Big Island Suggestions

[geoand]

Do you know if you can rent chairs or lounges at this beach? What do you normally bring to this beach, just towels?

thanks going next week!

Chris

We bring small beach chairs (from resort), insulated soft bag, etc. I carried my chair on my back and hiked with cane to the spot. Trail is spotty in places, but walked before when abled body & knew I could make it. I should mention the views are outstanding on the hike

 

[Luanne]

We bring small beach chairs (from resort), insulated soft bag, etc. I carried my chair on my back and hiked with cane to the spot. Trail is spotty in places, but walked before when abled body & knew I could make it. I should mention the views are outstanding on the hike

You are talking about the walk down from the parking area to the beach at the Mauna Kea? We've done it a few times and don't remember it being what I would consider a "hike". I think the walk down to Hapuna Beach may be longer. One thing to note, if it hasn't already been noted, is that parking for Mauna Kea beach is very limited (or at least it used to be). You need to get there early. I think that's one reason we started going to Hapuna instead.

 

[Chrispee]

The walk from the beach parking to Mauna Kea beach is only 2 minutes down a paved access road.

 

[bagabonz]

We usually try to get there by 8:00 am. By 8:30 it’s typically full. One of my favorite spots in all the islands i’ve been to.

 

[Luanne]

We usually try to get there by 8:00 am. By 8:30 it’s typically full. One of my favorite spots in all the islands i’ve been to.

My first trip to Hawaii was in 1968 when my parents took my sister and I there . Our first island was the Big Island. We flew into Hilo, spent one night there then on to the Mauna Kea, which had not been open long and was the ONLY hotel in that area. My first experience with a beach on Hawaii was the beach at the Mauna Kea. I had grown up in southern California so beaches were not foreign to me. I thought it was the most beautiful spot I'd seen and I still think it is one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to. However Hapuna Beach is not far behind it.

 

[cp73]

My first trip to Hawaii was in 1968 when my parents took my sister and I there . Our first island was the Big Island. We flew into Hilo, spent one night there then on to the Mauna Kea, which had not been open long and was the ONLY hotel in that area. My first experience with a beach on Hawaii was the beach at the Mauna Kea. I had grown up in southern California so beaches were not foreign to me. I thought it was the most beautiful spot I'd seen and I still think it is one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to. However Hapuna Beach is not far behind it.

I plan on seeing both those beaches next week. I will let you know about it. Thanks

 

[bagabonz]

Not to be nit picky but as an FYI its really Kauna’oa beach at the Mauna Kea hotel. I spoke with some locals in Waikoloa and thats what they called it.

 

[SmithOp]

We've always found that every place we've stayed has had towels we can use for the beach. I wouldn't waste suitcase space for them.

They come in handy when you sneak over to the Hilton Waikoloa pools without using those ugly green striped Bay Club towels.


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[Luanne]

They come in handy when you sneak over to the Hilton Waikoloa pools without using those ugly green striped Bay Club towels.


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I've never bothered to sneak over to the Hilton pools. We're more beach people than pool people. We stayed at the Hilton one night between timeshares and my daughters got bored with the pools very quickly.

 

[The Haileys]

We did the Deluxe Volcano Experience offered by Kailani Tours and cannot say enough good things about it. Visit the web site to see all they offer. Worth every penny!

Aside from that, I also recommend self-paced tours using the Gypsy Guide app. On a previous trip to Oahu, we paid some big bucks for a Circle Island tour, on a huge bus, with 50 strangers (and some really strange people, too) at the tour guide's pace. With the app, we rented a car for a day, and paid $8 for the app, and away we went. We stopped where we wanted to stop, for as long as we wanted, skipped what we weren't interested in, and ate where we wanted to! We loved it so much, we got the version for Big Island and Kauai as well. We toured the Kona Coast, Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, and all sorts of hidden by-ways we'd never have found without the app. On another day, we toured the Kohala Coast, Hawi and Pololu Valley, and down through Hilo.

On the way back, we went up to the visitor center on Mauna Kea for the stargazing presentation. That was utterly breathtaking. If you do this, be sure to bring warm clothing, as the temperature drops into the 40s after dark, with some really brisk winds.

Another app is the Shaka Guide, that does the same thing, but only has a volcano tour for Big Island, which we had already done with Kailani Tours. It's excellent for Oahu and Kauai, and we plan to use both apps when we return to Hawaii next year with Maui on the itinerary.

 

[geoand]

You are talking about the walk down from the parking area to the beach at the Mauna Kea? We've done it a few times and don't remember it being what I would consider a "hike". I think the walk down to Hapuna Beach may be longer. One thing to note, if it hasn't already been noted, is that parking for Mauna Kea beach is very limited (or at least it used to be). You need to get there early. I think that's one reason we started going to Hapuna instead.

I am referring to when I parked at Hapuna and made the hike to Mauna Kea beach. Continuing the story from earlier post

 

[daventrina]

My favourite big island beach is Makalawena. You have to endure a 15 minute walk along a trail from the parking lot, but this quells the crowd.

Or ... rent a JEEP

 

[Luanne]

Or ... rent a JEEP

Yeah, if you want to be uncomfortable the entire time you're there. We had a Jeep on a rental in MO a few years ago. Most uncomfortable ride I've ever had, and it was worse for the driver.

 

[daventrina]

Yeah, if you want to be uncomfortable the entire time you're there. We had a Jeep on a rental in MO a few years ago. Most uncomfortable ride I've ever had, and it was worse for the driver.

Can't do this in a comfy car .... I'll keep our JEEP thanks.

Or here:

 

[Luanne]

Can't do this in a comfy car .... I'll keep our JEEP thanks.

To each, his (or her) own.

 

[SmithOp]

To each, his (or her) own.

amen, that was a long boring drive to an ugly beach, I had to zoom over most of it.


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[Chrispee]

Except they didn’t show Makalawena Beach (which I promise you is spectacular).

 

[daventrina]

Except they didn’t show Makalawena Beach (which I promise you is spectacular).

It isn't really a beginners drive ... But worth the trip

 

[Chrispee]

not sure what beach is in your photo, but Makalawena looks like this:

 

[daventrina]

not sure what beach is in your photo, but Makalawena looks like this:

That arounnd the point ... we ran out of time to make it that far ... again ... Next time

 

[talkamotta]

On the Big Island I love taking a drive to Waipio Valley, Hamakua Coast, and Akaka Falls. My favorite is going to the Black Sands Beach and Place of Refuge. If you are going to the Volcano go to the Panalulu Bakery. Buy lots of bread, it is my favorite. Sometimes Costco will have it but its not guaranteed. It makes wonderful sandwiches and breakfast toast, I promise you its not to be missed. I like spending a little time in Kona especially if I can go over to the Kona Brewery. The beer is great but food is really good. Never had a bad meal there. I always just have my snorkeling gear in the car when we go anywhere, I dont rent....I bought the full mask type from Amazon. You can breathe through your nose and nothing goes in your mouth. I didnt buy fins bcz I trip on them and I can get around pretty easy in the water. Ive only been to Oahu once. I loved the Matsumoto Shaved Ice.....put in the best snow cone in the world on your computer and Matsumoto will appear. Its on the north shore. I enjoyed Pearl Harbor and I liked the bowl.....lots of information. I liked turtle beach.....they protect the turtles and volunteers are very friendly. We hiked Diamond head. Im a senior citizen and Im not in great shape and it wasnt hard. We stayed by Waikiki Beach but didnt spend time shopping there, walked to the beach one day, didnt go into Honolulu at all. Im not into big cities when Im on vacation. Spent most of our time on the north shore.

 

[chalee94]

uh oh...

https://weather.com/news/news/2018-05-02-hawaii-kilauea-volcano-activity

 

[DaveNV]

uh oh...

https://weather.com/news/news/2018-05-02-hawaii-kilauea-volcano-activity

We'll be on the Big Island in about 3 weeks. If it erupts, I hope there is something spectacular to see while were on the island.

Dave

 

[geoand]

We have to wait until March before we are on the Big Island again. Told my friends living there that I was probably to blame for the Volcano activity this past few days because I angered the Volcano Goddess Pele because this year is the first year since the mid 90's we did not go to the Islands