Trip Report Part 2

Before I continue with Hilo I forgot

Snorkeling Captain Cook %26amp; Kaealakekua Bay with Dolphin Discoveries. Thanks to Hawaiian Dan for recommending these guys. They are great. We had a humpback breach right by the boat as well as a few sightings. Some dolphins swam with us for awhile too!

We did the beach hike starting at Spencer Beach - it was awesome.

Hapuna Beach is very nice but can be crowded. Waves are something else too.

While we were at Pu%26#39;ukohola Heiau we saw whales from the shore.

Pu%26#39;uhonua O Honaunau Nat%26#39;l Park (Place of Refuge) - loved the history, well preserved %26amp; absolutely gorgeous.

Greenwell Coffee Farm tour (Captain Cook area) - short %26amp; very informative.

Hilo Highlights

Laupahoehoe Lookout - site of Tsunami. Rugged %26amp; beautiful but sad too.

Hiking the Volcano %26amp; watching the lava flow at night - spectacular. It was quite a show. Listen to the board - give yourself at least 2 days here, especially if you hike.

Hilo town is a little rough but we liked it.

Hilo Farmer%26#39;s Market - awesome. We picked up some great souvenirs %26amp; at the best price of any of the islands (Maui, BI %26amp; Oahu).

Tour of the falls - Rainbow (didn%26#39;t see one though %26amp; tried 3 mornings but still beautful). Make sure you hike up the stairs to the left to gorgeous banyan tree. Would be a great place for a picnic.

Boiling Pots %26amp; Pe%26#39;epe%26#39;e Falls - apparently if you hike around Pe%26#39;epe%26#39;e Falls there is a better view someone there told us. We didn%26#39;t though, don%26#39;t know why.

Pepeekeo Scenic 4-mile drive - WOW. Along this drive we passed over a bridge %26amp; there was a waterfall coming out of a lava tube. Don%26#39;t know the name but it was quite a sight.

Hawaii Botanical Gardens - $15 per adult %26amp; they could charge more, it would still be worth it. In addition to gardens, stunning ocean view, 2 amazing waterfalls - one is a 3-tiered falls.

Kahuna Falls %26amp; Akaka Falls - very dramatic.

Puna Drive - best short jungle drive we did on all 3 islands, Hana being best long one.

Our favourite things on Big Island

Hawi %26amp; Honoka%26#39;a towns

A-Bay %26amp; hike from Marriott to Hilton.

Breakfast on lanai at Emerald View B%26amp;B - breakfast outstanding %26amp; view even better!

Meeting Ken %26amp; Yoshi at Emerald View B%26amp;B.

The people we met on Big Island who just wanted to chat.

Having an itinerary for everyday but not doing it - deciding each morning at breakfast on our lanai.

Pu%26#39;uhonua O Honaunau Nat%26#39;l Park (Place of Refuge) - spectacular

Donkey Balls %26amp; Big Island Candy

Hope this helps %26amp; feel free to ask any questions. So much for keeping it short %26amp; simple.

Chris

Thanks to everyone on this board - your comments, questions, answers %26amp; input has been invaluable %26amp; helped to make this an oh so perfect vacation.

Trip Report Part 2

Chris -

I have a question about that 4 mile scenic drive along the Hamakua Coast. Big Island Revealed says its best to take from south to north but we%26#39;ll be coming from the other direction. I guess we could loop back? What do you think?

Also, give me the route you took when visiting the Puna area. How much time did it take? I would like to take it on our way to Volcano (from Kohala) but not sure we%26#39;ll have time.

Emerald View B%26amp;B looks so wonderful. It almost makes me want to change my plan of staying in Volcano Village! But our B%26amp;B there looks very nice as well and most of the things I really want to explore this trip are close to or in VNP.

Mahalo for your advice, Angela

Trip Report Part 2

Hi Angela,

I highly recommend the Puna drive - it really stands out in my memory as one of the best. That is saying alot as we did view many spectacular sites.

We did it from VNP to Hilo direction which may be different for you, not sure how you are coming in.

Basically you just want to get to the coastline as soon as you can. From VNP you take Hwy 11 to Hwy 130 %26amp; get on Hwy 137 as soon as possible. You can also take Chain or Craters Rd as that turns into Hwy 130. Hwy 30 either joins or becomes Government Beach Road at one point. Once on Hwy 137 just keep following the coast - we didn%26#39;t have a route as Yoshi from Emerald View B%26amp; B recommended this drive %26amp; those were our instructions! The drive is amazing - you see where the lava ended one of the main roads %26amp; the destructive path of the volcano. After hiking for 2 days it kind of gave us additional respect for the power of the volcano.

If my memory serves me correctly the portion of the drive between Isaac Hale Beach Park %26amp; Lava Tree State Monument was mind-boggling beautiful with incredible tropical jungle feel to it. One word of caution - it is not a true 2 lane, barely 1 1/2 at times %26amp; some of the people were driving as though it were a highway. We had to get out of the way FAST. I think this is when it becomes Govt Beach Rd.

We did just over an hour but could have kept going - we just didn%26#39;t have the time. Also it was Christmas Day %26amp; we were a little concerned that some of the people driving a little erratically may have been drinking... so we weren%26#39;t comfortable driving such a tight road. Now, next time we are back this is definitely on our Must Do List.

I can%26#39;t see why you couldn%26#39;t do the scenic 4-mile the other way. I guess you may lose some of the wow factor as you will have sites in the rearview mirror as opposed to in front of you but I wouldn%26#39;t let that stop me from doing it. Try to make time for the Botanical Garden. We had no plans to do it but Ken at the B%26amp;B talked us into it from his glowing review %26amp; we were so glad that he did - it is unbelievable.

Feel free to ask any other questions. Hope I answered your questions - if I didn%26#39;t feel free to let me know.

Chris

PS - I%26#39;m so envious that you are going - have a great vacation altho I can%26#39;t imagine you could have anything but...