Posted: 9/1/2025 10:32:15 AM EDT
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We booked our January trip for the Big Island. We're going to be staying at the Hilton Waikoloa (I think) for a few days. We will take our clubs and play a couple rounds. Also on the itinerary will be Volcanoes NP and Haleakala National Park. It looks like the Hilton property has 27 holes that we'll probably do in one day if possible. Looking for recommendations for golf and other must see opportunities on the Big Island. We will probably not want to drag clubs to Maui, but may be convinced otherwise. We've got 10 days there. Thanks in advance hive. |
10,000 years ago there was a 2 mile thick glacier parked right here and not 1 SUV to melt it.
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That Hilton is like Disneyland. There’s the main lobby bull and there’s 5 arcology-like places where the actual rooms are. Spread over what seems to be a million acres. After you check in you have your choice of transportation to your building. You can walk (not recommended, it’s a hike), or you can take the train, or you can take the boat. The parking lot is like 87 miles from the entrance. Use the valet. When they broke into my rental car I got a tour of the underground. It’s like a whole subterranean city. ETA, I don’t golf but the Hapuna Prince is supposed to have nice courses; right down the road. |
ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.
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Had a fantastic time on the Big Island. We played their muny on the first leg of our trip after we left Kona. Makalei is a nice layout that needs some love. Good bones, 3 grounds keepers taking care of the place. Rough fairways and tee boxes. Pretty decent greens. Friendly folks working there. No amenities (clubhouse is a singlewide). They're apparently a bird sanctuary. Lots of peacocks. Some turkeys (interesting seeing them on the island). Lots of little yellow birds... and wild hogs. They need someone who wants to care for fairways on a mower during the day, and with a suppressed, subsonic thermal rifle at night. We played Waikoloa Village Beach to Lakes after hiking in both National parks. We stayed on the property albeit in an airbnb in the vacation condos. Our rate was $85 per. They have 36, but have shutdown 9. Pretty decent course. We were paired with a couple that had played most of the courses on the island. They recommended mauna Lani over Waikoloa. Fun trip. Golf didn't crack our top 10.Attached File Attached File Attached File |
10,000 years ago there was a 2 mile thick glacier parked right here and not 1 SUV to melt it.
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We didn't take the clubs to Maui. No perks on southwest for us. It's a really short, low flight that took us over a really nice looking course a little north of Keihea. I looked it up and it's 'private'. If you're a member of a country club they'll let you play for $245ish with stipulations. $299 if you're not. The King Kamehameha Golf Club. ETA: Looks like there's some stunning views, but for $300 I'm sure you can get it done for less (except at Kapalua  )We were mostly there for the National Park. IM if you'd like some info on that 'adventure'. |
10,000 years ago there was a 2 mile thick glacier parked right here and not 1 SUV to melt it.