Things To Do

Snorkel

This trip is fantastic. It is about 40 minutes from your hotel. I recommend the morning tour which includes a nice breakfast and a great lunch. They supply all of the snorkel gear as well as stand up paddleboards, boogie boards with viewing windows for the kids, noodles, and inner tubes. Our family loves this trip! Everyone could go on this trip at the same time.

Lava Ocean Tours

This is very cool and a long drive. The waters can be quite rough because the seas down there are not as protected as they are in Kona, so keep that in mind.

Swim with Mantas and Dolphins

HIGHLY recommend that some of you do the night time Manta Snorkel Trip. It is SO COOL. Seriously, it is one of the neatest things. It is safe and they provide the gear.

Golf at Mauna Lani Resort

Cool Vanilla Farm

A bit of a drive to a different landscape on the island. Interesting tour and yummy lunch

City of Refuge

Great National Park that does an excellent job of illustrating past Hawaiian Culture. There is also a good snorkeling spot near here named 'Two Step.

Cool Hike to a black sand beach

LOVELY hike. It is not very difficult (short, though there is some change of elevation) The landscape is dramatic and the sand is very black. The little town of Hawi is on the way there or on the way back and they have cute restaurants (sushi rock or bamboo) as well as a delicious Shave Ice place.

Beaches

Mauna Kea (when you get to the gate at the highway, don't tell them that you are going to the beach because there is never enough public parking. Instead, tell them that you are going to the Hau Tree restaurant or visiting a hotel guest. Park with the Valet (it is complimentary) and walk thru the hotel to a beautiful white sand beach. The food is good at the beach restaurant as well! 69 Beach - a nice shady beach with good snorkeling and a small rope swing. Kua Bay - close to 4S, often very crowded and use caution if the waves are big. It is beautiful white sand and great swimming if the waves aren't too big. Hapuna Beach - long white sand beach between 69 beach and Mauna Kea. It has a very steep shore break, so be careful if the waves are big. Kukio keiki pond beach - quiet little bay that is perfect for the little kids! You have to enter thru their private gate, but the 4S might have special preference.

Dinner Recomendations and Restaurants

Restaurants: Merrimans in Waimea https://www.merrimanshawaii.com/ Red Water Cafe in Waimea http://www.redwatercafe.com/ Canoe House at the Mauna Lani Resort http://www.maunalani.com/dining/canoe-house Napua also at the Mauna Lani http://www.napuarestaurant.com/ Tommy Bahama http://www.tommybahama.com/restaurants/mauna-lani Sensei (sushi) http://sanseihawaii.com/waikoloa/ Ulu at the Four Seasons http://www.fourseasons.com/hualalai/dining/restaurants/ulu_ocean_grill/ Beach Tree at the Four Seasons http://www.fourseasons.com/hualalai/dining/restaurants/beach_tree/ Kona Brew Pub in Kona town http://konabrewingco.com/blog/pubs/kona-pub-brewery/ Daylight Mind in Kona town https://www.daylightmind.com/ Lava Java in Kona town http://www.islandlavajava.com/