As your hosts here at the Aloha Guest House, one of our most frequent questions from guests is " What should we do while we're here on Hawaii ? ". Unfortunately, it can also be one of the hardest ones you can ask us but here are a few suggestions and tips until we get to know you better.

First and foremost, we highly recommend that you go buy a copy of " Hawaii: The Big Island Revealed" . It's funny, brutally honest, and, of course, highly informative. We have it in all of our rooms here but you will need something to read on the plane. There are a lot of others but we really like this one. There's also an on-line update for the book. So make sure you visit them there as well.

Ocean Fun:

In view from the guesthouse and just a few minutes away, you can explore the Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park or kayak and snorkel at the Kealakekua Marine Preserve near the Captain Cook Monument. ( We provide free snorkel gear and have kayaks available for rent. ) If you're really up for a workout, you can hike down to the Captain Cook Monument but most of our guests prefer the 30 minute paddle over the dreary 1-1/2 hour ( one way ) hike. You might also miss watching ( or swimming with ) the playful Spinner dolphins while you traverse the Bay.

New Rules for Landing at the Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay

“The Department of Land and Natural Resources is implementing new measures to improve its management of Kealakekua Bay State Historic Park. Effective February 23, 2010, the DLNR has established a new process to issue kayak or vessel landing permits for Ka’awaloa (the coastline that includes Capt. Cook’s Monument) that come with special conditions for public users that are intended to educate and provide guidance to ensure sites are protected.

Landing Permits are available online at www.hawaiistateparks.org under the heading “Announcements”. Online applications, once filled out and signed, may be either 1) emailed to Dean.H.Takebayashi@hawaii.gov, 2) mailed to the State Parks Hawai’i District Office, 3) faxed to (808) 974-6222. Call the Hilo office at (808) 974-6206 for information. Permit applications will be reviewed and upon approval, can be either emailed as a PDF, mailed or faxed back to the respective applicant. The Division of Conservation and Enforcement will be sent copies of the noncommercial permits upon approval. Any person beaching or launching a kayak or other vessel along the Ka’awaloa shoreline or mooring at the wharf adjacent to the Cook Monument, without a permit from the DLNR will be subject to civil penalty, and the kayak or vessel may be subject to confiscation. “

Here is a link to download the permits: http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/documents/hsp_kaawaloa_vessel_landing_permit1.pdf

If you would like to relax and let someone else do all of the planning and packing, consider one of the snorkel tours such as those offered by Fair Winds. Leaving from Keauhou Bay, they can provide both snorkel and dive packages for you to enjoy as either a morning or afternoon excursion. For a night dive experience, try Jack's Dive Locker.

If you're up for local sand, we like to visit Ho'okena Beach Park just two miles from here. But if you're headed north to Kohala for the day , let us know and we'll give you directions to some of our favorite beaches. Grab a couple of our boogey boards, a cooler and a few beach chairs for a fun day in the sun.

You can also visit many of our fantastic beaches here such as Black Sand Beach in Punalu'u, Green Sand Beach in Ka'u. Just ask and we can give you directions.

Volcanoes - Which One ?

Our Guesthouse is located on the slopes of Mauna Loa but sadly, there is currently no flowing lava here at the house.

For a better view of Mauna Loa and the Kilauea Crater, most of our guests visit Volcanoes National Park as a day trip and occasionally luck out with a spectacular volcanic event during their stay . ( While you're here, you can check the flow update at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory on the computer in our common area. ) Consider a full day of exploring the older Kilauea crater and then drive down to the flow area an hour or so before sunset. ( Wear good hiking shoes and gloves are a wise precaution. Fresh lava is sharp!! ) There's a great overlook on the road down if you don't feel like hiking in the dark but it's all quite a unique experience. Afterwards, treat yourself at The Kilauea Lodge in Volcano. ( reservations recommended ).

PinzTrek Tours offers a unique off-road exploration of the slopes and craters of Hualalai, the volcano towering above Kailua-Kona and home of a unique cloud forest.

The observatories, such as the Keck, Subaru, Gemini and CFH ( Canada-France-Hawaii ) telescopes, scan the universe from the summit of Mauna Kea. It is possible to drive up to the visitor center and even beyond. However, keep in mind that it will be cold, the road is steep, the air is thin and if your car dies, it's an amazingly long, hard walk back down. For the less adventurous, there are a number of tours such as the ones offered by Hawaii Forest and Trail, that provide you with warm parkas to wear, drive you up there, hand out hot chocolate and point out the stars and drive you back down the mountain in the dark.

If you venture up to Kohala, you can explore a number of small towns such as Hawi and Kapa'au with great local art galleries, bakeries and a lot of old Hawaiian charm. Hawi is the gateway to the Pololu Valley, one of the ancient agricultural sites on the island . Enjoy a shave ice on your way back through Hawi and then take Highway 250 ( Kohala Mountain Road ). If it's a nice day, you will be enjoy a breath taking panoramic view from 4000 feet above the Kohala and North Kona coast. It's one of the most scenic drives in the US.

In addition to famous annual events like the Ironman Triathlon or the Merrie Monarch Festival with their international hula competition, there are hundreds of lesser known happenings here. Fortunately, for us, there are some great on-line calendars here that track them.

Alternative Hawaii - a great source for local gallery openings, farm festivals, dance, concerts and other eco-cultural happenings.

The Hawaii Visitors Bureau - a friendly searchable calendar to plan your vacation.

KonaWeb - Great site listing eclectic events like food festivals, theatre performances, slack key concerts and the local rodeos

Planning for a November visit ? The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival begins on November 3rd. Experience coffee from many of Kona's best farms such as Kena Coffee as well as amazing coffee dishes from some of the Island's best chefs.

If you're a guest around March 7 and a fan of chocolate, you can enjoy a similar experience at the Kona Chocolate Festival . ( Chocolate isn't just for dessert. )

Other great ways to spend some quality time...

Fortunately, there are quite a few massage practitioners here on the Big Island and Joey at Hawaiian Healing Ohana is one of the best. Many of our guests have arranged for dual massages for themselves and their travelling companions. Not a bad way to relax after a long day at the beach or hiking.

For our botanically inclined guests, we highly recommend visiting the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden at Onomea Bay, north of Hilo. Plan to spend at least 4 hours there to enjoy its' unique beauty. You might enjoy the Amy Greenwell Ethno-botanical Garden right here in Captain Cook. This garden offers the opportunity to examine many rare native plants as well as many of those introduced by the Polynesians when they settled Hawaii.