Activities

GOLF

Waikoloa Beach Course - just next door

Waikoloa King's Course - about a 2 minute drive away

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel - Golf Course - about a 13 minute drive. One of Golf Digest Top 100 Courses in the Nation. However, closed for renovation until Fall 2008.

Photo of famous 3rd hole (Click here for panoramic degree view of same)

Mauna Lani Resort - Golf Courses - about a 7 minute drive

Photo of North Course

Click here for panoramic view of the South Course.

Click here for live webcam from Mauna Lani Golf Clubhouse.

Hapuna Beach Prince Golf Course has the twilight deal, begins at 1 pm.  Click here for 360 degree view.

For discount golf you might try Stand By Golf or www.hawaiigolfdeals.com.

BIKING

Mana Road - ride from Waimea (Kamuela) through the Parker Ranch around Mauna Kea to near the Saddle Road

South Point - mountain bike to the Green Sand beach and beyond

Volcano - 4-mile dirt road from Thurston Lava Tube through the rainforest to Chain of Craters Road

BOOGIE BOARDING

Hapuna Beach (360 degree view) to the north is best.

DEEP SEA FISHING

Some of the greatest deep sea fishing in the world is south from the condo between the Airport and Kailua-Kona out of Honokohau harbor.  Click here for panoramic view. Click here for other views.  Our favorite boat is the Ho'okele captained by Guy Terwiliger.  Click here for a link to his website.

HELICOPTER SIGHTSEEING

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters is just a few hundred yards north on Hwy. 19.  Tel. 961-5600 (expensive, but certainly convenient).

If you want to see the Kilauea Volcano, drive to Hilo and fly out from there.   Look in yellow pages and call around for the best price.  In the past, the best value has been Tropical Helicopters in Hilo, tel. 1-866-961-6810 ($142 at latest check).

HIKING

See Kiholo Bay, Green Sand Beach, Malama Petrogyph Fields, or Pololu Beach on Sightseeing page.

If really adventurous, hike to find lava at Volcanoes National Park.  Presently (late 2005) the lava is a fairly long walk of a couple of miles from the end of the road.  When is it more inaccessible, best way is to go with Arnott's Lodge Hiking Adventures, tel. 888-969-7097. Click here for Kilauea Volcano lava flow update from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Former owner at lava flowing down hillside, January 2003

Wai'pio Valley from Waimea - go to end of White Road, cross the cow pasture, follow the trail to great overlook, continue beyond if not afraid of heights.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Waipi'o Valley (see Sightseeing page) - Waipi'o Na'alapa Trail Rides - they take you down and back into valley by 4wd, once down, a 2-hour trail ride, tel. 808-775-0419.

Paniolo Riding Adventures - Hwy. 250, North Kohala, ride on the actual Parker Ranch, tel. 808-889-5354.

KAYAKING

This you gotta do.  See Kealakekua Bay on Sightseeing page.  Our favorite rental place is Kona Boys on the way, tel. 808-328-1234.  They will strap kayaks on top of the roof of your rental car with those big foam noodles.

You can also rent a kayak at A Bay right near the condo.  (Call Ocean Sports at 808-886-6666, ext.1.)

SCUBA DIVING

Dive Makai - especially good for intro dives, tel. 808-329-2025.

Aloha Dive Company - tel. 808-325-5560.

Jack's Diving Locker - tel. 1-800-345-4807

Right out of A Bay near the condo is Red Sail Sports.  However, is just okay, not as great as the above, we hear. But it sure is close. tel. 808-885-2876.

SNORKELING

Here is the ultimate thing to do:  go on a manta ray dive at night.  A boat takes you to a spot where lights attract manta rays who swim beneath you (or above you if you are scuba diving).  Absolutely awesome!  Click here for a link to a page that describes the experience and has a link to all the boat operators to choose from.

Other Snorkeling: A Bay near condo is OK.  Best are Place of Refuge and Kealakekua Bay (see Sightseeing).  Kahalu'u Beach south of Kailua-Kona is good, the best place for kids.

Really awesome - take zodiac to Kealakekua Bay.  We hear best is Sea Quest, tel. 808-329-7238, although we enjoyed Captain Zodiac 808-329-3199.

We also hear the Red Sail Sports Catamaran, Noa Noa, out of A Bay near the condo is good, tel. 808-885-2876.

Also Snorkel Bob's website has a good map with locations and descriptions of the best spots on the island, click here.

Need to rent gear?  You can rent near the condo at A Bay at  Ocean Sports - Waikoloa. tel. 808-886-6666, but I believe selection and quality not the best.  However, it is convenient.  On the other hand (and probably better) rent in Kailua-Kona at Snorkel Bob's, tel. 808-329-0770, Big Island Divers, toll-free tel. 800-488-6068, or Miller's Snorkel and Surf Shop, tel. 808-326-1771.

SNOW SKIING

We are not kidding.  Ski Guides Hawai'i will take you to the top of Mauna Kea volcano and shuttle you up to top for each run. For (quite) a bit of money. But hey just think of the stories you can tell! tel. 808-889-6747.  Click here for additional photos.

SURFING

Best surfing is north at Kawaihae harbor.  Click here for live webcam. Also OK at Kahaluu Beach (board rentals available just before you arrive).

SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS
Dolphin Quest - swim with the dolphins across the street from the condo, at the Hilton Waikoloa Hotel, tel. (808) 886-1234.  Click here here for webcams of above water and under water of the dolphin bay.

WINDSURFING

The best place on the island is just across the street at A Bay.  However, there no longer is a place to rent them from there.

CONCIERGE

Pleasant Holidays, one of the big time travel providers to Hawaii just happens to have its Waikoloa office in the Community Building of the Vista Waikolo complex.  Their services can be provided by telephone, by website at www.pleasantactivities.com, or in person, from 9:00am to 5:00 pm. They can also be reached via telephone by calling 886-0318 or after hours, at 888.229.7770.