The Turtle Bay Hilton North Shore, Oahu 2 nights About $150 a night (whew!) A nice hotel in a nice location. A good choice for families. A small sheltered bay for beginning snorkellers which gets boring very quickly. Still under repair for hurricane damage. It's your stereotypical Hawaiian resort. Definitely part of the Hawaii experience.

Carson's Volcano Lodge Volcano, Hawaii 2 nights About $85 a night The best place to stay at the volcano. We stayed in a beautiful little rain forest cottage. Breakfast was great and the Carsons are wonderful! You must eat dinner at the Kilaeua Lodge (about $50 apiece). Jacuzzi felt great after a long day of walking. Your room comes with a cat, if you want it (we did). Best lodging on the whole trip.

Hali Kai Bed and Breakfast Hilo, Hawaii 3 nights About $85 a night Beds were nice, pretty view, food good, but still we did not feel comfortable here. Better, I think, for older more conservative types.

Tom Araki

The Waipio Valley Hotel (The "No Name" Hotel) Waipio Valley, Hawaii 1 night $25 This is the greatest place if you are looking for an adventure. Not for the faint hearted, lots of mosquitos. Mosquito punks provided, but our critrinella candles also provided light. No electricity. Bring your own food. Propane stoves in basement kitchens. The black sand beach has the worst undertow I've ever felt (I was raised near the beach), but it is beautiful. Tom is very old and no longer answers the phone, but try to call anyway. Take shuttle down. You can call them to pick you up on Tom's phone. Stay only one night unless you plan to do some back country hiking.

Rosie's Rest Kona, Hawaii 3 nights About $85 Rosie's heart really isn't in this, but even sans Rosie this place is beautiful. She doesn't clean the rooms, she forgot to bring us breakfast, but located high on the mountain side above Kona, the view from the rooms is incredible! The building itself is new and very well decorated. Keep your eyes on the bay. Nuclear subs make port at Kona to pick up food. Definitely worth it.

Note: In Kona, you must have dinner at Huggo's. Get a seat by the water. Fish swim up to the edge of the rocks looking for handouts. Lots of fun. Would they mind if they knew their friends were sitting on top of the tables above, cooked to perfection?

Volcano Lodge Volcano, Hawaii 1 night $110 a night I was really looking forward to this, and boy was I dissapointed. The beds will cause you injury, you can hear every noise in every room. The only good thing here is the view and you don't have to spend the night to see that. Stay at the Carsons.