Hello all,
We are leaving for Hawaii this Saturday and I have a couple of questions:
1. Do we need hiking boots for lava walks in VNP and hiking Diamond Head or the tennis shoes are sufficient?
2. We will be staying in VNP (2 nights), Hapuna Beach Hotel (2 nights) and Outrigger (3 nights). What place should we go from for the Mauna Kea stars gazing tour or does it matter?

Thank you very much.

MariaX

maria, no you don't need hiking boots, tennis shoes are fine (I've hiked out in flip-flops but don't recommend it!) from Hapuna Beach Hotel, you're about 30-45 min. closer than Outrigger to Mauna Kea. Have a good trip!

With all due respect to matt, I recommend hiking boots. The lava rocks that you have to climb over are a good size, sit in precarious positions [think twisted ankle heaven] and if it starts to rain as it did while we were there, lava gets slippery.

Another suggestion: wear long pants and long sleeves. You may be hotter than if in shorts, but slipping on those rocks will smart. And they provide some warmth if it rains, which chilled me to the bone in my shorts. Carrying poncho is an idea too as well as wearing gardening gloves to protect hands. If you are staying after dark, flashlight are a must and I would recommend the kind you strap on your head to keep you hands free.

All of these suggestions come from seeing them on folks on the lava way past the point on Chain of Craters road where the lava closed the road. We went past 3 blinkers [you'll understand when you see them] and on the way back, we saw someone fall. It wasn't pretty, hence my suggestions.

You will love the Hapuna Beach! I just posted some pictures of HP and my TR is on here too with restaurants we loved. Click on my name to check them out.

Have a great time!

Hope this helps...
Debi

hi maria

if you are going to be walking ON lava, you absolutely need thick soled shoes. my husband tore his sneakers to shreds in about 50 yards and we had to turn back.

all other hikes are fine in sneakers, as long as the treads aren't word down.

why not just get some merrils or skechers thick soled sneakers/hikers/all around shoes and then you don't have to pack extras?

have fun!
kerikeri

and i was ging to say long pants, too, Debi, but i thought i'd get teased!

great point, unless you have excellent balance, you might want something protecting your legs, or at least your knees...imagining hiking on coral and that would be the sharpness, instability of lava rocks.

kerikeri