travmom

Hi there! I'd like your opinions & advise on this 3-day itinerary for the big island. We'll be staying in Kona & Kohala at the begining & end of our trip - this is just the middle.

-Day 1. Leave Kona. Go to South Point, Punalu'u, Volcano National Park. Some light hiking here (there seems to be no lava currently).

-Day 2. Volano Helicopter Tour from Hilo. Explore Puna. Go to Mauna Loa & back.

-Day 3. Explore Hamuka Coast & Waipi'o. Stay at treehouse in Waipi'o.

on Day 4 we'd drive back to Kolaha, maybe stopping at Waimea for brunch.

How does this sound? Are we skipping something we shouldn't? And where should we stay on nights 1 & 2? Hilo seems to make more sense, but Volcano Village seems to be nicer. thoughts?

Thanks!

fdecarlo

That's a *lot* of driving for a 3-day trip. Also I'm confused by your comment, "We'll be staying in Kona at the beginning", and then you ask whether Hilo or VNP is a better place to stay on Night 1??

Anyway, your itinerary will be far more manageable if you fly into Hilo instead of Kona, and stay in a B&B near VNP your first (and possibly second) night. This will greatly reduce the amount of driving required, to Puna, Punaluu, Mauna Loa, VNP etc.

On Day 2 (or 3), after you're finished exploring the east and south sides of the island, drive to Kohala via the northern route and hit the Hamakua Coast, Waipio overlook etc, then head to Kohala for the night.

Waipio is a special case -- if you just want to see the overlook it's not a big deal. But going down into the canyon (for horseback riding, a wagon ride, hiking etc) is a full day's adventure just in itself.

On Day 3 (or 4), you can head south to Kona and see Kailua, and fly out of KOA airport later that day or evening.

That's the way I'd do it, if I only had 3 days. I suspect you'll feel rushed in any event, because the Big Island is exactly that -- BIG. There's so much to see and do you'll feel like you're not even scratching the surface.

travmom

Thanks for your response. I guess I was a little bit unclear. We're going to the BI for 8 1/2 days & 9 nights. Our first 2 1/2 days/3 nights will be in Kona exploring the local sights.

Then we start our driving around the island (the itinerary I gave) where I expect we'll spend 2 nights in either Volcano or Hilo, one at the tree house in Waipi'o and then finally we have 3 nights at the Kohala coast.

Our plan was to drive into the Waipi'o Valley, either on the the afternoon of our 3rd day of travel or the next day before heading to Kohala. I'm pregnant and get tired pretty easily so hiking is unfortunately not for me right now

fdecarlo

To get to the floor of Waipio Valley requires a 4WD vehicle. The road descends 900 feet in just 3/4 of a mile, and has a 45% grade in some spots. Heed the warnings at:

http://www.hawaiihighways.com/photos-Waipio-Valley.htm

travmom

We're planning to get a 4WD vehicle, given how many roads in the island require one. My husband (who'll be doing the driving) doesn't seem too concerned about the Waipi'o Road - at least from the pictures it doesn't look worse than many of the streets in San Francisco, though granted, the steepest ones don't top 30% - but he drives those with a 2WD.

JohnD

We took the Waipio Valley Shuttle Van Tour as fdecarlo's link suggests. Our local driver gave us some history we would have otherwise missed, not sure if they can get you to the treehouse or not.

bonniebroad

fdecarlo, isn't the road into Waipio Valley pretty bumpy, as well as steep? We were driven down a road in the shuttle at the Botanical Gardens that gave me a fright......... so steepand bumpy! I was just thinking of your pregnancy, and whether you'd be bumped around too much, travmom. Haven't been down the Waipio Valley road so I don't know...

montyw

The Waipi'o Valley road is steeper than any of the streets I remember in San Francisco including Filmore etc...plus it is very long.

I am pretty confident about this seeing as how I rode my bike up it (and down of course) on one trip.

I think the other problem with the road and needing a 4WD is that it can be wet! Imagine a car starting to slip while going up or down - Downhill seems to be just as bad in my mind!

fdecarlo

bonnie: The road itself is paved and fairly smooth, but there's a nasty corrugated shoulder on the downhill side (to assist with tire traction) which isn't any fun to drive over. The main problems with the road are the steepness, and as Monty points out, whether it's wet or not. On one trip to the valley we ran into heavy rain and waited a few hours for the road to dry before trying to come back up, even though we had a 4WD Jeep.