May 6, 2010
Wendy and I just spent nine days on the Big Island of Hawaii. It's called the Big Island because it's the biggest Hawaiian island. I'm not making this up. Anyway, we rented a car and drove all over the place, camping most nights and spending the days hiking, snorkeling, and sightseeing. We had actually been to Hawaii once before, but it was on a cruise, so we didn't have as much time to explore any of the islands. This trip changed that.
Quick Facts:
Miles driven: 1073
Nights spent in a hotel: 3 out of 9
Travel time to Hawaii: 18 hours
Shark attacks: 0
Minimum elevation: -4 feet (snorkel dive!)
Maximum elevation: 9200 feet
Tattoo sightings: 1.7 quadrillion
Sunburns: 2
Sea turtle sightings: A lot
Daily Recap:
Day 1 - Flew into Hilo via Honolulu via Denver via Newark; stayed at a hotel.
Day 2 - Drove to Volcanoes National Park to get a campsite; walked around Lava Tree State Park; visited the Cape Kumukahi lighthouse; swam in the Kapoho Tide Pools; ate at Lava Rock Cafe; camped at Volcanoes.
Day 3 - Drove around the Chain of Craters Road in Volcanoes; hiked to the Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs and the sea arch; camped at Volcanoes.
Day 4 - Hiked down to a little beach at Ka'a in Volcanoes; ate lunch at the Volcano Golf Club; tasted wine at the Volcano Winery; checked out the black sand at Punalu'u Beach; camped at Whittington Beach Park.
Day 5 - Stopped at the Punalu'u Bake Shop; went back to Punalu'u Beach and saw sea turtles; checked out the green sand at Papakolea Beach; drove to the southernmost point at Ka Lae; camped at Ho'okena Beach Park.
Day 6 - Kayaked and snorkeled in Kealakekua Bay; got lunch at The Coffee Shack; visited the Place of Refuge and snorkeled nearby (and saw spinner dolphins); stayed at a Marriott resort (!).
Day 7 - Checked out Waikoloa Petroglyphs; ate lunch at Kona Brew Pub; snorkeled at Kunalu'u Beach; camped at Spencer Beach Park.
Day 8 - Visited Pu'ukohola Heiau; snorkeled at Mahukona Beach; hiked down to Pololu Valley and Honokane Nui Valley; got lunch at the Snack Shack in Kapaau; stargazed at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station; stayed in a cheap motel in Kamuela.
Day 9 - Drove along Scenic Highway 19; stopped at Laupahoehoe Park; drove into Hilo for some lunch at Bueno Burrito; headed back north to Akaka Falls; ate at What's Shakin'; camped at Kolekole Beach Park.
Day 10 - Drove up to Pe'epe'e Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Kaumana Caves; got lunch at the Hilo Coffee Mill; walked around Hilo; saw the Queen Liliuokalani Gardens and nearby Coconut Island; headed to the airport to fly to Newark via Denver via Honolulu.
Pictures:
#travel
Quick Facts:
Miles driven: 1073
Nights spent in a hotel: 3 out of 9
Travel time to Hawaii: 18 hours
Shark attacks: 0
Minimum elevation: -4 feet (snorkel dive!)
Maximum elevation: 9200 feet
Tattoo sightings: 1.7 quadrillion
Sunburns: 2
Sea turtle sightings: A lot
Daily Recap:
Day 1 - Flew into Hilo via Honolulu via Denver via Newark; stayed at a hotel.
Day 2 - Drove to Volcanoes National Park to get a campsite; walked around Lava Tree State Park; visited the Cape Kumukahi lighthouse; swam in the Kapoho Tide Pools; ate at Lava Rock Cafe; camped at Volcanoes.
Day 3 - Drove around the Chain of Craters Road in Volcanoes; hiked to the Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs and the sea arch; camped at Volcanoes.
Day 4 - Hiked down to a little beach at Ka'a in Volcanoes; ate lunch at the Volcano Golf Club; tasted wine at the Volcano Winery; checked out the black sand at Punalu'u Beach; camped at Whittington Beach Park.
Day 5 - Stopped at the Punalu'u Bake Shop; went back to Punalu'u Beach and saw sea turtles; checked out the green sand at Papakolea Beach; drove to the southernmost point at Ka Lae; camped at Ho'okena Beach Park.
Day 6 - Kayaked and snorkeled in Kealakekua Bay; got lunch at The Coffee Shack; visited the Place of Refuge and snorkeled nearby (and saw spinner dolphins); stayed at a Marriott resort (!).
Day 7 - Checked out Waikoloa Petroglyphs; ate lunch at Kona Brew Pub; snorkeled at Kunalu'u Beach; camped at Spencer Beach Park.
Day 8 - Visited Pu'ukohola Heiau; snorkeled at Mahukona Beach; hiked down to Pololu Valley and Honokane Nui Valley; got lunch at the Snack Shack in Kapaau; stargazed at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station; stayed in a cheap motel in Kamuela.
Day 9 - Drove along Scenic Highway 19; stopped at Laupahoehoe Park; drove into Hilo for some lunch at Bueno Burrito; headed back north to Akaka Falls; ate at What's Shakin'; camped at Kolekole Beach Park.
Day 10 - Drove up to Pe'epe'e Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Kaumana Caves; got lunch at the Hilo Coffee Mill; walked around Hilo; saw the Queen Liliuokalani Gardens and nearby Coconut Island; headed to the airport to fly to Newark via Denver via Honolulu.
Pictures:
#travel
Linked: Big Island trip review