Things to do / Travel Guide
There's nothing quite like spending vacation time luxuriating on the Hawaii's Big Island, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands. With fewer tourists than any of the other Hawaiian Islands, tourists who do visit the Big Island have the good fortune of enjoying almost everything the other islands offer, but without the crowds. But don't let the sparseness of it all fool you - there's luxury to be found here for sure.
Luxury Accommodation on the Big Island
The resort hotel was perfected in Hawaii, so suffice it to say they have the program down pat for you. The hardest part of it all is choosing which one fits your tastes. Here are a few ideas:
The most exclusive resorts on the Big Island of Hawaii are located in the three enclaves in South Kohala: Mauna Kea, Mauna Lanai, and Waikoloa. In Hawaii, luxury accommodation comes in several sizes and flavors. Expect gourmet dining, pampered treatment, golf and beach access at most of them. The Hilton Waikoloa Village is a top-notch resort in anyone's book. Magnificent grounds surround 1,100+ rooms, multiple pools, a lagoon, and a dolphin habitat. Just getting to your room can be an experience, with not one, but three options - a tram, a boat, or a very interesting “museum walk” that runs the span of the property, offering visitors a glimpse at regional artifacts along the way. Add this to four-star dining and a spa and a pool to die for and you've struck luxury pay dirt.
Another fine choice is the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Perfectly located on the dramatic North Kona coast, the resort is a collection of two-story bungalows distinctly carved into a lava field. An additional great option is the Mauna Kea, which was built by Laurence Rockefeller in 1965. This is the Big Island's grand dame of resorts. The 60-acre resort has one of the top beaches on the island, a gorgeous white-sand bay nestled in between black volcanic rocks. The architecture is Modernist, and it is complemented by around 1,600 pieces of Asian and Pacific art.
Note that although there are many sights on the windward side of the island and in Volcano National Park, these areas are not well-served by luxury hotels.
Luxury Dining on the Big Island
Fine dining is yet another way to experience the luxury offered on the Big Island. In the early 1990s, a group of young chefs got together to create a cooking style specific to Hawaii that later became known as Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Many of these chefs still run gourmet restaurants on the Big Island that specializes in serving this type of cuisine. The Big Island, as the home of this cooking style, has thus become quite the culinary destination as well. The South Kohala resorts, Kailua-Kona, and the town of Waimea, in particular, are internationally-renowned for their Hawaii Regional Cuisine.
Luxury Activities on the Big Island
After dinner, you can find a nice venue for dancing or live music as the hotels offer nice lounge type entertainment on a regular basis. The South Kohala and North Kona resorts feature hotel bars, hula dancing shows, luaus, and Polynesian shows. The luau at Kona Village Resort is considered to be the best and the Hilton Waikoloa Village features live music nightly. You may also enjoy taking a nice sunset dinner or jazz cruise - a great way to top off the day.
If you prefer to set your sights a bit higher, try rising above it all in style with a unique helicopter tour of the Big Island. Take in the awesome beauty of the Kohala Mountains during a 45-minute flight. Fly alongside steep ocean cliffs and into deep, winding valleys, such as Pololu, Waimanu, and Waipio. Explore the coast in a helicopter that presents unforgettable views - and supplies you with memories that'll last a lifetime.
Another, more intense, helicopter tour is of Kilauea, taking you to vistas that are otherwise inaccessible. This flight covers the fiery lava vents of the active volcano, Kilauea. Fly over the Puu Oo vent at night and see fountains of lava spurting into the air. Follow the lava down the cliff and see it pour into the ocean. The sight of the live volcanic landscape is breathtaking, but this is just one of the unique sights you'll find on an island that displays 11 out of 13 climate zones found on Earth. Fly into the hidden tropical valleys of the Kohala Mountains, with dozens of roaring waterfalls, and then climb above the beautiful rainforest of Hamakua coast.
Golf is a great opportunity to experience luxury, as some of the best manicured, lush, and challenging golf courses in the U.S. are found here. One such example worthy of note is the fantastic Waikoloa Golf Beach Course. This gem was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and the resort-style course was virtually carved right through the magnificent lava flows along Anaeho'omalu Bay. The course presents numerous bunkers, brilliant water features, and the most spectacular oceanfront par-five in Hawaii on the 502-yard, 12th hole. All we can say is good luck!
Another very popular outing presents an opportunity to see one of nature's grandest creatures: the humpback whale (late-November-mid-April). Seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is an exhilarating, one-in-a-lifetime experience, so booking a whale-watching excursion is something you'll never forget. To see nature's handiwork up close, you can enjoy a great snorkel cruise at pristine Kealakekua Bay. Keep your eye out for the amazing Spinner dolphins and the giant turtles.
So, let the Big Island take you in, and show you its charm, beauty and surprising sophistication. Sometimes, being this close to nature's amazing handiwork is a luxury unto itself! Enjoy!
Luxury Vacation Ideas in Hilo, Kona, Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii
Luxury-Vacations
Mauna Kea Beach - Big Island, Hawaii
Spa & Fitness Center at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Mauna Lani Spa at the Mauna Lani Resort
Kohala Sports Club and Spa at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
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