The best area to stay in on the this island is going to depend on what you want. Hilo is quiet and close to the two big volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii. If you want to tour each volcano extensively for most of your stay then Hilo would be a good place to stay. Kona, on the other hand has a lot more things to do. The Kona area has a lot of activities to do in the day time and it also has a night life.