Introduction:
This blog is aimed for first time visitors to Hawaii.
Hawaii contains 8 main islands.
In this Oahu (containing Honolulu), Big Island (also known as Hawaii) and Maui
are the most well known. It takes roughly 6 hours to reach SFO from
Hawaiin Island.
Hawaii time is 2 hours behind Pacific time (i.e. 5 hours behind Eastern time)
The temperature (near beaches) is pleasant 80' F through out the year.
(But Big Island Volcano National Park is chilly and rainy throughout)
In this Oahu is the most famous (and visited) island. Maui though gets
better island ratings and is typically visited by film stars. Big island is unique as it contains Volcano National
Park where you may be able to see lava flow (at least by helicopter)
To hop/visit from one island to another, you can take plane which leaves
every 1 hour and cost around 40$. Boats are not feasible due to dangerous
waves(and is not available in most inlands).
I am writing this article in Jan 2008 and things may change. You
may check wikipedia etc for latest information.
Please NOTE that I may have lots of typos with the "hard to remember" name
of various places in this blog. Check wikipedia or AAA tour book for accurate names.
Should I rent a car?
It’s definitely required in Big Island, period. I had hard time getting
car rental in Big Island and luckily found it at Arguscarrental.com.
They supposedly "contract"(or hoarding?) car from other car agencies
like Alamo etc. I was able to point this website to a grateful Canadian Swedish
couple who were staying with me in a small house/motel called Volcano hale and were
walking daily to Volcano national park as they could not get car rental!!
Oahu can be potentially cheaper without the car. (in most hotels you have to pay 18$ parking fee,
besides the nominal parking fees - 5 $ that you pay for visiting any tourist attraction
places). Most places can be visited by bus with cheap fares besides the fact
that there are tours buses from "waikikee beach" to spots like hanauma bay,
Polynesian cultural centre etc. Also parking in ALL places (hanuma bay, diamond
head, Perl harbor) seem to get full QUICKLY. I reached hanuma bay
at 10 am and had to circle till 1am to get parking (5$ + park entrance fee-10$). In Perl harbor memorial, the parking was free, but they circulate the tickets early in morning
and don’t allow any bags inside.
Oahu
People always come to Oahu (near waikikee beach) first as there are
lots of hotel out there. Also you don’t need a car (but good to have) to explore
Oahu.
Things to do in Oahu (Honolulu):
a) Snorkeling in beautiful Hanauma bay.
After paying 10$ for park entrance, you have to watch as compulsory safety
movie before you can go in. To go down you can take bus (not needed
while going down or up for me as it’s just 2 minutes walk)
You have to eat outside at park entrance (as no food down at beach).
Once you reach the beach, you can take snorkeling rentals.
If you did not have car, there are companies who will you pick from
waikikee beach to hanauma bay for 12$(including kit rental, but excluding 10$ entrance
fees)
b) Hiking at diamond head.
This was one of the toughest hiking for me. Just as I thought it ends, you
have to go through 3 steep stair cases. It’s slippery during rainy and you
may need flashlight.
The car parking fee was 1$ but you have to get your car out before 6pm.
It’s also recommended to go to diamond head at morning times.
c) learn surfing at waikikee beach. (or take rentals for beach
umbrella, surfing board etc)
The best beach to surf (for experts) is at "north end" (i.e. North shore)
But for beginners, it’s highly recommended to do it at waikikee only. (besides
you will get rental lesson etc only there)
You can also get 3 sports (jetskii etc) combo near many rentals before hanauma bay.
d) Visiting Polynesian cultural centre.. It’s like theme/cultural park with entry
fee around 45$. At night time you will be able to join party and dance with
Hawaii people..they call it launa or something.
e) There was good beach after Hanauma bay.. Keelalau or something..
f) You can visit perl harbors memorial(missisipi and Arizona) .
there is also an iona (?) palace nearby.
g) You can visit North shore area(near waimeme bay and sunset beach)
to see high surf.
Big Island(Hawaii)
Big island is biggest of all Hawaiian island and some people also call it just Hawaii.
The south east part of the island has black sand beaches(i.e. near Hilo).
You will get white sand beaches below Kona.
I made mistake of landing at kona airport. its far away(3 hours on slow roads) from
Volcano national park. I should have landed at Hilo.
Things to do:
a) Volcano National Park.
There are two roads in the park. Once is circular road which takes you
to "steam vents", "Big crater" and "lava tube".
The other road which splits from the circular road leads to "end of road'.
you need to ensure that your gas is full before you enter this park.(as
gas is not easy to find anywhere in big island and definitely not in the park)
The road to "end of road" itself does not have any scenic spots. But the last
spot is where the "lava flowed once" and it has beautified cliffs and seaside view.
b) There was one observatory near Hilo... don’t know the name ..But
it was accessible by only 4 WHEEL DRIVE and I didn’t have one.
c) South Point. I went out here to see the southern most tip of US.
It was definitely not worth it. As the road was plainly horrible and
there was no marking to say that you are the southern most point of US.
d) Beaches below kona, waterfalls etc
TIPS:
a) Take umbrella and get winter coat(or windsheeter) for Big island
b) Check your gas in big Hawaii
c) Take GPS with you , if you have one. It saves lots of time.
I had tough time finding my house cum motel -volcano hale without it.
d) Book car rental along with your ticket(though may not need in Oahu)
