Hawaii's Big Island in 1 day: Possible?

[Voyages]

I am heading to Honolulu on a business trip (it's really for work :mrgreen:, although my friends don't seem to believe me).

With 1 spare day, I am thinking of heading to the Big Island for (i) a helicopter tour of the volcanoes and (ii) perhaps a drive through the national park.

Has anyone done this before within the same day (HNL-ITO return)? Any insights and advice would be much appreciated

Thank you,
Voyages.

 

[Mal]

Here's what I did in about 7 hours:

Arrive Airport (ITO). Collect car.
Drive to VNP.
Visit visitor's centre, Thurston tube and a couple of the posted stops.
Travel down Chain of Crater's road.
Visit a couple of the stops there.
Down to the end of CoC road, park.
Hike onto the lava. Take a few pictures and walk maybe 1/2 mile out.
Back to car.
Was at that stage about to drive to Kona, but realised my time would be running out.
Still drove that way to a small village/town area and had lunch (unsure of name)
Drove back to Hilo.
Off to Akaka falls (and the other falls in the same park).
Came back through the "tourist" scenic route.
Into Hilo again. drove around.
Got lost looking for airport!
Found it, refuelled car and dropped it off at rental agency.


I may have been "keeping up with the locals" speed wise, and it was a long and rushed day

 

[TimB]

With 1 spare day, I am thinking of heading to the Big Island for (i) a helicopter tour of the volcanoes and (ii) perhaps a drive through the national park.

Has anyone done this before within the same day (HNL-ITO return)?

You should definitely be able to fit it in.

Flying Hawaiian will give you the most time, I think. E.g.:

HA 102: 05:05 AM - 05:54 AM (or one of 4 other flights before 9am if you don't want to start that early)
HA 241: 08:55 PM - 09:44 PM

That would give you up to 14 hours on the island, which is heaps.

A few years ago I had a couple of nights on the Big Island in Kona. On the last day, I drove all the way around the island (clockwise), with many stops such as lunch in Hilo, and in Volcanoes NP. I drove down the Chain of Craters Rd, and had about an hour walking out onto the lava. I then had enough time left to drive back to Kona, return the hire car and fly back to Honolulu.

Flying in/out of Hilo will put you that much closer to Volcanoes NP, so you should be able to see heaps. I was there again in June this year, and there's plenty of activity, both at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater (in Kilauea) and where the lava is flowing into the ocean. Just watch out for the poor air quality due to the volcanic gases -- there are warnings at the visitor's centre if the air is particularly bad.

 

[Voyages]

Here's what I did in about 7 hours:
_ _ _ _ _
I may have been "keeping up with the locals" speed wise, and it was a long and rushed day

Your sequels of action sent my pulses pumping, Mal. Thanks for the tips.

Did you get caught in the rain? I read some articles saying that the Island is particularly rainy.

 

[Voyages]

You should definitely be able to fit it in.

Flying Hawaiian will give you the most time, I think. E.g.:

HA 102: 05:05 AM - 05:54 AM (or one of 4 other flights before 9am if you don't want to start that early)
HA 241: 08:55 PM - 09:44 PM

That would give you up to 14 hours on the island, which is heaps.
_ _ _ _ _ _

Flying in/out of Hilo will put you that much closer to Volcanoes NP, so you should be able to see heaps. I was there again in June this year, and there's plenty of activity, both at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater (in Kilauea) and where the lava is flowing into the ocean. Just watch out for the poor air quality due to the volcanic gases -- there are warnings at the visitor's centre if the air is particularly bad.

Thanks for sharing the experience TimB. I figured out that if I get into ITO from HNL, I'll be able to get to the park quicker (45 minutes? or 30 mins if I drive with Mal's speeed), hence fitting more things in one day. Very excited about seeing what's left of the lava flowing into the ocean! Some online pics look amazing. The Hawaiian Tourism site indicates, however, that the rainy season starts from November. I just hope that the rain doesn't badly affect my day

I will take one of the 5am flights and early evening flight HNL-ITO, which are suprisingly cheap at about 110 USD (hoooray for the appreciating AUD *Disclaimer: sorry if you're an exporter and you're reading this*).

 

[TimB]

Thanks for sharing the experience TimB. I figured out that if I get into ITO from HNL, I'll be able to get to the park quicker (45 minutes? or 30 mins if I drive with Mal's speeed), hence fitting more things in one day.

Maybe plan on about an hour. Also, they were doing some roadworks along Highway 11 (which is the road you take) when I was there in June, though I guess there's a good chance that they're finished now.

Very excited about seeing what's left of the lava flowing into the ocean! Some online pics look amazing.

You say "what's left of the lava" -- I think you'll be staggered when you actually drive down Chain of Craters Road and walk over the lava that covered the road and continued down to the sea. It's a massive amount of black rock, with all sorts of textures from when it cooled.

On the other hand, if you take a helicopter ride, you'll be able to see the lava where it's actually still flowing into the sea. That site is currently just east of the national park boundary, and when I was there in June, the viewing from land was only at dusk and after sunset, so that would rule it out for you. But I'm sure a helicopter ride will give you a good view during the day, although they have to make sure that they're not in the path of the steam, which I think is fairly acidic.

The Hawaiian Tourism site indicates, however, that the rainy season starts from November. I just hope that the rain doesn't badly affect my day

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Also I think it should be relatively less rainy at the higher elevation of the volcano (i.e. the Kilauea Crater, not at the end of Chain of Craters Rd), and in any case, it's still warm tropical rain. You can however expect to encounter "vog" -- a kind of volcanic fog -- as well as clouds over the craters.

Make sure you check out the resources at the National Park Service website: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park - Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (U.S. National Park Service) . They have a bunch of brochures you can download here: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park - Brochures (U.S. National Park Service) (some of which you'll also receive when you enter the park).

Finally, I would recommend spending the 3 hours or so it takes to hike across the floor of the Kilauea Iki crater. It's an incredible experience knowing that you're hiking over what was a lake of molten lava just 50 years ago.

 

[Voyages]

Make sure you check out the resources at the National Park Service website: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park - Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (U.S. National Park Service) . They have a bunch of brochures you can download here: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park - Brochures (U.S. National Park Service) (some of which you'll also receive when you enter the park).

Finally, I would recommend spending the 3 hours or so it takes to hike across the floor of the Kilauea Iki crater. It's an incredible experience knowing that you're hiking over what was a lake of molten lava just 50 years ago.

It does sound like you had some wonderful time over there, which is awesome. I've noted your tips, booked the flights, booked a car, and now I only need to get a new IDP. Excitement!

 

[Justinf]

Your sequels of action sent my pulses pumping, Mal. Thanks for the tips.

Did you get caught in the rain? I read some articles saying that the Island is particularly rainy.

The east side of the island is the rainy side (Hilo). The west side is quite dry.

 

[Mal]

Did you get caught in the rain? I read some articles saying that the Island is particularly rainy.

No rain that day. It was in mid Sept a couple of years ago.

The VNP is amazing. The CoC road is actually a long drive itself down to the end (which is covered of course in hardened lava). Take good shoes and solid long pants, as the lava is of course uneven, rough and it would hurt a lot to trip on.

The lava flow changes week to week. The VNP website is probably best to work out what the situation is http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm and how far from the CoC road the lava is flowing.

 

[Maca44]

I've noted your tips, booked the flights, booked a car, and now I only need to get a new IDP. Excitement!

I assume the IDP is an International Driving Permit, but I have never had one and am a regular traveller to the USA and book rental vehicles when there. Your SA driver's licence should be fine to rent a car in Hawaii, and from memory, the IDP's are obtained from motoring groups such as the NRMA etc without any test. Although, under those circumstances, I believe an International Driving Licence is pretty much useless I will stand corrected if wrong, but I have never been asked for such.

 

[tuapekastar]

I assume the IDP is an International Driving Permit, but I have never had one and am a regular traveller to the USA and book rental vehicles when there. Your SA driver's licence should be fine to rent a car in Hawaii, and from memory, the IDP's are obtained from motoring groups such as the NRMA etc without any test. Although, under those circumstances, I believe an International Driving Licence is pretty much useless I will stand corrected if wrong, but I have never been asked for such.

My memory may be failing me here (and apologies to all if it has), but I think NM can nominate at least one US state (Maryland?) where an IDP would have come in handy.

 

[Voyages]

I assume the IDP is an International Driving Permit, but I have never had one and am a regular traveller to the USA and book rental vehicles when there. Your SA driver's licence should be fine to rent a car in Hawaii, and from memory, the IDP's are obtained from motoring groups such as the NRMA etc without any test. Although, under those circumstances, I believe an International Driving Licence is pretty much useless I will stand corrected if wrong, but I have never been asked for such.

Interesting, Maca44. I'll get the IDP still though, only $30 at RAA in SA, no test, for 12 months, just to be sure.

Thrifty/Avis/Budget sites don't really specify the need for it. But the Hawaiian airlines site does say that one must have an American driving licence (eh?) for all bookings through them, so I figure an IDP might be handy.

 

[Mal]

But the Hawaiian airlines site does say that one must have an American driving licence (eh?) for all bookings through them, so I figure an IDP might be handy.

I've driven in the US several times (and hired cars) with just my Qld driver's licence. Even got pulled up by the police once and they accepted my licence (near Everett - ie Boeing Factory near Seattle.)

The Hawaiian airlines reference is probably to do with ID for the TSA checks at the airport. Your passport is valid as a replacement.

 

[NM]

My memory may be failing me here (and apologies to all if it has), but I think NM can nominate at least one US state (Maryland?) where an IDP would have come in handy.

Twas indeed Mayland where I had my encounter with an ill-informed member of the local constabulary.

 

[Optics]

I've driven in the US several times (and hired cars) with just my Qld driver's licence. Even got pulled up by the police once and they accepted my licence (near Everett - ie Boeing Factory near Seattle.)

The Hawaiian airlines reference is probably to do with ID for the TSA checks at the airport. Your passport is valid as a replacement.

I hired a car in Hawaii in July this year just using my Vic licence, no questions asked.

 

[trooper]

I was under the impression that the IDP was only required where ones own DL is not "up to scratch"... ie - no photo..

May be wrong of course but as another data point I have rented in about 15 states IIRC and never had a problem with my ACT license...

 

[Voyages]

So I've done it, 1 day in Volcanoes Nationl Park. Thank you all for the tips. It was a truly memorable experience.

Also, they accepted my SA driving license without questions

 

[Bundy Bear]

So I've done it, 1 day in Volcanoes Nationl Park. Thank you all for the tips. It was a truly memorable experience.

Also, they accepted my SA driving license without questions

How did your day plan out; I am interested in a mini trip report from you, which flight did you catch as getting up to catch a 5:00am flight would be annoying unless absolutely necessary.

 

[maninblack]

Don't want to get into the IDP debate but there is no need for one in Hawaii. Australian licenses are accepted and well recognized there. I have used my VIC license as ID for all sorts of things there, no issue, including with the highway patrol.

"Australian travellers don't need an international driver's licence, an Australian licence is accepted by all major car hire companies."

This is from the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau website. Even if they can't spell the word license!