Has anyone ever been gutsey enough to do just a day trip to the BI?

I am travelling to Oahu in March for a week with my wife. I have always wanted to see the lava flows of Kilauea. I have the sporting spirit in me to fly into Hilo early, rent a car, drive to the Volcanoes National Park, hike/explore in search of the lava flows for several hours (5-6 hours is a timeframe I am guestimating), stay past sunset for better viewing, drive back to Hilo, drop off the rental, and fly back to Oahu.

It will probably be a long and tiring day, but I am up for the challenge. I want to take the chance of seeing the lava flows and exploring the park's beauty (if time permits). Question is, how feasible is this? Is it an impossible undertaking what I am proposing?

I apologize for the second posting, I wasn't sure if my first one posted properly in the 'Hawaii' forum.

Just so you know, there's no Hawaii forum, it's all one big US forum. When you select a state upon posting, that's just to categorize your post for searching later. I answered your other post though! Click on your name to see all your posts!

love
roxy

Does it make any difference whether you call it the "Hawaii Topic" instead of the "Hawaii Forum"? The result appears to be the same, that is, all the Hawaii posts are grouped together no matter what you call it.

My bad...I needed somebody to clear up that whole US forum (as opposed to Hawaii thing). Thanx Roxy & Rusty.

My husband and small son and I went to the Volcano Park a few years ago. We arrived in Kona early and couldn't check into our resort for a few hours, so we just piled in the rental car and drove. It was fantastic. We ended up doing this big circle drive and arriving dinnertime at the resort. I actually wished we would have spent the night by the park to do more exploring; but my son was just 3 and couldn't really hike, so it's on my list of things to return to one of these days. That, by the way, was also with no real action in the volcanoes. I love the Big Island. Last visit we took a star-gazing tour and saw the telescopes on Mauna Kea. That was one of the most amazing things I've ever done in my life. I wish you could talk your wife into doing the trip with you and maybe spend more time. If that is not an option, I'd go see the volcanoes even if it's a day trip and you're exhausted by the end. It's an interesting island, part lush and part dry and your day trip will just show you lots of great waterfalls and flora etc. Plus volcanoes.

We took a VNP helicopter tour from Hilo airport and agree that it was one of the best parts of our trip. Try this 1 hour trip if your time is limited.

Yes...do-able, however, be aware that the last flight from Hilo to Oahu on either Aloha or Hawaiian is between
7:50-8:00 p.m.

Don't know if that will put you in the park at sunset....I doubt it. Approx. travel time from park to airport 3/4-1 hr. + check in time.

Stay the night there. You will want the extra day to explore. FLUME DA DITCH! (Sorta like a super duper log ride through the volcano - easiest way of explaining but way cool). So amazing.