We will be in Hawaii (Big Island and Kauai for 2 days each) and would like
to organise as much in advance as possible.
We will first fly to Kauai, would like to make a Helocopter flight (any
recommendations?) drive up to the North, stay somewhere cheap for 1
night(nice beach not important because we will have a car, but would like a
double room, not dorms - any good ideas?)and then walk along the Na Pali
coast and maybe swim and snorkel a bit. Next night somewhere cheap in/around
Lihue so that we can fly to Hilo early the next morning (I know that we
should go to the Waimea canyon as well but in just 2 days this seems a bit
much, that's why we are planning a heli trip). Most of all I would like to
go on a (guided) night tour to see the lava flow (and glow) at night at the
Volcano NP on BI. Are there organisations that offer such night hikes? It
would be just fantastic if anyone could suggest something! (Arnotts Lodge
advised that their tours would most likely be during daytime)In this case we
would stay close to the volcano NP that night and maybe drive up Mauna Kea
the next day. If night hikes are not possible, we might drive back that
evening and stay somewhere around Hilo to be closer to Mauna Kea. Any
suggestions would be greatly appreaciated, most urgently on:
- night hike Volcano NP
- cheap accomodation in the North of Kauai
Thanks a lot! Jeanette

You might check out www.hidden-hawaii.com/hawaii.html
I can't vouch for them as I have never been on any of their tours. Be sure that whoever you go with is licensed and therefore reliable. There have been a number of incidents where people struck out on their own to see the lava flow at night and, unfortunately, met their end either thru falling into crevasses or succumbing to the SO2. It is dangerous....

Thanks for this! I checked the website but unfortunately their schedule doesn't match our itinerary and I can't move anything.
Would anyone have any other suggestions for a night hike in the Volcanoes NP?

Planning a 3 week vacation to Hawaii from Sept 19 to Oct 9. Spending 1 week in Honolulu, 1 week in Big Island and then I week in Maui.(Was in Hawaii for 2 weeks last March. Stayed 9 days in Maui and the rest in Kauai.)

Is Sept-Oct a good time to be in Hawaii for weather in the mid 80's with very little rain.

As far as the Big Island is concerned, is the Orchid at Mauna Lani a good homebase in the Big Island. How much of a ride to the main attractions.

Mauna Lani is on the opposite side of the Volcano. You want to be close, I would rough it at the Volcano House it is your nearest hotel. Clean and comfortable, request a crater view. You do not need a night tour, many people wander out at night. You don't always know how close the flow will allow you to get. Sometimes there is a thin build up that keeps you at a distance and no hiking tour is going to know a way around this.

Plenty of Park Rangers around the volcano at night at least on my last trip in 96. Enjoy, you are in for a treat.

I first read about going to volcano at night in "The Hawaii Story" by the last queen of Hawaii. She speaks about it as one of the most fantastic natural experiences of her life. She recommends to go at midnight. It is definately a specticale you don't want to miss.