

[Nancy Lynne]

Aloha! Could you please recommend the best place - area - location - for family friendly things to do and see. My gut tells me to head to the Big Island..

Anything to share would be much appreciated!

[Konafriend]

But I'm predjudice.
The big island is still "old Hawaii" But the other islands all have unique features.

On this page you can find a long list of fun things to do on the big island. removed

Or free things to do here: removed

[Nancy Lynne]

Any great little hotels that we could stay in without paying a fortune?

Thank you for your feedback (you lucky duck!)

I have been to Kona 3 times - but that was when I was married. I don't want places filled with honeymooners or love birds -- just kid-friendly and a happy place.

[Konafriend]

Aloha, Nancy,

The King Kamehameha Hotel is right next to the pier in town and has a nice little beach that is great for kids, it's more of a lagoon actually.
http://www.konabeachhotel.com/

If you want something alot more "old Hawaii" then the Mango Hotel in Captain Cook is quite a unique experience. I don't think they have TV's in the room, so it's not your typical hotel. It also is quite a distance from the ocean, but probably the least expensive place to stay on the island. It is definitley not a honeymoon destination. It's where the locals stay.
http://www.managohotel.com/index.htm

[Konafriend]

One thing I forgot Nancy, was maybe you'd like to rent a condo instead.

My friend has a beautiful one here: removed

It's a couple hundred a night but it's fabulous. Just a thought.

[bas1]

Maui has lots of kid friendly activities. If you stay on the kahului side of the island it is not so expensive. I lved on Maui for 5 years. In the winter you get more retired people going to Hawaii. Vacation times are kid times.

[William Kester]

The trouble is all the hotels and condos on the Kona side of the Big Island and Maui as well,raise their prices-bigtime-for the Christmas season.
If you are on a budget I would recommend the East side of the Big Island.There are a lot of inexpensive b&b's and vacation rentals in the Hilo and Puna districts of the Big Island.
For a lot less than a condo in Kona, you could rent your own vacation cottage in those areas.
Things to do in that area: Volcano National Park, Tidepools for snorkeling,lots of affordable reataurants in Hilo and Pahoa(Puna) and the iist goes on.
Have a great trip.

[Des_Demona]

I recently visited the Big Island / Hawaii and it was a lot of fun but I didn't see a lot of "kid-friendly" type things to do there. The beaches are very limited as most of the coast is rocky. It is cheaper though for a reason I guess. I rented a condo and it was the best thing I could have done. I found it on craigslist.com and it turned out wonderfully. They have a TON of condos listed on that site for all the islands. For more kid friendly when I went to Maui as a kid I remember it being a lot of fun with lots of sandy beaches and activities. That might be the way to go so your son doesn't get too bored. Maui will cost more though, that's the only downside.

[Nancy Lynne]

Thank you all! I have decided to rent a condo...still looking --- which means I don't have to pay Disney prices for every meal we eat. Will keep you posted.

Thanks again.