lia_b

Hooray, we will be going to Hawaii in about 5 weeks and cannot wait. We will be spending some time on Big Island and staying at the Hilton Waikoloa. Can anyone tell me how long the drive is to the Volcano? How is the road there? We are not foreseeing staying overnight in Hilo so trying to figure out the timing.

Also, I saw some posting suggesting wearing hiking boots. Is it really necessary? I would hate to carry these bulky things in my suitcase.

Thank you.

JohnD

Aloha lia b,

The drive from Waikoloa (on the Kohala coast) through Hilo to VNP is about 2-2.5 hours. Once in VNP it takes ~30 min. to drive to where the lava may or may not be flowing. Last year we made it in tennis shoes but apparently the hike is longer now, suggest you bring one good pair and one other pair for hiking (you can discard 2nd pair if needed).

Here is a link to VNP map, also see lava viewing tips, and suggest you talk to the rangers at VNP about hiking conditions. We found it best to arrive in late afternoon-darker it gets the more impressive the glowing lava, bring plenty of water and flashlights to hike out at dusk.

http://www.nps.gov/havo/visitor/visit.htm

JohnD

Oops, forgot to aid, the road is paved and fine in VNP, and you can see alot at VNP even if the flowing lava isn't viewable; including lava tubes, steam and sulfur vents, and the impressive Kilauea caldera. Eruption update link:http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/main.html

ChristieP

The drive from Waikoloa to the volcano will take about 2.5 hours each way, unless you hit heavy traffic going South from Kona like we did. That increase dour drive time to about 3 hours.

Be sure and stop at the black sand beach at Punal u' u'! It is right off the highway and is beautiful!

I'd allow about 5 hours for the park, and possibly more if you hike out to the active lava flow. Definitely bring water, as the black lava rocks you walk over get very hot! We wore athletic shoes and were just fine. The large calderas and the Thurston lava tube were really neat, too.

bonniebroad

lia_b, I would take the Northern route, allowing for stopping along the way to see some of the falls, etc. along the way. I think that's the most beautiful area on the Big Island; it would be a shame not to stop and take in the gorgeous sights along the way. Do you have "Hawaii: Big Island Revealed" by Doughty and Friedman? They give great info on sights along the route......... Happy planning!

Steph_SEA

Take the scenic detour if you go the northern route. It only adds an extra 15 min to your trip, but well worth it. If you take it on the way back to Waikoloa you can get a yummy smoothie after a long day of hiking (can't remember the name of the place, but it's the only business on the narrow country road).

GloriaE

Tha name of the smoothie place on the scenic drive is What's Shakin' and I agree, wonderful smoothies.

ChristieP

Oh, another great place for a treat is the Tex's Drive In near Honokaa. They make these sinful, donut-like pastries called malasadas. You get your choice fo fillings; we chose bavarian cream. Oh my. Definitely a diet-buster!

fdecarlo

lia: As others have said you can and should take the northern route from Waikoloa to VNP. It's shorter as well as more scenic, and you'll also avoid the Kailua/South Kona traffic.

Sights along the way include Waipio Valley outlook, Akaka Falls, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens (don't miss this one!) and Rainbow Falls just outside Hilo.

It's unfortunate if you can't spend at least one night near VNP, as this would open up far more leisurely travel along this route, e.g. you'll pass several spectacular gorges along the Hamakua coast on the north side; many of these gorges are accessible from the main highway given enough time.

As for hiking boots, they're optional, but remember that fresh lava is torture on shoes. Whatever shoes you wear, make sure you don't mind having them torn up a bit.

Nancy03

Is Waipio Valley Lookout off the main Route 19? If so, how far in minutes total?

lia_b

Thank you for all the wonderful information. I think I will take the Northern route and stop at the sights along the way. I am hoping we can be on the road at 7:00 a.m. so that we can have a lot of time for stops and plan to be at the volcano around 3:30 to talk to the rangers before the office closes. Any good breakfast places within an hour of leaving the Hilton? I definitely regret not being able to stay overnight. However, it would mean paying an unused night at the Hilton. I do have the Hawaii: Big Island revealed book and plan to finish reading it on the long flight from the East Coast. I can't wait!

JohnD

Closest I can think of is Starbucks ~o)in the King's shops, opens 6AM(link:http://waikoloaresort.com/shops/restaurants.htm)

Otherwise the town of Waimea is on the way and has some options in addition to McD's and another Starbucks.

bonniebroad

lia_b, There's Maha's Cafe at Spencer House, Highway 19, Waimea.......... this lady now serves hot cakes, granolas, etc., starting at 8 a.m., (closed Tuesdays). Before, she was famous for just her delicious lunches. When we stopped, she was closed, but we've heard so much good about this place. You could also maybe pick up lunch-to-go, to eat while you're seeing all the beautiful sights on the Northern coast. It is so beautiful there!

Another place I've heard about that sounds good is The Little Juice Shack, at Parker Ranch Shopping Center, Hwy. 19. Supposed to have luscious smoothies, and bagels with wonderful toppings (open at 7 a.m., M-F, 9 a.m. Sat.)

Happy planning...........

pmode

another vote for Tex's - great malasadas (donuts) and we had a tasty plate lunch there too.
there are 2 locations, so if you choose the Hilo route or the Kona route, you will find one each way.

I wish I would have had hiking books for the trek to the lava. i had running shoes and i could have used some ankle support because the hike is quite treacherous, and i kept turning my ankles. please be careful hiking! my friend tripped and gashed his leg and we needed to visit the emergency room on the way back to kona.

fdecarlo

lia: Waimea is only a 20 minute drive from Waikoloa (and on the way to Hilo/VNP), there are lots of inexpensive options there for breakfast. Our favorite is the Paniolo Country Inn. It looks like a classic American coffee shop from the 1970's, the food is basic but very good, and prices are amazingly reasonable.

Grcxx3

We just returned from the BI and stayed at the Hilton Waidoloa.

We rented a car for just a day to go to VNP. We had planned on an early start but the rental car desk at the Hilton Waikoloa doesn't open until 7:30 and so we didn't get going until a little after 8. We were back by 6.

We drove to VNP via the north side and returned via the south. The northern route was definitely more appealing. We stopped at the Botanical Gardens for about 30 minutes - but mainly wanted to hit the volcano park.

NOTE - it was cold and rainy! Take long sleeves, maybe long pants, and a rain jacket of some sort.

We didn't hike to the lava, but those I talked to said that tennis shoes were not really enough because the heat came right through them. The park also recommends sunscreen, a hat, lots of water, and a flashlight.

kcinmo

We hiked out to the lava a couple of weeks ago. It really was a great sight! We hiked out at about 5 pm and stayed til after dark. We all wore athletic shoes and had no problems - hiking boots were not necessary at all. My shoes did get a little scuffed on the toes, but there was no damage at all to my husband's or either of my sons' shoes.
Although it was a long hike, it was really not a very difficult one.

lia_b

GRCxx3 - You returned at 6. We are planning to drive back around 10 p.m. Would you recommend the night driving along the North route back to the Hilton? Is it an easy drive?

JohnD

My vote would be for the northern route back to Waikoloa, as you would pass through Hilo and Waimea with coffee shops and more night-lit areas.

The southern route is very rural with a lot of curves, having driven it at tired at night would not recommend it unless staying in Kona.

kendallg

I'm probably not adding much new here, but we just returned yesterday from the Big Island and Maui and did the hike to the lava with our two young children, ages 4 and 7. We all had sneakers on and did fine. We left the Fairmont Orchid (not far from Hilton) at about 1 p.m. (we had seen other parts of the volcano before years ago) and went the northern route. We had a 4-wheel drive so did the Waipao Valley drive and HIGHLY recommend it. It was a highlight of our trip, if only because we felt like we were being so adventurous. There are very few people down there. We had a picnic. Ran into a couple horses on the way out. We stopped in Hilo for flashlights and got to the road at the bottom of the volcano around 6:30. If we had to do it again, we'd arrive an hour earlier so one part of the hike would be in total daylight. The walk back seemed like it took forever, since we were tired, but everything turned out fine. All told, we spent about 3 hours on the entire hike and getting out of the park. One suggestion: if the line of cars is super long and you've got young ones (or those for whom the hike alone will be long enough) have the driver drop everyone off at the entrance and then park the car and sprint back to meet them.
I just printed my pictures from the lava flow tonight. It truly is amazing.