Going to the big island of Hawaii - What are the must do's?

[AmericasTeam]

I'm leaving Tuesday morning for a week on the big island of Hawaii. I'm looking for recommendations of things to do. I'm especially looking for off the beaten path kind of things.

A couple of things I've already been told were to take a helicopter ride, don't waist my time at Luaus, and don't take the the submarine ride.

 

[Landroval]

omg so much to do...

for sure see Hawaii Volcanoes Natl Park and Kilauea. Are you interested in hiking, beach, horseback? Cultural things, scientific, or sports... or just lounging?

 

[cirthix]

don't take a rock home

 

[SynthDude2001]

You should take lots of pics and post them here.

 

[Stumps]

be eaten by a tiger shark!

 

[Zugzwang152]

PM Darein and tell him I referred you. He lives there n' shit.

 

[Hacana]

Eat at the Desert Rose Cafe if you're looking for some pretty good food.

It's located on Highway 11, in the small town of Ocean View, just west of South Point, in between Kailua-Kona and Hilo.

 

[Lola]

I will drop you a PM as there is too much to write now...
check out our photos of our trips:
www.infinitemile.com/gallery
there are two galleries of hawaii 2004 and 2003

 

[NuclearNed]

Kahuna Falls

 

[SuRgEoN]

Snorkle at Hanama Bay

 

[techfuzz]

Go snorkling, visit the volcanos, just go sightseeing.

techfuzz

 

[Qwest]

black sand beach.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: AmericasTeam
I'm leaving Tuesday morning for a week on the big island of Hawaii. I'm looking for recommendations of things to do. I'm especially looking for off the beaten path kind of things.

A couple of things I've already been told were to take a helicopter ride, don't waist my time at Luaus, and don't take the the submarine ride.

You absolutely must vistit the volcano and hike through one of the old craters. This one we hiked through was active in 1959. Awesome!! It's a 4.5 mile hike.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: binoculaz
black sand beach.

That's cool but even better is the Green sand beach close to the south point. You have to hike 3 miles to get there but it's worth it.

 

[Pciber]

Originally posted by: AmericasTeam
don't waist my time at Luaus.

I rather enjoyed the luau i went to. very good food, the way they cook the pig makes it SOOO good... not to mention some good quality time with my family

Don't bother with the beaches, all the sand is fake, trucked in from elsewhere, the water is extremely salty, and if you burn at all, you will burn very quickly...

oh, and stop by hilo hatties, if you need some hawaiin shirts.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Pciber

Originally posted by: AmericasTeam
don't waist my time at Luaus.

I rather enjoyed the luau i went to. very good food, the way they cook the pig makes it SOOO good... not to mention some good quality time with my family

Don't bother with the beaches, all the sand is fake, trucked in from elsewhere, the water is extremely salty, and if you burn at all, you will burn very quickly...

oh, and stop by hilo hatties, if you need some hawaiin shirts.

You are kidding right.

 

[Hammerhead]

make sure you stop at Big Island Candies and stock up on your choclate.

If you aren't staying at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Hotel, you have to stop by there and walk around.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: binoculaz
black sand beach.

That's cool but even better is the Green sand beach close to the south point. You have to hike 3 miles to get there but it's worth it.

Most rental car places forbid it. That means if you have an issue out there, you are on your own.

1. I suggest taking the scenic drive off of 19 between Kona and Hilo.
2. Take 250 from Waimea and a few miles down the road you will start to see a giant mountain in the distance. That is Maui, about 40 miles away.
3. Check out the cloud forest north of Kona. There is one road (forgot the name) that zig zags back and forth half way up the volcano, and stops in the clouds. Very neat.
4. The Volcano winery is very good, and offers free samples.
5. Tropical Dreams ice cream = awesome. There are a few of them on the island. One in Hawi, one south of Kona, one in Hilo.
6. Take 270 until it ends at a scenic point. At the end of that is a small path down. A 30 minute hike leaves you here
7. Check out HOVE. What a weird place to drive. Thousands of acres of streets, stop signs, but no houses, anywhere.



Oh yeah, PICK UP THE BIG ISLAND REVEALED! Best tour book ever.

 

[Hammerhead]

Originally posted by: Pciber

I rather enjoyed the luau i went to. very good food, the way they cook the pig makes it SOOO good... not to mention some good quality time with my family

Don't bother with the beaches, all the sand is fake, trucked in from elsewhere, the water is extremely salty, and if you burn at all, you will burn very quickly...

oh, and stop by hilo hatties, if you need some hawaiin shirts.

Typical haole that doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: binoculaz
black sand beach.

That's cool but even better is the Green sand beach close to the south point. You have to hike 3 miles to get there but it's worth it.

Most rental car places forbid it. That means if you have an issue out there, you are on your own.

1. I suggest taking the scenic drive off of 19 between Kona and Hilo.
2. Take 250 from Waimea and a few miles down the road you will start to see a giant mountain in the distance. That is Maui, about 40 miles away.
3. Check out the cloud forest north of Kona. There is one road (forgot the name) that zig zags back and forth half way up the volcano, and stops in the clouds. Very neat.
4. The Volcano winery is very good, and offers free samples.
5. Tropical Dreams ice cream = awesome. There are a few of them on the island. One in Hawi, one south of Kona, one in Hilo.
6. Take 270 until it ends at a scenic point. At the end of that is a small path down. A 30 minute hike leaves you here
7. Check out HOVE. What a weird place to drive. Thousands of acres of streets, stop signs, but no houses, anywhere.



Oh yeah, PICK UP THE BIG ISLAND REVEALED! Best tour book ever.

Really, can they forbid you to drive on a road, park and hike 3 miles to get there.

More things to see:

Botanic garden is cool
Akaka Falls
Visit Kona and buy excellent but fvcking expensive 100% Kona coffee.
Visit south point too.

 

[Qwest]

it was over 10 yrs ago, but i remember the Macadamia Nut factory was pretty cool.
stocked up on those to bring home too.

 

[FrustratedUser]

There is also a really good place for snorkling somewhere between the South Point and Kona. I think it's close to some Captain Cook monument..

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: cirthix
don't take a rock home

why not

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99

Originally posted by: cirthix
don't take a rock home

why not

Forbidden, and causes bad luck.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: binoculaz
black sand beach.

That's cool but even better is the Green sand beach close to the south point. You have to hike 3 miles to get there but it's worth it.

Most rental car places forbid it. That means if you have an issue out there, you are on your own.

1. I suggest taking the scenic drive off of 19 between Kona and Hilo.
2. Take 250 from Waimea and a few miles down the road you will start to see a giant mountain in the distance. That is Maui, about 40 miles away.
3. Check out the cloud forest north of Kona. There is one road (forgot the name) that zig zags back and forth half way up the volcano, and stops in the clouds. Very neat.
4. The Volcano winery is very good, and offers free samples.
5. Tropical Dreams ice cream = awesome. There are a few of them on the island. One in Hawi, one south of Kona, one in Hilo.
6. Take 270 until it ends at a scenic point. At the end of that is a small path down. A 30 minute hike leaves you here
7. Check out HOVE. What a weird place to drive. Thousands of acres of streets, stop signs, but no houses, anywhere.



Oh yeah, PICK UP THE BIG ISLAND REVEALED! Best tour book ever.

Really, can they forbid you to drive on a road, park and hike 3 miles to get there.

More things to see:

Botanic garden is cool
Akaka Falls
Visit Kona and buy excellent but fvcking expensive 100% Kona coffee.
Visit south point too.

It voids your contract, so any insurance you bought, etc, will be useless if you were to get in an accident out there. I dunno what your auto insurance would do, either.

South Point, the valley, Saddle Rd, and a whole host of others are off limits.