Just wondering if this sounds feasible, I'd really like to see the BI volcano but don't want to spend the night. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

I would highly recommend taking a tour of the BI for one day. There are several tour operators that will provide transportation to/from the airport (you will fly over either on Hawaiian Airlines or Aloha Airlines both have big jet planes) and they will meet you at the airport to start you tour. You can get plenty information at the airport when you arrive in Hawaii (lots of books so you can compare prices also American Express has their on tours and can make arrangement for you, no need to book before you leave the mainland).Take plenty of film and have fun. You will make several stops and generally have lunch in Volcanoe National Park with a beautiful view of the volcanoe.
Enjoy, Paula

We are probably going to do a day trip to BI too, but from Oahu. I found some whirwind tours on the internet for $179 and $197 per person. They both included RT air/transfers/tour bus with MANY stops at all the attractions. We discovered we can do it cheaper by booking our own interisland flights and renting a car in Hilo. Plus that way we can see only the places we're interested in, and at our own pace. Does anybody foresee problems with this idea? Please advise!

Lenore,
I remember seeing your previous posts and wanted to let you know that I'm from S. FL also! (Stuart) Here we are, two south Floridians planning trips to Hawaii! I'm going in June though. Hope you have fun- make sure and write about it when you get back!

Kristin

Hi Kristin - Is this your 1st trip to Hawaii too? We are soooooo excited (obsessed might be a better word!) about our vacation. I plan to post my "rants and raves" as soon as we get back. How many days and what islands are you visiting?

Lenore,
I actually went when I was 18 (about 14 years ago) and I absolutely LOVED it! I have always talked it up to my hubby so much, and now I can finally show him why! Don't worry, I'm obsessed too! We are going to Maui for at least a week, and I wasn't planning on any other islands until today. I think I'd like to take a day at BI to see an active volcano. But I don't think I'll do the tours, because I like to see things on my own terms. Anyways, happy planning- we'll be there before you know it! )

Lenore,
That's exactly what we did last year. Renting a car gave us the flexibility of going where we wanted to go (skipping the obligatory mac nut factory that all the tour buses stop at). We spent most of our day inside the park. Surt's in Volcano village just outside of the park entrance has good food. Service is a little bit slow so if you're on a tight schedule, don't stop there. Keep your park receipt for re-entry.

We did a day trip from Maui to the BI,too. Worked out great.

Only minor hitch we had was with the car rental company. We left our rental car at the airport in Maui because it didn't pay to return and re-rent.

Their computers got nervous because we had two cars rented for the same day (Maui & BI). After explaining to them,, everything was fine.

We rented a car on our own, too, in the summer of 1999. No way could we be so close without seeing the volcano! For 6 people, we got airfare from Honolulu and the minivan rental for about $600, so that's half of what the tour groups want.

And we were definitely pleased that we could follow our own itinerary, as the kids were somehow fascinated by the stinky sulfur vents and spent an hour there!

We were heartbroken that the macadamia factory was closed for some sort of inventory or maintenance on the day we were there, but it was fun to look around, anyway.

Okay, to those posters who have already done the BI day trip.....can we do the Volcano National Park and the waterfall & botanical gardens area north of Hilo all in a day? If so, does it matter which area we visit first? As always, thanks a bunch!

Yes we did all those in one day.

Lenore,
Which botanical garden are you referring to? We went to one, can't remember the name but it started with an "N", and weren't really impressed. Wish we had gone to one of the waterfalls instead.

Just remember if you want to see the lava flowing, it's outside VNP and best viewed after dark. Here is a link for the status of the flow: http://www.volcanogallery.com/volcano_eruption.htm

There are 2 botanical gardens north of Hilo and near the Akaka Falls Park. One is the Hawaii Tropical Botanical gardens and the other is World Botanical Gardens. World is only $5 (the other is $15) but I wonder if the more expensive one is just a better place to visit. Anybody been there??

I am interested in the daytrip to the Big Island but when we were in Maui and went to the top of the volcano there, my husband had trouble breathing because of the altitude. Will he have the same problem on the BI? How is the altitude compared on both islands? Is the BI worth a daytrip if we cannot go up to see the volcano? Are there daytrips offered from Kauai? Thanks for any help.

Sheila,
The BI volcano is much lower in elevation than one on Maui. Kilauea crater is where most visitors go and is also where the park headquarters are - this area is about 4000' vs. the summit of Haleakala on Maui which is, I think, around 10,000' elevation. I can't imagine flying over to the BI for the day without visiting the volcano. Hope this helps.

Thanks Patty. That is what I was hoping to hear. I would not go to the trouble of going over for a day without seeing the volcano. Are there day trips from Kauai like the ones from Maui? We were in Maui in 2000 and hoping to go to Kauai for our 25th anniversary next February. We plan to stop at least one night to see Pearl Harbor and then maybe plan a daytrip to BI. Just starting the planning.

I'm not sure if there are non-stop flights from Kauai to the BI so you might have to stop over on Oahu which would cut down on your time on the BI. Check the websites of Hawaiian and Aloha and see what their schedules look like. Perhaps you could leave from Honolulu instead?