Hawaii - Is my Hawaii plan reasonable?

So I couldn't resist the AUD640 special return fares SYD-HNL on HA and I booked myself a quick Hawaiian holiday for June.

Never having been to Hawaii before I go ahead and book my hotels and carhire I wouldn't mind some advice as to whether my general plan is reasonably feasable please?

For what it is worth I'm 28, male, fit, and will be travelling on my own.

Wed: Arr HNL 11am ex SYD - spend afternoon and evening pottering around the beach/pool - maybe climb diamond head if im really keen etc

Thurs: USS Arizona first thing then shopping at chelsea premium outlet in the middle of the day (the prices are 80+% cheaper than Sydney and the clothes I bought at the LAS chelsea premium outlet a few years ago are starting to show their age!) and then maybe a Na Hoku II catamaran cruise (as suggested in the other thread) for the late afternoon. Overnight HNL.

Fri: fly to Hilo early ish (say 8am or so) - hire a car for two days and go and see the volcanos and stop in at a few beaches/other sites. Overnight somewhere maybe Kona?

Sat: potter around the island a bit more and get a flight around 4pm back to HNL - overnight HNL.

Sun: hire a car and drive around the island (overnight HNL)

Mon: flight back to Sydney leaves at noon.

I'd like to try and do some 'stuff'. I did a decent amount of an undergraduate geology degree some years ago, so seeing the volcano national park is a must. Other than that it is flexible - so suggestions are very welcome! I'd like it to feel like a somewhat relaxing holiday (by not having big days back-to-back) without being just a sit on the beach and do nothing kind of experience. Is my vague plan feasable?

Many thanks!

I'd push back your return to Oahu until Sunday mid-morning. You can drive around Oahu (on a Sunday) in a couple of hours. It will take a full day (any day of the week) to get around the Big Island. You can then spend all day Friday at VNP. That Saturday night, you can drive around the island and then head up to Mauna Kea, watch the sunset and then do some star-gazing.

Fri: fly to Hilo early ish (say 8am or so) - hire a car for two days and go and see the volcanos and stop in at a few beaches/other sites. Overnight somewhere maybe Kona?

Sat: potter around the island a bit more and get a flight around 4pm back to HNL - overnight HNL.



If you are thinking of overnighting in Kona, you might as well just fly into Kona. Try priceline/hotwire for a night or two. It will be nicer and cheaper. The drive, however, to the volcano is ~3 hours. If you are just going to Kona for a hotel, honestly I'd just stay in Hilo then. Save all the driving if everything you want to see is on that side of the island. Sure the hotel won't be as nice, but it may offset the driving.

Personally I would just go straight to the big Island upon landing at HNL. I'd spend most of my time on the Big island. Just stop in HNL for about 24 hours on the way back to do pearl harbor and your shopping.

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.

It seems I need to either rethink driving all the way around the big island or spend more time there. If I rather than driving all the way around I were to fly into Hilo in the morning, hire a car and spend most of the day at the VNP.

Then find a hotel on somewhere on the west coast and then fly out of either Kona or Hilo the next afternoon (having a relatively quiet day just pottering about), would that be more realistic?

I'm used to driving - I grew up on the outskirts of Sydney, where the nearest shop is 15 minutes drive away - so spending a couple of hours driving is no big deal for me.

In the back of my mind is the fact that I will be on my own, and would like to maximise my ability to eat dinner at places like sportsbars etc, (where I don't feel so self-conscious about sitting there on my own with nothing to do other than fiddle with my phone) which is why I am tending to more time in HNL than seems to be suggested. Very happy for any more suggestions.

I agree with hindukid. You are wasting a lot of valuable time if you overnight at HNL at both the beginning and end of your trip. I'd keep on going to Hilo/Kona or wherever as soon as you hit the ground in HNL...perhaps a 12:30pm flight. And I'd reschedule the shopping for first thing in the morning or better yet after the sun goes down. I'd hate to think you would be spending valuable daylight hours walking around an outlet store when paradise is all around you.

Though I understand what the others are saying about getting to Big Island as soon as you can, I think your schedule with stopping in HNL first does make sense for a couple of reasons. One, your will be able do your shopping on a weekday instead of a Sunday. Two, you get your "required" items (shopping & PH) taken care of before going to the Big Island, so that when you come back to HNL you have more flexiablity. If you want more time on the Big Island, overnite on Sat., and then go back to HNL on Sunday. Just my thoughts.

Nothing wrong with your itinerary, except that I would eliminate the Kona side from your plans for such a short visit. I would spend an entire day doing volcano stuff, including after dark viewing from the best vantage point at the time of your trip. The second day I would head south to visit the black sand beach at Kaimu or Kahena, take a dip in the Ahalanui Pool and then head north past Hilo to check out the waterfalls in the area. Catch the last flight out of Hilo, well, any flight after dark.

I personally would try to find a cottage or house in the Puna District, very nice locale for the above itinerary. I stayed in Keaau last year and it made a similar trip a breeze.

Thanks very much for all the replies.
On the back of your advice I have modified my plan, such that I connect straight through to ITO and have an extra night there.
Looking forward to it!

The valcano house is temperarly closed for removation, but several b&B/lodges are available nearby. This should allow you to be close by and get the morning and nighttime views as well as hike to the "eruptions"

As far as the "when to shop". My opinion would be to shop at the end, as it looks like you are doing (then you do not have to lug around your purchases) OR shop at the begining and bring less clothes to account for your planned purchases.

Exchanges rates are great for you. It is Hawaii, the place where everyone has a fair dinkem holiday!!!!!!!!!!!

I do think you had underestimated the size of the Big Island. We spent a week there once (while living on Oahu), flying into Kona and out of Hilo. The drive between the two was enjoyed as a leisurely all-afternoon one, with some stops along the way.

In Hilo, I've had friends like Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay hotel - very moderate but you're not in the room except to sleep and shower anyway.

Are you stopping overnight in HNL still? If not, allow sufficient time for the connecting flight as the interisland terminal is separate from the main one (you take the little shuttle bus over).

Big Island is Big.. and lots to do. Between stargazing, luaus, and Volcano.. you'll need a bit of time to explore. We'll be at Big Island next month.. and Maui shortly after.. three weeks!:)