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Hawaii- Big Island


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3 hours ago, texasdago said:

So I went ahead and booked a ticket flying into Honolulu and flying out of Kona. Right now I'm trying to figure out how much time we'll spend in Oahu with more time on the coast if possible. Leaning towards time on the east side of the island. 

If there's one thing I'm noticing about Hawaii is the absurd hotel and condo prices. I mean, seriously, you see one price and then you see the final price. With all the taxes and fees and garbage added on top. The first price is already overpriced and then it gets worse. Makes me reconsider a future trip to Switzerland.

if you haven't done Pearl Harbor, your first full day there is the best time to do it - your bodies will still be on mainland time so you'll be up early and can be first in line if you're not one of the few that get tickets for the ferry over to the USS Arizona.

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  • 2 weeks later...

OK... trip fully booked.  Here's what we've got - 7 nights in Oahu, 6 nights in the Big Island.  Will figure out the details later.  Have a Hawaiian friend giving me insight on Oahu and a friend who just sold her house in Waikoloa giving me insight on the Big Island...

 

Fly into Honolulu, Oahu

Waikiki (3 nights) - no car

car pickup

Punaluu (4 nights)

Honolulu to Hilo 

 

Big Island - Hawaii

pick up car at Hilo Airport 

Hilo, Hawaii (2 nights)

Volcano (1 night)

Kailua (3 nights)

Fly out of Kona 

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9 hours ago, Hank_Hill said:

I like Waikiki because I live on Maui and it’s a snooze fest over here, but as a tourist 3 nights there might be too many depending on what you’re looking for

To be fair, I have no idea what we're looking for... I mean, maybe I can make our east side place on the east side 5 nights vs 4

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29 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

I found Hilo to be a bit of a shithole.  rainbow falls is OK I guess. 

I mean, it feels like a lot of Hawaii is pretty rural and just sleepy.  Am I wrong?  Aside from places like Waikiki?  Again, I won't know until I go there but it feels like Hawaii is kind of our US Costa Rica. No?  So is Hilo Tamarindo?

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Hilo area is good to use as a base for visiting Volcanoes NP, but it sounds like you're already staying somewhere near VNP for a night.  VNP is a must-see, esp. now that it's apparently erupting again.

But there are enough sights in the Hilo area to fill up at least a day.  Rainbow Falls, Boiling Pots, and the area around Wailuku River, Akaka Falls, and the the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden are all worthwhile IMO.  I'm not a big botanical garden fan in general, but that one was definitely worth it.  The farmers market in Hilo is supposed to be pretty cool, but I don't think it was going on the days we were there.  I think 2 nights and a day in Hilo is about right.

A couple other must-sees for me on the Big Island would be Mauna Kea (make sure you acclimate for 1+ hours while at the Visitors Center before driving to the summit) and Waipi'o Valley.  We did the Waipio Valley Shuttle tour with the company that takes you down into the valley, and we found that to be very worthwhile.

 

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10 minutes ago, Carl Spackler said:

Hilo area is good to use as a base for visiting Volcanoes NP, but it sounds like you're already staying somewhere near VNP for a night.  VNP is a must-see, esp. now that it's apparently erupting again.

But there are enough sights in the Hilo area to fill up at least a day.  Rainbow Falls, Boiling Pots, and the area around Wailuku River, Akaka Falls, and the the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden are all worthwhile IMO.  I'm not a big botanical garden fan in general, but that one was definitely worth it.  The farmers market in Hilo is supposed to be pretty cool, but I don't think it was going on the days we were there.  I think 2 nights and a day in Hilo is about right.

A couple other must-sees for me on the Big Island would be Mauna Kea (make sure you acclimate for 1+ hours while at the Visitors Center before driving to the summit) and Waipi'o Valley.  We did the Waipio Valley Shuttle tour with the company that takes you down into the valley, and we found that to be very worthwhile.

 

The farmers market is awesome. Avocados the size is butternut squash. Fresh mango,  papaya,  leechi, dragon fruit...among others

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On 12/27/2024 at 1:37 PM, Carl Spackler said:

Think it's a reservation-only thing now that is held on certain dates.  https://hilo.hawaii.edu/maunakea/kuene/stargazing.php

The wife and I went up to Mauna Kea this past May during daylight hours, and we both agreed it was definitely worth it.  Doing a nightime stargazing trip would be an awesome experience.

Definitely try to acclimate at the visitors center before attempting to drive up to the summit.  I've hiked and backpacked at high elevation on numerous occasions in the past with no effects, but going up to Mauna Kea summit sure gave me the dizzies, and that was after spending 1-2 hours down at the visitors center.  

The stargazing is indeed amazing given the extremely low levels of light and actual pollution.  One tip if you plan to go - check the lunar phase.  Even a crescent moon will be extremely bright and limit some of what you can view

On 12/27/2024 at 1:37 PM, Carl Spackler said:
Edited by texasfight2025
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