olesouthernbelle

I have been working on this tentative BI itinerary with Matnikstym. I am totally pumped about this trip! Anyone who would like to critic the itinerary, please chime in.

Who: me and DS ages 55 and 27. We work out, so I'm in relatively good shape for my age endurance wise.

When: Wednesday, May 09 – 16, 2007

Where: 5nts. Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort , 2 on VNP @ Kilauea Lodge.

Flight: Continental

05/09/07: arrive ~3PM – settle in and relax, maybe explore nearby areas.Drive and park across from Kona Inn for dinner and shopping at Kona Inn Shopping Village (get Rash Guard?).

05/10/07 : Surf lessons that AM for DS then tour Hwy 250 areas up to Hawi to shop (Tropical Dreams Ice Cream)/ short hikes/ snorkel. Pololu Trail if open(I know it's been closed since the earthquake)?

“A” Bay in Waikoloa – windsurf?

Hapuna, Mauna Kea & Kua Bay Beaches.
Walk to Secret Pond Mauna Lani Bay Hotel (about 1 hr. for this diversion)

Kahulu – (next to St. Peters Catholic “Little Blue Church”) has petrogylphs , snorkeling good & easy - has lava caves.

Surf lessons here. Truck rents gear & boards.

05/11/07: Place of Refuge (Pu'uhonna O Honaunau)tour; Snorkel Two Step Hike to lava tubes 15-20 Minutes & jump. Brief stop at the Painted Church. Good place to BBQ/picnic.
Surf?
Shop?
Green Mtn Coffee tour?

Afternoon Dive &
Manta Ray Night Dive

05/12/07: Kona Boys ½ day kayaking tour (if calm) to Cook's Monument. Seaquest snorkel tour if not kayaking.

“A” Bay ...or visit Ahu'ena Heiau @ Kon (Kin Kamehameha the Great's)
Massage?

05/13/07:
Surf?
&/OR: South Point, Green Sand Beach (2 ¼ mi. walk both ways – flat, grassy plains) & Black Sand Beach (Punalu'u). Stop @ Na'ahehu Fruit Stand for Ka'u oranges, shortbread or pizza).

05/14/07: Maybe sleep in and check out for VNP & ck-in to Kilauea Lodge (2nts.)

Stop in Naalehu at the fruit stand and get a bite to eat then Akatsuku Orchid Gardens, if time permits.

Noon: Meet Dennis for a tour of the east side including the newest black sand beach being formed, short snorkel in the tidal pools of Kapoho, lava tree park..shouldn't take more than 2-3 hours or getting up to the Volcano, tour the park, Thurson Lava Tube, Visitor Center, the museum and possibly walk across Kilauea...easy hike, flat.

8PM Dinner reservations at Kilauea Lodge with Matnikstym as our guest.

05/15/07: Hike the VNP Chain of Craters to lava area (4-6 hrs.) With Matnikstym.

05/16/07: Leave via Hilo Airport for Kauai on Aloha
Hilo Farmers Market (Wed. & Sat.)

I do have a question about the dive. What kind of travel (elevation) restrictions will we need to observe post diving? I understand some of the land elevations there are something to be considered, as much as flying post a dive?

We are currently working on our divers certification.
Also, would you reserve for the kayak trip and dive trip before leaving home or wait until you're in Hawaii?

egret

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Miss_Maple

Not sure if you had included a lu'au -- Kona Village has a good one on Friday nights ... should call to reserve a spot and get there early. I don't think the BI is noted for surfing .. I think it is much harder to do than it looks. Green sand beach is so worth it ... go early in the morning to have the place to yourselves ... the green sand is like walking on velvet .. very smooth. Of course, wear you swimsuits to enjoy the cove. We had a wonderful lunch at the Good Eats restaurant in Naalelu -- look for the Big Turtle sign on the rooftop as approach the town .. and please go slow through it. We did the manta ray snokel which was amazing .. be sure to bring your own beach towel .. sounds like your going to have a great time.

highflyer

Hi,
Sounds great! I didn't know that you could windsurf at A bay. It didn't seem windy enough the few times that I've been. We did see turtles there though especially around the end of the concrete wall on the RHS of the beach.

I think the Place of Refuge is lovely in the early morning or at dusk, very atmospheric and photogenic. We saw several basking turtles at dusk on one trip there.

Enjoy!

martym

When we drove through Na'alehu last month the Fruit Stand was closed. Had lunch at Hana Hou restaurant--good local food and lilikoi lemonade.

olesouthernbelle

Miss Maple: We're not really planning to do a luau this time. If the mood strikes, I'll keep that one in mind. We did two last trip and I enjoyed them, but want to experience other things more this time.

I've read some posts about people taking 1st time surfing lessons on BI and DS wants to do it. I'm not sure I will...I may just be the photographer!

Which manta ray tour operator did you use?

highflyer: Matnikstym's suggestion. I'm not sure if DS will try it or we'll just watch some of the pros!

martym: Thanks for the tip! Lilikoi is one of my favorite flavors in the islands! I remember having a diet soda of that flavor...just my style! (It's so hard to find the tropical flavors in a diet form - I'd have sent cases home if I hadn't thought they'd explode enroute!

olesouthernbelle

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Samsaf

Hi, OSB. I just replied on your Kauai thread. Re South Point, we did that this past fall, and it's an incredible drive, with parts of it very desolate. Be sure to realize that it is mainly a one-lane road, so be prepared to get off on the shoulder if you meet another car. The views at the end of the road are incredible!

Click on my name for my trip report for more info.

There's a parking lot in Kona that's free, and there's one right next to it that charges $10, so make sure you find the free one!

Dinner at Kilauea Lodge is great, and that's where we'll stay next time when we're visiting the east side of the Big Island.

olesouthernbelle

TY for the tips, Samsaf! I think I did see your report, but will check it out again in alittle while. My diver certification teacher is on her way and I've got to grab a quick bite before she gets here.