The views aren't nearly as impressive when you reach Kona, as the airport is well north of town and the approach doesn't lend itself to great shots of the island. But on the way, watch for the islands of Molokai and Lanai, (and the small island of Kahoolawe)which you'll pass almost directly over, and the island of Maui off to the north of the plane's trajectory.

Kona is a small airport that takes full advantage of the wonderful Hawaiian climate - no stuffy indoor waiting rooms here, and plenty of cover if you get caught in a rain shower. The rental car area is accessible only by shuttle, which is a negative, but it is really close - you could actually walk to it across the parking lot if you really wanted to.

We chose to visit the Hilo side of the island first (and decided belatedly we could probably have flown right into Hilo), but it did give us the chance to see some of the northern and eastern parts of the island. The only significant part we missed was the Kohala Coast.

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