Big Island Itinerary needs review/suggestions
 

Hey everyone,

Ok. I think I've been able to figure out an itinerary for our BI trip based on previous threads that I've read. Any BI expertise would be much appreciated!!!

Day 1 - Arrive in Kona at 2, Drive to Hilo x2-3hours
Hilo
Night viewing of Lava flow (Kalapana/Puna)

Day 2 -
VNP
Kilauea Iki hike in VNP

Day 3 - Drive back towards Kohala [Hotel in Kohala]
Green Sand Beach/Pu’uhonua o Hunaunau National Park - Two Step
Akaka Falls
Kopoho beach- Kapoho Tide Pools

Day 4 - [Hotel in Kohala]
Petroglyphs
Beaches: Hapuna and Mauna Kea
?Mauna Kea Summit in the afternoon

Day 5 - [Hotel in Kohala]
Hawi and Kapa'au
Waimea
Pololu Valley

Day 6 - [Hotel in Kohala]
Coffee country
Kealakakua Bay/snorkeling trip?

Day 7 - early flight home from Kona

We haven't booked our hotel yet for night 1 and 2. Most likely will stay in Hilo for night 1 and then the Kilauea Lodge for night 2. Does this itinerary look feasible from a logistical point of view? Should we spend one day driving/hiking Waipaio Valley? Anything we're missing or are we trying to pack in too much?

Ok,

skip the lava viewing on day one. Move it to day two. You will not want to do to much on day one. Unpack and maybe go to coconut island.

day three does not work either do green sand and place of refuge or do akaka and kapoho and on the way to Kohala visit waipio overlook.

4 and 5 are good

6 is in transition. Good start.

Looks good to me. You have covered a lot, and also left yourself some flexibility to explore and discover.

On Day 5, you'll want to go to Hawi and Kapa'au, and then Pololu, because it's just 7 miles further on the same road. Then, you'll backtrack a bit to Hawi and drive to Waimea from there, which is on a gorgeous road.

Pololu is at a dead end, although it's not always clear from maps. You can see where Waipio is from Pololu, but you can't drive there.

I'm also not sure about the logistics of Day 3, as I'm not so familiar with that area.

You've really hit some highlights in my opinion, and of course there are more, and plenty of fun things to do in between.

For example, the Heiau at Pu'ukohala is impressive, free, and easy to stop and visit, http://www.nps.gov/puhe/index.htm and the fishing village at Lapakahi is a good place to whale watch, also free and easy. This would be on your way to Hawi. The link following has lots of local places.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html...ical_park.html

Day 6 could include the Place of Refuge as well. http://www.nps.gov/puho/index.htm

Probably, touring Waipio would be doing too much.

Lots of the Kohala resorts have evening entertainment, and anyone can visit. I've been impressed with the quality, and it's a fun thing to do in the evenings.

Thanks wpbii and Kailani for the input! I revised our itinerary a bit to reflect your suggestions!

Day 1 - Arrive in Kona at 2, Drive to Hilo
Hilo
Coconut Island

Day 2 -
VNP
Kilauea Iki hike in VNP
Night viewing of Lava flow (Kalapana/Puna)

Day 3 - Drive back towards Kohala [Hotel in Kohala]
Akaka Falls
Kopoho beach/Kapoho Tide Pools
Waipaio overlook on route to Kohala

Day 4 - [Hotel in Kohala]
Petroglyphs
Beaches: Hapuna and Mauna Kea
?Mauna Kea Summit in the afternoon

Day 5 - [Hotel in Kohala]
Heiau at Pu'ukohala
fishing village at Lapakahi
Hawi and Kapa'au
Pololu Valley
Waimea

Day 6 - [Hotel in Kohala]
Coffee country
Kealakakua Bay/snorkeling trip?
Place of Refuge

Day 7 - early flight home from Kona

I'm hoping that the green sand beach won't be too much a miss since it's being replaced by Akaka Falls and Kopoho Tidepools.

Do you think if we will do the lava viewing on night 2 then we should spend both nights in Hilo? I read that Kalapana is closer to Hilo than VNP.

I'm trying to control myself as I usually overbook our vacations and I want to try to give ourselves some R&R time this time around. :)

Kilauea Lodge is lovely for a fireside dinner, so it's nice to go to sleep nearby if you're going to eat there.

So on day three, Kapoho is between hilo and VNP so it should be done early and first. Next kapoho has a pollution problem so I suggest wading beyond the first pools into the outer reef.

After the pools then to the falls.

May I suggest on day six that you stop at Kua bay. It's a beautiful beach. It's a mile south of the Kona Village, four season exit. It's worth the time. The best sand on the Big Island.

IMO Kalapana is no closer to VNP than to Hilo.

Finally, resist the impluse to see everything. Resign yourself to the thought that you will return to fill in the blanks.

Bill

On your trip to the Place of Refuge on Day 6, I'd recommend a side trip to the Painted Church. It's not far from the entrance to the Place of Refuge and is definitely worth a 30 minute side trip. A few hundred yards up the road from the Painted Church is Bayview Farms. IMO, the best kona coffee on the Big Island.

Thanks elkhound, I'll definitely will check out both of those spots!