Greetings guys.

I'll be in the big island for a week in the middle of August, mostly scuba diving. Any hints or tips? I'll be diving with Dive Makai and staying at the royal kona resort, are these good choices?

What about the volcanos? Are they still erupting? I read recently that there has been a lot of activity.

Thanks.

 

I hear that the valcanos are still erupting but I would go the Valcanos National park even if they werent. But while you are there at the park, check with the rangers there to see if there is activity at the ocean sites, if there is then drive to end of the Chain of Craters road and hike the rest of the way to the eruption site. Make sure to bring lots of water and good shoes. By the way, the hike there is very uneven, and I would only recommend you go if you have decent balance and in good shape.

As for the hotel. I have never stayed at the Royal Kona resort. Whenever I would stay on the westside of the Big Island I always stayed at the Hilton Waikaloa Waikaloa is the "resort" area on that island. If I were you I would compare prices for the Royal Kona and the hotels out in Waikaloa, either the Hilton or the Outrigger. I spent my honeymoon, and go back to Hilton Waikaloa atleast once a year. Are you travelling with kids? If you are there is a giant waterpark at the Waikaloa which was a lot of fun. Are you a golfer? If you are then I recommend the following. Waikaloa courses either the King's which is more challenging, or the Beach, which is more picturesque. Other courses include my favorite course on the Big Island which is the Mauna Lani, this course has a famous par three hole which hits over a spectacular ocean gorge. Last but not least is the Big Island Country club which offers a more woodland type course, an entire scenic change from the ocean. Again the signature hole is a par three island green, what a view though. If you are going to be driving to Valcano then a detour to the Kalapana Black sand beach would be nice. I dont know if you know this, but white sand beaches acutally start black! So go check that out. Most of the park was destroyed in a previous lava flow about ten years ago but a lot of it still remains. There is historic Hilo town, which is the sleepier side of the island. This is the town that was destroyed by tsunami about fifty years ago. There are two beautiful waterfalls on the Hilo, eastside of the island. Rainbow falls, and Akaka falls, the later requires a hike about a mile long on concrete walkways. I hope this little information helps. Let me know if there is anything you are interested that I didnt mention. By the way. I was planning to go out to the Observatories on either Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa. I know of a couple of stargazing tours that are available. Make sure that you check that the tour you go on is one that goes to the observatoies themselves and not just sitting up on the mountain with telescopes. Some of the worlds most power observatories as based on the Big Island.

Lastly... If you are on the island of Oahu please contact us, we are always looking for a good reason to get together. Infact, we have a get together scheduled for the 17th. You are more than welcome to join us. We will be playing tennis, kayaking, bar b queing etc.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by darth_2k
[B]
Lastly...

 

Thanks Guys.

Looks like I'll have to take some time off from the diving to see the rest of the island from what darth is telling us...

I'll be in Ohau just before returning home around the 23rd to 25th of August. My daughter accepted an offer to a phd program from the institute of astrophysics. I suspect she's coming for the sun & surf, though she is telling me it's really for the Mauna Kea facilities... I'll have to check up on her so not sure if I'll have a lot of free time, but I could meet you guys for a drink or so. I'm staying at the radisson at waikiki.

 

sounds great. give me a call when you are in town 808 551-2520.

 

Hope we get a chance to meet you when you come down.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Luis
[B]Greetings guys.

I'll be in the big island for a week in the middle of August, mostly scuba diving. Any hints or tips? I'll be diving with Dive Makai and staying at the royal kona resort, are these good choices?

 

Stephen,

Thanks for the tips. The Hilton is fully booked and as I'm travelling solo to Kona I'm not expecting to spend a lot of time at the hotel... Will try to give you a call when I'm there.

 

I'm back and unfortunately I did not get a chance to meet you guys. I still tried to contact Stephen in Kona where I had a bit more free time, but it did not work out.

I had been to Maui and Kawai previously and this time thoroughly enjoyed the Big Island and Oha'u. You guys live in a piece of paradise...

Not many opportunities for high speed stints, I suppose, but found some interesting drives.

The section of saddle road from the turn off to Mona Kea to Hilo, should be quite a handful on an S2000. Have you done that, Stephen?

In oha'u, I found the roads to be a bit less challenging and in a whole lot of more traffic, so I suspect you guys would have less fun there. But I still enjoyed the drive to Kailua from Honolulu. I had a wrangler in the big island and a Mustang convertible (what a piece of cr@p)! in oha'u, so not as exciting as a proper sports car.


I saw a silver S2000 in Kona, so it wasn't stephen's. But there were 4 for sale in a dealer lot! I wonder how long it will take them to see them go...

In oha'u I saw a white one in honolulu, and that was pretty much it. I was surprised to see so few on this trip. None in NYC, and a couple in LA where I stayed for a few days.

I should be back soon...

 

Glad to hear you had a good time. Maybe we'll get a chance to meet next time

And you're right, Oahu offers very few opportunities to enjoy our sports cars. You really have to know the roads and where the law enforcement usually are, and even then it's not completely safe.

Cheers!

Stephen