Renting a Jeep in Kona?
Feb 9th, 2006, 04:47 AM
#2
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It depends on what you mean by "really nice beach"
, most tourists like myself are quite pleased with the easy access beaches north of Kona at Mauna Kea (limited public parking) and Hapuna Beach State Park (lotsa parking).
The "really nice snorkeling" is best reached by boat or kayak trip (e.g. Capt. Cook Memorial, a.k.a. K-bay aboard Fairwind II/ Sea Quest) and additionally very good snorkeling is available at the easy car access Kahaluu beach just south of the town of Kona, though parking can be tight. Easy car access snorkeling also can be found further south near Place of Refuge (a.k.a. Honaunau bay).
If you are looking for more remote beaches to go snorkeling where a jeep will help you get there, yes there are some, but we have generally been more than satisfied with the access provided by a front wheel drive standard car rental.
, most tourists like myself are quite pleased with the easy access beaches north of Kona at Mauna Kea (limited public parking) and Hapuna Beach State Park (lotsa parking).The "really nice snorkeling" is best reached by boat or kayak trip (e.g. Capt. Cook Memorial, a.k.a. K-bay aboard Fairwind II/ Sea Quest) and additionally very good snorkeling is available at the easy car access Kahaluu beach just south of the town of Kona, though parking can be tight. Easy car access snorkeling also can be found further south near Place of Refuge (a.k.a. Honaunau bay).
If you are looking for more remote beaches to go snorkeling where a jeep will help you get there, yes there are some, but we have generally been more than satisfied with the access provided by a front wheel drive standard car rental.
Feb 9th, 2006, 02:39 PM
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A couple of trips ago my kids insisted that we rent a Jeep, so I did. If you have more than two people they just are not practical, absolutely no luggage room, no place to lock valuables and limited space for people in the back seat. We took it to VNP and it was a verrrrrry long trip. I can't think of anywhere that a jeep will get you that a car and a short hoof won't except the summit of Mauna Kea.
Feb 12th, 2006, 12:15 PM
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YES!!! Rent the jeep! We were on the Big Island a year ago and you can get to the best beaches, but only if you have a 4X4 and are willing hike! Get the book Big Island Revealed and it will tell you how to get to the beaches and with a 4x4 it will save you hours of walking!! The beaches that had easier public access were ok, but if you want a beatiful beach with only a few other people on it, get the book and the jeep!
Feb 17th, 2006, 03:15 PM
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Since you are getting a 4X4 consider an evening trip up to the Mauna Kea Summit. Only 4bys are allowed beyond the visitor center. Get there in time for Sunset, you won't be disappointed.
Be sure to take the canvas, it gets really cold really fast when the sun goes down.
Be sure to take the canvas, it gets really cold really fast when the sun goes down.
Feb 21st, 2006, 02:26 PM
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If you go up, leave plenty of time to stop at the visitors center on the way up. They "require" you stop for an hour to acclimate somewhat, before continuing to the top. We shortcut that quite a bit and suffered a bit of hypoxia for it. All of us had really bad headaches and my daughter got a bad case of nausea. If I go up again I will get some of the anti-hypoxia medicine from my Doc before leaving. Those guys live and work up there so they know what they are talking aboutso if they say an hour, I'll believe it.
I would leave Kailua Kona no later than 3:00 PM. That leaves plenty of time to stop at the visitor center on the way up and still have time to walk around on top before sunset. The view is spectacular. Then plan on stopping on the way down for the stargazing show. We city dwellers have forgotten how may stars there are.
Drive carefully on the saddle road, its narrow with one lane bridges and the local commuters don't seem to like vacationers slowing them down. I just learned to pull out and let them by.
Same with the tour vans going up. Past the visitor center the altitude is well above 10K feet and there are 17% grades, the rental Tahoe was flat out in low gear making about 20 MPH. The tour operators have Ford turbo-diesel vans that just fly up the road. I just very carefully let them by.
Going from sea-level to 14K feet in 2 hours is a bit tough on the body if you do any walking around while on top. And yeah, take a bunch of warm stuff, in May it will likely be below freezing and the wind (thin as it is) can really blow.
But, its an adventure and its a kick. Evven my teenaged daughters liked it and that's a tough crowd.
I would leave Kailua Kona no later than 3:00 PM. That leaves plenty of time to stop at the visitor center on the way up and still have time to walk around on top before sunset. The view is spectacular. Then plan on stopping on the way down for the stargazing show. We city dwellers have forgotten how may stars there are.
Drive carefully on the saddle road, its narrow with one lane bridges and the local commuters don't seem to like vacationers slowing them down. I just learned to pull out and let them by.
Same with the tour vans going up. Past the visitor center the altitude is well above 10K feet and there are 17% grades, the rental Tahoe was flat out in low gear making about 20 MPH. The tour operators have Ford turbo-diesel vans that just fly up the road. I just very carefully let them by.
Going from sea-level to 14K feet in 2 hours is a bit tough on the body if you do any walking around while on top. And yeah, take a bunch of warm stuff, in May it will likely be below freezing and the wind (thin as it is) can really blow.
But, its an adventure and its a kick. Evven my teenaged daughters liked it and that's a tough crowd.
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lauramsgarden
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