D. may have a biz trip to Hawaii in two years and I hope to tag along. From a recent NYT article comes these suggestions (the more economical, interesting ones) when visiting the Big Island:
– Kaawa Loa Plantation guest house – kaawaloaplantation.com – doubles from $125.
– Shipman House B&B – with weekly hula lessons. (can’t miss that.)
Coffee trail stops: Bong Brothers Coffee; Hilo Coffee Mill, Kona Blue Sky Coffee, Mountain Thunder Kona Coffee
Beaches – Hapuna Beach (sunbathing); Kaunaoa Beach (hotel resort beach but all these are open to the public, surprisingly) Kealakekua Bay (snorkeling) Papkolea Beach (green sand? green sand.)
–
TakeBetsywithyou 
Don’t forget the macadamia nuts…the most calories per ounce of anything on earth