off-topic: Hawaii

My girlfriend and I will be visiting Hawaii (the Big Island) for a week in August. I've never been to the Big Island, and my girlfriend hasn't been there since she was a child. Anyone have any specific suggestions for sights to see? In particular, does anyone have a favorite place to go hiking, snorkeling or kayaking?

If you do just one thing, it should be a kayak/snorkeling trip to Kealakekua Bay. When I was there guides were at the kayak launching point offering to do tours, and quite reasonably priced. Signage on the way may say things like "last chance to rent a kayak," but don't believe them. Another option is to take a snorkeling boat, but I think you'll have a better time getting there by kayak with a local guide.

If you make a trip to Volcano National Park, and I think you should, bring flashlights for the unlit parts of the lava tubes. It is worth the hike to actually see the lava flowing, although it usually flows very slowly.

If you'll be there for a week, I would divide your time between the Kona and Hilo sides. My father just produced a list of the worst vacation spots in the world, and he put Hilo on the list, but I disagree. I like Hilo, and the drive getting there. Yes, it rains a lot, but few tourists make it there, so it is an opportunity to see "the real Hawaii."

Not an authority at all, but I will add to the Wizard's comment that the two sides are quite different. On the Hilo side, I totally enjoyed a walking tour of the Tropical Botanical Gardens that border Onomea Bay. They have an extremely diverse collection of both native and non-native species, all of which look great in Hawaii. Plenty of photo ops of the flora and the bay.

I've never been, but the one thing I would want to do, based upon hearing a friend's story about it, is the volcano bicycle thing.

They bus you up an hour or so before sunrise. You see a billion stars without ANY light intefering, watch the sun rise, have breakfast, then hop on a bicycle.

Here's the key:

You pedal for about 12 seconds, then coast the entire way down for an hour.

How cool is that?

Absolutely don't miss the sunrise on Haleakala (Maui), though we didn't do the bike ride. If you're a diver, Molokini crater is nice.

I liked Hilo, also. We wandered down during the farmer's market, and for a Midwesterner, it was fun just looking at the exotic (to us) fruits, flowers, and vegetables.

My one regret is I didn't get a chance to see the observatory on Mauna Kea. I think they give occasional tours. The drive across the island on the saddle road is neat -- traveling in a couple hours from tropical rain forest to the cool, arid landscape between the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa is an eye opener. (Don't tell your car rental company, the road is off limits to rentals)

Quote: reno

My girlfriend and I will be visiting Hawaii (the Big Island) for a week in August. I've never been to the Big Island, and my girlfriend hasn't been there since she was a child. Anyone have any specific suggestions for sights to see? In particular, does anyone have a favorite place to go hiking, snorkeling or kayaking?

We've been there twice, and we're going again next year. There are just so many "you can't miss this" things, I don't know where to start.

I would say, one thing I tried not to miss. Both times we went, we stayed in Kohala, once at the Fairmont Orchid and once in a condo in Waikoloa. Every day I got up at dawn and walked along the coast. That was truly awesome. There are rainbows, fish ponds, spots of green, pink, and black sand, waves crashing... beautiful. I'd walk a half hour, turn around and walk back, and we'd go to breakfast.

Some things I loved:

Volcano National Park.
Hilo, I too loved Hilo.
The beaches on the Kohala Coast are some of the finest beaches in the world.
Havi is a cool little hippie town on the north coast.
Waipo Valley
Akaka Falls
The coffee plantations.

There is much, much more.

I had 3 of the finest (and most expensive) meals of my life there, at Brown's Beach House (at the Fairmont Orchid), Pahu i`a (at the Four Seasons), and at the original Roy's in Waikoloa.

Here is the view from our table at Brown's Beach House:



One very interesting thing about BI; it has almost all of the world's climate zones. You can carry snow to the beach. From Waimea, you stand in the cold rain and watch people playing on the beach in bright 80* sunshine. these photos were taken within an hour of each other, all we did was drive up into the mountains:





Looking up from the beach:



Looking down from the hills:




I have hundreds of pictures, but only a dozen or so at Photobucket. When I get home I'll upload some and link them for you.

The best guidebook, by far, is The Big Island Revealed.

The best forums are at Konaweb.

Quote: Mosca

I've been there twice, and we're going again next year. There are just so many "you can't miss this" things, I don't know where to start.

With the most important one, of course: don't forget to get coffee!

I've never been to Hawaii, but I've tasted the coffee.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I've never been, but the one thing I would want to do, based upon hearing a friend's story about it, is the volcano bicycle thing.

They bus you up an hour or so before sunrise. You see a billion stars without ANY light intefering, watch the sun rise, have breakfast, then hop on a bicycle.

Here's the key:

You pedal for about 12 seconds, then coast the entire way down for an hour.

How cool is that?

Bring some high tech gear that is light and easy to remove since you are basically changing climate zones. Check out the bicycle they give you as people have had nasty accidents because of inferior cycles. You will hit some high speeds.

Quote: Nareed

With the most important one, of course: don't forget to get coffee!

I've never been to Hawaii, but I've tasted the coffee.

We visited Greenwell Estates, where they will roast the beans for you on the spot. They let them outgas, then pack them in a special bag that allows continual outgassing. There's something about grinding and brewing the beans while they're still oily, the coffee is outstanding. You can get Kona coffee by mail order, they'll do it the same way (roast, bag and ship) so that it's fresh, but it is much, much better to visit the farm and get it that way. Not cheaper, but much, much better.

Also, lilikoi iced tea; iced tea with passionfruit flowers. And malasadas from Tex's in Waimea.

Thing is, the BI can be whatever you want it to be. If you are an outdoors adventure person, you can ski, snorkel, hike, and surf, every day. If you are a golfer, you can play a different (PGA Tour) course every single day for a week. If you like to go to the beach, you can go to a different 5* (in the WORLD, not US) beach every single day. If you like to fish, you can go deep sea fishing in the world's premier billfishing grounds. If you love science, you can spend your time between Volcano National Park and Mauna Kea Observatory. If you're counterculture, well, it's Kona, and the Wai'po valley (just don't trespass). If you like quality accommodations and fine dining, the Kohala Coast hotels are world standard.

The only thing I can think of that they don't have, in fact, is casinos. But honestly, you don't go here to gamble. For one thing, the plane ride is too long.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I've never been, but the one thing I would want to do, based upon hearing a friend's story about it, is the volcano bicycle thing.

They bus you up an hour or so before sunrise. You see a billion stars without ANY light intefering, watch the sun rise, have breakfast, then hop on a bicycle.

Here's the key:

You pedal for about 12 seconds, then coast the entire way down for an hour.

How cool is that?

i'm not sure if they have these bike tours on the big island, but sounds like your talking about the bike tour down Haleakala on Maui. that's the well known one. i never did it so not sure if they start before sunrise but thats one of the main attractions to going up there is to see the spectacular sunrise. you can also hike into the crater but be prepared for drastic weather changes.

the suggestions for things to do on the big island are very good, and if you are a coffee drinker then kona is like napa valley to wine drinkers. also if you like fishing you might want to check into that while on the kona side. be prepared to walk or hike alot to get the full benefit of your sightseeing.

.

Quote: Mosca

We visited Greenwell Estates, where they will roast the beans for you on the spot. They let them outgas, then pack them in a special bag that allows continual outgassing.

I looked them up online. The prices are a bit high, but not extravagant. BTW Just about all modern coffee bags come with a one-way valve that keeps air from coming in but allows outgassing.

Greenwell is where we visited on the island. When I buy online, I buy from Hualalai Estate.

I know about the bag, I just didn't want to give the impression that the coffee was roasted and immediately bagged, it sits a bit first. (But that's one of those things that I know just enough about to be wrong, so go ahead and correct me when I need it.)

Quote: Mosca

Greenwell is where we visited on the island. When I buy online, I buy from Hualalai Estate.

Thanks. I'll look them up as well.

Quote:

I know about the bag, I just didn't want to give the impression that the coffee was roasted and immediately bagged, it sits a bit first. (But that's one of those things that I know just enough about to be wrong, so go ahead and correct me when I need it.)

I drink two or three cups a day and I like coffee flavored desserts. I make my own coffee jello with brewed coffee and evaporated milk (I'm trying out some mocha variations as time permits). But I'm not a connoisseur and much less a purist (I drink <gasp!> instant in the morning because it's convenient).

I just read a bit about coffee. I know you add coffee to milk, never the other way around. And I know several different brewing methods, from Turkish coffee to capuccino.