lchin

We are planning a trip to the BI for 9 nights and I am wondering if we should spend a few days in Maui, or if that would be too much rushing around. We are avid hikers and want to have enough time to hike the volcanos for 2 days. My concern about staying the entire time on the BI is that we would run out of things to do as we like to be active and don't enjoy "laying on the beach". How much time does it take to adequately drive around the island, stopping to see most of the sights. Any advice would be appreciated.

fdecarlo

The BI has such a diversity of environment and climate that even the most avid hiker would have no problem filling a 10-day trip without getting bored. The best hikes are concentrated on the north, east and south sides of the island, especially the north:

http://www.hawaiitrails.org/island.asp?island=Hawaii

The west side is little more than barren lava flows, which get old pretty quick for many (or most) hikers.

Your last question is open-ended. A nonstop drive around the island takes ~6 hours, and depending on your interests you can spend a few additional hours sightseeing, or days, weeks or even months.

Just personal opinion, but I wouldn't split my time between the BI and another island unless I had more than 9 or 10 days to work with. One option is to split your stay on the BI between the west and east sides, and it really is like two entirely different islands.

Samsaf

We recently spent 10 nights on the Big Island (including 2 nights near Volcano, 2 in Kona, and 5 on Kohala coast) and didn't run out of things to do. We did hang out by the pool at the Fairmont for a couple of days, but that was just because we wanted to -- there were plenty of things that we could have done if we had wanted to be active on those days.

I would save Maui for another trip. We've been there a couple of times and love it, too.

Have a great trip!

Samsaf

Sorry, that was 3 nights in Kona, 2 near Volcano, and then 5 on Kohala coast.

highflyer

I agree, stick to BI. Plenty of hikes to consider apart from the volcano...from Polulu lookout down to the black sand beach and from Waipio lookout down to the beach and in the other direction to the waterfalls.
The botanical gardens are also lovely and provide a colorful, scented hiking experience!

dfr4848

You definitely won't run out of things to do on the BI in 8/9 days. IMO it's the most diverse of the islands and everytime we go (for at least a week) we keep thinking we should stay longer.

SMM

We stayed 6 days on the BI and that wasn't enough. Head to the big mountain for a day. Snorkel at Captain Cook. Swim at the black and green sand beaches. I envy you.

bluefan

definitely agree with others above

spent 10 nights there in 2005 on my usual active itinerary and i felt like i barely scratched the surface of all the activities and wonders available on the BI. i'm pretty sure i put over 1,200 miles on our rental despite staying at 3 separate locations (hilo, keauhou bay, kohala coast). i probably spent a total of 6 hours enjoying the beach at mauna kea and the pool at the hilton waikoloa. so the entirety of my first visit was spent trying to experience a small portion of what the BI offered. i hope to mostly relax the next time i visit...but i doubt it

trippinkpj

Agree also, we stayed 7 days and it wasn't enough. You are smart to spend 2 nights at the Volcano, which cuts down on the long driving days.

suze

I have yet to visit Big Island, but in the most general way I think it's a mistake to try to island-hop with less than a 10 day stay. Even on an active vacation, it's nice to get into "island time" and not have extra going to and from airports, keeping appointments and schedules, etc. imo.

gigib

If you like to snorkel, it is possible to hike 2 miles down to the Captain Cook monument at Kealakekua Bay. It's 2 miles steeply down, 1500 feet or so, then 2 sweaty miles back up, but you can snorkel at this wonderful place for FREE. Entry into the water is a bit tricky over the rocks, though. My husband and I liked it so much, we did it twice. Needless to say, bring water.

Directions to the trailhead (it's an old road, nice and wide, just steep) are in Big Island Revealed, don't know if you can find it anywhere else.

Another fun adventure is going to the top of Mauna Kea. We drove our rental car on the 5 miles of dirt road past the Onizuki visitor center; it is dusty and washboardy, but well graded and quite drivable. Then, at the very top up by the telescopes, you can park and walk up the last little bit to the actual summit. My husband walked up the 6 mile trail that starts at the visitor center, but he said it wasn't worth the effort, no views to speak of. Last time we went during the day, but next trip we'll probably go at night to see the billions of stars. It seems like it took a couple of hours one way from Kohala, up the Saddle Road then back down the same way.

At Volcano, a great 4 mile hike is the Kilauea Iki trail. Go first thing in the morning and you'll have it almost to yourself, along with the Thurston Lava Tube, near where you'll park.

Other than Volcano, where will you be staying?

There's so much to do on this island, you'll be tired and welcome a bit of beach time!

koko1

THe BI is BIG & BEAUTIFUL, slow and relaxed . I'm not the active type so I can't tell you where are the best hiking spots are other than remembering school excursions to Volcano. From Hilo to Kona it's about 100 mi and takes about 1.5- 2 hours to drive. From Hilo to Volcano is about 45 minutes or so. The drive can be long (stop at Tex Drive--Honokaa Yummy! To me its defintely better than Leonards Malasadas on Oahu)
At the airport, there's a mag called "this week" featuring the BI as well as the other islands. I think you could go 5 dyas BI and 5 days Maui. Oh and when you go to the BI, be sure not to take anything home with you for a souvenir, i.e lava rocks, etc. When you go to the Volcano National Park, there's a case w/ letters that showed the items that visitors (non-believers) took and returned. If not, be sure to ask someone there why and what can happen...

billyb68

we spent 5 days over the summer on the big island..10 on maui...definetly needed more time..it really is BIG..we stayed down by south point in a solar house on the lava field...we actually loved South Point...if you drive to the end there are beautiful cliffs where locals are fishing...we went back just to hang out 3 nites..a little advise, ..if you plan on going to the green sand beaches down there and dont want to hike to them i would rent a jeep wrangler..we had a chevy trailblazer ( 2 adults, 4 kids ) and bottomed out ALL the time..i actually brought 2x10s in the trunk for that reason...glad we did..we used them alot...next time we go it will be alone with a shorter, smaller wheel based jeep wrangler...they were blowing through all the lava...have fun....