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 282098 times)

Offline Dan

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Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« on: January 25, 2010, 07:50:54 PM »
Trip report coming soon...
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.

Offline auntiemus

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2010, 01:08:08 AM »
???

Offline momo

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2011, 08:36:41 PM »
Bump!  Dan any chance of a report?

Offline Dan

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2011, 10:47:19 PM »
Bump!  Dan any chance of a report?
Time+Energy-lack of interest among most DD readers=Doubtful.

I may consider selling the concierge info packet I have on each island without buying the entire DD concierge package...
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.

Offline momo

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2011, 11:15:14 AM »
Dan any suggestions about where to stay on the big island?

Offline YudiG

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2011, 12:20:13 PM »
Time+Energy-lack of interest among most DD readers=Doubtful.

I may consider selling the concierge info packet I have on each island without buying the entire DD concierge package...

what does concierge service cost? :)

Offline miles horder

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2012, 11:51:36 PM »
Has anyone been to the big island? whats there to do for one day? so far i'm
planing on doing blue Hawaiian helicopter tour, any other ideas?  thanks

Offline Ryan

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #7 on: January 20, 2012, 12:56:28 AM »
whats there to do for one day?

Drive around Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Offline Ryan

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Offline miles horder

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2012, 11:09:31 AM »
Thanks,

Offline Saver2000

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #10 on: January 20, 2012, 11:24:16 AM »
Thanks,

For your second question,  go to the search box in the upper right corner and enter "piggybacking". That should help you out.

Offline Dan

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #11 on: March 09, 2012, 02:31:12 PM »
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.

Offline ballucanbe

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2012, 05:06:12 PM »
HI Dan

Im going to be visiting the big island for three days.  Do you have any suggestions for what to do.  i plan on visiting the volcanoe national park.  Is there a specific tour which is better than the others.  Also, what would you recommend for the other 2 days.  Thank you and good to know about that falafel shop

Offline JewJitSew

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2012, 11:17:44 AM »
Last Sept/October I did a two week trip to Hawaii with my wife and three month old daughter. We spent six days on Maui, four days on the Big Island, and six days on Kauai. I like adventure and loved the Big Island, consequently, it was not my wife's favorite.

We did not have any set plans for the Big Island unlike the other islands. Also, with significant hotel budgets allotted to Kauai and Maui, we opted for a condo in Kona near the Kings/Queens market. We did do VNP but was a little limited by concerns of hiking with my daughter en tow. We drove through most of it and took some incredible photos, would love to return and do a night time hike to see glowing lava.

We destroyed a SUV while exploring, the trails on the Big Island are not made for trucks as big as Yukon XL's (or perhaps my driving skills were not up to par). However, being adventurous (for me) and searching for trails and lookout spots led us to some amazing places. Lots of pretty sites. And spending some time at the waterfalls was nice, many beautiful sights to explore.

My wife loved our time at the Mountain Thunder coffee farm. Short but interesting tour, amazing coffee, and a great opportunity to drop some serious money on coffee to ship home. However, we are still drinking it and have never had better coffee.

We do not keep strict kosher so I cannot speak to that aspect. We did not find too many great restaurants (in fact the Roy's there was very bad). Brunch at the Four Seasons was very good and wow is that a beautiful property. We spent a fair amount of time walking the property there and if I could find the right prices, I would love to stay there when we return - prices when I checked were around $700/night.

You drive a lot on this island as it is big. Getting from the Kona side to Hilo is a hike.

The Thurston lava tube was just okay.

I know this is not the most thorough of report, but I must say that the rural and undeveloped aspect of the Big Island was wonderful. When I plan my next trip to Hawaii, it will be the Big Island on the itinerary.

Offline Dan

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2012, 11:25:40 AM »
Why did you stay in Kona over Hilo?

Make it down Waipio or to Green Sands?
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Offline JewJitSew

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #15 on: April 05, 2012, 09:28:30 PM »
No specific reason. But staying on the Kona side really added to the mood with so much open space.

I did less research before visiting the Big Island than the others but it was probably my favorite.

Offline Dan

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #16 on: April 05, 2012, 09:50:33 PM »
If you're adventurous I'd stay on the Hilo side, if you want sun and sand stay on the Kona side.
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.

Offline JewJitSew

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #17 on: April 22, 2012, 09:28:20 AM »
If you're adventurous I'd stay on the Hilo side, if you want sun and sand stay on the Kona side.

Perhaps correct. However, as my wife and I are discussing vacation plans for the fall - I keep coming back to the Big Island. Really love that place. I am going with the idea that you cannot go wrong no matter where you stay.

Offline arid

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #18 on: June 20, 2012, 01:01:09 PM »
does anyone know of a apt/condo/house/hotel near chabad that we can stay by for shabbos?

Offline Dan

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Re: Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
« Reply #19 on: June 20, 2012, 01:03:35 PM »
Why don't you contact the shliach?
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