Naturally, the islands are a little more expensive than the mainland. We prepared ourselves. After renting a suite with a full kitchen, we decided to prepare for the week by grabbing a few groceries, where else......WALMART! We expected the prices to be…Read More

Naturally, the islands are a little more expensive than the mainland. We prepared ourselves. After renting a suite with a full kitchen, we decided to prepare for the week by grabbing a few groceries, where else......WALMART! We expected the prices to be a little more but $6.50 for a gallon of orange juice?!! As I said, be prepared because you can imagine what the final bill was. Also, bring your own bags, or boxes to carry your groceries in. Plastic bags are banned on Kauai, so you can either carry them by hand, or purchase a recyclable bag for $1 each.

The first morning we decided to grab a local breakfast. We drove to Kapaa and tried Kountry Kitchen. The line was a little long, but it was worth it. While situated inside a small store front restaurant, the food was delicious. Price was reasonable, and the service was great. While having the typical country breakfast menu, there were variations of local cuisine included. For some reason Spam is a local delicacy. I'm sorry but we had to pass. My wife and I were curious about the chicken, because out back, there were wild chickens everywhere! BTW there was a guy with one of the greatest t-shirts I've ever seen. If you looking yo have a hearty breakfast make sure you try the pancakes. On a scale of 1-10 we gave Kountry Kitchen a 9.

We kept seeing these signs in Poipu for a local happy hour. So on football Sunday we decided to try Kalapaki Joes. This place was great. Think about it, vacation + sports bar + Hawaii + football + happy hour = A GREAT SUNDAY!! Happy hour runs from 3p-6p local time, so after waking up and watching football in bed all morning, this was the perfect dinner spot. 25 cent wings, $2 0ff appetizers, and $3 fish tacos. We ordered the wings, and the famous surfer nachos. We were stuffed! My wife and I are simple folks, so we were pleased as punch. There was only 1 drawback to this place. When we walked in, the hostess sat us at a table near the television. 30 seconds later, a moody, grumpy pregnant waitress started going off on us and told us we couldn't sit there. In order not to ruin our vacation, we immediately asked the manager for a different waitress and he obliged. Our new waitress was great. We didn't need much, so it was nice to have a waitress who could just bring our food, and simply say hello. If not for the moody waitress, we would've given KJ's a 10!

Our last stop was at the Poipu Shopping Village. We stopped at a restaurant called Keoki's Paradise. While a little more formal, it had a very nice atmosphere. Coy ponds inside and a mixed covered/uncovered dining area. My wife and i had the crab cakes, and calamari. The food was decent. The real joy was the shopping village itself. Great shops and a great Hula demonstration. We gave KP a 6.


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Surfing and Hawaii go hand in hand like pancakes and maple syrup. This island sport, glamorized by movies and television, was first described to the outside world by European explorers in 1778. Although deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture, the sport was banned for religious reasons…Read More

Surfing and Hawaii go hand in hand like pancakes and maple syrup. This island sport, glamorized by movies and television, was first described to the outside world by European explorers in 1778. Although deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture, the sport was banned for religious reasons when missionaries arrived on the islands in 1821. At the start of the 20th century, Hawaiians near Waikiki began reviving the practice. Surfing gradually gained popularity around the world, peaking in the mid 20th century with the introduction of surf music and movies. Contemporary visitors to the islands will find myriad ways to experience this sport.

First, identify your skill level. If you have never done any surfing, or it has been a long time since you hit the waves, consider yourself a beginner. If you surf regularly, consider yourself an experienced surfer.

Next, choose your destination. Beginners will want to stick to relatively easy surf beaches like Waikiki on Oahu and spend plenty of time with an instructor before hitting the waves. More experienced surfers may choose to hit the island's north shore with its swells, or even the rough surf of the Big Island of Hawaii. Whatever your destination, give yourself a day or two to ease into "island time" and become acclimated to the area.
Book your accommodations. Hotels are limited on the north shore, but plentiful near the beaches in Waikiki and the Big Island. With 100 or so hotels in the downtown and Waikiki areas, visitors to Oahu will find plenty of options to fit their style and budget. Many hotels are within walking distance of Waikiki Beach and other area attractions. For most visitors, Waikiki will offer everything they need to enjoy a surf vacation on Oahu. If you have your heart set on tackling the north shore waves, try the Turtle Bay Resort. Most hotels on the Big Island are situated on a swimming or surfing beach. Winter and summer are the prime surf seasons in Hawaii, so try to book your trip accordingly.

Finally, book your lessons. Lessons can be booked online with several surf schools, through the concierge at your hotel, or right on the beach after you arrive. Lessons include use of a surfboard. Surfboard rentals by the day are also available through area surf shops, so experienced surfers won't need to travel with their board. Beginners should check out the surf camps offered by Sunset Suzy on the north shore of Oahu or lessons offered by Surf Oahu in Waikiki.
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Volcanoes National ParkPerhaps the US Park Service’s flagship National Park in Hawaii, Volcanoes National Park is an ever changing, never the same experience! I have been fortunate to visit the park and the current eruption many times over the past ten years. It…Read More

Volcanoes National Park

Perhaps the US Park Service’s flagship National Park in Hawaii, Volcanoes National Park is an ever changing, never the same experience! I have been fortunate to visit the park and the current eruption many times over the past ten years. It never ceases to amaze me how much the lava conditions change, not only year to year but often within the same week of a vacation!

I have just written a pretty extensive review of my experiences which may be found here: http://www.igougo.com/review-r1372447-Following_Madame_Pele_Over_the_Years.html . Check it out there.


Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park

Known as the "Place of Refuge" the Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park is located about 30 minutes south from the downtown village area of Kailua-Kona. This is a sacred location to natives, believing that they will able to find refuge from a death sentence if they are able to make their way here.

As you walk the grounds here, you can see the reconstructed temple, grass houses and ki’i guards carved in wood overlooking and protecting the temple. Everything has been reconstructed to replicate this village to its appearance in the 1700s. Great care was taken by the US Park Service to assure that respect was paid to the native traditions and beliefs, with local artisans used to do the construction and development of this historical time in Hawaiian culture.

I found the Hale o Keawe temple to be fascinating given how it was built from kauila wood and hand woven and dried and knotted ti leaves. The smooth lava rock platform was surrounded by more ki’i wood carvings.

I’ve been told that from the beach here, you can snorkel although it appeared to me to be a bit too rocky at the shoreline to make your way out into the bay. Personally, I don’t know that would be respectful of this sacred place and would opt to enter from the other side of the boat ramp.

If you have a morning or afternoon with little planned and you feel like a nice leisurely walk while you learn more about the Hawaiian culture and beliefs, the Place of Refuge is a nice way to spend the day.


Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site

Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site honors King Kamehameha’s 1790s building of a temple of lava stone to earn the favor of the God of War, Kuka'ilimoku. It was here that as Kamehameha worked to unify the Hawaiian Islands under his rule, he sacrificed a rival tribal leader. His monarchy lasted for 83 years, from 1810 until 1893. With the overthrow of kapu law system in 1819, came the end to the worshipping of Gods and the ritual of using a heiau in that practice.

During this time, King Kamehameha captured and later become friends with two European sailors who became the King’s ally and helped him in battle. John Young later became the governor of the Island of Hawai’i and Isaac Davis the governor of Oahu. Young’s home is also here at Pu’ukohola Heiau and has been preserved for future visitors.

This historic site is approximately 45 minutes north of Kailua-Kona. This historical site really didn’t hold my interest very much. I did enjoy the fantastic view of the ocean though. On a clear day you can see over to Maui and the peak of Haleakala.

I understand that frequently there are native crafts and arts shows, as well as demonstrations here. Unfortunately on the day that I made the trip up here, it was like a ghost town. I was the only visitor for over an hour on that September morning. If you know that you’ll be visiting when there are other activities happening here, I would say it would be well worth your trip. If however, this would be your only reason for taking the ride, I’d save the time and go find a nice beach somewhere.


Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park

Located just north of Kailua-Kona, this historical park is a nice oceanfront walking park that is still largely under development. There is a manned visitors center that is largely a small gift shop and restrooms, with a drinking fountain. On the day of our visit it was a bit rainy and I really didn’t have the right shoes on to be out hiking around on (lava) gravel trails that often become rough and jagged.

The main thrust of this park is to give visitors to the Hawaiian Islands a better and more historically accurate representation of life here during ancient times. How the people lived off the land and sea is a big part of the cultural presentation.

I look for more development here in the future, subject to funding from the US National Park Service and public grants intended to preserve the heritage of the Hawaiian people.


For more information on all of the US National Parks located in Hawaii, you can go to http://www.nps.gov/state/HI/index.htm . You can click on any one of the many parks to get more information including hours of operation and admission fees (if any).
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There are a number of very nice parks around the Big Island of Hawaii. It would be impossible to cover all of them, so this is just a short overview of a handful that I have visited over the course of my ten years of…Read More

There are a number of very nice parks around the Big Island of Hawaii. It would be impossible to cover all of them, so this is just a short overview of a handful that I have visited over the course of my ten years of coming here.

Lava Tree State Park
Highway 132, south of Hilo
Near Pahoa, Puna Region

As with most of the region around Hilo, this is a very dense forest with a lot of thick brush and large trees. Lava Tree State Park is a preserved area that shows you what happens to the trees after lava runs through a forest. The lava coats the trees, and when the tree dies from within, the hollow "lava tree" is formed. This area had a lot of very fragile ground and huge gashes in the ground where the lava erupted. This volcanic activity took place in 1790. If you get out and walk around, be sure to stay on the path, and don't venture into the unmarked breaks in the earth. There are warning signs throughout the park to be careful walking due to the deep crevices in the ground.

There are limited restroom facilities here, but they were frankly too scuzzy for me to consider using. There really isn’t a lot to do or see here, allow yourself about 40-45 minutes to fully explore the area here.

To get to Lava Tree Park you will need to take Hwy. 11 south of Hilo (or heading towards Hilo if you are coming from Kona). Turn right on Hwy. 130 and proceed on to Hwy. 132.


Akaka Falls State Parks
10 miles north of Hilo
Near Honomu

The bamboo forest is thick and wet, almost like a continual mist upon you. (Take bug repellent!) There wasn't much wildlife and only a few birds but the plants and flowers were beautiful. I saw my first Bird of Paradise flower in the wild here! I also saw bamboo stalks that had to have been at least three or even four inches thick.

For those who are unable to walk long distances or over steep grades, take the shorter path (to the left) towards the Akaka Falls. The hike is about 15 minutes each way and provides for a good view of the tallest of the falls in this park. That will lead you to the taller of the waterfalls here in Akaka Falls State Park. You can't get very close to it, but the view point gives you a wonderful photo op of the spectacular 400+ foot waterfall. The other path is a bit longer and more rugged a hike. It leads to the Kuhuna Falls via the circle route. The full loop path is about one-half mile.

This was a very well maintained state park, which had very nice restrooms, drinking water fountains and a picnic area. For us this was an hour stop on our road trip to Hilo. The detour was well worth the trip!


Laupahoehoe Park
Hwy 19, approx. 30 miles north of Hilo

This is a very impressive county park, serving two purposes . . . one to provide locals and visitors with a nice location for picnics, barbeques and outdoor activities . . . but perhaps more important for those who live in the area, a loving tribute to the 24 who lost their lives in the April 1946 tsunami.

There is a memorial listing each of the school children and adults who were swept away, along with a nice historical archive of newspaper articles to include published interviews with a survivor who lived out on the ocean until she was rescued.

The park itself has a really nice picnic pavilion as well as grills, showers, restrooms and plenty of parking space. There is also an area to overnight camp here. This is not a good spot to go for the beach however, unless watching the ocean is mesmerizing and a photographic adventure that is of interest to you. The surf here at the point is very strong and there is no entry area for swimmers or surfers.


Keokea Beach Park
Hwy 270, near mile marker 27
N Kohala

This is another nice county park for being close to the ocean and watching the waves. Here the surf is accessible so you will likely see surfers hanging ten on the huge waves.

While this is strictly a day-use park, they do have a small picnic shelter that sits high up overlooking the ocean. There are also several porta potties (apparently the regular restrooms are currently out of service) and fresh water showers.

It is not recommended that you attempt swimming here, although there is a small inlet that is fed from the incoming ocean surge that seems pretty protected from the direct waves and undertow. I have seen families in this small area allowing the little ones to splash around in about a foot or two of water.

This is a park that like so many in Hawaii, I would not leave valuables in my car or go too far that the car is out of my sight. Often there are several locals hanging out here, drinking beer and having a good time. I would hate to return to my rental car to find the windows smashed and my stuff gone.


Punalu'u Beach Park
Hwy 11, approximately the 55 mile marker
South of Punalu'lu

OK saving one of the best for last . . . this is where you must go to have the best chance of seeing honu (turtles) on the beach or ride the surf in or out from shore. I've only "missed" once in ten years! (Sorry Cathy!)

This is also the most accessible black sand beach on the Big Island. While I suppose you could lay out here to take in the rays, you will probably find the continual pace of visitors walking by to be a bit of an annoyance. All of the Circle Island Tour buses stop here, so that will give you some idea of the foot traffic.

There is an area where you can picnic and there are camping permits available for those who wish to overnight here. The bathrooms are very nice and clean, making this a good spot to stop if you're traveling between Kona and Volcanoes Nat'l Park and/or Hilo.

There are so many more great parks, so for now I will post this link to the Hawaii County Parks website with a site map with links to each of their parks: http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/parks/parks.htm and to the Hawaii State Parks website: http://www.stateparks.com/ranger-scripts/states.asp .
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One of the biggest travel challenges I have is what to do from the time of checkout at the resort, until my marathon redeye flight home to Milwaukee. Do too much, and I'm too exhausted for the overnight flight to relax and sleep .…Read More

One of the biggest travel challenges I have is what to do from the time of checkout at the resort, until my marathon redeye flight home to Milwaukee. Do too much, and I'm too exhausted for the overnight flight to relax and sleep . . . go swimming and have no place to shower before getting on the plane . . . do nothing and die of boredom killing the tropical buzz of an otherwise great vacation.

I took careful consideration on what I thought would be a good way to spend our last day on the Big Island. It was especially important so that whatever we did, it wasn't a replay of our earlier touring and that it took enough of our day to leave a little wiggle room in case of unexpected traffic or vehicle issues a long way from the Kona Airport.

So the north shore Kohala Coast was my game plan. We checked out of the timeshare promptly at 10:00am, the latest we could do so. With eating breakfast in the condo, we didn't have to find something on our way out of town (which is often how David and I spend our last day in town before flying out).

About five miles south of the Kona Airport is the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, a walking history lesson on life in old Hawaii. Still being developed, this park provides guest with several trails over lava rock pathways including a short 30 minute hike to the beach.

Hwy 19 is an interesting road as you head out of Kailua-Kona and towards the Waikoloa area. Admittedly this was a road already traveled a couple of days, but it was a nice opportunity to check out my Hawaiian graffiti out on the lava flow. Yes, my heart-shaped tribute to David was still there. Hurray!

Continuing north, our first stop would be the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company in Kawaihae about a couple of miles up Hwy 270 where Hwy 19 bends to the right towards Waimea. While we had visited the Mauna Loa center over near Hilo, it is at Hamakua that I could purchase the mac toffee flavored popcorn that David enjoys.

Kawaihae is a port with large ships and a couple of seaside restaurants and delis. We took a pass on lunch here because I had bigger plans. So we continued on north towards Hawi, Kapa'au and the lookout point at Polohu Valley.

Breezing through Hawi for now, we pushed on to Kapa'au and the photo op in front of the statue honoring the birthplace of King Kamehameha the Great. The moment wasn't lost on Pam so she jumped out to snap a photo or two.

It was also in Kapa'au where the second cheapest gas on the island could be found. At $3.93 to $3.99 in Kailua-Kona, we topped off on our way back through at $3.73. (The cheapest place was over on the opposite side of the island, approaching Hilo at $3.55 to $3.59.)

Continuing on, we took a small detour to check out the surfers at Keokea Beach Park, a nice little state park with a picnic shelter, fresh water shower and a handful of "blue rooms" (porta potties). The surf here is very rough and the beach is not really conducive for swimming. There is a small inlet where the ocean does backwash up into a shallow area where I've seen folks with keiki's (kids) splashing in the water.

After watching (and photographing) the surfers for around 20 minutes, we continued on our trip to the lookout. The skies were clear and ocean blue. It really is a lovely view from high above the valley. The area was still posted by the parks department indicating that the footpath to the black sand beach below was still close after the earthquake back in 2006. There were several couples, however, that took on the challenge and headed down the trail. One little gal was wearing flimsy flip-flops, hardly sturdy shoes for the significant incline.

After time at the Polohu Valley Lookout, we doubled back to Hawi. It was lunch time . . . and we arrived almost perfectly as planned around 1:30pm at the Bamboo Restaurant & Gallery. Having heard and read a lot about this place, it was high on my personal agenda for this trip and it made for the ideal lunch spot for our final day in Hawaii.

While they do serve burgers, chicken and pasta; both Pam and I opted for our final seafood meal. She had the mahi mahi sandwich served on foccacia bread while I had a shrimp dish prepared with light Thai sauce, steamed veggies and rice. It was an outstanding meal, with great service!

From Hawi, we jumped onto the "mountain" route over to Waimea on Hwy 250. Having promised Pam outstanding desert views complete with cactus and vast pastures, we saw mostly forest for the first several miles. As we climbed in altitude, a light rain began to fall on us . . . and the clouds were becoming thicker and thicker the higher we got. By the time we reached the summit at nearly 3,600 ft. we were fully engulfed in the clouds. With visibility at practically zero, we were not surprised when we came upon an accident that looked worse than it was. Thankfully while two cars were in the wrong place, heading in the wrong direction, nobody appeared to be injured.

Once we cleared the summit, we also reached the cactus area of the island, confirming another of the 11 micro-climates that exist on the Big Island. It is too bad that the view was non-existent as ordinarily it is a wonderful sight into the valley and Waimea.

In Waimea, we connected back to Hwy 19 and on to Hwy 190, the road that would go right back into Kailua-Kona. At this point in our week long vacation, there was only one "major" road we had not traversed in our journeys . . . the Waikoloa Road which takes you back down to Hwy 19 near at the Waikoloa area resorts and the A-bay. Elevation is still pretty high here and ordinarily on a clear day you can expect to see beautiful ocean views. Again, too much haze to see much so that was a disappointment as we descended from Hawaii's highlands.

Arriving back on Hwy 19, a left turn (south) would lead us back to the Kona Airport and our return to reality on the mainland. Even with the roughly 150 miles logged on the day, we arrived a tad early for our flight. After killing some time at Hilo Hattie’s (Hawaii’s tourist trap store) back in Kailua-Kona, we then ended our vacation with a 5:00pm arrival at the airport.

The trip was a nice conclusion to our time in Hawaii, allowing us to have plenty of relaxation throughout the day.
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To really get a great perspective of the variety of climates and vegetation on the Big Island of Hawaii, you have to go no further than the road trip from Kona to Hilo via the Saddle Road. Add the extra bonus miles (roughly 50)…Read More

To really get a great perspective of the variety of climates and vegetation on the Big Island of Hawaii, you have to go no further than the road trip from Kona to Hilo via the Saddle Road. Add the extra bonus miles (roughly 50) to head up Hwy 19 to Waipio to really expand your horizon . . . literally.

We got a midmorning start from our timeshare, taking the Mamalohoa Hwy (#190) out of Kailua-Kona towards Waimea to the Saddle Road turnoff. The first part of the drive is a rather basic winding two-lane road that ordinarily provides breathtaking views of the ocean down in the village. Unfortunately, there was quite a bit of haze (not sure if it was VOG or just heavy air) so there was not much of a view during our time on the Kona side of the island.

As you begin making you way on the Saddle Road, you will start to see an increasing amount of dry desert type vegetation which later gives way to significant lava fields. The lava here is old enough (circa 1843 to 1855) that some small shrubs and flowering plants have started to grow. Many will caution against taking on the 53 mile Saddle Road (aka Hwy 200) largely because it was not very well built, with lots of bumpy areas, twisting and turning between the two volcano mountains Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa (both over 13,000 feet in elevation).

The road however, has been updated and is currently being improved this summer down on the Hilo end. There are places where they've straightened out the road and repaved making it ride like any nice super highway on the mainland. When they have completed the entire stretch, visitors will certainly appreciate the smooth ride.

Near the 35 mile marker you will come upon the Mauna Kea State Park. This is a nice place for a bathroom break (clean, flushing toilets) and to stretch your legs. Be prepared, however, as the winds whip through here at a high velocity and will blow everything not tied down inside your car.

At Hilo you will be able to connect to Hwy 11 and head over towards Hawaii Volcanoes Nat'l Park or Hwy 19 and go up to Waipio Valley. We ran out of time over the weekend to take in the Mauna Loa candy place, so we headed out Hwy 11 to visit them only to once again be disappointed at the higher than retail prices found at the local stores like K-Mart and Target back in Kailua-Kona.

We backtracked to Hilo cruising down in the old town area of the city to see the humongous banyan trees. While downtown, we stopped in at a little Korean style lunch cafe where we enjoyed something very non-Korean . . . a good old fashioned BLT sandwich on toast with fries. The Low International Food Restaurant & Bakery (222 Kilauea Ave, Hilo) was a nice break in our city drive. With lunchtime nourishment taken care of, we were back on the road heading northwest up Hwy 19.

Before leaving Hilo proper, we did take a ride through a cemetery with a beautiful view of the ocean below. It was largely populated with Japanese and Koreans dating back more than 100 years and yet, there were also a lot of newer graves and memorials from the past ten years.

Along Hwy 19 there are a number of state parks and areas where you can venture up into the hillside or down where waterfalls feed into the ocean. We enjoyed exploring the area where the old Hakalau Plantation Company sugar mill operated until the 1960's, as well as Laupahoehoe Point where a memorial stands for those who lost their lives in the tsunami of 1946.

Also in this area of the island is the "scenic route" . . . I kid you not . . . they have the detour marked as such. And here I thought ALL of Hawaii was the scenic route! All kidding aside, the four-mile road goes deep into the rain forest and a road that is often too narrow for more than a single car. If you really want to see a tall waterfall up close, plan on taking another detour, roughly an hour, to Akaka Falls State Park. At 420 feet, it is one of the most popular with the tour buses, so plan early or late in the day to avoid crowds. You will need to hike approximately 15-20 minutes on a moderate incline to arrive at the fenced viewing area.

OK moving on beyond the rainforest area, as you approach Waipio, you will go through several small communities which still have that old Hawaii feel about them. Honoka'a is one such place that is also a nice place to get out walk, shop and grab a bite to eat.

It is about another nine miles to the lookout point at Waipio Valley. If you are interested in checking out the valley below your best bet is by horse drawn buggy or ATV with a local tour operator. There is no sane person on the island who doesn't live down there, willing to take their personal car into the valley, so do not fool yourself with your rental car!

After checking out the view of the sun dropping down in the sky over Waipio, we began our trip back over towards Kona with a stop in Waimea for dinner at Daniel Thiebaut's. Our timing was perfect as we arrived at 5:30pm just before their local's dinner rush. The only thing more perfect was our meal . . . outstanding as usual.

The drive from Waimea to Kona was about 45 minutes, with another 15 to our timeshare at Keauhou. All totaled, we put on around 200 miles for the day. We enjoyed the sights and better yet, the clear sunny skies. I think this was my first trip EVER to "the other side of the island" when there wasn't rain. Our day trip to and from Hilo couldn't have been better.
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One of my personal favorite road trips is the trip south out of Kona through the coffee belt and over to the active volcano on the Big Island.If you head out south on Hwy 11, you will first come to Keauhou which has a nice…Read More

One of my personal favorite road trips is the trip south out of Kona through the coffee belt and over to the active volcano on the Big Island.

If you head out south on Hwy 11, you will first come to Keauhou which has a nice marketplace shopping center and the bay from which several snorkel tours depart.

The next point of interest will be Kona Joe's and a bit further down the road, Greenwell Farms. Both are premium coffee producers, offering visitors tours and purchasing opportunities for 100% Kona coffee. Our preference is for Greenwell Farms on two counts . . . wonderful coffee and free tours. Kona Joe's currently charges $15 per person, but in fairness, you do receive a "free" souvenir coffee mug. There is also a coffee heritage museum near Greenwell Farms, which is also worth a visit if they are open when you are in this area.

There is outstanding snorkeling at the area known as "Two Step" by the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (aka Place of Refuge). While not "easy" the entry from the lava rocks is possible. The views beneath the water's surface is worth it!

Continuing on the next special place is South Point which requires an approximate 10 mile trip from Hwy 11 on a paved, but rough road. The views of the sheer cliffs are special, and shouldn't be missed. This is the southernmost spot in the entire USA. Key West has a spot that is the southernmost on the contiguous 48.

Next stop is the Punalu'u Bakery. Get here early, however, or else you'll have slim pickins. We arrived at around 2:30pm and were disappointed and passed on buying a mid-afternoon snack.

The black sand beach of Punalu'u State Park is an almost sure thing for turtles. I say "almost" as I've been here six or seven times and have only missed seeing turtles once. This beach area is a nice place for a picnic lunch, but not so inviting if beach swimming is on your agenda.

Next stop will be Hawaii Volcanoes Nat'l Park. By this point, you have traveled approximately 100 miles and roughly 2.5 to 3 hours depending on stops. If you arrive early enough in the afternoon, allow yourself a couple of hours of daylight to visit the two visitors centers and travel the park road(s). Be prepared, however, as the current lava eruption has much of the road system closed.

For us, we continued on after the park to go to the public viewing area down Hwy 130 which is roughly another hour away (towards Hilo). This was a highlight of our vacation, however, as once the sun set (7p) we were treated to a nice view of the lava flowing down the hillside at several spots. The viewing area where we stood just a week ago, has since been completed covered over by four feet of lava so be aware that this is an ever changing area of the island. You will want to check with the National Park Service on the current conditions with the lava flow as well as the USGS info which is provided on the areas outside of the park itself.

After a full day of touring, we headed back to our timeshare. Plan on a three hour non-stop drive. The road is narrow in some spots and very dark throughout. Allow plenty of time and be careful as it will be easy to become tired on the trip back to Kona.

A word about buying gas . . . prices in Kona were consistently $3.93 to $3.99 but up between Volcanoes NP and Hilo it was $3.55 to $3.59. This was the cheapest gas that we saw on the island. We tanked up every time we saw cheaper gas before heading back to Kona!

Be sure to take along snacks and water, as well as a flashlight for each person visiting the lava viewing area. Additionally, be prepared for a bit of a walk so good sneakers or walking shoes are a must. You'll want to be prepared for rain and cool evening temps, so dress (or be ready to dress) in layers.

Roundtrip, you can expect to drive approximately 250-280 miles.Close

After a number of visits to Kelia Beach, above Kapa'a, we noticed alot of people were biking along a paved hiking and biking trail that runs along the coast between Kapa'a and North of Kelia Beach. After we moved from Princeville down to Waipouli during…Read More

After a number of visits to Kelia Beach, above Kapa'a, we noticed alot of people were biking along a paved hiking and biking trail that runs along the coast between Kapa'a and North of Kelia Beach. After we moved from Princeville down to Waipouli during our second week on the island, we decided that we should check out how we could rent a bike so we could spend the day riding, visiting the beaches, and watching the people.

Just outside the Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort there is a small tour business called Wailua River Guides. They rent bikes, kayaks, and other items, as well as provided guided kayak river excurions up the Wailua river. After inquiring about renting bikes and getting an idea how to get to the biking / hiking trail, we rented two beach cruiser bikes ($10 a day) and headed out.

Our first stop along the way was breakfast at the Country Kitchen in Kapa'a. The Loco Moco here is especially tasty because they use Kalua Pig instead of hamburger. Trust me, it's awesome. After breakfast we got back on the trail and headed up to the northern most point (a couple miles north of Kelia Beach). On the way we found a beach just past Kelia Beach that was absolutely deserted. No one on it and it was beautiful. We walked the bikes down to the beach across a dirt trail, parked them, and headed to the beach. It was amazing to be sitting on a beach all by ourselves.The only footprints in the sand were our own. That's worth the trip all by itself.

After getting some sun and exploring the rocky points on our own deserted beach, we got back on the trail and rode down to Kelia Beach and sat out on the beach, caught some more rays and watched the surfers.

Later in the day we headed back to Waipouli and returned the bikes, a little tired, but extremely satisfied with our day's adventure. If you want to see and do something a little different and enjoy the beautiful coastline, see new sites, and visit a deserted beach, we recommend renting a bike and riding up and down the east coast on this fabulous hiking and biking trail. You'll see Kauai in a new light and from a different perspective.Close

This was our third trip to Kauai, and each time we go we search out new things to do and try. On this trip we happened into a couple of treats; one we planned on trying, and another we stumbled into on our way from…Read More

This was our third trip to Kauai, and each time we go we search out new things to do and try. On this trip we happened into a couple of treats; one we planned on trying, and another we stumbled into on our way from Princeville to Kapa'a.

The first delicacy was Manapua. I read about this little taste treat from an IgoUgo writer and decided I had to try it out. The writer said that the only place he could find the tasty morsel was at 7-11 stores, so the search was on. Well let me tell you about Manapua, then I'll tell you where we found it. Manapua is a doughly bread treat that can be stuffed with dollup of different ingredients inside. You can get Curry Chicken Manapua, Sweet Potatoe Manapua, Kalua Pig Manapua, and I'm sure others. The bread dough is "steam" cooked so it has an interesting "doughy" texture. These are a great snack for a quick bite and are definitely "island fare" for those that want to try a little local cuisine.

Finding them was a challenge - and he was right! The only place I could find them already prepared and ready to eat was in a 7-11. There are two on Kauai, both in Lihue. So if you want to try this tasty treat, go to one of the 7-11s in Lihue and get them. They cost about $1.30 each - so it's a bargain!

The other place we found them was at the Costco in Lihue. They are available in the refrigerated section, ready to be heated up. You can get them in the "steamed" dough version or a baked version. BTW: Costco carries quite a variety of local "island fare" if you want to enjoy back at the condo.

The second treat we stumbled into at a Farmer's Market in Anahola, between Princeville and Kapa'a. On a Saturday, just off the road as we were driving to Kapa'a, we saw a sign for a Farmer's Market and stopped to get some locally grown tomatoes, onions, and whatever else suited our fancy. As we drove up you could smell this awesome BBQ being cooked. Of course we were hungry and the sweet smells of the grill caught our attention immediately.

After a little conversation with the gentleman at the grill, we found out that he was grilling a Wild Boar that he had trapped on the island and he offered us a taste. Let me tell you it was the tastiest and smokiest mouthful of joy I have had in a long time. Even my Wife, who is not a fan of game animal meat enjoyed the Boar! He was selling a plate of BBQ, with grilled corn on the cob, and fried potatoes for $10.00. We couldn't pass that up, so we bought some and walked back to the car and ate it right there before we left.

Based on the number of cars that pulled into the market and left with Wild Boar, I'd say they had a winner on their hands! We both think that was the best meal for the price we had during our two week stay!

So I guess my advice would be; look into the local "island fare" and try something new that is only available in Hawaii on your next trip. You won't be sorry!Close

One thing you always expect to see in Hawaii, regardless of the island you are on, is rain. In our previous trips (in August and then again in March) it usually comes in miss and hit showers that are short lived and easy to live…Read More

One thing you always expect to see in Hawaii, regardless of the island you are on, is rain. In our previous trips (in August and then again in March) it usually comes in miss and hit showers that are short lived and easy to live with. This time it was a little more intense with it raining a little more frequently than we were used to, and remaining cloudy pretty much all day long on three of the days we stayed.

The locals will tell you that if it's wet on your side of the island, head for the other side because it is probably dry. For the most part this is true. When it rained in Princeville the first two days we were there, we headed south to Lihue, but evidently that wasn't far enough. Not to be deterred from a good time, we stopped at the Kilohana Plantation in Lihue for some shop browsing and Rum Tasting at Koloa Rum. Then ran through town out to Poipu and just explored.

Then a couple of days later it rained again so we decided to head southwest and took off for Waimea. That was the ticket! The clouds were still there, but the rain was not, and due to great timing we got there shortly after the high school got out. This turned out to be a great time for us as all of the high school students headed to the beach to surf and boogie board. Let me tell you - these guys and gals are GOOD! Imagine 20 to 30 surfers and boogie boarders out in the surf cutting it up! We were entertained for a couple of hours, got some great pics, and when we left we had missed all the traffic back to Princeville.

Another little tidbit we learned about driving in the rain in Hawaii that may be of some interest. We always rent a convertable when we go to Hawaii because we love the open air and the views. If you're driving in a convertable and it starts to rain - you stay high and dry! I've got a great video of the countryside on the north shore being shot from the car, with the top down - with the rain coming down. It was awesome! The downside, when you stop the fun is all over.Close