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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Echo a lot of the above. The North Shore is awesome, I saw the Pipeline Masters one year, VERY impressive. Honolulu is a bigger city than I expected.
Kauai is perhaps the most beautiful island because it's older and more lush. The Nā Pali Coast is a great hike. We were able to sneak down and swim at the waterfall seen at the beginning of Fantasy Island (in the middle of the island), I'm not sure if that's really allowed or not. Hmm, it's been a while I think that was Kauai. We also did a heli flight, beautiful.
But my favorite is the big island, so much to do. I've been there about 5 times. The west side (Kona which means leeward) is sunny and has great beaches, the east side is the rainy side and has waterfalls and the volcanoes. If you already did the beach thing on Oahu I'd prioritize the east side.
My favorite thing was hiking out to the lava, but that really depends on timing, it has to be flowing in a safe area (just over other lava, not trees, bushes, houses, etc. that could burn / blow up). I hate to mention it because it looks shut down currently, but who knows what it will be when you go. Look here: http://www.seelava.com/hike_to_see_lava_in-hawaii/ About 12 years ago we were able to do the hike on our own from the west / national park side, about 2 hours hiking out to the flows. We were able to stick our walking sticks in the lava, and put egg whisks in the lava and make lava "popsicles". It flows slowly (like life in Hawaii). It's really hot like approaching a huge bonfire. 2 years ago I did the lava hike with my son but we had to go with a tour group from the East / local town side. It was about $100+ a person and we approached via private property. It was worth it though because they knew the quickest way to hike there and we'd be trespassing if we didn't go with them.
If you can't hike out to the lava flows the national park is still cool, you can walk through old lava tubes, and maybe see the lava going into the water from a distance, or see lava in the caldera at a distance. Dusk is the best time to see stuff at a distance. We stayed in some cool cabins in the national park last time.
If you can't hike to the flows a helicopter or boat ride is the best way to see the lava.
There are some cool waterfalls near Hilo. Rainbow is not super tall be has a lot of flow and is super easy to get to. If you hike up a little past the top of the waterfall there's a huge banyan tree that's super fun to climb in. There's another tall but not vertical waterfall in the area with a little hike to get to it.
As mentioned the Manta Ray night dive is awesome. The boats leave from the harbor near Kailua-Kona airport. You can snorkel on top, or scuba to the bottom. We did the scuba but next time I'll do the snorkel. You can do it as a package and do a snorkel with the dolphins on another day. Which is also just amazing.
Kahaluu Beach Park south of Kailua-Kona is our local spot (my father in law has a place nearby). Great snorkeling and mellow surfing, with a surf rental shop across the street.
If you scuba it's awesome. We rented gear at Jack's diving locker for 24 hours and did 3 shore dives. Which is a lot cheaper than boat dives. I think they sold us a shore dive guide. The harbor by the airport was great. And I think another place is called two step by the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park south of Kailua-Kona. But even if you don't scuba the snorkeling is great there too.
Lastly Mauna Loa is cool. You can drive up to about 9,000 feet to the visitors center where they setup telescopes and get the best view of the stars you've ever seen. From 9,000 to 14,000 is a dirt road to the summit and observatories, which you're not supposed to take a rental car up. But there are tours that take you up, but the stuff above is more must do IMO.
Have fun!
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Jan
Mountain climber
Colorado, Nepal & Okinawa
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I liked the Bishop museum. Their planetarium show on how the early Polynesians navigated across the vast Pacific was fascinating and makes you appreciate the place all the more. You'll get the real story of their migrations at Bishop.The Polynesian culture center has their own slanted view.
As for the Big Island, Id plan to stay over night out on the volcano (and do bring water). It was one of the most inspiring places I've ever been. You really can see molten lava a few feet away and your feet will stay warm. You can see several new feet of what looks like chocolate fudge added to the island in just a few hours, complete with great clouds of steam as it hits the ocean. Every nature lover should see it once - at night preferably, when the red hot lava is more visible.
And don't drive over the saddle road or bring home any rocks from Hawaii. The fire goddess Pele doesn't like that.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Speaking of Pele beliefs...
The first time we hiked out to the lava there was a tour group with a local guide. Right when we got to the lava flow he walked up to us and said "don't stick that stick into the lava, Pele doesn't like it". The borrowed walking stick that already was burned on the end from previous hikes. And I said "sure" and in my mind thought "while you are here and it will offend you sure, but when you leave I'm reverting to my beliefs which are to experience and be one with nature". A German guy in his group came up to me 2 minutes later and asked to borrow the stick and I had to say "Sorry no, your guide just asked me not to do that". I'm not sure what that local would have thought of me sticking a whisk in the lava and bringing it home.
So two years ago when we went with the tour group led by locals the first thing I asked was was I going to be able to stick a stick in the lava and the guy said "sure, we stop on the way in and get sticks for everybody". Haha, times change.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Taking rocks from Hawaii always reminds me of the Brady Bunch episodes where the Tiki idol was giving everybody bad luck. Those episodes are where BB jumped the shark, before Fonzie ever did. Either then or when all the guys got perms.
My sister in law had to mail back some rocks she took because it was freaking her out. I've had the lava whisks from Hawaii for about 12 years and have had great luck since then. But perhaps since they were molten lava not rocks when I first picked them up I'm safe, or maybe even Pele is smiling upon me.
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east side underground
climber
Hilton crk,ca
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go straight to the north shore, paddle out at pipe, say" sup dude " to all the nice fellas and get the real meaning of aloha
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 4, 2014 - 08:46pm PT
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Lots of good info.
Definitely going to print this thread out.
Still haven't found the hotel yet.
Looked at all that have been suggested.
Most trips I just dirtbag it, but I believe I will step up on this one and spend a little more.
Friend just recommended Kayak.com.
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