Advice on the Big Island with young teens
Hi - we are planning a trip to the Big Island with young teens and would like some recommendations. We will be going for 8 days and would like to split our time in two locations so we are not doing too much driving each day (half in Kona and half on Hilo side). We would like some recommendations on places to stay that are condo style and also have ample pool space. We would like to find at least one place (Kona side) that has tropical style pools with hot tub (and bonus if it has waterfall or slide for kids, or multiple pools). It would be nice if it also has tennis courts, but not critical. We are not familiar with where to stay in Hilo side, but again, we would like a condo style that has teen friendly pool.
Have you stayed in a place that you really loved?
Thanks!
Parent Replies
Hilo doesn't really have that type of accommodation with fancy pool as you describe - whereas they're prevalent on the Kona side. Hilo is way lower key and the weather is completely different. We have enjoyed the Dolphin Bay Hotel family room in Hilo town. We love the area and so do our kids.
I tend to stay in vacation rentals rather than hotels, so no recommendations on that front. But why put so much weight on the pool when you can swim in the ocean? Hilo has a series of great beach parks on the south side of the bay (near the airport and east). The west side beaches have clearer water, coral reefs, and great snorkeling. If your kids are interested, you can rent snorkeling equipment and boogie boards for the week, or at least for your stay on the west side (the swimming at the Hilo beaches is lovely but they aren't as good for snorkeling or boogie boarding). There are great farmers markets in both Hilo and near Pahoa (the Maku'u Farmers Market). I really enjoyed the Fissure 8 (from the 2018 south rift zone eruption) tour with Melissa (https://fissure-8-tours.com-place.com/). The Hawai'i Tropical Botanical Garden north of Hilo. Your kids may have different interests, but my teen daughter took something like 300 pictures in the garden in one visit. In addition to better known lava tubes, there are some interesting maze-like ones along the Old Mamalahoa highway between Honoka'a and Waimea. I caught a youth rodeo in Waimea once by pure chance; that was interesting. It's probably obvious I love the Big Island and also that I'm not one to spend my time relaxing at a hotel. Have a great trip.
After visiting Kawaii for many years, my young-adult daughter and I visited the Big Island a year ago January. We first stayed in one of the privately-owned Hapuna Beach Residences that are part of the Mauna Kea Westin property. I paid the daily resort fee to have full access to the property including pools, fitness center, yoga classes, private beach with amenities including boogie boards, etc. This was less expensive than staying in the hotel. The spacious studio had a separate kitchen area, washer/dryer, a huge balcony, and was well-outfitted. We ate breakfast and lunch in the condo. If you like to walk/hike, there's a lovely beachfront trail accessible from the condos. We loved it!
The Hilo side is more quirky, local vibe—as others have said, no big resort hotels and the beaches are not as great to hang out on as on the Kona side. We stayed in a cottage at the Kilauea Lodge. On site restaurant is fine. Not a lot of dining options on this side. No kitchenette or tv, but two rooms so we could have some space from each other. We were there mostly to hike in Volcanos National Park. Bring layers and plenty of water and snacks. I highly recommend this and going to the beach that has the turtles (I don't remember the name, but I'm sure you can find it with a quick search).
Depending on how much you like to hike (steam vents, petroglyphs, crater floor all totally worth it), I'd say spend most of your time on the Kona side for the typical Hawaiian resort and beach experience, and a few days on the Hilo side—just enough to hike and see the turtles.