Topic Wiki
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):
Caves/lava tubes
Mountains
Waterfalls
Historical/museums
Beaches
Snorkeling
Snuba (ages 8+)
SCUBA
Swimming with dolphins
Coffee Farm Tours
NPS sites
Botanic Gardens
Miscellany
Hotels:
Getting Around:
Notes:
JewJitSew, Something Fishy, Cbs, MendyP, PBaruch, mechayamom, 3yummyboys, PBaruch, shulem92, Yehoshua, CGR
Kosher Food/ Restaurants:
- Chabad https://jewishbigislandorg.clhosting.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/3830169
- Oahu Kosher oahukosher.com +$60-$75 inter island delivery fee
Synagogue:
Things to Do:
Lava (find out in advance what the best way is to see the lava):
- Helicopter
- Paradise paradisecopters.com Will do with or without doors. Highly recommend without.
- Blue Hawaiian bluehawaiian.com No doors off.
- 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
- kalapanaculturaltours.com
- Lava Ocean Tours - The owner of Lava Ocean Tours has been reported to be reckless and it is recommended to take a boat tour with Kalapana Cultural Tours instead.
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
- Umauma https://umaumaexperience.com/visit-us/umauma-falls-viewing/
- Akaka - https://hawaiistateparks.org/parks/hawaii/akaka-falls-state-park/
- Rainbow (hike down to banyan tree(s))
Historical/museums
- Parker ranch http://parkerranch.com/
- Imiloa Astronomy Center at University of Hawaii at Hilo
- Jaggar
- Laupahoehoe Train Museum
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
- Kealakekua Bay
- boat
- Hike down to Captain Cook monument
- Kealakekua town
- with manta rays - there are several outfits that can take you snorkeling with the manta rays. Here are some options: https://www.fair-wind.com/cruise/evening-manta-snorkel-adventure/; https://www.jacksdivinglocker.com/snorkeling/boat-snorkeling/manta-ray-night-snorkel/
Kapoho Tide Pools - large variety of fish, up close(covered by lava, June 2018)
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
- wild
- Dolphin Quest at the Hilton Waikoloa
Coffee Farm Tours
- Greenwell offers free coffee farm tours and free tastings. Bring your own milk/cream/sugar - http://www.greenwellfarms.com/
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 »
