I'm a Big Island fan too! The "Big Island" is the island of Hawaii. There's just such a diversity of things to do there. My dad lives there and also owns a really nice condo in Kona just a block from the main drag in Kona on Kailua Bay...PM me if you want some info and I'll find out from him. You can see the bay from the lanai and it's so great to just be able to walk all over the town. I'm not sure when he's got the condo rented; he does rent it out for as long as people want I guess, unless it's already reserved (which it ALWAYS is during the month of October for the Ironman, either by ME
, or by another athlete). I love it there!
As far as taking your dog there, I know it used to be that you had to put them into quarantine, but they've changed it and now there's a litany of things you have to do first; microchip (it supposedly HAS to be a HOME AGAIN chip, not AVID or any other), heartworm, flea stuff, the health check within 10 days of flight, and a few other things. My groomer said he takes his 2 dogs with him all the time and the first time it cost him about $1000 to get everything done, but after that it's mainly just the health check just before going).
I can tell you some great places to eat (and drink) if you want, but don't want to go on and on here. It's really a wonderful island and the spirit of Aloha is just amazing! Wherever you go, I know you'll enjoy it. Oahu is fun too, it's beautiful and there's lots to to, but it's incredibly busy; it's a BIG CITY type of place. But still fun. I'm just more at home on the Big Island
