bertaron

Is a 4 wheel drive really important for 10 days on the Big Island? My wife keeps reading books about it and I am not so sure we need it but that is what this site is for. How important is a 4 wheel drive vehicle?
Thanks

travlnut

where do you plan on going? we just came back from the Big Island, drove to the Volcano, and went to some very out of the way beaches without a 4 wheel drive.

bertaron

We plan on exploring the whole Island but the stuff she is reading is that some of the roads you can't get thru without a 4 wheel drive. Like driving around the whole island you would need it and driving to the volcano park. We are staying at the Hilton Waikola. Thanks

travlnut

really nice resort- we just came back from the mauna lani bay right next door- try the chinese restaurant in the waikaloa village shops - good food authentic, a change of pace from the expensive food in the area... we didn't go all the way past the volcano as i assume you want to , but if you get the "Hawaii Revealed" book, you will see where you can go with what type of vehicle, adn as far as i can remember, it is a big hype about the 4 wheel drive- now if you were talking maui and the road to hana i would agree... by the way, just make sure to check out the beach at telephone pole # 71!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

makai1

Aloha bertaron,

We always rent a Jeep Wrangler for our jaunts in the HI islands. You never know when you might want to jump off the beaten track & play. We especially found it to be muchos fun on the BI, as there are many places to 4-wheel. My husband loved taking the jeep to the top ridge of Green Sand Beach and he wanted to send our photos to JEEP for advertising shots

Your call, but it really is great to flip back the top & enjoy the scenery.

Have a great time!

DawnCt

We have been to the Big Island twice and all over Volcano National Park and have never felt like we needed a 4 WD vehicle. The Saddle Road is off limits to most rental cars, with the exception of Harper Rentals, which allows you to take the 4wd on the Saddle Road. The rate with them however is $100 per day plus taxes and fees. I think you can find enough to do on the BI without crossing the Saddle Road. We are renting an SUV on our next trip only because we don't need a mini van again and the price was right.

teresazona

We have been to the Big Island twice and never found a real need for a 4 wd.
We went on the Saddle Road, not a big deal, kind of boring. We went to some pretty secluded beaches on some really bad roads. We just drove real slowly and carefully..

Rusty

travlnut, why do you suggest a four wheel drive for the road to Hana on Maui? It is paved all the way. A four wheel drive would not provide good stability for navigating all the hairpin curves.

It is only in very exceptional circumstances that you would need a four wheel drive on the Big Island or Maui.

bertaron

I appreciate all the great answers. I guess the reason this came up is that in some book there was talk about some roads on the BI are not paved and you might need an SUV. It was for practicality not for just messing around. Travelnut is this telephone booth on Maui or BI? You have me curious now. Thanks

bertaron

thanks