Hi all,
Great site!
Am going to Oahu and BI at end of June.... want to take kids to green sand beach but keep hearing conflicting reports on cars! Kids are 9 & 13 (girls) . Do we need a PERMIT? I keep reading about permits to green sand beach. Also can we drive around the gate without a four wheel and make it further in 2wd?

Staying at Keanhoue resorts on BI and Waikiki Joy on Oahu..... car rental ideas for a day or two on Oahu?

Also, heard we can't take purses or fanny pack to Arizona Memorial....what's up?

REALLY want to see lava flows.... any chances?
Helicopter best bet? but am staying on Kona and don't want to drive to HILO just for a helicopter..... any in Kona?

Please reply or send me an email [email protected]

THANKS
TAMMY

A new flow just started this week.

kelkie: A permit is *not* necessary for the green sand beach. There's a little shack at the beginning of one of the trails leading to the beach, and an adjacent parking area where they try and charge you to park your car. People there have also been known to lie about needing a permit, or a guided tour etc. None of what they tell you is true.

Instead, simply drive to the very end of South Point Rd., find a place to park on the bluff near the coast (it's free), get out of your car and start hiking east. If you have a 4WD vehicle, about 1/4 mile before South Point Rd. ends you'll see a wide trail heading off to the east. The trail will take you almost all the way to the beach. Do NOT try this trail in a 2WD vehicle.

South Point can be a rowdy area and vehicle breakins are fairly common. Don't leave anything of value inside or in the trunk of your car, and above all else, do not lock it if you decide to hike to the beach.

You can take a Sunshine or Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour out of a small airport near the Kohala resorts. (I think it's the Waikoloa Heliport.) Are the kids up for the ride? One of mine was sick from the twisting and turning. The lava fumes probably didn't help. Check the National Park website for daily updates on the lava flows.

You don't need a permit to go to Green Sand Beach. I recomend a 4wd! The walk is about 5 miles round trip and there is NO shade, lots of wind and it's hot. There's some other places on the Big Island to go where you'll need a 4x4 also. We only got a 2wd and were sorry, but we did walk off all the beer we drank.

You can not take any bags of any sort to the Arizona memorial. This is security. Leave your valuables behind because the wait to check your purse is long and in a parking lot.

The lava is getting close to Chain of Craters RD. I don't know how long a hike that is but GO SEE IT!!!