I asked the AI ChatGPT to plan a Big Island itinerary for me for this summer

[spottie]

I am going to Big Island in August with my mom (76) and two kids (20 & 17). Since it's my first time there, I asked ChatGPT to plan an itinerary for me so I can use as a starting point for me to research. We are staying at Marriott Waikoloa Ocean Club. Kids wants to do split charter fishing and zipline if possible. We want to do a luau. With these specifics, ChatGPT ran it's thing. Does it make sense at all? Not sure if those recommended hikes can be done by my mom, as I did not specify age and activity level when I type in the query. If there are any recommendations on restaurants and activities and might be good for us, please let me know.

So here you go, let's see if AI is a good travel agent?

Day 1 (August 11): Arrival

Arrive at Kona International Airport
Pick up your rental car and drive to Marriott's Waikoloa Ocean Club
Check into your room and relax

Day 2 (August 12): Snorkeling and Beach Day

Drive to Hapuna Beach State Park, about a 20-minute drive from the resort
Enjoy a day of sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling at one of Hawaii's most beautiful beaches
Optional: Take a snorkeling tour to see the colorful fish and sea turtles that call the area home
Return to the resort and have dinner at the nearby Lava Lava Beach Club

Day 3 (August 13): Coffee Farm and Cultural Tour

Drive to Holualoa Kona Coffee Company, about a 25-minute drive from the resort
Take a tour of the coffee farm, learn about the history of coffee on the island, and sample some of the delicious coffee
Next, visit the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, also known as the "Place of Refuge"
Learn about Hawaiian culture and history while exploring the ancient site
Return to the resort and have dinner at Roy's Waikoloa Bar & Grill

Day 4 (August 14): Volcano National Park

Drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, about a 2-hour drive from the resort
Explore the unique landscape of the park, including the Kilauea Caldera and Thurston Lava Tube
Optional: Take a guided hike to see the active lava flow (if available)
Return to the resort and have dinner at the nearby Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Day 5 (August 15): Scenic Drive and Snorkeling

Drive to the Captain Cook Monument Trail, about a 40-minute drive from the resort
Hike the trail to the monument and enjoy the stunning views of the coastline
Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters and see the vibrant coral and marine life
Return to the resort and have dinner at the nearby Tropics Ale House

Day 6 (August 16): Zipline and Beach Day

Drive to Kohala Zipline, about a 30-minute drive from the resort
Enjoy an exhilarating zipline tour through the lush forest and over the waterfalls
Drive to Mauna Kea Beach, about a 20-minute drive from the zipline
Relax and soak up the sun on one of Hawaii's most beautiful beaches
Return to the resort and have dinner at the nearby Mai Grille by Chef Allen Hess

Day 7 (August 17): Fishing and Sunset

Book a 6-hour split charter fishing trip in the morning
Catch some of the biggest fish in the Pacific while enjoying the stunning ocean views
Return to the resort and rest up for the evening
In the evening, drive to Anaeho'omalu Bay, about a 10-minute drive from the resort, and watch the beautiful sunset
Have dinner at the nearby Lava Lava Beach Club

Day 8 (August 18): Waterfalls, Sunset, and Luau

Drive to Akaka Falls State Park, about a 2-hour drive from the resort
Hike through the lush rainforest to see the 442-foot Akaka Falls and other beautiful waterfalls
Head back to the resort to freshen up and enjoy the sunset from Anaeho'omalu Beach, a beautiful beach with stunning views
Book a luau at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, which offers traditional Hawaiian food, music, and dance performances.
Have dinner and enjoy the show, and then head back to the resort for a good night's rest.

Day 9 (August 19): Departure

• Check out of the resort and drive to Kona International Airport
• Return rental car and catch your flight back home.

 

[TUGBrian]

can have it update your options to include "activities for seniors" etc, or revise the entire itenerary with limited mobility etc in mind!

I find the most interesting things come out of asking these AIs questions is altering the questions asked so it continually gives me more options id not previously considered in a response!

at the end of that response try "give me 5 additional recommendations for a senior citizen"

then do the same for "teenagers"

 

[chellej]

I would add the night manta snorkel and lunch/tour at vanilla farm

 

[bizaro86]

We usually do volcano national park and Akaka falls on one trip from Waikoloa (we stay at Kings Land) to Hilo side. Or combine one of them with the Hilo Zoo. The zoo is a "rainforest zoo" so aside from animals they also have a botanical gardens type feel.

Scoop has some great restaurant recommendations for Hilo as well.

We generally stop in Waimea and use the (excellent) playground on the way back from Akaka (which wouldn't likely interest your group). Last time we stopped at the Waipio overlook as well which was very beautiful.

 

[SmithOp]

I'm at the Waikoloa resort now, I'd say the AI did a fairly decent job of planning. Some observations:

Day 2 Hapuna - not very good snorkeling, nice beach with waves for body surfing, sandy bottom so not many fish unless you go to the extreme ends where the rocks are.

Day 3 drive time, it's 25 minutes just to the airport so I would make it an hour to Capt Cook. Not a place for seniors to hike. Place of Refuge is senior friendly on the beach, and bonus snorkeling at 2 step which is an easy walk from the POR parking lot.

+1 on Kohala Zipline, we have done it a few times, kids will love it since it's a treetop zip and the last segment is 1/4 mile down dual line that they can race. It ends on a platform with a rappel down to the ground. Bonus, stop at Hamakua nut factory on the way there, or back for macnut and coffee tasting. They ship direct so you can fill a USPS flat rate box with goodies for when you get home.

If your kids like sushi, early bird dinner at Sensei in the Queens Marketplace on Sunday or Monday 4:30-5:30pm half price specials. People line up to get in at 4pm. We had dinner for 4 $50 on Monday, no drinks just water.

The best snorkeling close by Kikaua Point, mile marker 87, Hualalai. Ask for a beach pass at the guard gate. Caution on the outer lagoon, there can be strong swirl currents at high tide, confident swimmers with a buddy. Inner lagoon is great for swimming all ages, sandy bottom, 4-5 ft, no waves.

 

[klpca]

Funny - we did the same thing a few nights ago. I added "based in Waikoloa + hiking + local restaurants". We won't be following the suggested itineraries but along with some of our old favorites, there were some places that we had never heard of so it gave us some new-to-us places to check out.

Fwiw, *everything* suggested needs to be double checked. It suggested hikes in Waipio valley that are definitely off limits to tourists, plus suggested a hike to the "summit of Mauna Kea" and afterwards head to Waimea Coffee for lunch. Lol. That is a 12 mile hike (RT) starting around 9,000' with 4500' elevation gain. I am sure that some people can drive up to the trail head from Waikoloa, do the trail up and down, then be in Waimea for lunch, but not us.

 

[klpca]

It get's better. On Kauai it suggests a morning hike on the Kalalau Trail (11 miles - one way) then lunch at Hanalei Taro & Juice co followed by time at Hanalei Bay then hiking the nearby Okolehao Trail, then dinner at Sushi Girl in Hanalei.

Of note: the Kalalau is a permit only trail that is 22 miles round trip. You not only need the permit, you need a permit to either drive/park there or take the $huttle. The other hike referenced (Okolehao) is reasonable easy - I am pretty sure that it didn't take us 4-5 hours - but the time allotted in this AI suggestion is not doable, not for us at least.

I like the idea of using ChatGPT but at least with respect to hiking, it is not ready for prime time just yet.

 

[geist1223]

Years ago we hiked the first 2 miles of the Kalahau Trail to the Beach (no swimming) and spent about 30 minutes exploring. Then the 2 miles up to the Hanakapiai Falls. Spent about 60 to 90 minutes at the Water Fall. Then back to Ha'ena Park. Total time 8 hours for the 8 miles. Also the trail can be rough and definitely need Trek Sticks. Not for anyone of limited mobility.

 

[klpca]

Years ago we hiked the first 2 miles of the Kalahau Trail to the Beach (no swimming) and spent about 30 minutes exploring. Then the 2 miles up to the Hanakapiai Falls. Spent about 60 to 90 minutes at the Water Fall. Then back to Ha'ena Park. Total time 8 hours for the 8 miles. Also the trail can be rough and definitely need Trek Sticks. Not for anyone of limited mobility.

The first few miles are rough - lots of tree roots and usually muddy. There isn't much of an opportunity to go fast. The views are awesome but there are other hikes with great views that are easier, that's for sure.

 

[klpca]

I am going to Big Island in August with my mom (76) and two kids (20 & 17). Since it's my first time there, I asked ChatGPT to plan an itinerary for me so I can use as a starting point for me to research. We are staying at Marriott Waikoloa Ocean Club. Kids wants to do split charter fishing and zipline if possible. We want to do a luau. With these specifics, ChatGPT ran it's thing. Does it make sense at all? Not sure if those recommended hikes can be done by my mom, as I did not specify age and activity level when I type in the query. If there are any recommendations on restaurants and activities and might be good for us, please let me know.

So here you go, let's see if AI is a good travel agent?

Day 1 (August 11): Arrival

Arrive at Kona International Airport
Pick up your rental car and drive to Marriott's Waikoloa Ocean Club
Check into your room and relax

Day 2 (August 12): Snorkeling and Beach Day

Drive to Hapuna Beach State Park, about a 20-minute drive from the resort
Enjoy a day of sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling at one of Hawaii's most beautiful beaches
Optional: Take a snorkeling tour to see the colorful fish and sea turtles that call the area home
Return to the resort and have dinner at the nearby Lava Lava Beach Club

Day 3 (August 13): Coffee Farm and Cultural Tour

Drive to Holualoa Kona Coffee Company, about a 25-minute drive from the resort
Take a tour of the coffee farm, learn about the history of coffee on the island, and sample some of the delicious coffee
Next, visit the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, also known as the "Place of Refuge"
Learn about Hawaiian culture and history while exploring the ancient site
Return to the resort and have dinner at Roy's Waikoloa Bar & Grill

Day 4 (August 14): Volcano National Park

Drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, about a 2-hour drive from the resort
Explore the unique landscape of the park, including the Kilauea Caldera and Thurston Lava Tube
Optional: Take a guided hike to see the active lava flow (if available)
Return to the resort and have dinner at the nearby Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Day 5 (August 15): Scenic Drive and Snorkeling

Drive to the Captain Cook Monument Trail, about a 40-minute drive from the resort
Hike the trail to the monument and enjoy the stunning views of the coastline
Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters and see the vibrant coral and marine life
Return to the resort and have dinner at the nearby Tropics Ale House

Day 6 (August 16): Zipline and Beach Day

Drive to Kohala Zipline, about a 30-minute drive from the resort
Enjoy an exhilarating zipline tour through the lush forest and over the waterfalls
Drive to Mauna Kea Beach, about a 20-minute drive from the zipline
Relax and soak up the sun on one of Hawaii's most beautiful beaches
Return to the resort and have dinner at the nearby Mai Grille by Chef Allen Hess

Day 7 (August 17): Fishing and Sunset

Book a 6-hour split charter fishing trip in the morning
Catch some of the biggest fish in the Pacific while enjoying the stunning ocean views
Return to the resort and rest up for the evening
In the evening, drive to Anaeho'omalu Bay, about a 10-minute drive from the resort, and watch the beautiful sunset
Have dinner at the nearby Lava Lava Beach Club

Day 8 (August 18): Waterfalls, Sunset, and Luau

Drive to Akaka Falls State Park, about a 2-hour drive from the resort
Hike through the lush rainforest to see the 442-foot Akaka Falls and other beautiful waterfalls
Head back to the resort to freshen up and enjoy the sunset from Anaeho'omalu Beach, a beautiful beach with stunning views
Book a luau at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, which offers traditional Hawaiian food, music, and dance performances.
Have dinner and enjoy the show, and then head back to the resort for a good night's rest.

Day 9 (August 19): Departure

• Check out of the resort and drive to Kona International Airport
• Return rental car and catch your flight back home.

FYI most of the public access beaches now charge for parking. See this source: beach parking . It is what it is, just be prepared. Mauna Kea beach is beautiful - one of our favorites but we used to go early and leave within two hours. Not sure about doing that now at $20+ a pop. Maybe it has loosened up parking - it used to be that if you weren't there by 8:30 all of the parking was gone. Btw, I just realized that we were there last Nov - after the parking charge had been announced - and we definitely didn't pay at Mauna Kea. So maybe it isn't really happening? We paid at Hapuna and Beach 69 but I think that was it.

Your mom will be fine at Akaka Falls, and probably most of the trails at VNP. While were were there last fall, we really enjoyed the hike out to the petroglyph field - to me that would completely depend on how your mom's balance is - lots of scrambling over loose rock (but no hills). The wood boardwalks are only around the field itself. It was a bit of a walk from the parking area to the petroglyph field. It would be great to do on a cloudy day and a miserably hot hike on a hot day. I personally wouldn't do it in August. There are also petroglyph fields near Waikoloa - that way you can just go early before the lava rock heats up.

 

[ABCTravels]

It's been a few years since we went but I wouldn't drive all the way to Akaka Falls and only do that hike before returning. It's a paved path and very lovely and it took us about 1 hour to walk it with a 10-year-old. The Japanese Gardens in Hilo are something your mom might enjoy walking around and we loved the restaurants in HIlo best of all. There was a wonderful crepe cafe that was just delicious! Another consideration is we loved going back to see the volcano after dark...it just looked so much cooler with the lava reflection in the sky. There were numerous places in the park where we did shorter walks (the tubes and the vents for example) that would be fine for your mom but walking across the dried lava lake bed probably not.
We also went horseback riding on a farm in Wailea, and if your mom didn't want to ride there was a covered area for the non-riding family member to sit. It was really nice to see a very visually different part of the island. The Fish and the Hog was a delicious lunch afterward.
Hope you have a wonderful time! The big island is actually our favorite island.

 

[dioxide45]

I learned that ChatGPT has a knowledge cutoff date of September 2021. So stuff newer than that may not be included in its responses.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

To the OP. If you asked for this inside of ChatGPT chat stream, you can regenerate the search with the ages of your party and eliminating anything that is not interesting.

It is correct that ChatGPT has a cutoff of Sept 2021. For up to date queries you need BingChat or Bard.

 

[jabberwocky]

I learned that ChatGPT has a knowledge cutoff date of September 2021. So stuff newer than that may not be included in its responses.

You’re correct. Try asking it how many times the Rams have won the Superbowl!

 

[daventrina]

FYI most of the public access beaches now charge for parking. See this source: beach parking . It is what it is, just be prepared. Mauna Kea beach is beautiful - one of our favorites but we used to go early and leave within two hours. Not sure about doing that now at $20+ a pop. Maybe it has loosened up parking - it used to be that if you weren't there by 8:30 all of the parking was gone. Btw, I just realized that we were there last Nov - after the parking charge had been announced - and we definitely didn't pay at Mauna Kea. So maybe it isn't really happening? We paid at Hapuna and Beach 69 but I think that was it.

Mauna Kea stopped charging for parking at the free public beach access after they were told that they can't. They are still snotty about access. Many times they seem to say the lot is full and then folks walk in and find the lot half empty.

I have no idea why the software would be have you drive over to Hilo twice in one trip to visit nearby sites and to skip Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots.

Myabe you have to use the paid version to get better answers "We’re launching a pilot subscription plan for ChatGPT,"

 

[klpca]

Mauna Kea stopped charging for parking at the free public beach access after they were told that they can't. They are still snotty about access. Many times they seem to say the lot is full and then folks walk in and find the lot half empty.

I have no idea why the software would be have you drive over to Hilo twice in one trip to visit nearby sites and to skip Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots.

Myabe you have to use the paid version to get better answers "We’re launching a pilot subscription plan for ChatGPT,"

They *are* snotty about access, aren't they? On our last trip in Nov, we branched out and did different beaches every day, partially because I just didn't want to get up early to get to Mauna Kea before the lot was full.

 

[daventrina]

They *are* snotty about access, aren't they? On our last trip in Nov, we branched out and did different beaches every day, partially because I just didn't want to get up early to get to Mauna Kea before the lot was full.

When we drove past yesterday, noticed a place to park across the street ....
Thought maybe we'd walk up to the gat .. Eh? parking full again no? ... we'll just walking to da beach ...