Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread

[PBaruch]

i am going to be on the big island for 3 days (mon, tue, wed).  I am debating if I should fly in and out of Hilo or should I fly into hilo do VNP and then drive over the kona side and partake in the activities over there?

Last time we did that, we spent 2 days on the big island did the macadamian nut tour and the heli ride the first day and vnp and drove along the coast the second day.  This time we have 3 kids in tow so the helicopter ride would be too expensive so we want to do other stuff instead.  Maybe a whale tour or something.

The drive from Hilo to Kona is not that bad and you can do some stuff along the way, such as Akaka Falls State Park. 

Depending on whether lava is flowing and the age of your kids, you might be able to do a lava boat tour and/or walking guided tour to the lava.  There is also south point/green sand beach and a nice black sand beach at Kalapana Village.

Don't forget Mauna Kea either - if your kids are under 16, you can still drive up to the visitor center and get a view of the stars/planets through the telescopes that they bring out for public viewing - and best of all its free.

[shidduch]

thanks, we ended up booking a flight into kona and out of hilo so well go do the whale watching stuff first by kon and then drive to hilo.  Should we do mauna kea at night?  I think last time we went we started driving to mauna kea but gave up bc it was very foggy.

[PBaruch]

thanks, we ended up booking a flight into kona and out of hilo so well go do the whale watching stuff first by kon and then drive to hilo.  Should we do mauna kea at night?  I think last time we went we started driving to mauna kea but gave up bc it was very foggy.

You can drive up Mauna Kea during the day and enjoy the view by the visitor center.  However, the views won't be as nice as by the summit and it's not recommended to drive to the summit with children under the age of 16.  If you still want to do it, I'd talk to a physician, etc.  I have known people that took little kids up to the summit that did fine.  However, I wouldn't take my little kids up there.

The real show begins at night - that is when they bring out the telescopes at the visitor center.  As for the fog, it is almost always foggy around there.  Don't worry about it.  Most likely you will drive above the fog.  If you are concerned, call ahead to inquire.

[MendyP]

Trip Report

I don't think I ever posted my trip report from Hawai'i from Jan 2012 and figured I'd do so. The first half is here, the second half was O'ahu, which I'll post in the O'ahu thread...

Sunday, Jan 15th:
•   AA Flight #3 (JFK-LAX) 12:00pm-3:15pm (Mileage tix)
•   AA Flight #247 (LAX-KOA) 5:25pm-9:05pm
•   Hotel: Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, Kailua-Kona (Priceline: $99)

Monday, Jan 16th:
•   Explore Ali’i Drive, Kona (Beautiful to walk up/down, along the ocean)
•   Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation Tour (Free hourly tours)
•   Makalawena Beach (Off the beaten path, secluded, beautiful)
•   Hapuna Beach (More popular, easy to get to)
•   Hotel: Waipio Rim B&B, Honokaa (A 1-Room B&B, run by a very nice couple, with INCREDIBLE VIEWS of the Waipio Valley. Picture included.)

Tuesday, Jan 17th
•   Waipio Valley Ride The Rim ATV’ing (Fun activity, great views. Didn't drive down into the valley itself, which I was hoping for)
•   Akaka Falls State Park (Beautiful waterfalls - good stop along the way)
•   Old Mamalahoa Highway (Side road, parallel to the main road, with better views.)
•   Explore Hilo – Banyan Drive (This lasted 5 mins, as we were annoyed to be in a city, after being in beautiful non-city Hawaii)
•   Ahalanui Park – Volcanic Heated Hot Springs (Really Beautiful!! Gorgeous spot to sit on lava rocks, watch the waves, nice warm hot springs)
•   Lava Viewing Point at Kalapana (Would have been better if the lava was flowing...oh well)
•   Hotel: Old Hawaiian B&B, Hilo (Decent B&B)

Wednesday, Jan 18th
•   Hilo Farmers Market (Fun to walk around. Amazing to watch the coconuts being peeled so quickly with a huge machete and the man still keeping all his fingers)
•   Volcanoes National Park: Kilauea Visitors Center; Kiluea Iki Trail; Thurston Lava Tube; Steam Vents, Jaggar Museum (Really amazing... quite an experience walking the trail along the volcano canyon floor, and AMAZING watching the magma glowing from the crater as the sun set. Picture included.)
•   Hotel: Bamboo Orchid Cottage, Volcano (Great B&B)

Thursday, Jan 19th
•   Punaluu Black Sand Beach Park (Beautiful! Green sea turtles! Picture included.)
•   Papakolea Green Sand Beach (Incredible! One of the most beautiful spots in the world! Instead of hiking 2 hours from the parking lot, there are locals with 4WD vehicles that will drive you for $15rt. The driver pointed out mufflers from tourists who attempted driving it on their own. Picture included.)
•   Kealakekua Bay – Dolphin sightings (Apparently this is only in the mornings, so we did not see any).
•   Explore Ali’i Drive, Kona (Beautiful to explore)
•   Hotel: Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, Kailua-Kona (Priceline: $99 again)

Friday, Jan 20th
•   Go! Mokulele Flight #1011 from Kona – Honolulu, 7:55am–8:35am
•   ...continued in O'ahu thread...

[Something Fishy]

Trip Report

Wow! You really saw it all. Don't know how you packed it all in.

That picture from the Waipio rim is freaking me out. I wouldn't have survived a minute, I'm terrified of hights .

[avi h]

Ok it seems to me that the way to go in the big island is vacation rentals such as VRBO. Which neighborhood do i search and can anyone give recommendations for any specific ones they experienced. Its just me and my wife

[Something Fishy]

Ok it seems to me that the way to go in the big island is vacation rentals such as VRBO. Which neighborhood do i search and can anyone give recommendations for any specific ones they experienced. Its just me and my wife

We had a glorious time in this place. Note though that Ocean View is somewhat out of the way for many things.

[avi h]

Not available for my dates 

[aryeh1]

I tried booking a rental car in Honolulu it's like $200 a day?

[PBaruch]

I tried booking a rental car in Honolulu it's like $200 a day?

Try booking through www.hawaiicarrentals.net

or

try booking through the UR portal

Should be way cheaper

[PBaruch]

Woohoo - thanks for the Hawaii trivia prize last night Dan!

[Something Fishy]

Woohoo - thanks for the Hawaii trivia prize last night Dan!

What was the question?

[PBaruch]

What was the question?

Sorry dude - I think Dan recycles them and I doubt he would appreciate me posting it.   

[Something Fishy]

Sorry dude - I think Dan recycles them and I doubt he would appreciate me posting it.   

That's why I'm asking - I got the Hawaii question at the BP one . I wonder if it was the same.

Did the answer have anything to do with a certain peninsula in the Pacific?

[alpicone]

That's why I'm asking - I got the Hawaii question at the BP one . I wonder if it was the same.

Did the answer have anything to do with a certain peninsula in the Pacific?

Yup. I had to Google that one to make sure I got your reference 

[E-MAN]

Woohoo - thanks for the Hawaii trivia prize last night Dan!

What was the prize??

[PBaruch]

What was the prize??

There was a choice of a bottle of perfume, cuff links or a pin.  I had no idea which one to take but then some people screamed out "take the perfume" so I chose that.  I don't wear cuff link shirts anyways and what would I do with a pin? 

In either event, thanks Dan!  It was inspirational. 

[Lou Bob]

There was a choice of a bottle of perfume, cuff links or a pin.  I had no idea which one to take but then some people screamed out "take the perfume" so I chose that.  I don't wear cuff link shirts anyways and what would I do with a pin? 

In either event, thanks Dan!  It was inspirational. 

ah.  So that's who you are.  Now there's a face to ur handle

[PBaruch]

ah.  So that's who you are.  Now there's a face to ur handle

And who exactly are you?

And don't get so excited.  I was wearing a disguise.   

[Ell Eee]

hello all
question: is sunset and star gazing at Mauna Kea worth it that i should chip off another day from Ohau to experience it?
also is it safe to attempt to drive up the mountain and back down in the dark?

thanks