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 283088 times)

Online JudahMcB

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #840 on: January 14, 2019, 11:59:16 AM »
Has anyone been to BI National Parks sites since the government shutdown? What is closed? The NPS website says "some areas of the park will remain accessible to visitors" for most sites but doesn't go into detail.

Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #841 on: January 14, 2019, 05:21:09 PM »
Has anyone been to BI National Parks sites since the government shutdown? What is closed? The NPS website says "some areas of the park will remain accessible to visitors" for most sites but doesn't go into detail.
From Facebook:

Park update for Jan. 14, 2019:

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park announced today that areas of the park will continue to be accessible to visitors. Some visitor services, including cleaning restrooms, trash collection and entrance stations, will now be completed by using revenue generated by recreation fees. Visitors should visit the park website at nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes while planning their visit to get the latest information on accessibility and available services.

Areas accessible to park visitors include:
• Kīlauea Visitor Center (KVC), exhibits, picnic tables, and restrooms
• The Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association store in KVC will be open
• Crater Rim Drive from the park entrance to Kilauea Military Camp
• Crater Rim Drive from the park entrance to the intersection at Devastation Trail Parking Lot
• Crater Rim Drive to viewpoints of Halema‘uma‘u near Keanakāko‘i (pedestrians/bicyclists only)
• Crater Rim Trail between Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp
• Volcano House lodging, gift stores and restaurants
• Kilauea Military Camp
• Volcano Art Center Gallery
• Steam Vents and Sulphur Banks
• Mauna Loa Road to Kīpukapuaulu (vehicles not permitted past the gate at Kīpukapuaulu)
• Mauna Loa Road to Mauna Loa Lookout – pedestrians and bicyclists only
• Kīpukapuaulu day use picnic area
• Kīpukapuaulu and trail
• Ka‘ū Desert Trail to the new Footprints exhibit
• Escape Road from Highway 11 to Crater Rim Drive (no vehicles)
• Namakanipaio Campground

The rest of the park will be closed, including Chain of Craters Road, Kulanaokuaiki Campground, all backcountry areas, and Kahuku.

National Park Service officials have determined that by using Federal Land and Recreation Enhancement funds to immediately bring back park maintenance crews to clean restrooms, remove trash, and complete health and safety operations, the park will be able to continue providing accessibility to the park for visitors while ensuring health and safety.

Some outdoor areas of the park will remain accessible but some facilities and areas will remain closed. Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association continue to provide donations to keep the Kīlauea Visitor Center open. Entrance stations will be open to provide safety and information protection messages to arriving visitors, but entrance fees and camping fees will not be collected.

“We greatly appreciate the generous contributions of park partners, especially Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Volcano House, Volcano Art Center, and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association who have provided tens of thousands of dollars in financial and in-kind donations during the lapse in appropriations,” said park superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Their efforts have contributed significantly to our ability to provide access and basic services to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.”

While basic visitor services continue, other services may be limited or unavailable during the lapse in appropriations, including special events, ranger talks and programs. Additional information is available at www.nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes.

For updates on the shutdown, visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.
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Offline yunchkup

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #842 on: February 14, 2019, 12:39:59 AM »
Does anyone have info on how to tour the observatories on Mauna Kea after sunset? How to see stars from the summit?

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #843 on: February 14, 2019, 12:42:35 AM »
Does anyone have info on how to tour the observatories on Mauna Kea after sunset? How to see stars from the summit?
It's quite easy to see the stars from the summit: just look up. Google SkyMap (app) will tell you what you're looking at.

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #844 on: February 14, 2019, 01:38:01 AM »
Does anyone have info on how to tour the observatories on Mauna Kea after sunset? How to see stars from the summit?
You can't go to the actual observatories but you'll have no problem seeing way more stars than you've ever seen in your life from the summit by yourself.
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Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #845 on: February 14, 2019, 06:50:42 AM »
Does anyone have info on how to tour the observatories on Mauna Kea after sunset? How to see stars from the summit?
You're not even "allowed" to stay after sunset.  You can go back to the visitor center and look through the telescopes they have there.

http://www.keckobservatory.org/visit/
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Online Something Fishy

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #846 on: February 14, 2019, 08:04:43 AM »
You're not even "allowed" to stay after sunset.  You can go back to the visitor center and look through the telescopes they have there.

http://www.keckobservatory.org/visit/

This. They kick everyone off before it gets dark enough to see stars. Go to the visitor's center, they have telescopes and such set up.
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Offline yunchkup

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #847 on: February 14, 2019, 08:30:41 AM »
This. They kick everyone off before it gets dark enough to see stars. Go to the visitor's center, they have telescopes and such set up.
I've read this before here on DDF, but I remember someone saying something they have access to a tour guide or something like that. According to this link http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/visiting-mauna-kea/star-gazing-program.html, stargazing at the visitor center is also no longer an option. I'm hoping someone has "protektzia" to help us out.  ;)

Offline yunchkup

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #848 on: February 14, 2019, 08:32:10 AM »
While we're at it, does it make sense to do Mauna Kea and the volcanoes in one day? We're staying at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #849 on: February 14, 2019, 08:38:47 AM »
While we're at it, does it make sense to do Mauna Kea and the volcanoes in one day? We're staying at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Nothing to see at the volcano these days, it's all pretty dormant after the last eruption. A bit of steam, and lots of devastation, if that's your thing.

Time-wise it can certainly work though.
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #850 on: February 14, 2019, 02:12:30 PM »
Another option to see stars, but without a telescope:  drive up to the MLO, park in the lot right before the gate.  This is where people park their cars if doing the day hike to the summit.  It's at about 11,000 feet.  Make sure to acclimate at the telephone wires for half an hour.  The road up is more fun (winding, hilly, one lane) than Mauna Kea, and takes longer, but there probably will be no one around, and you'll likely be able to see lots of stars (there may be some lights left on at night; call to ask if that's a concern).  You might even be able to see Haleakala, but there are some wires that will detract from the view.  There is no visitor center, but there is an outhouse nearby.  No, this is not a touristy thing to do, but with the public stargazing suspended at the MK VIS, it's something to do.  If you are interested in actually going to the MLO, contact them in advance, and they will show you around, but most people are not interested in NOAA's climate monitoring.  (https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop/mlo/visitingandtours/index.html)
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #851 on: February 14, 2019, 02:43:01 PM »
Another option to see stars, but without a telescope:  drive up to the MLO, park in the lot right before the gate.  This is where people park their cars if doing the day hike to the summit.  It's at about 11,000 feet.  Make sure to acclimate at the telephone wires for half an hour.  The road up is more fun (winding, hilly, one lane) than Mauna Kea, and takes longer, but there probably will be no one around, and you'll likely be able to see lots of stars (there may be some lights left on at night; call to ask if that's a concern).  You might even be able to see Haleakala, but there are some wires that will detract from the view.  There is no visitor center, but there is an outhouse nearby.  No, this is not a touristy thing to do, but with the public stargazing suspended at the MK VIS, it's something to do.  If you are interested in actually going to the MLO, contact them in advance, and they will show you around, but most people are not interested in NOAA's climate monitoring.  (https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop/mlo/visitingandtours/index.html)
Thanks loads! This was actually very helpful for my star-loving, anything-weather-related-loving husband.

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #852 on: August 01, 2019, 04:29:35 AM »
Gonna be on the island August 18 th to 22 was wondering if anybody will be there with kids that wants to take turns babysitting. 3 kids.

Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #853 on: August 01, 2019, 07:42:51 AM »
Gonna be on the island August 18 th to 22 was wondering if anybody will be there with kids that wants to take turns babysitting. 3 kids.
The island is big, can take hours to drive from one place to the next. Would be helpful to say what part of the island you'll be staying at.

You can try Chabad. They have three kids, too, I believe, and even if they don't want to/can't switch off babysitting duties, should be able to recommend someone.
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #854 on: August 04, 2019, 04:43:19 AM »
Gonna be mostly on the kona side. Seems like the volcanos are not much to see nowadays...

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #855 on: August 04, 2019, 10:34:01 AM »
Gonna be mostly on the kona side. Seems like the volcanos are not much to see nowadays...
VNP is still most likely gorgeous even if it's not like it was a couple years ago. Things change at NPs like this. If they didn't, they couldn't be natural.

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #856 on: August 06, 2019, 02:22:50 PM »
Anybody know if a photographer I can use? Preferably one who doesn't charge a fortune

Offline nirc

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #857 on: August 18, 2019, 07:08:37 PM »
Worth visiting with a 7 and 2 yr old?

Assuming answer is yes, is 24 hrs too short? Thinking about being on Maui from Sun-Mon early afternoon, then jump over to BI till Tues afternoon, before flying back home. Alternatively can leave Maui on Sun or …….

Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #858 on: August 18, 2019, 09:31:43 PM »
Worth visiting with a 7 and 2 yr old?

Assuming answer is yes, is 24 hrs too short? Thinking about being on Maui from Sun-Mon early afternoon, then jump over to BI till Tues afternoon, before flying back home. Alternatively can leave Maui on Sun or …….
Stay in Maui.

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #859 on: August 18, 2019, 09:37:19 PM »
Stay in Maui.

This.

Back when the volcano was active a short hop to TBI made sense. Now it doesn't.

Also, your little kids will preclude you from going up MK.
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