Journey to Hawaii 2015 - Day 6 : Day 6 - Green Sand, Black Sand, Divers and Volcanoes

South Point (Ka Lae) 

Divers at Ka Lae

Climbing back up from a dive

We got up this morning and decided to head out on a road trip.  Now one thing you should know is that they call it the "Big Island" for a reason.  The Island of Hawaii is nearly twice as large as all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined.  It is also roughly the size of the state of Connecticut so when you take a road trip on the Big Island be prepared that it will take you awhile to get to where you are going.  It is not just around the corner or a short trip in most cases so make sure it's a day that you want to spend away from your resort.

One of the many sea caves in this area

Our first stop on this day was Ka Lae the Southernmost spot in the US.  Yes it is even further south than Key West.  We were staying at the Hilton Waikoloa Beach which is about 30 min north of Kona along the Kohala Coast.  The drive to Ka Lae was a little over 2 hours.  Most of the roadway is highway (Route 11).   When you get to the Ka Lae area there is a small paved 2 lane roadway that takes you directly to the coast.  Now I have read reviews of this area where people don't feel that the drive is worth it....the roadway is not interesting...takes too long to get there...not that exciting once you do get there.  Personally I think this little diversion is an awesome place to visit.  We visited it last year during our trip to the Big Island and it was definitely on our list to visit again this year!

Just fun to watch the divers!

The scenery is just gorgeous with the blue waters contrasting with the cliffs.  You don't have to make this a really long stop but you must take time to enjoy the views and marvel at the cliff divers.  There are sea caves that the divers climb up to get back to the top and they are fun to look into also.  The parking area gets crowded and much of it is on uneven ground.  Just take care where you park that you don't get your rental car stuck!  

There are portable toilets here but no "real" bathrooms.

Amazing Coastal Scenery

Green Sand Beach (Papakolea)

Green Sand Beach

Just a short drive from Ka Lae, is Papakolea Beach, better known as the Green Sand Beach.  Once again you will read many differing views of this area.  I am going to relay what our experience was.  Take into consideration your own personal likes and dislikes when making your decision whether to visit this or not.

When we visited the Big Island last year we arrived at Ka Lae very late in the afternoon so by the time we made the additional trek over to the Green Sand Beach parking area we were a little late to start the hike to the beach.  We also didn't quite know what to expect when we arrived there and weren't sure how to catch a ride with a local although we had read that this was a possibility.  This year we made it a priority to figure out how to get to the Green Sand Beach!

The Green Sand beach on the Big Island is one of only four green sand beaches in the world.  It actually lies within a cinder cone that has partially collapsed and has been eroded by the ocean waters.  Three sides of the cinder cone are still in tact and provide part of the picturesque beauty of the area.  The "green" color of the sand comes from the mineral olivine which is a common mineral found in Hawaiian Lavas.

Basics 

Here are the basics on how to get to the Green Sand Beach:

1.  Park in the parking area near the area.  There are signs posted and it is easy to find off the roadway.

2.  Decide if you want to take the 2.5 mile hike (each way) to the beach or if you want to catch a ride with a local.

3.  If you decide you want to take the hike make sure you pack plenty of water and prepare for a pretty rugged hike.  It is not the elevation of the area that makes it difficult.  It is the fact that there is no shade and the roadway is all dirt and deeply rutted.

4.  If you decide to catch a ride with a local, just simply find one in this area and be prepared to pay about $15.00 per person for the ride.  Personally I think this was the best $45.00 (3 of us) that I spent during our stay!

5.  Be prepared for an adventure.  The road is rough but half the fun is getting to the beach and back.

6.  Do NOT expect to see a dark green sand.  The sand is green but it is more of an olive color than a hunter green color.  Many reviewers indicate that they are disappointed by the fact that it's not greener.  As long as you have reasonable expectations I have no idea why anyone would be disappointed when going here.  There is also a smaller beach (more on that later) in the same area that is a darker green.

7.  Be prepared to get dirty!  The roadway is dirt and you will be wearing a lot of it after trekking to the beach and back.

8.  When you get to the beach area, there is a climb down some steps imbedded in the cinder cone to get down to the actual beach.  It is not a difficult walk down but be prepared for it.

The ladder and rock you must climb down/up to get to and from the Green Sand Beach

More Detail on your Trip to the Green Sand Beach

Terrain along the way to the Beach

We followed the signs to the Green Sand Beach and parked in the parking area there. Almost  

immediately we were met by Iwani who asked us if we wanted a ride to the beach. We had read reviews about the long hike and were happy to find someone to take us to the beach. He matched us up with another couple who were looking to go just to take some photos and leave so we wouldn't be stuck there longer than we planned on. He told us his fee was $15.00/person for the trip to the beach and back. We all loaded up in the back of his 1985 4WD truck and off we went!

The road was very rough and there is no way that you could do this drive without a 4WD vehicle! We saw several people making the hike. This would not be an easy hike! There is no shade...the road is dirt and very dusty. The terrain is rocky. To me the $15.00 was the best bargain of the day!! Our ride was bumpy and warm but Iwani kept us entertained with stories and kept us laughing all the way!

Our ride with Iwani....Notice the El Camino "convertible next to us!

Once we arrived at the beach, our guide explained that we would need to climb down a ladder and then some rocks to get to the beach itself. The view was amazing even from the top but we wanted to get a closer look so we walked down. Now I am not always the most graceful person but I had no trouble making the trek down to the beach. When we arrived the green sand awaited us. It was beautiful....it sparkled....almost like gold or glitter! The water was a mix of turquoise and deep blue and the dark mountains framing the area provided a beautiful contrast. I almost felt sensory overload with the vivid colors!

We spent about 30 minutes walking around and taking photos and then we made the climb back up the hill and loaded back up in the truck for the trip back to the parking area. Iwani was awesome as he took us back he again shared some local stories and even made an extra side stop at a beach that had even greener sand for us. He took photos of us on the beach and allowed us to explore for a few minutes. 

Some of the Local Drivers

As we drove back we saw many locals taking visitors down to the beach...you never knew what kind of vehicle you might see along the way. The adventure is half the fun of the visit! I would highly recommend making a trip to the Green Sand Beach one of your priorities when visiting the Big Island. I would also highly recommend taking the ride unless you are an experienced hiker and if you are taking the ride, make sure that you look up Iwani.....he is an awesome guide!

Final Thoughts

Some of the Green Sand 

To a person each of us, my husband, my son and myself picked this as the highlight of our stay on the Big Island.  The views were amazing but it was so enhanced by the ride with our guide Iwani.  He made the trip so much fun and we learned about the local area. We saw so many whales breaching just off the beach also....it was an extra treat!  I would say that the biggest thing you must do if you decide to visit this beach is be ready to "go with the flow".  The road is crazy bumpy, the vehicles the locals drive are crazy looking....some of them you stand in the back of a truck with railings, some are old el dorado's with the top cut off to make a convertible.  You never know what you might see.  Just be prepared for any kind of adventure that might crop up and you may just have the time of your life!

Black Sand (Punalu_u Beach)

 

Our next stop was about a 30-45 minute drive East of Ka Lae and the Green Sand Beach.  This was at Punalu_u Beach.  While there are several black sand beaches on the Island this one has the easiest access.  We simply parked in the large, paved parking area and made a short walk onto the beach.  

Black Sand Beach

Once again, the black sand contrasting with the blue water is a sight to behold! You can swim at this beach and there are picnic tables and restrooms here so if you would like to spend part of a day here you certainly could.  

One of the places I would encourage you to make a stop at on your way to or from the beach is the Punalum'u Bake Shop!  There are wonderful bakery items as well as all kind of drinks and snacks that you can stock up on.  There are also "real" restrooms here!  

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

After leaving the Black Sand Beach, we continued on our trip around the southern coast of the Big Island, heading East and ending up at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  Unfortunately just as we got to the park, the weather changed a bit and we started to get some rain. We did not let this deter us however.  

We quickly headed down Chain of Craters Road to the very end in order to take a look at the Sea Arch at the coast.  The Arch was one of our favorite things to see here last year and we definitely wanted to share it with our son this year.  The arch will deteriorate at some point in the future and more will be made by future lava flows but as of right now this one is still going strong!

Sea Arch - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

On our way back up Chain of Craters Road, we made a few stops at a few of the craters along the way.

One of the Craters along Chain of Craters Road

Next stop was the Thurston Lava Tube.  This is a must see if you are in the park.  The walk to the tube is a pretty easy one.  The tube itself isn't too long and is very well lit.  It is just amazing to think that you can walk through something created by a lava flow!

Finally we were ready to head past the steam vents and to the Jaggar Museum and Visitor Center.  What we found was that when it rains the steam vents become VERY active.  While this makes the steam vents more impressive....it makes viewing of the caldera almost impossible!  We were able to catch a very brief glimpse of the glowing caldera at night but it was gone almost as soon as it came into view.  Tip:  If you are looking for a clear view of the caldera at night...make sure that you choose a day without rain!

If you would like to see more photos and information about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park please see my blog from last year's trip when the weather was clear.  http://travelswithmel.blogspot.com/2014/04/journey-to-hawaiithe-big-islandday-8.html

Back to Mauna Kea

Since our viewing was so limited at the volcano, we decided that since the night was still young, and since we had to drive across the Island anyway, that we would stop at Mauna Kea for one more look at the beautiful stars.  The weather on this part of the Island was fine and we had beautiful viewing conditions.  Again, the winds were high and the summit was closed but the viewing from the visitor's center couldn't be better. Tip: I would encourage you to check the weather ahead if you have your heart set on visiting the summit.

Time to Call it a Day

It was about time to call it a day after a long day of driving and viewing some amazing things.  Yes, the trip around the Big Island can take some time but as far as I'm concerned it's totally worth it!

Coming Next: 

Day 7 - Cliffs and Waterfalls 

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Journey to Hawaii 2015 - Day 5 - Adventure at Sea on the Big Island

Early Morning Whale Watching

If you have read my blogs from last year's trip to the Big Island you know that one of the highlights of our 2014 trip was the Breakfast With The Whales whale watching trip with Ocean Sports.  So as soon as we settled in on our schedule for our 2015 trip, we booked our return whale watching adventure with Ocean Sports.  Our son did not go with us on our 2014 trip so we were especially excited about having him along with us to enjoy the adventure.  

Instead of boring you with the same information that I provided last year, I will give you the link to my previous blog.  That blog will give you all the particulars of the trip and what to expect when booking your adventure.  

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4162636094834192500#editor/target=post;postID=1867842413715982637;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=24;src=postname

There's nothing like seeing a whale breach right in front of your eyes!

So How did this year compare?

Sometimes when you do the same thing a second time around it isn't quite like you remember it the first time.  In the case of this year's whale watching I wouldn't say it was not as good but I would say that it was a different experience.

Tip:  If you are booking a return trip with Ocean Sports within the year, they will give you a discount on your return trip.  Make sure to ask for that when you call to book!

Hotel Pick up

Since we were staying at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, our pick up time for the Breakfast with the Whales trip was at 7:15 AM from the lower lobby.  There is bench seating just outside of the lobby and our van arrived right on time to pick us up and take us on our adventure.  There were several guests taking this particular trip so we gave our names to the driver who quickly checked us in and we were on our way.  After a brief stop at Queens Marketplace at the Ocean Sports Storefront to sign some paperwork we all loaded back into the van and headed to A-bay for our departure.  

The first thing we noticed when we arrived at the beach was that the surf was a little higher than the previous year.  The entire week that we were in the Islands this year, there were high surf warnings both on Kauai as well as the Big Island.  This day was no different.  We found out later that we were the only cruise that wasn't cancelled for the next several days.  So on the one hand we were very lucky to be able to head out and see these wonderful sea creatures and on the other hand it was a little bit of a rough ride this year. 

Boarding

Nothing had changed with the boarding process.  There is a small ramp a few feet into the ocean that you climb up to board the glass bottom boat to ride out to the catamaran that is anchored several yards off shore.  It is a "wet boarding" so make sure you wear flip flops or have shoes that you can easily remove in order to board the glass bottom boat.  This was our first inkling that it was going to be a little rougher at sea as the glass bottom boat was tossed around a little as it butted up to the ramp.  A quick 5 minute ride took us to the catamaran and again we were tossed around a bit as we got to the larger boat.  We then made the transfer to the catamaran and found a place toward the front to try to grab the best pictures that we could.  

The Adventure Begins

While the surf was high and ride was quite a bit rougher than the previous year we actually saw more whales this year than last year (and I thought that was a lot at the time!)  Last year we saw mostly tails, spouts and pec slaps.  This year we got to see several whales breaching and competition pods as well as tails and spouts.  There is absolutely nothing more mesmerizing than watching a gigantic humpback whale breach!  It definitely makes the trip worthwhile!!  The trip last about an hour and a half on the boat and we saw whales almost the entire time!  We definitely were in "whale soup"!

The biggest difference this year was that there were several passengers who got sea sick.  Last year it was literally "smooth sailing" and not one passenger got the slightest bit ill.  This year with the higher surf it was a totally different story.  About 15 minutes into the tour, passengers started to get ill and that lasted pretty much the entire time we were out there.  Luckily due to my previous whale watching experience in Monterey (which this was not nearly as bad as that!) we had made sure to take some Bonine about an hour before we left for the day at sea.  All I can say is thank goodness we had taken something!  Tip:  If you know you get seasick please be sure to take something or use a method to prevent seasickness before you get on the boat.  In fact if you don't know if you get seasick or not....make sure you take something.  It's better to be safe than sorry and there's nothing worse than being sick and stuck on a boat till the tour is over!

That being said the scenery was fantastic and whales were really out in force.  We definitely were glad we took the time to go back for a second year!

Getting back to the hotel

After the tour was over, you just reverse the boarding process....get off the catamaran onto the glass bottom boat, take the glass bottom boat to shore and then take the van back to the drop off area of your resort.  It's all a very seamless and easy process.

Tip:  For taking one of the cruises, you receive discounts on water toy rentals and on booking other cruises during your stay.  If you are interested in either of these, please make sure to take advantage of the discounts offered.  Discounts do not apply to cabana rentals at the Hilton Waikoloa Village however, even though they are run by Ocean Sports.

Lunch with the Dolphins

Once we arrived back at the resort we decided to grab some lunch on our way back to our rooms.  We  decided on a quick lunch at the Lagoon Grill.  The best thing about the Lagoon Grill is that it is right next to the dolphin area of the Hilton Waikoloa Village and you can watch the dolphins play and interact with trainers as well as guests.  The food itself was ok.  It was not a particularly memorable meal but it was good for lunch with decent variety.  The service was slow.  I would not recommend this restaurant if you are in a hurry but then again I could probably say the same thing about any of the resort restaurants.  

We enjoyed our meals, watched the dolphins for awhile and then did a quick tour of the resort as we headed back to the room to change for the rest of the day's activities.  As we walked we saw sea turtles lounging and swimming around.  We also saw some amazing "flying fish" that would just suddenly fling themselves into the air and land quite a distance away!  Combine that with some amazing views of the ocean and and the lush resort plants and it was a beautiful walk back to the room!

Kohala Coast

We decided to leave the resort in early afternoon and head up the Kohala Coast to the "end of the road" at the Pololu Beach Overlook.  This is a nice afternoon drive from the resort.  Figure on a couple hour drive as you travel through King Kamehameha's birthplace, Hawi Town and Kapa'au on your way to some beautiful scenery along the northern shore of the Big Island.  While this is maybe not as striking of a day trip as you will find in other directions, it is definitely worth the trip if you have the time to do it.  From there we headed to our next stop....

Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea is another "must do" if you are visiting the Big Island.  There are several tours that you can take to the summit of Mauna Kea.  The tour companies will pick you up at your resort, provide you with a dinner, take you to the summit and then stick around for star gazing near the visitor's center.  Tours run around $200.00 per person on average and last about 7 hours.  We chose NOT to do the tour.  We did not do it in 2014 and decided against it again.  The reasons that we did not do the tour were 1.  It takes up a large portion of your day.  2.  It is not inexpensive.  3.  You can view the stars at the Visitor's Center for free and you have more control over the amount of time that you spend.  Whether you decide that the tour is for you or you want to do it yourself.....please make time to get here at least once while you are on the Island.  You will not regret the time spent!

While we were there, there were high wind warnings on the Island and that meant that trips to the summit were limited.  This evening the summit was open but the temps were low and wind chills were below freezing.  Please note that you can make the trip up to the summit in your own vehicle if you have a high clearance 4WD vehicle.  

Tip:  If you are planning to visit Mauna Kea (either the summit or the visitor's center), make sure you pack warm clothes.  

Since my husband and I had been there the previous year, we made sure that we packed up some warm clothes to wear when we headed to Mauna Kea.   I am not just talking jeans...i am talking winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves and sweatshirts!  Believe me we needed every bit of the clothing that we brought!

We stopped in Waikoloa Village and picked up subs at the local Subway and a few snacks and took them with us to Mauna Kea.  We took time to eat in our vehicle while we waited for the darkness to set in.  I would recommend getting there before dark because 1.  It's easier traveling one direction in while it's still light out and 2.  You can secure a better parking spot.

There are several telescopes set up at the visitor's center.  The program is entirely free and you just have to bring your patience as you stand in line for your turn to see the stars.  Believe me there are so many stars that you can see with the naked eye that you will not have trouble waiting your turn!  This is truly an amazing place.  The stars are just everywhere and so brilliant.  You will never see another place like this so make sure you take the time to soak it all in!

Back to the Resort

After our trek to Mauna Kea it was time to head back to the resort for the night.  Our day started with the Sea and ended with the Stars and was a perfect day in paradise!

Coming Next: 

Day 6 - Green Sand, Black Sand, Divers and Volcanoes

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Journey to Hawaii Days 3 and 4 - Relaxing and Making a Change

Day 3 - Relaxing on Kauai

By Day 3 we were ready for a little downtime.  If you follow my blog regularly you know that we try to cram as much as possible into our days and while I highly recommend seeing everything you can in a location while you are there.....there is also a time to sit back and relax and just enjoy where you are.  

Relaxing by the Pool at The Grand Hyatt Kauai

After our morning breakfast at the Ilima Terrace, we quickly headed back to our room to put on our bathing suits and head to the pool to relax.  The pool at the Grand Hyatt Kauai is pretty amazing as you can see.  There is an adult pool area, a lazy river, water slides, basketball and volleyball that you can enjoy while you are there.  There are some cabanas for rent near the beach/pool area or you can just pick a chair and set up camp for the day.  We chose just to grab a chair and enjoy the day.  Make sure you check in at the desk in the pool area for towels.

We were at the pool area by about 9:30 or 10:00 AM and pretty much had the area to ourselves.    It wasn't till almost noon before more of the guests wandered down to the pool.  It is an absolutely gorgeous pool and I certainly can't complain about the beautiful sky and palm trees in this area.  The only complaints that I did have was 1.  The pool was COLD!  Now it did get better as you walked around, swam or started to play basketball!  The hotel website says that the pools are heated by recaptured heat from the air conditioning unit but to be perfectly honest....it didn't feel heated at all!  2.  There is a restroom near the pool restaurant and towel counter.  It is convenient but it gets really dirty really quickly as the day goes on.  I'm sure it's just difficult to keep up with a bunch of guests using the restrooms with wet bathing suits but it was a little disappointing.  

There is also a beach on the resort premises so if you would rather head to the beach rather than stay in the pool area you are more than welcome to do that.  There was a high surf warning all the days that we were there so other than a few people walking on the beach, there was no swimming during this time.

 After we had had our fill of swimming, we headed to the pool restaurant (Hale Nalu) to grab a quick lunch before heading back to our room.  Again, it's Hawaii so "quick" is relative but when you have a view as beautiful as this you tend to be a lot more patient!  The menu gives enough options for anyone in the family to find something to enjoy.

View from Hale Nalu

We were feeling refreshed by our swim and full from our lunch so we headed back to our room to shower and get ready for the rest of our day.  When we got back to the room a nice "surprise" awaited us.  Sometimes it's just the little things that make a stay special.

We still had several hours before our dinner reservation at Tidepools, the signature restaurant of the Grand Hyatt Kauai so we decided to head back out to the Poipu Shopping Village to walk around a bit and do some window shopping.  Then we drove around the Poipu Beach area and took a look at some of the amazing ocean view homes that were "For Sale" because who hasn't been to Hawaii and thought that they would love to live there or at least own a vacation home there!  Dreaming is free.....

Tidepools

Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt Kauai

After a very relaxing day, we had reservations for our final dinner on Kauai and we had chosen Tidepools for that dinner.  We booked around sunset so we could enjoy the sunset from our table.  Unlike other restaurants at resorts I have been to in Hawaii, this particular restaurant was not on the ocean and it really didn't have a great sunset view.  It's my fault for not realizing this sooner....see this is where research comes in handy!   However, that being said this was a WONDERFUL place to have dinner and a great way to wind up our stay on Kauai.  The restaurant itself is a group of connected "pods" that sit above manmade tidepools.   The fish swim right next to your table and you truly feel as though you are dining in a special place.

Honestly I felt like I had entered something from "The Bachelor".  This was "that" kind of place.

Just as good as the ambiance was the food!  While my husband and son enjoyed the steak, I had the chef's special which was a stuffed yellowfish that evening.  I have to say it was amazing!  

 If you are looking for great food, a relaxing, romantic atmosphere with terrific service, Tidepools is the place for you.  For those of you who have read my previous blogs you will remember that we ate at Dondero's the first evening and I was a little underwhelmed with the experience.  This was NOT the case with Tidepools!  I loved everything about this restaurant and would highly recommend it for anyone visiting Kauai and/or The Grand Hyatt Kauai.  If you need to choose between Dondero's and Tidepools...go with Tidepools.  You won't be disappointed!

Day 4 - Changing Islands

If you have been to the Hawaiian Islands before, then you know how different each and every one of the Islands is.  Before this trip, I had chosen to stay on one Island for the duration of my vacation for a couple different reasons.  1. I wanted to be sure to see everything on the Island I was visiting.  2. I didn't want to lose any of my days to travel. And 3.  I wasn't sure how easy it would be to switch Islands.

Morning on Kauai

We spent our last morning on Kauai enjoying the sunrise from our lanai, taking our time enjoying the surroundings and once again visiting the breakfast buffet at the Ilima Terrace.  Before we knew it, it was time to head to the airport in Lihue (about a 30 min drive from the Grand Hyatt Kauai) to catch our flight to the Big Island.  One last beautiful sight we saw on our way back to the airport was the "tunnel of trees".  

Hawaiian Airlines

Getting from Island to Island is a relatively easy thing to do.  It is also a bit time consuming even though the flights themselves are short.  We were flying from Lihue, Kauai to Kona, Hawaii.  In order to do that we had a connection to make in Honolulu, Oahu.  Now the good thing is that there are many many many daily flights between the islands so you can certainly find one to fit into your schedule.  It does not appear that there are very many (if any at all) direct flights.  This means a little more time to Island hop.

When you factor in getting to the airport early to return your rental vehicle and  to get through security,  (Your bags do not have to go through the agricultural check since you are flying between islands.) boarding your flight, landing in Honolulu, disembarking, waiting for your connecting flight, boarding that flight, flying time, disembarking the flight, picking up your luggage from baggage claim and securing your rental vehicle, you are looking at a minimum of several hours to make the switch.  This does not include the drive time to your new resort hotel and the time to check in.  In our case, the whole process took about 5-6 hours and cost us about $200.00 each with baggage.

The flights themselves were very nice....short flight times, on schedule departures and landings and great views of the whales from the windows of the plane as you flew over the ocean!

So....getting between Islands is not a difficult thing to do and is relatively inexpensive (although it does add some cost to your vacation budget) but does take quite a bit of time to accomplish.  Just make sure to take all of this into consideration when you decide if Island hopping is for you or not.

In our case we decided that we would give it a try this time because we were visiting Kauai which is a smaller island and the Big Island which we had visited just last year so we knew we could get back to the things that we wanted to do there.  Personally if this was my first time visiting the Islands I would recommend staying on one Island and seeing all there is to see.  To me losing the travel time would just not be worth it.  However, I can certainly see why people decide to do it.  I have been lucky enough to be able to go back several times to multiple islands.  If this is your trip of a lifetime, you certainly may want to sample more than one island.

The Big Island

Landing in Kona is totally different than landing in Lihue.  In Lihue, even though it is a smaller Island, you have jetways and gates with seating areas inside the airport.  In Kona, the whole airport is outside....seating areas, baggage claim, you walk off the steps of the plane and across the tarmac.  You definitely feel as though you have arrived on a tropical Island!  

The first thing you notice is that the weather is quite a bit warmer on the Big Island.  Kauai is the furthest north of the Hawaiian Islands while the Big Island is the furthest South.  You also notice that all the green that you have seen on Kauai has been replaced with the black of lava flows.

The contrast of the black lava, the turquoise waters, the green of the palm trees and the blue of the sky is what makes the Big Island one of my favorite Islands.  My husband and I had stayed here last February also and were looking forward to a return visit with our son.

Our Deluxe Oceanfront Room at the Hilton Waikoloa Village

Our first stop was at the Hilton Waikoloa Village to check in for our stay.  After check in and our trip to the room via tram, we had just enough time to unwind a bit and change for our dinner reservation once our luggage arrived at our room.  

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse 

We had booked a reservation at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Mauna Lani on the Kohala Coast.  It was about a 15 min drive to the restaurant from the Hilton Waikoloa Village.  If you are trying to get from your room at the resort to the restaurant give yourself at least an hour to get there.  Between walk times, waiting for the valet and drive time, it will take most if not all of that time to arrive at the restaurant.  

If you have read any of my other blogs, you know that Ruth's Chris anywhere is one of our favorite restaurants!  This particular restaurant is located in a small, upscale plaza with several shopping and dining options.  One of my favorite things about this particular location is the beautiful outdoor seating.  This night did not disappoint as we enjoyed a beautiful Big Island sunset while enjoying our wonderful meals!

Sunset at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - Big Island

Waking up on Kauai for sunrise and being on the Big Island for Sunset is a really not a bad thing!  

Coming Next:  Day 5:  Adventure at Sea on the Big Island

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Journey to Hawaii 2015 - Day 2 - More Things to Do on Kauai

Day Trips Are Us....

Many people go to Hawaii to just kick back and relax.  While we like to include time for that too....we have found that we love to make day trips during our time on the Islands.  There are so many beautiful things to see and do outside of the resorts that you just have to try to see it all!  

Polihale State Park

To Go or Not to Go

I always check out reviews of places on TripAdvisor before we head off blindly.  In most cases the reviews are pretty good at making things clear as to whether or not something is worth the trip.  In the case of Polihale State Park, things weren't quite so clear.  Reviews were mixed about whether or this place was worth the bit of trouble there is to get there or not.  Some reviews said it was a beautiful place but many others also indicated that while it was beautiful the road to get there made it questionable if the drive was worth it.  Our breakfast server asked where we were planning on going for the day and we mentioned we were thinking of Polihale State Park.  She told us we had to go....it was Monday and the beach wouldn't be crowded.  She also told us that it gets hot there and to watch the sand because it gets very warm!  So we figuered.....hey...we have a 4WD vehicle.  It was a Jeep Compass (so not high clearance) but 4WD nonetheless.  We also figured that we had no idea when we would get back to Kauai so YES we were going to make the trek!  

Tip:  While reviews are generally helpful.  Use them to guide you but DO NOT miss something that you think you want to see because of what reviewers say....you may see something totally different!

Yes the Road was Bumpy

Polihale State Park is located on the West Side of the Island of Kauai.  We were staying on the South Side of the Island at the Grand Hyatt so it was a little over an hour's drive to the park.  As you start out you are on a regular highway no problems so far!  When we finally made our turn off the highway to start the "off-roading" part of the trip our navigation system missed the turn and tried to get us to drive through a field.  Now there was a road through the field but it was private and gated so we figured we should have turned where the small sign had pointed down a dirt road about a quarter mile before this!  After a quick turn we were on our way and headed in the right direction.

Having been warned by all the reviewers that this was an "unmaintained dirt road" the condition of the road actually surprised us in a good way. The road was definitely dirt and definitely bumpy but it was certainly passable. We did use our 4WD option but honestly I don't think we would have needed to use it.  The dirt road is almost 5 miles long and it got to be kind of funny to us.  We would hit a bump and get tossed a bit around the vehicle and we would just laugh. We joked that it really didn't feel much different than driving on all the potholes in Ohio! It was truly part of the adventure!  

My advice would be do not let the roadway scare you off.  If you want to get to Polihale State Park....find a way to make it happen!

Sometimes the Best Things are found Off the Beaten Path

Polihale Beach

Once we arrived at the park area, we actually pulled off into a small parking spot before the actual picnic area.  Nothing is well marked so you just have to keep going.  We were there on a Monday so there weren't a lot of other cars around the area.  There were also high surf warnings that day and a threat of rain so we really had the place pretty much to ourselves.

We hopped out of the car and walked down to the beach area and I don't even have the words to express how beautiful this beach was!  It literally took my breath away!  From the rugged coastline to the soft sand to the amazingly blue waters.  This was one of the most beautiful places and quite possibly THE most beautiful place I have ever seen!

The stillness with no one else around and the only sound that of the waves crashing on the shore made for an almost surreal experience.  I cannot imagine if we had passed up the opportunity to see this place.

Take your time, enjoy this place and whatever you do DO NOT miss seeing it if you are in Kauai!!!

Polihale Beach

Polihale Beach

It was so hard to tear ourselves away from the beach.  Please do not rush this experience.  Allow yourself as much time as you want to be here.  There are certain places that you find when traveling  that just touch the soul and this was definitely one of them!

Tip:  If you are planning to spend some time at the beach, make sure to pack food and drinks.  There is nothing close by.

Spouting Horn

Spouting Horn

Next stop was Spouting Horn Park.   This is one of the most photographed places in Kauai but it is another place that gets god but not necessarily great reviews. Spouting horn is located on the south shore of the island near Poipu.  There is no cost to view and you can take as little or as much time as you want.  Since there was a high surf warning the day were there, the blowhole was really spouting!  

(I have seen reviews that say that during times of low surf, spouting horn is not nearly as interesting so be sure to pick your time to visit wisely.)

Make sure you take time to watch the waves crash on the rugged beach.  It's beautiful to see the spray of the water.  We did see a couple of sea turtles in this area but they were getting tossed around pretty good in the surf.  It is also a good area to see the humpback whales from December to May but the day that we were there wasn't a good one for viewing.  

There are also some tents in the park where locals have set up stands to sell items. You can go through the tents or walk around.  There is no pressure to purchase items.  There are also lots of feral chickens in this area.  We even saw a hen and her chicks near the parking area.

There is ample parking for Spouting Horn.  The parking lot is paved and easy to access.  It is a short walk from the parking area to the viewing area.

We thought this was a great place to visit.  I would recommend this as a place to put on your list of things to visit in Kauai.

A Little Down Time

After our morning excursion, we had a little time to relax before it was time to head back to the resort to get ready for our evening activities.  We took a little time out to stop at the Poipu Shopping Village.  This was a great place to look around....art galleries, Starbucks, groceries, souvenirs, restaurants both quick service and sit down.  They also offer free entertainment at times.  There was none while we were there but you may find something interesting if you time your visit well!

Aulii Luau

You can't go to Hawaii and NOT go to a luau.  I think there is a law about that! LOL.  Not really but it is definitely one of the things you have to fit into your schedule if you are visiting any of the islands.  When we started to look at our schedule and investigate options for luaus on Kauai we found that there were two near us.  One was at our resort, The Grand Hyatt Kauai and one was a few miles away at the Sheraton Kauai.  The luau at the Grand Hyatt is held on Sundays and Thursdays while the one at the Sheraton is held Mondays and Thursdays.  After looking at both and comparing them, we decided on the Aulii Luau at the Sheraton.  The reasons that we chose this one were 1.  The location was right on the beach 2.  They offered Ali'i (preferred) seating  and 3. Monday worked into our schedule better than Sunday.

When it came time to head to the luau, the weather decided not to cooperate and it was rainy and windy.  So....reason 1 for picking this luau was out the door.....we had to use alternate seating in the ballroom which is an indoor/outdoor location.  While we were disappointed that we weren't able to enjoy the show on the beach, we were happy that we weren't getting wet!  Actually it turned out to be better than we expected.  The ballroom was covered but was also open on the sides so you didn't feel like you were stuffed in a room.  

We purchased the Ali'i Seating, which carries a slightly higher ticket cost ($25.00 upgrade), but to us was well worth it.  You get a separate line to check in.  Lines of course are shorter than the general admission lines.  You receive a special lei...in my case flowers....for my husband and son kukui nuts.  We also got to sit in first couple rows and at round tables rather than the general "aloha" seating at long tables.  You also get to visit the buffet first.  Both General and Ali'i seating include the open bar, appetizers and buffet.

Once we arrived at the Sheraton, we were able to find parking in a lot close to the ballroom.  Parking was free and it was a short walk to the ballroom location.  We got in the Ali'i seating line which formed to the right.  We were served Mai Tais and Blue Hawaiians while waiting.  Once we checked in we received our leis from one of the dancers and were led to our table.  

Appetizers were served at our table but you could also go to the buffet and get more if you ran out.   We were seated with another family.  I believe the table held 8 people but there were only 6 at ours that evening.  The performers played music during the meal and there were various vendors there.  After dinner, the show started.  It was smaller than the other luaus we had been to but the dancers were very good and quite entertaining.  The whole event lasted from 5:30 (check in) till 8:00 PM.  

The luau was lots of fun.  Luaus in general are a little "touristy" but the dancing was awesome and makes you truly feel that you have arrived in Hawaii.  If you haven't gone to one, I would recommend that you go!  It's something that everyone who visits the Islands has to do at least once!

Time to Call it a Day

After the luau we headed back to the resort, checked out the live music in the open air lobby once again and decided to call it a night.  Another action packed amazing day of making memories in Kauai.

Coming Next:  Days 3 and 4 - Relaxing and Making a Change

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