Hawaii - Help w/ Big Island Itin- Comments & Help

I've spent HOURS reading the previous posts here, and have formulated somewhat of an itinerary, but could sure use some comments & help.

1. I arrive at KOA at 5:15 on a Friday evening, and need to pick up the rental car and pick up a friend who will already be there. I figure it will be at least 6 pm before we can get going anywhere. All the decent B&B's in the KOA area seem to be full for the night I arrive.
a. Anyone have any Kona area suggestions for a terrific B&B that might not be listed on Tripadvisor, etc?
b. For the first night I'm thinking of driving down to either Captain Cook to stay at the Japanese place, or all the way to the South Road for a B&B there. Sunset is about 7pm so I'm wondering if this is too far and will leave me driving dangerous roads at night. I'd love to get all the way to Volcano or Hilo, but think that is pushing it. Comments?

2. Second day I figure explore Capt Cook area, kyack, etc. then on to Volcano to see it at night. Assume we should stay at B&B in Volcano and not try to get all the way to Hilo after night viewing of volcano.

3. Day three is Volcano park all day, and stay at B&B in Volcano again (or should I move to Hilo? The Waterfall B&B sounds REALLY nice)

4. Day four is Hilo, hot springs and Akaka Falls, and drive to HWV. Can someone advise on the best hot spirngs and where they are? I'm not quite clear on this. Should I try to get to them on day three?

5. Day five is rest at HWV and dinner at a nice place.

6. Day six is checkout HWV and explore Kona in afternoon, hopefully also a tour of a coffee plantation, with evening red-eye from KOA back to the 48.

I've skipped the observatory because it seemed too difficult and/or expensive to get there, but it's the one thing that interested us that I gave up.

Does the above sound reasonable? It has us doing the island counterclockwise - is clockwise better? Any suggestions/ rearrangement welcome.

I've skipped the observatory because it seemed too difficult and/or expensive to get there, but it's the one thing that interested us that I gave up.



The trip up to the peak of Mauna Kea is not cheap with the tour groups and it is rather arduous driving yourself so it may not fit your budget / desires, but I have to say I thought it was pretty amazing. We did it with the Mauna Kea Summit Adventures tour group and it was pretty incredible.

Also, not sure where this would fit in your itinerary, but one restaurant we really enjoyed was a very small relatively casual restaurant called Aioli's in Waimea - so it would be somewhere in your day 4 or 5. If you try it I would encourage a light lunch and go for an early dinner. Its such a small place that we got there around 5 / 5:30 and were the first customers of the evening so the owner / chef / maitre de came and sat us at our table and explained the dishes, etc. It was really good. Its also BYOB and there is a supermarket and a wine store across the street and they are more than happy to open your bottle of wine and serve it to you. There is a small deli case up front with a bunch of bottles of wine with peoples names taped to them - i guess regulars who don't finish and come back in a few days. Nothing fancy from the appearance, but the food was great -

I've spent HOURS reading the previous posts here, and have formulated somewhat of an itinerary, but could sure use some comments & help.

1. I arrive at KOA at 5:15 on a Friday evening, and need to pick up the rental car and pick up a friend who will already be there. I figure it will be at least 6 pm before we can get going anywhere. All the decent B&B's in the KOA area seem to be full for the night I arrive.

a. Anyone have any Kona area suggestions for a terrific B&B that might not be listed on Tripadvisor, etc?
b. For the first night I'm thinking of driving down to either Captain Cook to stay at the Japanese place, or all the way to the South Road for a B&B there. Sunset is about 7pm so I'm wondering if this is too far and will leave me driving dangerous roads at night. I'd love to get all the way to Volcano or Hilo, but think that is pushing it. Comments?

2. Second day I figure explore Capt Cook area, kyack, etc. then on to Volcano to see it at night. Assume we should stay at B&B in Volcano and not try to get all the way to Hilo after night viewing of volcano.

3. Day three is Volcano park all day, and stay at B&B in Volcano again (or should I move to Hilo? The Waterfall B&B sounds REALLY nice)

4. Day four is Hilo, hot springs and Akaka Falls, and drive to HWV. Can someone advise on the best hot spirngs and where they are? I'm not quite clear on this. Should I try to get to them on day three?

5. Day five is rest at HWV and dinner at a nice place.

6. Day six is checkout HWV and explore Kona in afternoon, hopefully also a tour of a coffee plantation, with evening red-eye from KOA back to the 48.

I've skipped the observatory because it seemed too difficult and/or expensive to get there, but it's the one thing that interested us that I gave up.

Does the above sound reasonable? It has us doing the island counterclockwise - is clockwise better? Any suggestions/ rearrangement welcome.

You have a number of things listed and I hope that you are not exhausted by the time you are done.

The B&B's and many of the hotels are full because they are running 90+% full. Hawaii is a popular destination recently.

1. Depending upon which car rental company you booked, you may be waiting a bit for a car. Some are busier than others. Usually after a flight, most people don't want to drive 1/2 way around the island the same day. Since I live here, I have no info about B&B's. Sorry :-)

2. If you are used to B&B's the Hotel Manago (or is it Manago Hotel - we call it both) may be the place you are talking about. They DO have great meals but the restaurant is closed Monday's. Driving from Kona to Captain Cook may take an hour or so, depending on the exact time you leave up north. We have major traffic issues at present. I think trying to get to Volcano will take you 3 or more hours from Kona on a Friday night. I advise not making that trek the first night.

3. There is lots to do at Volcano National Park, but if you hope to see any kind of lava flows, you need to hike and be there at night. During the day there is lots to see and do, but the big attraction would be seeing flowing lava. Even at night, you may only see small sparkles of glow on the pali (cliffs). Go here for current eruption info http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov

If any of your group are or were in the military, you might consider staying at the Kilauea Military Camp http://www.kmc-volcano.com which is better than it sounds :-)

Some people hike out onto the flow in the middle of the night so when they are coming back to their car (and are tired) it is light out.

4. The Big Island Revealed book might help with the hot springs. I've been on island for a few years and not been to any yet. This site seems to have some recent info http://users.erols.com/ovoss/hot-springs-photos-page2.htm

6. A day in Kona sounds leisurely. It is a perfect opportunity to go browse for gifts to take home. Lunch might be at Big Island Grill or dinner at U-Top-It. Long's Drugs, ABC or even Wal-Mart has those last minute things to take back. COSTCO (if you are a member) near the airport has nice shirts and cheap gas.

The Kona Brew Pub has great pizza and locally brewed beer. Finding their parking lot now-a-days takes a bit of work though.

An alternative for a leisurely lunch or dinner, consider buying a plate lunch at L&L near Longs, then drive to the old airport and grab a picnic table at the end of the road. The sunsets there are nice too and that is where we hold our KonaWeb picnics.

Also, not sure where this would fit in your itinerary, but one restaurant we really enjoyed was a very small relatively casual restaurant called Aioli's in Waimea - so it would be somewhere in your day 4 or 5. If you try it I would encourage a light lunch and go for an early dinner. Its such a small place that we got there around 5 / 5:30 and were the first customers of the evening so the owner / chef / maitre de came and sat us at our table and explained the dishes, etc. It was really good. Its also BYOB and there is a supermarket and a wine store across the street and they are more than happy to open your bottle of wine and serve it to you. There is a small deli case up front with a bunch of bottles of wine with peoples names taped to them - i guess regulars who don't finish and come back in a few days. Nothing fancy from the appearance, but the food was great -
just as an fyi, aioli's original owner sold it and it was closed last time i checked (about two months ago.) not sure if they've re-opened.

back to your itin, op, it sounds just fine...a bit hectic, but you've got time built in to take advantage of the rest and relaxation also.

i do think driving to hilo or volcano the day you arrive is pushing it. as others have noted, traffic can be pretty bad--worse on fridays--and you'll have darkness, jet lag and unfamiliar roads to contend with. that first night would be best spent a bit closer in.

regarding mauna kea, we've driven up ourselves several times, so you can definitely do it 'on the cheap' but it seems to me like a fine thing to put on your 'next time' list. it's kind of out of the way from your itin.

just as an fyi, aioli's original owner sold it and it was closed last time i checked (about two months ago.) not sure if they've re-opened.

Too bad, it was a neat little place.

I think TripAdvisor is going to give you the best unbiased advise (when sampled across multiple reviews). I don't do B+Bs, so I can't help you with this from personal experience, but I can say most higher-end or quality B+Bs would be on TripAdvisor *and* require a two-night minimum stay...check out http://www.keala.com/ for a decent B+B

On the second or third day, try to make time for a few hours to explore South Point and the green sand beach...it's worth the diversion. If you finish Kealakekua Bay by 1p, you can make the green sand beach on the same day from May thru Oct - I have done it. Just verify the latest check in time and dinner hour at your B+B in Volcano before attempting this.

A nice B+B in this area is Hale Ohia - http://www.haleohia.com/. There is no reason to move to Hilo yet - stay in this area, and you can drive to Hilo to check out the historic downtown, the farmers market (wed/sun) and the pacific tsunami museum. This way you have more time to take the drive on day 4 to HWV - you want to take time at the springs, Akaka Falls, the scenic drive at Onomea and the nearby botanical gardens. Also don't forget the Waipio Valley overlook on your way to Waikoloa.

For a nice meal on your last night, consider Pahu'ia at the Four Seasons Hualalai - it is some of the best cuisine anywhere in Hawai'i.

Also, regarding Mauna Kea - try to work this in one evening. Hawai'i Forest and Trail offers an excellent tour for 150/pp. They pick up from the downstairs tour bay at the HWV, stop along the slopes of Mauna Kea for a catered dinner, head to the summit for sunset, then come back to the visitor center for stargazing, hot chocolate and cookies. They also supply warm parkas. It is worth it, unless you plan to come back and try it next time.

On your last day, you have a full schedule...for your last meal, hit Kona Mixed Plate to fill up....the food is excellent, the place is mainly locals, and you won't need to eat again for 24 hours.

I think TripAdvisor is going to give you the best unbiased advise (when sampled across multiple reviews).

...I hope you are correct on that, and this is probably a topic for a different thread, but for a trip this past fall, I stayed at a place with about 12 terrific reviews and 2 bad ones. My experience was just like the bad ones. After I posted my review, about 8 other great reviews posted within 10 days. Prior to mine, there had been no reviews for three months. I then noticed it was the same pattern with the previous reviews and it then became obvious that the good reviews were planted by the property itself. While TripAdvisor is a good resource, I've learned to be wary. I've started to read the worst reviews and if there is a common complaint, I'll give it credence and stay away, no matter how many other good reviews there are. I think this is especially true of a small B&B type place where the owner is directly involved - much more chance there that good reviews are being posted by the owner.

On the second or third day, try to make time for a few hours to explore South Point and the green sand beach...it's worth the diversion. If you finish Kealakekua Bay by 1p, you can make the green sand beach on the same day from May thru Oct - I have done it. Just verify the latest check in time and dinner hour at your B+B in Volcano before attempting this.

OK. Why only from May - Oct? Is this because it gets dark? Can I drive a rental car down to there?

A nice B+B in this area is Hale Ohia - http://www.haleohia.com/. There is no reason to move to Hilo yet - stay in this area, and you can drive to Hilo to check out the historic downtown, the farmers market (wed/sun) and the pacific tsunami museum. This way you have more time to take the drive on day 4 to HWV - you want to take time at the springs, Akaka Falls, the scenic drive at Onomea and the nearby botanical gardens. Also don't forget the Waipio Valley overlook on your way to Waikoloa.

Which springs? We will try to hit the other sites you mention also.

For a nice meal on your last night, consider Pahu'ia at the Four Seasons Hualalai - it is some of the best cuisine anywhere in Hawai'i.

Also, regarding Mauna Kea - try to work this in one evening. Hawai'i Forest and Trail offers an excellent tour for 150/pp. They pick up from the downstairs tour bay at the HWV, stop along the slopes of Mauna Kea for a catered dinner, head to the summit for sunset, then come back to the visitor center for stargazing, hot chocolate and cookies. They also supply warm parkas. It is worth it, unless you plan to come back and try it next time.

On your last day, you have a full schedule...for your last meal, hit Kona Mixed Plate to fill up....the food is excellent, the place is mainly locals, and you won't need to eat again for 24 hours.

The plug for Mauna Kea may make me do it. I was thinking of trying the stargazing they have that comes to the hotels - is that worth it? (one review here says it is not, another says it is). May just have to make this one the "first" trip there! Thanks so much for the info.

...While TripAdvisor is a good resource, I've learned to be wary. I've started to read the worst reviews and if there is a common complaint, I'll give it credence and stay away, no matter how many other good reviews there are. I think this is especially true of a small B&B type place where the owner is directly involved - much more chance there that good reviews are being posted by the owner.

This is good advise for any online rating service - but because B+Bs are independent and finding ratings on them is not that easy, TripAdvisor is a good place to start, at least to make your initial short list. Some more searching on Google with the name of each property on your short list should give you a fairly comfortable feeling about the property you eventually decide on.

OK. Why only from May - Oct? Is this because it gets dark? Can I drive a rental car down to there?

May - Oct offers the longest periods of daily daylight - obviously, June would be the best. The only reason I mentioned this, is because packing in alot of activities in one day benefits from having longer rather than shorter days. I would not be comfortable with your daily activity list in the middle of December.

You can drive a car to the parking area at South Point (be careful not to go too far - look for where the majority of cars are parked in a small open area, and don't leave valuables in the car), but you must walk from there to the Green Sand Beach. Budget at least 60 minutes each way for the hike, if you are a reasonably fast walker. I heard that some local folks will shuttle you back and forth on their 4WDs, but I never saw that - the most I usually get from locals on the road is a smile and wave, even when the lift would have been appreciated :)

If you decide to go down to the beach, don't follow the instructions in many tour books, instead, walk to the highest crest of the cliff and look for a wooden stake in the ground. Just over the edge, a small ladder will lead you down to the ledge below, and you can walk in a criss-cross pattern down each ledge to the beach. It's easier than it looks

Which springs? We will try to hit the other sites you mention also.

I thought when you mentioned 'springs', you were referring to the Boiling Pots. If you wanted to take a soak in some traditional warm springs, you can go to Isaac Hale Park or Ahalanui. If you're not "into" soaking in springs, you could probably pass on these. With alot to do in a short time, you want to have a managable list of activities. You can always fly back for another visit.

The plug for Mauna Kea may make me do it. I was thinking of trying the stargazing they have that comes to the hotels - is that worth it? (one review here says it is not, another says it is). May just have to make this one the "first" trip there! Thanks so much for the info.

If you want a quickie view of a beautiful night sky without driving too far, if the weather is nice, drive down the highway from Waikoloa to the scenic parking area just north of the turnoff to the Hualalai resorts. You can do this stop after dinner at Pahu'ia. Just in case you run out of time to do the Mauna Kea visit. However, if you can fit it in the schedule, the HF+T tour is well worth it. Just book early, as their tours fill up quickly.

2nd vote for Hale Ohia Cottages in Volcano. Stayed their twice (most recently summer of 2005) and enjoyed it both times. Also, it is not worth moving to Hilo from Volcano. Hilo lodging options are limited. You can easily start your Day 4 from Volcano. It will add about 30 minutes drive time onto the day.

For dining in Volcano try Thai Thai or Kilauea Lodge.

--Jon

For dining in Volcano try Thai Thai or Kilauea Lodge.

--Jon

Most restaurants in Volcano close early - if you want to spend the evening in the park (assuming the lava starts flowing back into the ocean entry or there is some surface lava to hike to, you will certainly want to be there at night), it's a good idea to get some eats during the day and store them in the car or room, because you may not be done with the park until well past 9pm.

Last time, I found all the restaurants closed or closing when I got out of the park - and ended up driving all the way back to Kona with our growling stomachs before we found a bar/restaurant still open at the Keahou shopping plaza.

Hi-

We were in Hawaii in November and stayed at a couple of B&B's.
1) Bamboo Orchid (Volcano) http://www.visitvolcano.com/ - Found it to be a little dirty, felt like staying in someone's extra bedroom. We left and did not stay the night. Fortunately, we were accomodated by the nice folks at:

2) Shipman House (Hilo) - http://www.hilo-hawaii.com/ Pretty, old Victorian mansion. A lot of history and nice, knowlegable owners (Barbara is a real font of information). Not exactly what we were looking for (we wanted something more isolated and romantic) but nice. They were hosting a wedding and couldn't accomodate us for more than one night but sent us up the road to:

3) Emerald view (Hilo) - http://www.emeraldview.com/ Quiet, tranquil, beautiful deck off of the room overlooking a waterfall. Wonderful breakfast. I think there are only 2-3 rooms so it was very private. Yoshi is a great host.

All in all, we preferred the Kona side of the island but maybe that's because we started out with a couple days at the Four Seasons! ^ ^
Too bad a few more nights there wasn't in the budget!! :(

In January I stayed with the Country Goose B&B, the breakfast is fantastic, and the cottage I rented was 2 blocks from Volcano Village's "restaurant row" (Kilauea Lodge, Thai Thai, etc). When I ate there, they tried to stop people from entering after 9p, but close obviously later.