A complimentary upgrade to Business class on our flight to the Big Island set the tone for our relaxing and wonderful vacation in Hawaii.  We stayed at the Hapuna Beach Price Hotel for 5 nights. It is still our favorite hotel: upscale appointments like some other 5 stars we stayed at before (Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Hyatt, Hilton, etc) but without any of the pretentiousness that irked us at some places.

The hotel is situated on the Hapuna Beach (no duh) which is the best beach in Hawaii according to many guide books.

View from our lanai.

We took some pro golf lessons at Hapuna's golf course.

We later went back for some driving range practice and took a joyride in our golf cart too.

The Volcano National Park. This is the Halemaumau Crater, which is part of the Kilauea Caldera. We also drove all the way down to sea level where the lava is still throwing up plumes when it reaches the ocean. Volcano eruption hotline: 808-985-6000. Weather info: 808-961-5582.

Our sailing/snorkeling trip. We saw whales on the way back.

Sunset dinner at the best corner table at Four Seasons. Amazingly yummy Hawaiian Kahlua pork spring rolls for appetizer. Hawaii's nice restaurants have great service without the snobby attitude common at San Francisco's finer diners.