Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread

[Zalc]

The drive from Hilo to Kona around sunset is surreal!

We left a bit late, but we just barely caught up to it.

The video does not do it justice, but it's what I got.

Shot on the LG V10 Camera @ 2FPS.

[Something Fishy]

The drive from Hilo to Kona around sunset is surreal!

We left a bit late, but we just barely caught up to it.

The video does not do it justice, but it's what I got.

Shot on the LG V10 Camera @ 2FPS.

Wow! Stunning.

Nice picture SF!

What settings did you use to get that?

Any Quick tips that you would be able to give on how to shoot lava night pictures?

(With a mirrorless and decent lens)

Thanks in advance!

Use a tripod, get close, make sure not to overexposed the lava.

I shot my picture at f/2.8, 20 seconds, ISO 800.

[Yehoshua]

The drive from Hilo to Kona around sunset is surreal!

We left a bit late, but we just barely caught up to it.

The video does not do it justice, but it's what I got.

Shot on the LG V10 Camera @ 2FPS.

Wow, really nice!

[3yummyboys]

We have to be out of our rental by 11 and our flight is at 9. I'm thinking of booking a hotel room to store our luggage and shower. Any hotels offer early check in wih status? I have spg Hilton and Hyatt status.

[SSLPhD]

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

Do you plan on snorkeling Kealakekua Bay before check out?    Are you going with a boat tour?  Hiking down to the monument and then snorkeling?  Neither of these will get you back in time for an 11AM check out.

Just a FYI, Pu'uhonua o Honaunau is religious-y.

[3yummyboys]

There is a place to snorkel in the bay that's a 7 minute walk from the home. We plan to go around 8am so should have plenty of time. Pu'uhonua Honaunau can be done after checkout or we might just skip it.

[Zalc]

There is a place to snorkel in the bay that's a 7 minute walk from the home. We plan to go around 8am so should have plenty of time. Pu'uhonua Honaunau can be done after checkout or we might just skip it.

In the actual bay?

Can you share where it is?

[SSLPhD]

I suppose it could be done before sunrise, but that'll turn out to be a 20-hour day. With ten people, that sounds like a fun day...

I disagree with this.  There are always fewer people there in the AM, which to me automatically equals better.  If you are trying to do things in the AM, go to Jaggar first, then other things in HVNP, then head back to the hotel for an early night.  This works especially well if you're on East Coast time.  Also, if you have kids that want to stay in the car (like if they're not quite ready to start the day), it's only about a minute walk from the overlook.

[Zalc]

Just left the BI a few hours ago, was a great few days...just a tip for anyone interested, we got advice from the guys at ATV outfitters (which was a lot of fun btw) to check out Pololu valley lookout/hike to the best black sand beach on the island. There was a short-ish but steep downhill hike to get down to the beach (which means uphill coming back up) but it is absolutely amazing and well worth it. I complained the whole way back up, but saw many senior citizens who were doing it just fine...so I guess I'm a wimp.

I took your advice, and boy is that a great hike!

It's about 350' back up, so if you can walk up a 30 story building, you can make this hike.

The place is really amazing.

A word of caution: The water is too turbulent to swim in, and people are dragged out to sea there with disturbing regularity....


Polulu Valley by Zalc DDF, on Flickr

[SSLPhD]

In the actual bay?

Can you share where it is?

I was wondering this myself, so I went back through my heli flight pix of the area, and the big cliff that I remembered (from boat tour) surrounding the whole bay is in fact just in the northern part.  The southern part of the bay has a number of houses right along the coast, with what appears to be easy access.  Most likely visible in Google Earth.

Entry may or may not be public access.  Although all beaches in Hawaii are public access, I don't think it applies to non-beach coast.

[ah]

I took your advice, and boy is that a great hike!

It's about 350' back up, so if you can walk up a 30 story building, you can make this hike.

The place is really amazing.

A word of caution: The water is too turbulent to swim in, and people are dragged out to sea there with disturbing regularity....


Polulu Valley by Zalc DDF, on Flickr

Was an amazing last minute, unplanned hike, would have been better if had more hydration with us and been more prepared. Was amazing black sand, and we swam with no problems for a bit, everyone was swimming. Guess we got lucky. Glad you made it there!

[3yummyboys]

In the actual bay?

Can you share where it is?

Quote from owner of the home:
Manini Beach is a 10min. walk (or less), flat, grassy, easy sandy access to the water. Google "Manini Beach Kealakekua Bay" and you will find lot's of images there. As for the walk down, check out this link : https://www.google.com/maps/@19.4736492,-155.9181787,497m/data=!3m1!1e3

[SSLPhD]

Quote from owner of the home:
Manini Beach is a 10min. walk (or less), flat, grassy, easy sandy access to the water. Google "Manini Beach Kealakekua Bay" and you will find lot's of images there. As for the walk down, check out this link : https://www.google.com/maps/@19.4736492,-155.9181787,497m/data=!3m1!1e3

I'm big on research and this sounded intriguing, so I looked it up.  Hawaii Revealed app:  ``Slightly south of Napo'opo'o Beach is Manini Beach.  Coral rubble sprinkled with 'a'a lava, and poor swimming make this another must-miss beach."  Doesn't say anything about snorkeling.  But Doughty sometimes misses the mark, so please let us know if it's worth a visit!

[3yummyboys]

I'm big on research and this sounded intriguing, so I looked it up.  Hawaii Revealed app:  ``Slightly south of Napo'opo'o Beach is Manini Beach.  Coral rubble sprinkled with 'a'a lava, and poor swimming make this another must-miss beach."  Doesn't say anything about snorkeling.  But Doughty sometimes misses the mark, so please let us know if it's worth a visit!

According to the owner, there is a decent snorkeling spot closer to the house than manini but entry is a little tricky. That's where I plan to try if I go. Hopefully going to get better snorkeling in other places but this is worth a try. I'll TARB.

[Zalc]

According to the owner, there is a decent snorkeling spot closer to the house than manini but entry is a little tricky. That's where I plan to try if I go. Hopefully going to get better snorkeling in other places but this is worth a try. I'll TARB.

Oh, nice.

That is all the way across from the Monument, near where we launched the rental kayaks.

It's about a 40 minute kayak to get to the Monument snorkel area from there, but worth it.

You can rent the Kayaks from the Hawaiian that lives at the launch for a fair bit cheaper then the "Official companies", and you don't need to schlep the kayak on your car roof. (I think $60 for a double)

Here is the Launch: https://goo.gl/maps/jjJTD1BsRWn

[Zalc]

Has anyone run the Manta Snorkel with this company?

Sunlight On Water
Their Boat: 40 foot Fiberglass Boat with warm shower.
Manta Ray Snorkel - $87

Tripadvisor reviews

[shulem92]

Is anyone being on the BI next Monday, the 22nd?

[shulem92]

Landing in koa at 12 pm. Till I get a rental car... Google maps says 1 hour 20 minutes from koa to the mount kea visitor center. How much time do I need to acclimate myself to the altitude? (I'm getting mixed reports between 20 min to hour) and how long is the drive to the top, from the visitor center? Just trying to see if its feasible to check into my hotel first. (Sheraton kona). Half hour to hotel, and 1:40 to visitor center from hotel. Sunset is at 6:45

[shulem92]

How long before my scheduled flight do I have to arrive in the airport? Flights at 1:10 pm. Are there long lines in KOA? Are the rental car locations on site? I have TSA pre, so security shud be fairly smooth...

[tageed-lee]

Very nice! What is the soundtrack?