Looking for comments/advice on our itinerary, any would be appreciated! Thanks. Staying in Captain Cook area, about 40 minutes South of Kona. We are a total of 10 people, from 2-62 years old. Planning to be up early every day, and we only go to beaches when noone is around.
Thursday - arrive and settle in for our 2 days shabbos (de'oraisa only on Friday)
Sunday:
Punalu'u Beach (if we can get out early enough to get there when noone is there yet)
VNP
Kaumauna Caves (if time)
Mauna Kea Sunset and Stars
Monday
Heli Tour (those who aren't going will go to Hilo Zoo)
Akaka Falls, Rainbow Falls, Boiling Pots
Red Road Puna
Tuesday
Makalewena Beach
Waipi'o Valley (drive down)
Cave # 3
Coffee Farm Tour in Kona area (any suggestions?)
Wednesday
Snorkel Kealakekua Bay area
Pu'uhonua Honaunau
Pack up check out is at 11:00
Ali'i Drive, Kamakana Playground
Rent hotel room for showers and freshening up before 8:45 flight home
OK, so I had to come back to this, since your schedule is making me dizzy, and I enjoy bin-packing/scheduling problems (PhD in computer science make these fun puzzles to me). I started typing up some suggestions on how you can rearrange your schedule, but it was too long and involved. PM me if you are interested. Just a couple of quick things:
1) Consider adding Imiloa Astronomy Center---it's something kids and adults can enjoy and their planetarium show(s) will prepare everyone for Mauna Kea.
2) Is your family big into spelunking? You have two caves listed, plus I assume you'll also do Thurston lava tube in HVNP, while there. I've never been to Cave #3, but I have been to the others. Kaumana is ... DARK, with sharp, jagged rocks to climb over...after you climb down a bunch of steep steps. We took a few steps into the cave for photos, then left, and I have done Thurston lava tube, all the way to the dark end (unfortunately closed now with no plans to reopen). Kaumana is more extreme, IMO. With regard to Thurston lava tube, you can definitely take a 2-year old through this one. It's lit, and though there are steps, I've carried a lightweight umbrella stroller down there (with kid inside). You can probably choose just one cave to get a feel for it.
3) Pick up some brochures at the Kona airport regarding coffee farms.