ITO.

It's a 30 minute drive to VNP.

From KOA, though, it's a 3 hour drive.

One small fyi, though: if you need "resort quality" lodging, your only choice is on the Kona side. Hilo has many, many, many charms. Five star or four star or even three star hotels are not one of them.

There are lots of nice B&Bs, though, either in Hilo or in Volcano village.

If you do stay on the east side, other highlights I'd suggest would be: The Tsunami Museum in Hilo, the Lyman Museum in Hilo, Akaka Falls, the 4 mile scenic drive from Papaikou to Peepekeo (on your way to Akaka Falls -- and stop at the What's Shakin' Smoothy Stand ), Laupahoehoe Point (the most dramatic, imo, seaside spot on the Big Island), the Imiloa Astronomy Center and Planetarium (brand new with an incredible display of Hawaii history and culture, and, some say, the most state-of-the art planetarium in the world).