We will be spending three nights on the Big Island at the 4S. I am really starting to think we don't have enough time for the 10-12 hour trip to Volcanoes National Park. We spoke to the concierge last night and she suggested a Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour. Has anyone done this? It is very expensive compared to renting car for one day.
Also, could anyone suggest an activity close to the resort to see some kind of volcano, waterfall or other natural occurance? Thanks!

Do NOT miss going to VNP! It would be an absolute shame as it is an absolute must do if you are on BI.

I was there in October -- here is a trip report about activities:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34899946

We did both the VNP on foot and on Blue Hawaii. Together, they were the best way to really appreciate all that was there to see.

We did the drive from Prince Hapuna Beach to VNP and back in a very long day/night. If we did it again, we would spend the night in VNP area. But I had already made hotel reservations for the 3 night at Prince. {It was wonderful}

Here's a link to another thread which has more of my trip report info, including food and pictures.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34899956

Hope this helps...
Debi

You should try to see Kiluea (an acitve volcano) However, if you chose not to you could drive over the Kohalo Mountains (an extinct volcano) to Hawi on highway 250. Very green and lush. Hawi is a charming town with restaurants and shops. You can continue onto the Pololu Valley overlook.
Or go tour the Waipio valley west of Honokaa--http://www.waipiovalleywagontours.com/.
Or drive toward Hilo and visit Akaka Falls http://tinyurl.com/qleo
and the Hawaiian Tropical Botanic Gardens at Onomea Bay. http://www.htbg.com/

DebitNM and MartyM - Thank you. I will check all out now.

jallard,
I've been reading your various posts regarding this trip. Is it possible to extend your trip on the BI by one day or two so you can do the volcano and still enjoy what your resort has to offer? If $$ becomes an issue, you could stay at a less expensive and still nice place like the Fairmont or the Hapuna Prince.

-Bill

DebitNM - Great trip reports. I would have liked to see your pictures, but the link wouldn't work.
MartyM- All three look beautiful. Thanks!

Bill,
Our flight is already booked and we have two tickets with frequent flier miles. I also already booked our Aloha airlines tickets from Maui to Kona. I am now realizing I should have probably done one less day in Maui and one more on the Big Island. We will be in Hawaii over the 4th of July and I thought it would be really fun to be in Maui for it. I have heard the Grand Wailea does a nice show.
We'll figure everything out - we have lots of time. I just really like to plan and have everything set. Everyone's advice on this website is very useful to me.

Try this link to pictures --

http://tinyurl.com/vxctc

Debi

Sorry --this is the right link

http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/debits2000

We did the Waterfall and Fire (Volcano) tour with Blue Hawaiian. The helicopter will take you almost directly over the vent and you will almost certainly see molten lava. The waterfalls are much less impressive from the air than they are from the ground -- so opt for the "feel the heat" tour if you can.

I went to the Big Island last year, 2 nights...staying on the Kona side. We woke up early in the AM, drove to the VNP, spent the entire day there and drove home.

It really was not that bad and it was well worth it.

8-)

Debi - Great Pics. - Thanks!

Some of my pictures on The Big Island and Volcano June 06

http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/galle38/

Galle38- beautiful! Where were the pictures of the waterfalls from?

DebitNM,
How far is the observation area from the actual lava flow in terms of distance and walking time? We will be on the island early June and want to try hiking with our teens. Based on your trip report, what you actually can see from the observation area is through a binocular, but not the naked eyes, did I understand correctly? Mahalo.

If I remember correctly, it is about a 2 hour drive down Chain of Craters Road to the ocean. It's been 10 years since we've been there. We will be going again in July. Make sure to get down there and stay for sunset. The side of the mountain lights up as soon as it gets dark. It is really rather amazing.

We stayed on the Big Island for 4 days, 2 in Kona and 2 were to be at a B&B in Volcano. Unfortunately, the road down to the lava point in Volcano was closed as there was a hurricane coming and the winds were too heavy to make it safe for walking. What a disapointment. We even left the B&B before our 2nd night to get back to Kona as there is only one road to Kona and if it were blocked because of fallen trees, etc. from the hurricane, we wouldn't be able to leave from there the next day to catch our flight to Maui.
P.S. The hurricane turned out to be a baby and not destructive at all.

You can walk from where the Chain of Craters road ends to an observation point. It takes about 45 minutes from where you park to where you walk to viewing area. All you can see during the day is the huge white plumes of gasses where the lave flows into the ocean; you cannot see the lava itself [with or without binocs] Once the sun goes down, you can see the actual lava [with binoculars is best] flows into the see as a big bright orange glow. We could also see lava flowing down the mountain but it was thin small flows and you had to have binocs to see that.

Keep in mind that nature being what it is, the flows could be better or not visible at any given time.

It was an awesome experience!

Hope this helps...
Debi

Absolutely see the active volcano.

Go before in the late afternoon, stay till dusk and see the flow in it's brilliance.

Make sure you take a flash light, you'll be like the pied piper leading those who didn't bring one back to their car.

Bart