Big Island Brithday Plan
 

Hi all - can anyone recommend a fun, special activity/day for the Big Island? I'm going soon for the first time and want to plan something fun, different, special...
Ideas would be appreciated. I'll be staying in Kona.
Thanks, Cola

ttt

How about a stargazing trip from the top of Mauna Kea?

http://maunakea.com/

-Bill

Visit Place of Refuge by Hononau and stop for lunch at Ke'ei Cafe on the way back to Kona.
Take a tour at the Ocean Rider facility and see living seahorses http://www.seahorse.com/ and have lunch at one of the Kohala resorts
Do a wagon tour of Waipio Valley and have lunch at Merriman's in Waimea
Go to Volcano National Park and hike Kiluea Iki
Spend an afternoon in Hulualoa's art galleries
These are just some suggestions. Perhaps you would get more replies if you told us what you like/dislike; how much money you want to spend, etc etc?

One of the most awesome things we did was when Mat took us to Kaimu Bay where we barbequed on the beach (black sand) and watched the lava flow. National Geographic experience that could be very romantic in the evening if your SO is on the trip too. ;-)

Bayou Gal: How far is the lava flow from that black sand beach? How does it compare to the hike out over the lava at the VNP?

Buy a star and then look at it at the top of MaunaKea?

shanghai~the lava flow from the kaimu side is about 5-7 miles but not recommended as it is much rougher, no rangers, no other flashlights to follow. basically you're on your own. some people get hurt or lost and get stuck out there for the night. from the beach at kaimu though, you can see the pu'u o'o vent where the lava is coming from and if you're lucky can see it coming down the hill. Years ago when the lava was on this side of the park, it was about a 20 minute walk to the flow, but after the county graded a road, put in a parking lot, porta-potties etc, the flow switched back over to the park side. was really nice when it was over here, went more often than i do now.

for cola~skip the seahorse tour. not worth the cost that's for sure. everything else martym said would make for a good time. you could do a snorkel cruise from kona to captain cook monument (awesome snorkeling) or do wind surfing from A Bay. For a fun evening, do the Captain Bean's sunset cruise and dinner, great fun! drinks, dinner, dancing, entertainment and watch the sunset on a double hulled party boat.

Thanks, Mat, the beach sounds safer. Seahorses are interesting but the cost is high for an hour. I like the W Valley wagon tour idea, did the DUCK Tour in Oahu 2 years ago, lead by the driver we quacked ourselves silly along the way, and the panoramic view of the southside of Oahu from a mile out in the water was incredible. No, we won't quack on the wagon tour.