From: Adam.Frix@p18.f20.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Adam Frix)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: RE: HAWAII -- LOTS of info!!!
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 93 07:45:11 EST
Organization: FidoNet node 1:226/20.18 - cmhGate UF Gateway, Columbus OH

My $0.02 worth:

In her Hawaii summary, Susy Lewis writes/compiles:

SL> The current volcanic eruption can't be seen without a hike 
SL> (but that may change anytime- there has been precursor activity 
SL> within Volcano Park this week, the word is that a new eruption 
SL> may start (possibly in the middle of a road in the park) today 
SL> or within two weeks... 

I don't know when the original poster first wrote this, but I was on the Big
Island about a month ago and the new eruption (from Pu'u O'o) had been going
for a couple of weeks at that point.  It's a short hike to watch the lava
flowing into the ocean now.  It's well worth the time.

SL> There is also a guy who will take you up to tour in an open-cockpit 
SL> biplane, I think it's $100-150, something I've always wanted 
SL> to try

We did this, and it was neat.  Helicopters are so trendy, I wanted to do it
differently.  It is cheaper than the helicopters, and the scenery is
tremendous.  These planes operate on both sides of the island; next time, if
the lava is flowing, I'll do it from Hilo at night.

SL> Recommended Restaurants (off the top of my head)-

AAAAAAAAAAAAA!  I did NOT see any mention of Cafe Pesto, the absolute best
Italian restaurant you'll find outside of Italy.  There's one in Hilo, but I
only went to the original one in Kawaihae (top of the Kohala coast, about 4
miles north of the Hyatt Regency Waikaloa).  By all means, do NOT miss this
place.  It's a good 40-50 miles from where we were staying south of Holualoa,
but we were there 3 times in 9 days.  :-)

SL> I could go on and on, because everywhere we went the environment 
SL> was so new to us and the people so friendly and the pace so 
SL> pleasantly slow, that the ordinary drive through the countryside 
SL> was filled with highlights. 

Amen, brother!  I came back a changed person.  My goal is to move there and
become one of those friendly people in a slow moving environment, enjoying
life, instead of the person I am now....

SL> 1. Even if you don't stay there, you MUST check out the Hyatt 
SL> at Waikoloa (that's north of Kona in the resort area of Waikoloa). 
SL> Drive in, park like you owned the joint, walk through the 
SL> lobby and get into the passenger boats which will tour you 
SL> around the place and bring you back to the lobby. This is 
SL> open to the public (room rates start at around $300). You 
SL> won't believe what they've done to a place that was bare lava 
SL> beds just 6 years ago. And,  depending on your sensitivity 
SL> to massive outlays of money, you'll love it/hate it. But don't 
SL> miss it! 

Room rates actually start at $235, but during the off season (high season
doesn't start until Dec. 20), they gave us one for $190.  Yes, we stayed one
night at the ultra-glitzy Hyatt Regency Waikaloa, despite having a perfectly
good condo down the road a ways.  Why?  To be eligible to participate in the
Dolphin Doubles program.  That's right, we swam with the dolphins at the Hyatt
  Let me tell you, I wouldn't have missed that for the world.  Later we found
out that technically speaking we didn't have to be registered guests to
participate, because business was so slow they were letting anyone off the
street sign up for this, but it ended up guaranteeing us a spot.  And if you
want to do this, be sure to do the Dolphin Doubles program.  It's _much_
better than the Singles program.  Just go and watch, and see what I mean. 
What with the room, dolphin program, video, and photos (w/negatives), we spent
around $400 for the two of us to do this--well worth it.

SL> 2. Plan to visit for at least ten days. Many people plan a 
SL> one week visit but find, to their dismay, that one week just 
SL> flies by and they are not ready to return home. 

Absolutely.  I'd go for two weeks, myself.  And keep in mind that depending on
your state of origin, you could spend 17 hours just traveling to the place and
then another 17 going back.  Why spend all that effort for just a few days?

And for the record, Kamuela looks like a very nice little town to live in. 
Kailua was just too busy for everyday goings-on.

Aloha,
--Adam--
 
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