Hawaii Visit in Mid-October...

[Kioshi]

Originally Posted by bkrownd

The stuff that tourists do and the stuff that people who actually live here do are so fundamentally different that some of us won't be able to offer much. Tourists are mostly here for the fake fantasy world that the resorts promote - beaches, golf courses, expensive boutiques, touristy restaurants, ziplines, waterfalls, and other assorted touristy things. Occasionally there are those who like to take the road less travelled and see something different.

The volcano park should be your first destination. Steaming holes in the ground are always fun, but hopefully you'll visit some of the more out-of-the-way parts of it as well.

If you want a quick rundown of first choices for scenic vistas and checking out the scope of the island: Saddle Road, Mauna Loa Access Road (north slope), Mauna Loa Strip Road (south slope), "Kohala Mountain Road", Pololu Valley overlook, the entire highway through Ka'u district. (4-wheel-drive opens up some other interesting possiblities, but costs big $$$.) Branch out from there. Be sure to check out the lava visiting situation, which changes daily and hasn't been really good recently. If you are on this island you should be all over the mountains!

There are now direct flights into Hilo from LA.

Hopefully you will slip in before the autumn rainy season, which is usually around November.

I can say that I have a strong dislike for Kailua (Kona), Waimea/Kamuela and the surrounding area. We call it Konafornia...and spit on ground!

I'm all in for doing what non-tourist people do. I try to do whatever locals do wherever i travel abroad :)

What do you mean by, "out of the way parts"? of the volcano? like a different route that leads elsewhere?

I do want to do kayaking and ziplining. I can't swim for shit, so snorkling is out of the question for (ME).

I'm coordinating with my friends now about traversing the mountain areas. Can we take ATVs on some of the mountainous roads?

I will jot down the names you provided, THANK YOU!

I too am hoping it wont rain when we are there. Is it humid over there? Not that I mind, I've walked several miles in rain + humidy.....

hahahahah, thats funny.

You provided lots of information for our trip, thank you once again!