Big Island

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: My wife, son and I spent a week on the Big Island last week (June 8 through 15). My wife and I had been to Hawaii twice before but not Big Island and it was a long time ago for both trips. We liked the Big Island so much that we will go there again when we fly back to Hawaii. : Some observations: : We stayed at the Kona Magic Sands in Kona-Kailua on Ali'i Drive. This is a super location because it is next to the Magic Sands beach which is the primary beach for the hot shot boogie boarders. The surf was up last week (big time!) so we got to watch them all week. The flip side to that great surf was that we only got to swim in it a couple times and then gave up. 8 to 10 foot waves will bury you! : The food is expensive in Hawaii compared to the mainland. We knew that so we asked and were directed to the nearest KTA grocery store. Good selection and prices as good as we could find. : The water in Kona is not that great. I would drink it but my wife would not. She would only drink bottled water or soda. : If you are going to snorkle a lot like we did, at least bring swim shoes. Next time I go, I'm getting dive shoes. The gash on my ankle from the rocks is healing nicely now, thank you! The great snorkling locations are mostly rock/coral reefs. Great fish, great coral ... rough on the feet and ankles! : The Kayak experience down at Kealakekua Bay was good but a couple cautions. We had 3 so we rented a 3 person Kayak. Bigger, heavier. There was some wave action though small. So we really worked to do that mile over to Captain Cook's Monument. Once there we had trouble landing that big Kayak. No dolphins .. they were gone that day and the previous. Having said all that, the snorkling there was very good and the whole experince unique. Take a light lunch and bottled water. The kayak rental place should provide a water proof bag to put your stuff in. There is a trail behind the rock beach which you can walk to the monument or back towards the other shoreline or cliffs. : If you are going to do a ton of snorkling like we did, I recommend you work out before you go. It is not easy to get in and out of the water from rock beaches. Plus it takes stamina to fight the current like you find in front of Captain Cook's monument. Fins are a good idea for that reason also. I will have them the next time! : Ok, that's my 2 cents for now. I might post some more later. Thanks for all your help Lisa! It was our best vacation ever! : Barry

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