See how the other half lives on the Big Island

Editor's note: Last week, we sketched out a North Shore itinerary for O'ahuans who might want to "stay home" for their next vacation. This week, we offer quick itineraries for residents of Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island, written by our Neighbor Island correspondents.

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

On the Big Island, doing enjoyable and new stuff is pretty much as easy as going over to the "other side," wherever that might be. When you're caught up living in Hilo, Kona starts to look like a strange and novel place. And from Kona, Hilo looks almost foreign after a while.

If you're on the Big Island, stop and smell the coffee. During next month's Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, the cuppa joe comes with art and dance. Advertiser library photo

For the history buff, the Heritage Corridor drives on the island offer a window into sugar cane and camp life, coffee farming and cultural aspects of the community — and the brochures for the drives offer a handy list of attractions to sort through.

Free copies of the brochures on the Hilo-Hamakua Heritage Coast, Heritage and Culture on Hawai'i's Big Island, and the Volcano Heritage Corridor are available at www.hawaii-culture.com.

For the Kona side, try the Kona Coffee Country Driving Tour Brochure, available from www.konacoffeefest.com. And the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is coming up Nov. 6-16 with parades, cultural dances, foods, arts and crafts, and free tastings of Kona coffee at such events as the Holualoa Village Coffee Tasting & Art Stroll, Kona Coffee Picking Contest, Kona Coffee Recipe Contest and the annual cupping competition. The $3 festival button is your ticket to the more than 30 festival events. Information: www.konacoffeefest.com; Current Events, (808) 326-7820.

Where to stay

• Kona side, the King Kamehameha Beach Hotel is offering a kama'aina short-stay package for $105 a night for a two-night stay, double-occupancy, with a morning snorkel cruise on Pawai Bay with Body Glove Hawaii, including snacks, beer, instruction. Reservations: HTH Central Reservations (800) 367-6060; (808) 329-2911 or reservation@hthcorp.com.

• Hilo side, Uncle Billy's is a local favorite with its comfy, old-Hawai'i decor, inexpensive restaurant and on-the-water location. Current online specials include a three-night, four-day getaway with room, economy car, free breakfast and activity credits at Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay or Kona Bay hotels for $348 or seven nights for $658. Regular rates: $74 per night double-occupancy, Hilo, $89 Kona. You must book direct with Uncle Billy's to get these rates. www.unclebilly.com; e-mail reservations@unclebilly.com; (808) 935-9861.