Visiting Big island in June (Hilo, Waimea: restaurant, shops, gardens)

[cheruka]

Hi,
We have a couple of weeks off June 1st-15th. Thinking about going to Hawaii. Is one week in Hawaii and one week in Kuwaii enough to cover both places? I have been to kuwaii many years ago and I know one week is plenty. Not sure about the big island.

[terracore]

The Big Island is roughly 4,000 square miles and the sites and sights are fairly evenly distributed around it. One week is not long enough.

I would recommend one week on the Kona side and one week on the wet side.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by terracore

One week is not long enough.

One week on a single island is more than enough time - one does not need to explore every square inch - a 2 week trip should be at least 2 islands and gives nice variety due to the diversity of the islands.

And op, by the way, it is Kauai.

[OpenD]

It all depends on what you like to do. There is so much variety of experience available on the Big Island that you can craft a vacation schedule on the island many different ways, depending on your preferences. I've put together travel agendas for friends who had three days to spend here, a week, two weeks... and all were happy with their visits... and all said they wished they had more time here.

Whatever your pleasure... except for hot nightlife or world class surfing... you can probably find it on the Big Island.

If you are looking for athletic outdoor activities, you can snorkel, ride horseback, swim with the dolphins, take ATV tours, zipline through the rain forest, hike the Volcanoes National Park, kayak to remote beaches, etc.

If you like touring historic sites and quaint shops, you could easily spend a week wandering from park to town to village visiting significant places from Hawai'i's past, like the City of Refuge. Personally, I can easily spend a day there. City of Refuge | Aloha Hawaii A half a day shopping along Ali'i Drive in Kona, a half a day shopping in the "cowboy" town of Waimea, and a half a day shopping the old downtown area in Hilo, and you've already blown a whole day right there.

Or maybe you're a foodie, and are interested in checking out where your Kona and Ka'u coffee come from? or macadamia nuts? or artisanal chocolate made from local cocoa? Or gourmet vanilla? Or grassfed beef from one of the oldest and largest cattle ranches in the US? Or dine at prize winning "Island Style" restaurant choices? or taste some wine at the southernmost winery in the US? The Big Island has many delectable and satisfying choices.

Or how about visiting the world class observatories on top of Mauna Kea, or the Vulcanology Museum at Kilauea, or the Iolani Astronomy Center in Hilo, or the Pacific Tsunami Museum. And don't miss the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens just outside of Volcano. Or the sea turtles on the black sand beach at Punulu'u. The rainbows in the mist at Akaka Falls.

Just to mention a few highpoints... You'll find more in any good tour book.

[cheruka]

Not intersted in partying/food. We like outdoor activities and childrens' activities. Thanks for all the replies.