Topic Wiki

List of TR's:
JewJitSew, Something Fishy, Cbs, MendyP, PBaruch, mechayamom, 3yummyboys, PBaruch, shulem92, Yehoshua, CGR

Kosher Food/ Restaurants:

Synagogue:

Things to Do:
Lava (find out in advance what the best way is to see the lava):
  • Helicopter
  • Hike/Bike
    • Surface flow - depending on the conditions, it might be possible to hike to surface flow.  Inquire with Kalapana Cultural Tours.
    • Ocean entry - At the present time, there are three ways to access the area where lava is flowing into the ocean: (i) walk the approximately 10 miles round trip over the county emergency access road from Kalapana (you can also walk over the road from the National Park side as well) - UPDATE - you are now restricted to .5 miles from the surface flow due to dumb tourists putting themselves in danger and almost getting killed. As a result, viewing ocean entry from land is not as enjoyable as it used to be; (ii) rent a bicycle from one of several companies and ride to the ocean entry; or (iii) pay for Kalapana Cultural Tours (www.kalapanaculturaltours.com) to drive you most of the way and then hike or bike the remaining approximately 1.8 miles each way. 
  • Boat

Caves/lava tubes
  • Thurston Lava Tube (parking now restricted to 30 minutes)
  • Kaumana
  • ranger-led to?
  • Cave 3
  • Kazamura Caves http://kazumuracave.com/

Mountains
  • CAUTION: after SCUBA diving, wait 24 hours before going up the mountains
  • Mauna Loa
    • Mauna Loa Observatory - if this interests you, contact MLO to arrange tour; they'll ask, "you know we don't do astronomy, right?"; will give you code to gate; one-lane, seriously winding and undulating road
    • ways to summit:
      • day hike from parking lot just before MLO gate
      • minimum 3-5 day hike from Mauna Loa Access Road
  • Mauna Kea
    • visitor center for telescopes in evening
    • to do at summit
      • view sunset
      • Keck Observatory
      • Lake Waiau
      • adz quarry

Waterfalls

Historical/museums

Beaches
  • Waipio
  • Kalapana/Kaimu - black sand; 10(?) minute walk over lava rock
  • Punalu'u - black sand; good place to see turtles (I once saw 4)
  • Papakolea/Mahana/Green sand beach - there is a local family that shuttles folks from the parking area to the beach for a nominal fee.  Private tours can also be arranged to the beach and surrounding area.
  • Hapuna - has been rated #1 in US, top 10 international

Snorkeling

Snuba (ages 8+)
  • from shore
    • Snuba Doo available (ages 4-7)
  • Fair Wind snorkel trip to Kealakekua Bay
    • no Snuba Doo
    • may allow <8 if child has done Snuba Doo

SCUBA

Swimming with dolphins

Coffee Farm Tours

NPS sites
  • If you plan on going to more than one NPS site in your time in Hawaii, it probably makes sense to get a Hawaii Tri-Parks Pass, which costs $30 per year for all three parks that collect fees (HAVO,HALE,PUHO), instead of up to $25 for a few days for one park.
  • Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HVNP) (ALL BUT KAHUKU UNIT IS CLOSED FOR NOW)
    • Jaggar Museum/Halemaumau overlook
    • Thurston lava tube (Definitely do the dark end if open, but has been closed for years.)
    • Chain of Craters Rd. to Holei sea arch
    • Kahuku (only weekendsEXPANDED HOURS FOR NOW)
    • Easy hikes:  Sulphur Banks, Devastation Trail, Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs
  • Pu'uhonua o Honaunau NHP
  • Kaloko Honokohau NHP
  • Pu'ukohola Heiau NHS (heiau means temple)

Botanic Gardens
  • Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden htbg.com

Miscellany
  • Lava Tree State Monument CLOSED
  • Ahalanui (covered by lava, July 2018)
  • Seahorse Farm (great place for kids)- http://seahorse.com/
  • Cape Kumukahi Lighthouse - you can see where the lava came right up to the fence surrounding the lighthouse
  • South Point
  • Atlantis submarine
  • Hilo farmers market, Wednesdays (and Saturdays)
  • Pololu
  • Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo
  • Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Visitor Center - skippable; more expensive than Walmart; Rabbi Chazanow, previously of the BI has said that nuts without any chocolate/dairy are PAREVE, including Dry Roasted and Honey Roasted, even when bearing the OU-D

Hotels:
  • Kohala
  • Kona
  • Volcano
  • Hilo

Getting Around:
  • rent a car
    • Harpers - only rental car company that allows you to drive anywhere on the island
  • Bus
  • tours
  • bike
  • hike

Notes:
« Last edited by cgr on February 24, 2022, 09:16:15 PM »

Author Topic: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread  (Read 283035 times)

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #760 on: June 13, 2017, 11:41:12 AM »

Offline Dan

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Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline GittyElkon

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #762 on: July 17, 2017, 11:43:17 PM »
Hi Dan. How do I go about getting the two free bags from Hawaiian Airlines with our inter island flights.
Thank you for your help.

Offline thaber

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #763 on: July 18, 2017, 02:12:12 AM »
Hi Dan. How do I go about getting the two free bags from Hawaiian Airlines with our inter island flights.
Thank you for your help.
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/airlines/aa/2-months-left-to-use-american-miles-to-book-hawaiian-airlines-awards-between-the-continental-us-and-hawaii/

A couple paragraphs in. No idea if this still works

Offline 3yummyboys

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #765 on: July 24, 2017, 09:32:12 AM »
Spoke to the Chabad rabbi on Kauai.  He said that the BI shluchim should be there IY"H second week of August.
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Offline chevron

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #766 on: July 26, 2017, 05:39:54 PM »
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158771559215291&id=589465290

Farewell rabbi chazanov, gonna miss him

I miss him too, spent a week with Avremel. We had great times! Shared beer and wine and all. He let me crash by the Chabad house and shower in his house..

Offline Dan

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #767 on: July 26, 2017, 05:42:19 PM »
What happened to him?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #768 on: July 26, 2017, 05:56:06 PM »
What happened to him?

Not sure what happened to him but it appears they are moving to the mainland.  I asked his father in law about him this past January but he wouldn't discuss anything.  We did see his daughter at the Chabad of HNL.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #769 on: July 26, 2017, 06:33:11 PM »
Rumor is they moved to ATL

Offline chevron

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #770 on: July 30, 2017, 03:21:31 PM »
What happened to him?

Couldnt raise money, maybe he was burnt out ?

Offline mochada

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #771 on: August 23, 2017, 02:47:52 PM »
Couldnt raise money, maybe he was burnt out ?

Started a successful startup. I've been in touch with him.

Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #772 on: December 05, 2017, 09:15:58 AM »
Got this e-mail:


Chabad is excited to announce that you can now order kosher meat, chicken, and many other kosher products to the Big Island at minimal cost.

Each person can place his/her own order from Westernkosher.com with any zip code on the Big Island. Delivery is done by a company called Calhono, which specializes in frozen and refrigerated shipments to Hawaii. Their fee is based on the total weight and volume of the entire order, so the exact amount will be determined & due upon pickup from Chabad in Kona. It will be about $1.00 per LB (in addition to the price paid to Western Kosher for the products).

The next delivery will ship on Friday, the 8th of Dec 2017. Please place your order as soon as possible, but no later than Thursday morning. The order will arrive to the Big Island on Tuesday the 19th.

Please click here for more info on how to order.

We hope to be making orders once a month or so. If you are interested in future updates please let us know.

This arrangement is being provided by Chabad as a service to the community at cost price.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
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Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #773 on: December 06, 2017, 08:59:47 AM »
Got this e-mail:


Chabad is excited to announce that you can now order kosher meat, chicken, and many other kosher products to the Big Island at minimal cost.

Each person can place his/her own order from Westernkosher.com with any zip code on the Big Island. Delivery is done by a company called Calhono, which specializes in frozen and refrigerated shipments to Hawaii. Their fee is based on the total weight and volume of the entire order, so the exact amount will be determined & due upon pickup from Chabad in Kona. It will be about $1.00 per LB (in addition to the price paid to Western Kosher for the products).

The next delivery will ship on Friday, the 8th of Dec 2017. Please place your order as soon as possible, but no later than Thursday morning. The order will arrive to the Big Island on Tuesday the 19th.

Please click here for more info on how to order.

We hope to be making orders once a month or so. If you are interested in future updates please let us know.

This arrangement is being provided by Chabad as a service to the community at cost price.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Does anyone have a ballpark on how big the fulltime Kosher community on Big Island (or any Hawaiian island for that matter)? This service obviously won't help tourists since it's so infrequent, and it's probably cheaper to check a bag with food anyway (let's say $35 at most for up to 50lbs).

Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #774 on: December 06, 2017, 12:24:16 PM »
Does anyone have a ballpark on how big the fulltime Kosher community on Big Island (or any Hawaiian island for that matter)? This service obviously won't help tourists since it's so infrequent, and it's probably cheaper to check a bag with food anyway (let's say $35 at most for up to 50lbs).
Full time kosher community on the BI is just the rabbi and his family.  (Pretty sure it's the same on Kauai and Maui.  Oahu has more.)

It's about convenience as well as price.

The new Chabad on the BI seems to have an extensive list of prepared food (including dairy CY, yay!) that you can order from them as well             (https://jewishbigislandorg.clhosting.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/3830169).
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Offline chaimdasap

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #775 on: January 04, 2018, 08:07:28 PM »
Planning a trip for family of four that wants to stay in a 2 bedroom suite on the beach in kaui, (preferably) for 10 nights. does anyone here know where they can get the most for their points at one of the resorts?
"I'm not under the affluence of incohol, but thinkle peep I am."

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #776 on: January 04, 2018, 11:06:58 PM »
Planning a trip for family of four that wants to stay in a 2 bedroom suite on the beach in kaui, (preferably) for 10 nights. does anyone here know where they can get the most for their points at one of the resorts?
Kaui?  If you mean Kauai, maybe try asking in that thread.  I think possibly Marriotts may have what you're looking for.  You might also consider looking for a 1 bedroom suite with a sleeper sofa in the living room.
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Offline Mtl18

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #777 on: January 07, 2018, 04:58:53 PM »
Where are affordable places on Kona side to buy produce? Does Wal-Mart have a decent produce selection? Others?

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #778 on: January 07, 2018, 06:19:56 PM »
Where are affordable places on Kona side to buy produce? Does Wal-Mart have a decent produce selection? Others?
Walmart selection is pretty small, but they have a few things that you can buy like potatoes, zucchini, bananas, and apples.

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #779 on: January 07, 2018, 11:04:26 PM »
Where are affordable places on Kona side to buy produce? Does Wal-Mart have a decent produce selection? Others?
Safeway (right near Walmart), farmers market (W-Su), fruit stands

Don't forget apple bananas, mangosteen, and YELLOW lilikoi if in season.   :)
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