I'd never been to HI, so I didn't know what to expect or where the places to stay were. I learned:
1. Stay in the hills. It can get hot during the day, and it's nice to be somewhere in the evening where you can cool off.
2. Guidebooks and websites are always lacking. You need locals to tell you where to go an when.
3. The Big Island is full of surprises.
My fiancée and I learned on our first day from a local we met on the side of the road when his car unfortunately overheated that we needed to go to Kiholo Bay. We told Rae about the recommendation, and he started to flow with a smile. He drew us a map of where to find the lava caves filled with freshwater and let us borrow snorkeling gear and underwater flashlights!
Rae and our stay at Banyan Tree made our trip more magical. We never would have gone to the places we did or have had the experiences we did if not for their feedback, help, being able to get a good nights rest in a peaceful place, and eat amazing fresh fruit!