Big Island, Hawaii
 

We'll be travelling to the Big Island the end of May for my brother-in-law's wedding.

We have condo reservations in Kona. I'm looking for advice on what to see, do, where to eat. Has anyone tried the Ke'ei Cafe? How far a drive is it from Kona to Hapuna Beach?

Thank you so much for any help, thoughts, advice!

My memories a bit foggy, but I think it's 30-40 minutes. Fantastic beach.

How long are you there for? If you get a chance, check out the north and east sides of the island. They're very lush and the exact opposite of the barren lavascapes you'll find on the Kona/west side.

Here are a few activity suggestions, depending on your length of stay:

Stargazing trip to Mauna Kea summit.
Snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay.
Horseback riding in Waipio.
Akaka Falls.
Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Gardens in Onomea.
Volcanoes Nat'l Park.
Green Sand Beach near South Point.

There are 100's of other things to do depending on your interests.

Keei Cafe is great. Don't be fooled by the furnishings -- the food is excellent.

You had another post about Kanaloa at Kona. Also great. Big units, great value, in a relatively quiet area. But as with all condos, if you're renting from a private party try and get references for the particular unit you're renting. Furnishings and upkeep vary.

I have a detailed trip report about what I did last September here: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34542623

There are some awesome places to visit in the Hilo/Puna/Pahoa area, to say nothing of Volcanoes Nat'l Park. And yes, it's around 40 minutes from Kona to Hapuna Beach. I stayed at Mauna Kea beach, next door to Hapuna, which is also incredibly beautiful. Let me know if you have any other questions!

love
roxy

We'll be there five nights (so not very long).

We would like to get to the green sands beach and would like to summit Mauna Kea. My husband is an avid mountain climber and is working on hitting all 50 peaks in the U.S. This would be a great opportunity to get Hawaii's; however, we don't want to spend a lot of money on a tour to the top. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Roxy,

I just read your trip report. Thank you so much for directing me to your thread! It's incredibly informative and helpful.

Thanks again!

Getting to the summit of Mauna Kea on your own is problematic for a few reasons:

- Especially from late fall to early spring the summit is subject to unpredictable weather, including snowfall. The final approach is a VERY steep gravel road, and trying to navigate it while it's icy or wet may be hazardous to your health. Do not try it in a 2WD vehicle.

- Temperatures at the summit are often at or below freezing. You'll need to pack a parka or rent one.

- Most rental car contracts prohibit driving on Saddle Road, which is the only way to get there. If your car breaks down or you otherwise get stuck, the rental company will not be pleased. You may be stuck paying substantial (hundreds of $) towing charges.

I highly recommend taking one of the guided tours. They provide reliable transportation, parkas and gloves, hot beverages, and they know how to check weather conditions at the summit.

Also, try and go when the moon is new or close to new, or when the moon will be setting before or rising after the trip.

The green sand beach is very difficult to becuase of its large cliff. We say it on our air tour, and the only person there was a surfer who had obviously paddled in! Take an air tour and you will definitely be able to see it!

I also have a BI trip report from this summer posted here: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34499936

Actually the trip down to the green sand beach isn't difficult. We've done it a dozen times. Certainly a mountain climber wouldn't have any problem doing it. There are two well-worn trails to the sand, one on the cliff wall and the other on the rocks immediately south of the beach. The cliff wall path is much more fun, it's almost as if nature provided a step ladder down. Just lean against the cliff as you're descending and you'll be fine.

fdecarlo: what company do you recommend for the Waipo Valley horseback riding? want to do this when we are there in August. thanks!

If you're into hiking, Mauna Loa is actually the volcano you'd want to climb. There are two cabins (10,000 ft & summit) for sleeping, eating, etc.

littletwig: For a guided horseback tour try Waipio Na’alapa Stables. The tour is 2.5 hours long and $75/PP.

If you're looking for something less expensive and a lot more adventurous check into the Muliwai Trail, which runs up and down cliffs along the west side of the valley. It's an 18 mile/12 hour round trip hiking trail -- no horses -- but it's an amazing experience. Just be sure to bring proper hiking gear (including rain gear & mosquito repellant).

Ke'ei Cafe moved from thier old gas station with plastic chairs location near Honaunau last year--their new location in Kainiliu is beautiful. Do make reservations though. The food is still great.

Thanks Martym. We're excited to try it!