Which to fly into: ITO or KOA?
 

So I've read through a bunch of posts but I still couldn't find a definitive answer.

Flying to Hawaii (LAX > HNL) in early November for a conference. Will have two and 2 half days on the Big Island before moving on to Lihue for the conference. My main focus is on seeing the volcanoes. Which airport to recommend flying in and out of? How much time do you suggest for each park/volcano? Any other highlight you might rec'd?

Thanks,
Aaron

ITO.

It's a 30 minute drive to VNP.

From KOA, though, it's a 3 hour drive.

One small fyi, though: if you need "resort quality" lodging, your only choice is on the Kona side. Hilo has many, many, many charms. Five star or four star or even three star hotels are not one of them.

There are lots of nice B&Bs, though, either in Hilo or in Volcano village.

If you do stay on the east side, other highlights I'd suggest would be: The Tsunami Museum in Hilo, the Lyman Museum in Hilo, Akaka Falls, the 4 mile scenic drive from Papaikou to Peepekeo (on your way to Akaka Falls -- and stop at the What's Shakin' Smoothy Stand :) ), Laupahoehoe Point (the most dramatic, imo, seaside spot on the Big Island), the Imiloa Astronomy Center and Planetarium (brand new with an incredible display of Hawaii history and culture, and, some say, the most state-of-the art planetarium in the world).

Definitely ITO if your focus is the volcano. Driving from KOA through Kona town alone can take forever.

And don't forget the Pana 'Ewa Rainforest Zoo in Hilo. Say "Hi" to Namaste, the resident White Bengal Tiger! http://www.hilozoo.com/Z_home.htm

Thanks a lot.

So is mauna kea worth the trip or only VNP? The drive from KOA to VNP, I image it's still a beautiful drive?

Heck yeah, it's a beautiful drive! We loved it. Living on Maui, it's the furthest we've ever driven without ending up where we started! ;)

A couple of things:

The trip to Mauna Kea (or even just to the visitors center) is spectacular. But you can't get there except by driving Saddle Road (do a search on that for some reports re) and some rental car companies prohibit that. Your call as to whether you abide that by ;)

And you can drive from KOA to VNP via Saddle Road (again with the rental caveat) but you'll miss some of the most fantastic scenery: Parker Ranchlands (with Mauna Kea strikingly in the distance), the fun and funky town of Honoka`a (and Texs Drive Inn for malasadas ^), the Waipio Valley overlook, more opportunities to drive the "old highway" which will take you back 50 years, Laupahoehoe Point, Kolekole Park, Akaka Falls.

So I think I'll do this:

Fly to KOA
Drive to VNP via coast.
Day and a half at VNP
Eve and Morning at Mauna Kea
fly to Lihue from ITO.

Ultiamtely I have to rush bc of the conference but I'd like to get a good sampling of what's out there.

There is no place to stay at Mauna Kea overnight, so you are looking at driving up and back twice.

Iirc, IslandAir has a direct flight (stops in OGG) ITO-LIH.

You might prefer the circumnavigation approach:

-- Fly into ITO

-- Drive to Wapio or Honopaa.
Explore Wapio Valley and spend the night.
I stayed here once: http://www.cliffhousehawaii.com/index.html
There are other places to stay nearby.

--Morning drive to Mauna Kea
Stop in Kamuela (aka Waimea) for lunch.
Visit Parker Ranch if that's your thing.
http://www.parkerranch.com/Parker-Ra...bout-the-ranch

--Drive to/near VNP where you'll spend the night
Enjoy the volcano.

--Head back to ITO

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to have to rethink some of this. My wife will be 6 months pregnant and Mauna Kea is not rec'd for pregnant women. Anyone have any experience with this?

Pay attention to this man, he speaks the truth.

I drove to Kilauea from Waikoloa twice, once each way. I'm an amateur volcanology student, and it was interesting to finally put eyes on the famous Mauna Loa 1919, 1926 and 1950 flows--but the snail-on-NyQuil pace through Kailua-Kona was beyond the pale.

This might seem stupid, but if I had to do it again (and I will, LOL) I'd take 19 through ITO, then 11 past HVP and on to South Point and even further north. And then turn around and retrace. Sure, you're going around your elbow, but I'd rather be driving at speed and seeing the same things twice than being stuck in Hippie Central for two hours like I was in Kona. The tank of gas you buy in Hilo will last you, and any roadfood you want you can get in Volcano town until you get to real food in Hilo or Kamuela.

Hold on! Yes, I do have experience with this. I'm very fit, and I had trouble walking up the stairs of the observatory. I strongly recommend that you do not do this with your wife. The chances of a problem are low, but the consequences would be disastrous. A helicopter airlift would be necessary if you had any problems, and that might take hours.

It would be hard to enjoy yourselves up, down and on top when you know how problematic it would be if your wife were to encounter problems.

Thanks dhuey -- I agree, we're not going to risk it. It's a shame for her too since we love the outdoors and science and since she's a geochemist. That also includes all of the hot springs. Surprisingly though she's insisting that I do the evening program at Mauna Kea alone so if anyone's has a good suggestion for something she can do in/around Hilo without me, I'd appreciate it.

Perhaps a geochemist would appreciate Mauna Kea a lot more than I did. It was a long journey for not much reward, in my view. I was disappointed with the views on the way up and at the top. Saddle Road is also a pretty unpleasant stretch of highway. I much prefer Haleakala on Maui.

I think a geochemist would find the visitors center at Volcanoes National Park or the presentations/displays at the Imiloa Astronomy Center much more intriguing.

As for something to do in Hilo in the evening, well Hilo isn't a late night town ;)

There's always the mall or a movie.

The western half of Saddle Road is not only unpleasant but downright scary. The east side (newly re-paved) is fine -- but still has no banked curves. Be careful. It's always foggy a few miles mauka of the Hilo end.

I did 4 days on the BI with the little (no relations) a few weeks ago.

We flew into KOA, rented a car, spent a day & a night in the area.
We kayaked out to Captain Cook Monument, snorkelled with the honu at Kahaluu beach, and went down to the Heiau. (that was awesome; we arrived ~4:30 and had the darn place all to ourselves. Walked way out on the lava, saw some old fisherman's memorial and really enjoyed every minute of it. ^)

Then we drove around to VNP (right thru TS/TD Cosme) and spent 2 days & a night there.
Then went into ITO, overnighted there, turned in the car and flew back to HNL.
(note: don't plan on doing much in ITO on a Sunday; many places, including museums, are closed Sunday)(and it will rain :()

Find out if you can fly to one side, rent your car, return it on the other side & fly out from there.
Good luck!

And the entrance to VNP is at 4000 ft elevation
 

The entrance to VNP is at about 4000 ft elevation. My wife did this at 5 months pregnant and didn't have any problems, but I thought you would like to know. We stayed overnite 3 nights in Volcano as I recall.

My wife's biggest problem on that trip is that we got caught downwind from a strong sulfar bank at one point. My wife was concerned enough to call her O.B.

Enjoy the trip

I took the tour up to the top of Mauna Kea. Once was enough. It's a great place to go if you're into telescopes, but be prepared for cold, wind and perhaps altitude sickness. The tour companies provide everything you need to keep warm & oxygen in case you can't breathe :)

It was interesting to see, and boy was I hungry when I got back down, but I don't think I'd do it again.

No experience... but forget it. It's waay too high up there for a woman that pregant. You're talking over 14000 feet. The air is thin. Some people have trouble breathing.

I agree. And God forbid that something goes wrong. It's a long drive back down to Hilo Hospital.

That shouldn't be a problem, and it's not that far from Hilo. Here are a couple of expert views on the subject:

http://www.babycenter.com/plus/safe/...uestId=1137195

Another potential hazard for pregnant women to be aware of is the vog [as mentioned by OtisPDriftwood, above]. This caution is from the USGS:

What is "vog" and who is at risk breathing it?

"Vog" (volcanic smog) is the visible haze that forms when irritating sulfur dioxide and other volcanic gases combine and interact chemically with oxygen, moisture, dust, and sunlight. Kilauea emits about 2,000 tons of sulfur dioxide each day during eruption, now mainly from the still-open vent at Pu‘u ‘O‘o.

Trade winds commonly disperse the volcano's gases, so that the concentration is not generally hazardous. However, sulfur dioxide fumes can be concentrated near ground cracks along and down-wind from lava tubes.

Concentrated sulfur dioxide fumes put all people at risk, but particularly those persons with breathing problems (such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and heart difficulties, pregnant women, infants, and young children. If sulfur-fume concentrations begin to cause you physical distress, you should leave the area.

Interestingly, there are days when the vog can be much worse in Kailua-Kona town than at the park itself.