FUN THINGS pt.I

1)      Volcano National Park.  It cost $10.00 per car, to get into the park and the ticket is good for 7 days. Plan on spending most or all of one day in the park.  There is a very good visitor center with programs that are both entertaining and educational.  There are several walking trails, depending on how much you want to hike.  Dress warm and bring an umbrella.

a)      The Kilauea Crater (Take a flower lei to pay homage to Madame Pele)

b)       The Thurston Lave tube, a short, easy subterranean walk.

c)      The living earth.  At the end of the Chain of Craters Road, which you drive thru old lava flows, you can hike out to the ocean’s edge to witness the hot lava flowing into the Pacific.  We recommend that you do this walk in the late afternoon and stay until after dark.  You will need a flashlight for each person in your group.  There are flashlights in the hall closet.  Take lots of water and some food and spend some time watching the lava show in the dark.  It can take anywhere from one hour to several hours depending on where the lava is flowing, to walk in and little longer to walk out. Don’t worry about getting lost, there will be lots of people doing the same thing.  This is a difficult hike.

d)      Another moderate hike is from Thurston Lava tube parking area.  There is a trail head in the parking lot that takes you into the heart of an old crater. Take a lunch and sit in the crater and enjoy the view.  You can also do a shorter walk along the top of the rim.  This one took us about 4 hours to do. 

2)      Hilo is America’s most tropical city.  It is also the Big Island’s largest town, but as you tour the city you will find it has a small town rural atmosphere.  There are too many things to see and do to list them all, but here are some of our favorites.

            a)     Swimming and sunning at Coconut Island.  This is a great place to relax during school hours, it can get hectic      in the afternoons and weekends.

b)      Luliuokalani Gardens is across from Coconut Island.  This Japanese garden is definitely worth a walk through and is a great place for a relaxing picnic.  Both Luliuokalani Gardens and Coconut Island are on Banyon Drive, which is a beautiful tropical tree lined boulevard.

c)      Onekahokaha Beach is one of the few sandy beaches on this side of the island.  It is found at the end of Kalanianaole Ave.  (Drive pass the breakwater).

d)      Rainbow Falls and the Boiling Pots are on the Wailuku River.  They are a little hard to find but well worth the effort.  Take Waianuenue Ave in old town Hilo up the hill, there are signs for both places.

e)        Farmer’s market on Saturday  and Wednesday is a great place to get inexpensive fruit, vegetables and flower arrangements.

f)      Shopping for souvenirs?  Hilo Hattie’s in Prince Kuhio Plaza has a complete like of Hawaiian fashion.  There are some cute boutiques along Bayfront highway in downtown Hilo across from Hilo Bay.