outdoor1

We were near Hilo for 4 nights in July. If you have an IPad or similar device get the Big Island Revealed and Mauai Revealed as an app. Not sure where you are coming from but if you don't have 3G enabled these apps still work as a GPS unit. You can look up a sight on the app and select map it and your gps will direct you there. Really cool. Also the sights near here feature works as well.
On our East side stay of the Big Island we really enjoyed the Puna coast. It is very beautiful and has lots of lava pools etc to explore. We drove that route to get to our lava tour. It was fantastic, but involved abover 4 miles of hiking on uneven terrain ( lava). We were on our feet for about 5 hours. It ws worth it for us to see the ocean entry, You will have to decide if that is something you would enjoy. I think if you are used to hiking you should be fine. We went with Poke A Stick Lava Tours. they were very good and much less expensive than other companies, Take your most comfortable hiking shoes with you if you decide to do that. I regretted not bringing mine.
One day we drove the Hamuka coast and came back via the Saddle Road. Loved Hawaii Tropical Gardens, and eating at What's Shakin on the 4 mile scenic road.

Waipo Valley was a stop I was really looking forward too, but I was completely underwhelmed by it. Too much beautiful scenery in Kauai I guess.
There is a lava tube cave near Hilo called Kaumana. make sure you take flashlights and go into the lava tube entrance on the left. It is a 2 mile long cave. very cool. We went a long way in but didn't do the whole cave.
In VNP we went on a few short hikes and walked brought the lava tube. We ended the day at the Jaggar Museum to see the glow from the crater. That was quite impressive.

patcla46

Has anyone done a helicopter tour on the Big Island. Need to know which company gives the best ride for the money. Want to fly over the volcanos and water falls.

sf7307

Friends of ours did the helicopter trip in June - they just told us yesterday how great it was. I'll try to find out the name of the company.

patcla46

Thanks, I would really appreciate it.

Liberty3l

you said you found a house in Hilo. we will be doing the same thing as you in November, we are 60 + also. could you please let us know how you experienced the holiday if you have returned with some suggestions or tips.

also house details in Hilo would be a great help/

thanks

patcla46

Sorry I have been so long to reply. Been very busy. I found the house in Hilo by going to vrbo.com. The number to the house we are staying in is #372652. We will be leaving this coming Mon. Oct. 28 and return on Nov. 7. Will try to put some coments when we return.

patcla46

I would like to know if you need to wear old shoes when in the VNP? Will the black lava rub off on shoes?

bakerstreet

One of my favorite things we did in Maui was free -- went to a church service at Lahaina Methodist Church. Probably sounds weird, but it was great -- we were welcomed with fresh leis, got to hear the Tongan Men's Choir, at the end of the service the entire congregation formed a circle and sang a song written by the last Queen of Hawaii (Liliuokalani). Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. If you are in Maui on a Sunday, I highly recommend spending an hour at that church service.

We did the Road to Hana, the helicopter ride, etc. and enjoyed it all, but that church service was something special. And, as I said, free!

suze

I'm not sure if it was the same church, but we participated in a food drive at a church right in town. Went to Safeway and bought staple items and dropped them of at a collection spot at the church. That felt like a small way to help pay back for the warm local hospitality.

martym

To answer the question about lava. It is rock--the black does not rub off. If you are doing any hiking in the park, sturdy shoes are a good idea--not sandals or slippahs (ie., flip flops). We wore tennies when doing the Kilauea Iki hike.

indyhiker

The black lava in the park will not rub off on your chooses. In the areas where you're allowed to hike in the park, the lava has long since hardened.

My husband and I spent ten days on the Big Island this past April/May. We spent five nights in an VRBO rental just north of Hilo (between Hilo and Pahoa) and four nights at Nancy's Hideaway (a cottage I highly recommend) in an area in the hills above Kona town. Here are a few random observations, keeping in mind that I think it takes far longer than 10 days to become an expert of the Big Island.

There is something interesting and worth seeing on every side of the island. The sheer diversity of the island and the often sudden changes in climate and weather are worth experiencing. We drove over 1,000 miles--with no regrets--during our stay.

I really liked the area around Pahoa. It's off the beaten path a bit. The town has some decent restaurants and the scenery is pretty. Waipo is also very pretty, but the hike up from the valley is strenuous--and I say that as an avid hiker. The green sand beach is pretty cool, but in restrospect, I wish we'd skipped it or gotten a ride to/from the beach. It's only a five-mile or so round trip hike, but there's no shade and it felt far longer.

I wished I'd gone for a horseback ride in Waimea like the OP plans to do. I thought Waimea was a really interesting area and I would have enjoyed exploring it a bit.

The definite highlight for us was snorkeling. We brought our own equipement and were able to hit a few areas on both the east and west sides of the island with ease. Outside of Kona, we went on a three-site boat tour with Snorkel Bob's one morning that was really cool. There are various outfitters and types of boats. We also went snorkeling at Kahalul'u Beach Park in Kona. It was crowded, but the snorkeling itself was good. We also skorkeled at the Kapoha tide pools outside of Hilo. That was a pretty cool experience, although be careful about cutting yourself on the rocks. In retrospect, I wish I'd worn gloves.

Volcanoes is cool. We only spent a day there and missed our chance to go back because it was pouring rain.

The Saddle Road is creepy. We didn't drive the whole thing, but what we did drive kind of weirded us out. It got incredibly foggy, windy and really desolute. Eek!

I really enjoyed the Botanical Garden in Hilo. The diversity is amazing.

All in all, we really enjoyed our trip, but at times we really had to work for it. Some of the hikes were tough and the sheer dize and depth of the island can be daunting, as can the weather. When the rain falls, it can really fall. It's unlike anything I've ever seen or will see again. I was constantly reminded that nature there is not tame. So, be careful. Do not turn your back on the ocean. Heed all warnings ocean. Mind your footing. Wear sunscreen and use SPF rated clothing when you can. Have a Plan B if the weather doesn't cooperate or just drive a few miles; you mind find very different weather.

As I said before, we drove a lot and nearly circumnavigated the entire island. While I don't think you have to do that per se, I do think you should try to see as much of the island as possible so that you can appreciate its diversity.