...I'm getting so excited it's hard to finish up all the work I need to get done before I leave!

Here's the plan:

Day 1 - flying all day, arrive and sleep in Hilo
Day 2 - Volcano National Park
Day 3 - explore the Puna area in the AM, Arnott's tour up Mauna Kea in PM
Day 4 - Waterfalls, Waipio valley, check into Hilton Waikoloa
Day 5 - snorkel rafting tour with Sea Quest in AM, coffee farm tour and explore Kailua-Kona in PM
Day 6 - free
Day 7 - noon flight Kona --> Maui, staying in Kihei, walk along beaches in PM
Day 8 - snorkel kayak tour of Ahini area in AM, OLL in PM
Day 9 - Drive around West Maui, do some hiking
Day 10 - free AM, flight to Honolulu at 4PM, Mai Tai's on Waikiki in PM
Day 11 - Pearl Harbor in AM, free PM, flight home at 11:30PM
Day 12 - fly home, rest up

I'm a very active traveler, so I've planned a lot to do.

ALOHA pb&i... have a wonderful time!

I got tired just reading that!

HAVE FUN!!!!

Best wishes for your trip. I hope to see a full report on your travel, with details about the Seaquest raft trip.

Sounds fantastic! Can you sneak me in your suitcase?

Day 2 or 3, try and see the green sand beach. The sparse landscape isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's an incredible place... prehistoric looking, almost other-worldly.

Day 5, if possible, get into Kona before late afternoon (4PM or so) to avoid rush hour traffic.

Day 6 would be a great chance to explore more of the north coast, or just veg at Hapuna Beach. It's the best white sand beach on the island.

Anyway, have a blast!!

Thanks everyone!
My favorite thing on these boards is reading trip reports, so I'll definitely write one up when I get back!

fdecarlo - I *really* wanted to get to the green beach when I first started planning, but it got cut since it's just so remote... but who knows once we're there?

pb&i...
Green sand beach is awesome... tie it inwith exploring the south point... it's really incredible!

Well, the green sand beach isn't all that remote if one knows how to get there.. The first time we went we made the mistake of taking South Point Rd. all the way until it ends (at the coast). From there it's a LONG hike to the beach -- at least five miles. Later it was explained to us that we should have taken the small, unmarked side road about 1/4 mi. before the end of South Point Rd, which follows the coast eastwards and takes one almost all the way to the beach.

Between South Point Rd, and the side road it's not much time at all -- about 45 minutes total from Hwy 11.

45 minutes from Hwy 11 isn't bad.
Do any of those roads require a 4WD?

South Point Rd. is a paved, one-lane road (2WD is fine), but the side road requires a 4WD. Nothing extreme, just lots of bumps and dips over grassland.

DH & son pulled our jeep wrangler up on the highest point above the green sand beach... it made for some great photos... also took the cut & drove right up. Having the 4WD on the BI was much fun when exploring off the beaten track!

ALOHA...

fdecarlo: could you explain that route for the green beach? I'm following thre Big Island revaeoed book" If I'm coming from Kona and turn on South Point road, where do I go from there. Also, only traveling in a economy car, will it make it? Thanks!

azgrl: All that's required is a single right turn, from Hwy 11 onto South Point Rd. Just stay on this road. There's no way to get lost, even if one were to try -- you'll see what I mean once you get there. About 12 miles later the road ends at the coast.

If you have a 2WD vehicle and/or don't want to upset your car rental company, park here (be sure to bring water for the hike, and also, do NOT leave any valuables in the car or trunk -- car break-ins are pretty common at South Point, although we've never had that problem) and start hiking east, roughly following the coast. It's quite a distance, but eventually you'll see a huge cinder cone right on the coast. The green sand beach is there.

If you have a 4WD vehicle and blessing from your car rental company, about 1/4 mile before South Point Rd. ends (it may be closer to 3/8 mile, I'm going from memory here) you'll see a wide trail going off to the east. That's the trail you want to take. (Don't try this in a 2WD car, you'll likely get stuck.) The trail will take you almost all the way to the green sand beach.

fdecarlo: Thanks. there's a lot of info. to take for the Big Island. When I was in Oahu last year there didn't seem to be as much hiking compared to the Big Island. I can't wait to get there.!!!

The BI is, well, BIG. It's a hiker's paraside. Maui might seem tame after experiencing Waipio Valley, VNP, Mauna Kea etc on the BI.

Not to belabor the issue but South Point has this vibe to it that I've never experienced anywhere else. It's hard to explain. I've read reports of others, and even the original Polynesians who first landed there talking about a "power" in that area. I definitely felt it my first time hiking there, even though I had not read these other reports beforehand.

Looks like great trip....good planning.
Hey...that's what it's all about ...doing and having fun..

But do me a favor....take the scenic route [little detour of the main road..Hwy 11 on the way north from Hilo]
and stop by "What's Shakin" and have a papaya smoothie, and think of all of us back here working! LOL....Have a great trip.