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Am going next December to Hawaii for the 1st time. Cruise the 1st 7 days (already booked), then 4 days in Honolulu and 7 days in Kona. Suggestions please on best rates for good hotels ( Waikiki beach and Kona ), car rental in Kona etc.
First thing...you tagged this post as a trip report, so you might want to ask the moderators to "un-tag" it. Likewise, you might want to ask them to add a tag for Hawaii, since more people will open it if you do.
Not having looked at your previous thread, I'd suggest you consider the Kohala Coast are of the Big Island instead of Kona. Much of Kona is looking frayed around the edges, and there are no good beaches there. On the Kohala Coast, you'll find a wide range of nice lodging options omni austin hotel in the Mauna Lani Resort. Nice beaches with some of the best snorkeling in the islands in and around the resort.