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The long awaited vacation to the big island, could not have been better.....
Plan:
DO say "aloha" and "mahalo," advises commenter Dana Bass, from the Big Island. "Aloha" is used instead of "hello" and "goodbye," and "mahalo" means "thank you."
Day 1:
1.Costco: Our very first stop was costco. This was suggested to us by many friends as a must. Everything on the island is so expensive that it is a very good idea to pick up some water, fruits and snacks for the road trip from here. If travelling with kids, I guess this should be a very smart move.
PS: Shaved ice was on top of my “Must try in Hawaii “list. If in case you don’t find it in any of the farmers markets you visit or if you want to kick off the vacation with true island flavors, there is one store on way to Costco , Rainbow Café.
2.Sheraton: Home for 2 days. Very pleasant, open resort with a nice pool….great view… and awesome location.
3. Maunakea: One of the highest mountain in the world when measured from its base down below the sea level (it beats Everest). You can go until visitor center but from there on you will need a four wheel drive. There are tours you can book ahead or can get a lift from one on the tours busses (if you are lucky) from the visitor center. We just went until the visitor center, and left the start gazing as must to do activity on our next visit to big island. Yes, the observatory on the top of the majestic mountain, has free star gazing for visitors from 6 to 10pm. Also, if you are there, be there for the sunset, it’s supposedly spectacular. Sunset above the clouds…don miss it.
Activity :Star gazing: 6 to 10pm
Scenic Drive: Highway 200 is a part of one of the best scenic drives on Big Island.
IF you want to do the complete drive it starts from Havi – HWY 250-Waimea-Mountain HWY. Its not included in my map, as this route was out of our way from Kona. If you are staying anywhere near waimea, this route is suggested.
Day 2:
4.Sea Quest Snorkel Tours: I wasn’t sure if I will enjoy snorkeling. This was my first time and I can’t SWIM. But, none of these two reasons stopped me from having FUN. It was a 5 hour tour. 3 snorkeling spots, Sea cave exploring and a stop at a secluded black sand beach accessible only by a boat. Awsome !!!! Very small group on the boat. Fruits, snacks and lunch included. We saw turtles too…….
Snorkeling at captain cook was amazing.
PS: Reservation is needed. We got a discount and a water proof cam for booking online.
They have prescription snorkeling gear for people who have sight. Fog solution was cherry on the top.
5. Back to Sheraton.
6. Coffee Plantation Tour: After snorkeling in the hot sun, we are off to a coffee plantation in the misty mountain slopes. We visited Mountain thunder coffee plantation and went to a free tour at 4 pm. If you are a coffee lover like me, these free tours won’t be enough. It is a nice family owned farm, set up in the clouds. Do try the kona coffee and coffee beans coverd by chocolate.
7. Rays on the Bay, for dinner: This is restaurant is located in Sheraton and is very popular for Manta ray viewing. It is here, the very famous manta ray diving/snorkeling is done. They have a viewing are to see the Mantas at twilight. I loved the food and ambience.
Day 3 :
8. Captain Cook Monument: This is where the fisrt westner set foot on Hawaii islands and it is where he was killed by natives due to some misunderstanding. This monument is a great snorkeling place and we snorkeled here on our snorkel trip.
http://www.greensandbeachhawaii.com/directions
9. Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park: Old Hawaii village preserved for us to visit.
This where you will find the Hawaii's famous wooden sculptures.
4. Sea turtles
Take highway 83, near Laie I think, there's a beach where sea turtles wash up on shore to rest and eat seaweed, then go back to sea after a couple minutes. You can be 2 feet away and watch them wash up, it's really cool (they're huge!) You'll have to stop and ask locals where exactly is the beach. It literally is 20 feet from the highway.
Restaurants and places to try:
Kona side:
1. Holualoa ukulele gallery
2. Coffee Shack : on way to volcano
Back on the main road, stop at the mountainside Coffee Shack (after mile marker 108; 1 808 328 (www.coffeeshack.com), built on a coffee plantation. Besides Kona coffee, lunch, and breakfast—try the eggs Benedict—the lanai, or porch, has views of 26 miles (41 kilometers) of coastline far below.
3. Naalehu
At Naalehu, stop at the Punalu'u Bake Shop (95-3642 Hamalahoa Hwy.; 1 808 929 7343; www.bakeshophawaii.com), famed for Portuguese sweet bread and malasadas (doughnuts). Box up an assortment to eat later in the car.
4. Hawaii buffet:
http://www.kona-luau.com/island-breeze.htm
Hilo side:
1. Sea food restourant.
2. Volcano theamed restourant.
3. Akatsuka Orchid Gardens
Akatsuka Orchid Gardens is located on the way to see the volcanoes.
If you’re planning a trip to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, stop by to see their display room. They are open 7 days a week, from 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. The building has easy access and is wheel chair accessible.
4. Scenic Road off Rt 19
Just past the 7 mile marker on 19 north of Hilo, there is a turn off for a "scenic" road. This really is a great side trip. It's only 4 miles long, but it twists and turns through lush tropical jungles, and leads you past the Hawai'i Tropical Botanical Jungle. We didn't stop at this site, but I here it is well worth the $15 entrance fee. A little past the gardens, the road takes you to the edge of Onomea Bay. The view here was magical. We had to stop and gaze out for a while.
The road takes you right back up to 19. I highly recommend this diversion
5. Go spelunking in Kaumana Cave
The Mauna Loa lava flow of 1881 flowed towards Hilo in this lava tube. It is said that Princess Ruth slept the night in front of the lava flow and asked Pele to spare Hilo, and upon wakening found the lava had stopped. The lava tube that was left is about 25 miles long, and about the 4 mile marker on Kaumana Drive (just off Waianuenue Avenue) there is a small opening, where a hole in the lava tube, exposed to the rainforest Hilo weather, created a micro rainforest opening. Signs at the entrance warn that the cave extnds miles and does lead into private properties. We descended the stairs, and at the bottom are openings to two different caves. The one on the right is a larger opening, and was easier (and safer) for me to walk into shortly. Gordie ventured in just a liitle further, but after the accident, we had shipped all our hiking stuff and flashlights home. I would have loved to explore. The cave on the left has a low overhang, but caverns out on the other side.
Hawi side :
1. look for Kohala Winds of Change (55-3435 Akoni Pule Hwy.; 1 808 889 0809; kohalawindsofchange.com), which imports and sells scores of organic Chinese teas.
2.
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