A Self-Drive Vacation with Two Taurus Foodies on Hawaii's Big Island, Maui, and Oahu

I promised everyone I'd share about our trip's food and accommodations. For those who know Taurus, inside they're quite different from their appearance. Although Taurus seems calculating, they actually have high standards for hotels. Therefore, the hotels booked by the boss lady this time were all of good quality, and the prices were acceptable. I didn't book them myself, but from what the boss lady said, they were great value. Interested friends can check for themselves.

A special reminder! I only saw slippers at the NB Hotel in Honolulu in the end. American hotels generally don't provide slippers, including the five-star hotel we stayed at in New York. Note the photos from our Maui hotel; my child and I wore our own sandals in the hotel.

Let's get straight to it, in order.

First stop: Kona. Hotel name: Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. Address: 75-5660 Palani Road, Kona, HI 96740. The hotel location is excellent. There's an ABC store downstairs. The hotel has its own beach, swimming pool, and tennis court. Rooms are spacious. Parking costs $16/day. Some friends recommended free parking nearby, but it might be less convenient. The hotel's own parking is right next to the rooms—you'll see when you get there. Actually, for snorkeling in Kona, you don't need to go elsewhere; the hotel's beach is suitable for snorkeling with coral and fish, and there's no warning against feeding them. The area around the hotel is bustling with many dining options, right by the sea, perfect for a stroll to enjoy the ocean view and sea breeze.

We ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp for two days straight. The taste was similar to what we had in Key Largo. If you don't know how to order, just use Yelp for recommendations. Other travel blogs cover their specialties better than I do, but the fact we went two days in a row shows this foodie's choice. A helpful tip for parking: near Bubba Gump, it's lively and hard to park, but right next to the restaurant there's a semi-underground parking lot. The boss lady excitedly said no one was charging, but I calmly found a pay machine in the corner. It accepts credit cards and cash. $3 for one hour, $5 for two hours. Anyway, in the US, convenience comes at a cost.

On the second day, heading to the Black Sand Beach and Volcanoes National Park in the south of the Big Island, the boss lady started wondering if we could find a coffee plantation. Kona coffee is quite famous. There are many coffee farms along the southern route. We saw lots of coffee shops and stalls—one after another. We stopped at a vendor cart. The lady enthusiastically introduced various coffees, and we tasted some—they were good. She explained the types of beans and which nearby farm they came from. Seeing her sincere attitude, we decided to buy. I suggest friends come with a tourist mindset. The southern route offers plenty to see, eat, and drink along the way. After Black Sand Beach, there's no place to rest.

The road from Kona to Hilo is stunning. Here's a picture.

Second stop: Hilo. Hotel name: Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Address: 71 Banyan Drive, Hilo, HI 96720. Hilo is quite bustling. After booking the helicopter tour, we went to Walmart. It was huge. With the help of an auntie, my child found her favorite yogurt flavor.

A note: When asking for help, Americans are generally nice, polite, and patient, but it's mainly white people who are nice. Others are less commendable. Locals are not very friendly. In a Japanese restaurant in Honolulu, we were also treated rudely by Chinese staff. Enough said. That evening, we searched for a famous Japanese restaurant. When we entered, the restaurant was small, filled with Japanese people. We found out they only accept reservations due to the small space, and seeing the resistant looks from the Japanese customers, we quickly left. Across the street, there was another Japanese restaurant that was more local. Prices were reasonable. We ordered food, and the service guy was very nice. Tips can be given directly to the staff here, so we gave them to him.

Local-style tofu salad...

What I liked most about the hotel was the small balcony. It rains a bit every day, and having breakfast felt like dining in a tropical rainforest.

The hotel pool was also nice, but since we went in a cooler season, it was a bit cold. The boss lady didn't go in, but my child and I had fun playing.

One more thing: the hotel has a laundry room for a fee, only coins, but it's not expensive. This is important because it allows you to pack less luggage. We finally understood why foreign families with kids didn't have more luggage than us—utilizing hotel services is key! The laundry room at this hotel doesn't provide detergent; you need to buy your own. We bought laundry pods at Walmart, which came in handy later. The hotel in Maui also has a free laundry room, but no detergent.

Third stop: Maui. Hotel name: Maui Coast Hotel. Address: 2259 South Kihei Road, Kihei, HI 96753. When we arrived in Maui, we started sightseeing and didn't go straight to the hotel. In the previous travel blog, I recommended the seafood restaurant near the aquarium. Actually, they are next to each other. The restaurant has a great view—you can eat while enjoying the scenery. Other travel blogs also recommend it. American portions are large. The three of us ordered two main courses and one salad, which was enough. Remember to ask for three plates to share. No problem—just say "P"-something and they'll understand.

We arrived at the hotel very late and encountered a problem. Since we had booked for two families, the website canceled our reservation when one family canceled, leaving only the other family's name. This caused a lot of communication trouble. We couldn't reach the booking website. Finally, after negotiation, we provided a photo of the other family father's passport to check in.

The hotel's location is good. Cross the street and you're at the sea. A 5-minute walk leads to a public beach where you can snorkel and see sea turtles. Breakfast is excellent with large portions. For two adults and one child, ordering two portions is enough. The hotel's highlights include facilities: swimming pool, spa pool, bicycles, free WiFi, free laundry (bring your own detergent), and free parking. All these are included with a daily resort fee, which is mandatory. Anyone who has stayed at American resorts knows this. Also, a 20-minute drive takes you to a small mall (address: 3750 Wailea Alanui Drive). As mentioned before, nothing special; big brands aren't cheap, but Gap is okay.

On the way back from the Road to Hana, we passed a Walmart. Next to it was a Chinese restaurant (Panda). We saw many of these chain restaurants in Hawaii. The food is tasty and affordable, suitable for Chinese stomachs. Recommended if you're tired of Western food to soothe your stomach. Also, since we had a child, we were careful not to let her get overheated.

Note the pinyin spelling—I was really speechless!

Fourth stop: Honolulu. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. Address: 2005 Kalia Road, Honolulu, HI 96815. The best hotel of the trip. As mentioned before, the location is great—several ABC stores downstairs, countless restaurants, and a Louis Vuitton store at the entrance. Let's get into the details. For drivers: the hotel has multiple buildings. When you enter the hotel driveway, go straight, don't enter the parking lot, and drive all the way to the lobby. Drop off your luggage, then park. Take the ticket without worry because with your room key, you can swipe out of the parking lot. Since there are several buildings, ask where your tower is and where to check in. We circled around before finding ours. Parking is $29/day. Don't complain; you'll understand why when you get there. There's no free parking nearby. Hourly parking is not worthwhile. The hotel offers free WiFi; the front desk said it's only available in the lobby, but it actually works in the rooms too. The room has a PS3. Along with your room key, you get a card to borrow DVDs or game discs, but only one at a time.

The hotel has complete facilities. You can check Ctrip for details—many amenities. Let me talk about the vicinity. There's Red Lobster, the boss lady's favorite—delicious! You can get takeout, so you don't have to tip, and enjoy it back at the hotel with the sea breeze. There's a sightseeing bus at the hotel entrance with different colored routes: scenic, cultural, and shopping lines. Detailed explanations are available in the lobby, with Chinese-speaking staff. So, if you find renting a car wasteful, you can explore Honolulu by bus. I especially liked the open-air wooden vintage car.

We took another sightseeing bus—beautiful scenery, cheap. The shopping line costs $2 per person.

Near the hotel, there's a free U.S. Army Museum. It's closed on Sundays and Mondays; unfortunately, we missed it.

As for shopping, forget DFS. Outlets are okay. The address is in the previous travel blog. We bought some things; prices were average. Remember to get a coupon booklet at the visitor center for extra discounts on some brands.

Alright, heading back to the embrace of our homeland. One more tip: Honolulu International Airport is quite large. If you're renting a car and returning it, allow plenty of time. We were a bit rushed, but the staff were accommodating and let us through quickly.

The airport also has DFS, but we didn't have time to browse. To those who are going, want to go, or haven't decided: have a great time! Don't worry if your language skills aren't good. Don't miss out on life's joys. The beautiful scenery is calling you—leave your worries behind and embrace nature!