A reader sent in a question asking me about good bed and breakfast reccomendations. She said that its an area which is difficult for visitors because the quality varies so much and there are so many listed on the Web that its overwhelming (and somewhat futile) to sift through. TripAdvisor is somewhat useful but there aren't enough reviews to cover all the properties in Hawaii, by far. I'll come back to this topic periodically, but I would reccomend B&B seekers check out Hawaii's Best Bed & Breakfasts. The company acts as a booking agent for a network of B&Bs and they go out and check these properties periodically to make sure they are up to snuff. I also know first-hand that they have removed some properties from their list which they did not like. The listings have grown to include a number of condos and small hotels, as well. These properties are a nice option for both kama'aina going holoholo outer island and visitors from the mainland. My personal favorite? In Volcano I really love this simple studio-cottage in the style of a Japanese monastery.

—Alex, 08/24/06