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 283046 times)

Offline MLM

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #80 on: July 21, 2013, 11:41:02 PM »
The drive up was no biggy! Lets see what the way back is like

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #81 on: July 21, 2013, 11:48:23 PM »
Not staying for the star show at the halfway point?
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.

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #82 on: July 21, 2013, 11:50:50 PM »
Not staying for the star show at the halfway point?

Ill be on top for at least another hour and a half for sunset and then check out the stars and then make my way down.


Offline PBaruch

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #83 on: July 24, 2013, 11:18:47 AM »
Any families with little kids planning on being in Kona for Shabbos on 2/1/2014?  If so, perhaps we can coordinate Shabbos and our kids can play together.  Please PM for details.
« Last Edit: July 24, 2013, 11:22:29 AM by PBaruch »
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #84 on: July 24, 2013, 11:57:33 AM »
I want to publicly thank PBaruch for all the amazing help he gave me on my trip to the Big Island. After being on Kauai, Maui and now the Big Island, I have to say I have seen some of the most amazing sights in the world. I appreciate everyone on these forums help.

However, the volcano completely blew me away on a whole new level and that is thanks to PBaruch!

I will post a trip report soon.

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #85 on: July 25, 2013, 02:15:15 PM »
I want to publicly thank PBaruch for all the amazing help he gave me on my trip to the Big Island. After being on Kauai, Maui and now the Big Island, I have to say I have seen some of the most amazing sights in the world. I appreciate everyone on these forums help.

However, the volcano completely blew me away on a whole new level and that is thanks to PBaruch!

I will post a trip report soon.

I'm really happy that I was able to enhance your trip to the Big Island.  :O)

Aloha,

PB
What do you do after your dreams come true?

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #86 on: July 25, 2013, 07:44:04 PM »
Does anyone know if you can get kosher food on the United flight from Honolulu to Newark in 1st class?  I called and ordered and the person I spoke to said she added the request to my tickets and that we would get kosher meals, but who knows if we will really get it.
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #87 on: July 25, 2013, 07:53:58 PM »
You can, but better to hope they forget it and give you $200 for that.
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.

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #88 on: July 25, 2013, 07:55:16 PM »
Haha!  Thanks Dan.  I'll gladly take 200 x 4 rather than the kosher meals.  The tickets were booked for 80k United miles each so that means I would make nice $ on the deal.

By the way, if they do forget the kosher meals, how do I go about getting the 200?

Also, do you know what kind of kosher food they give you in 1st?

Thanks,

PB
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #89 on: August 21, 2013, 05:32:02 PM »
Posting my experience - perhaps this will help someone - I booked 4 return 1st class lay flat seats at 80k each on United from hnl to ewr and saw availability online for 40k.  I called United and they only had 1 seat availability for 40k.  The rebooked one of the tickets and refunded me 40k miles!
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #90 on: October 29, 2013, 12:41:50 PM »
Me and 4 friends are going to Hawaii in a few weeks and we plan on stay in the bug island for 5 days
We were thinking to rent a house next to the chabad house so we can go there for shabbos
What do you guys think of having a house down there meaning anywhere we want to go we will have to go back and forth will that work for us? Or do you think for a few days have a house near the chabad house and the other few on the other end of the island?

TIA

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #91 on: October 29, 2013, 12:54:34 PM »
I would do a few on both ends.
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #92 on: October 29, 2013, 01:08:59 PM »
We're 5 guys with each suit case looking to rent from hertz on the big island which vehicle would be the most convenient and it's a 4x4?

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #93 on: October 29, 2013, 01:57:42 PM »
We're 5 guys with each suit case looking to rent from hertz on the big island which vehicle would be the most convenient and it's a 4x4?

If you want to drive to the top of mauna kea, 4wd is recommended - put it in 4wd low and 2nd gear on way up and down.  Although lots of people take everything up to the top including mustangs, best to take 4wd.  If you are not planning on driving to the top of mauna kea, get a minivan.
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #94 on: October 29, 2013, 02:07:00 PM »
If you want to drive to the top of mauna kea, 4wd is recommended - put it in 4wd low and 2nd gear on way up and down.  Although lots of people take everything up to the top including mustangs, best to take 4wd.  If you are not planning on driving to the top of mauna kea, get a minivan.
I'd say exactly the opposite.

I drove up Mauna Kea in a mustang without any issues.
But if you want to drive the road to the ocean, drive into waipio valley, drive to hidden volcanically heater waler holes, drive to green sands beach, etc, etc you need 4WD.
« Last Edit: October 29, 2013, 02:11:21 PM by Dan »
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.

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #95 on: October 29, 2013, 02:08:09 PM »
I'd say exactly the opposite.

I drove up Mauna Kea in a mustang without any issues.
But if you want to drive the road to the ocean, drive into waipio, drive to hidden volcanicly heater waler holes, drive to green sands beach, etc, etc you need 4WD.

Reasonable minds can disagree but I stand by my posting.
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #96 on: October 29, 2013, 02:12:12 PM »
And I couldn't disagree more.  Unless you have no interest in any of those things I mentioned which all actually do require 4WD.

And if you're not interested in those things pretty much any car can make it up Mauna Kea.  Though the government would prefer you use 4WD up MK so that you don't ruin their road.
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #97 on: October 29, 2013, 02:13:05 PM »
Dan I couldn't find your trip notes on the big island
Can you post a link here?

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #98 on: October 29, 2013, 02:14:10 PM »
Dan I couldn't find your trip notes on the big island
Can you post a link here?
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=27424
;)
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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #99 on: October 29, 2013, 02:18:33 PM »
Thanks :-)
Any cheap hotels in Hilo?