- Free Hele-On Bus in case rental car is not your option.
Hawaii island, also named as the Big Island, is the largest island among Hawaii state. Our cruise stays two days at the Big Island at two port of call: Hilo and Kona. Both ports offer about 10 hours shore time, but port Kona is tender. I prefer to stop at Hilo over night though to explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park more. Of cause you could opt to stay overnight on the shore and get back to the boat from Kona next day. From Hilo, you could drive south to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Punalu’u Black Sand Beach; drive west to MaunaKea (and better continue to Kona).
Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
We decide not to go MaunaKea considering that we won’t go to the summit and we don’t have chance for stargazing as well with elders and children. Therefore, first day from Hilo, we drive south. Since we were not sure then how long to stop by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, we went to Punalu’u Black Sand Beach as first stop. Punalu’u Black Sand Beach is a black sand known for its endangered hawksbill sea turtles and green turtles. Often you can see big turtles basking on the black sand. Water is rough there and we doesn’t stay long. Next stop, we drove back to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and stopped couple places along Crater Rim Road. We didn’t have enough time for Chain of Craters Kalapana Road and Highway 130. Check details from This Map
Kilauea Caldera
For Crater Rim Road, you can consider stops:
| Stop #1 | Start Your Tour at Kīlauea Visitor Center |
| Stop #2 | Jaggar Museum |
| Stop #3 | Kīlauea Overlook |
| Stop #4 | Steam Vents, Steaming Bluff and Ha’akulamanu – Sulphur Banks (x) |
| Stop #5 | Kīlauea Iki Overlook |
| Stop #6 | Nāhuku – Thurston Lava Tube |
| Stop #7 | Puʻu Puaʻi Overlook |
| Stop #8 | Devastation Trail (x) |
| Stop #9 | Hike to Keanakākoʻi Crater (x) |
Thurston Lava Tube
For Chain of Craters Kalapana Road, you can consider stops:
| Distance From the Beginning of Chain of Craters Road | Distance From Kīlauea Visitor Center | ||
| Stop #1 | Lua Manu Crater | 0.5 mi / 0.8 km | 3.8 mi / 6.1 km |
| Stop #2 | Hilina Pali Road | 2.3 mi / 3.7 km | 5.6 mi / 9.0 km |
| Stop #3 | Pauahi Crater | 3.3 mi / 5.3 km | 6.6 mi / 10.6 km |
| Stop #4 | Mauna Ulu | 3.7 mi / 6.0 km | 7.0 mi / 11.3 km |
| Stop #5 | Mauna Ulu Flow Across Chain of Craters Road | 4.1 mi / 6.6 km | 7.4 mi / 11.9 km |
| Stop #6 | Mau Loa o Mauna Ulu | 6.4 mi / 10.3 km | 9.7 mi / 15.6 km |
| Stop #7 | Kealakomo Overlook | 9.9 mi / 15.9 km | 13.2 mi / 21.2 km |
| Stop #8 | Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs | 16.3 mi / 26.2 km | 19.6 mi / 31.5 km |
| Stop #9 | Hōlei Sea Arch | 18.8 mi / 30.3 km | 22.1 mi / 35.6 km |
| Stop #10 | End of Chain of Craters Road | 18.8 mi / 30.3 km | 22.1 mi / 35.6 km |
Green Macadamia
Macadamia Nut
On the way back to Hilo, there were about two hours left before our boat departed. We stopped by Mauna Loa Macadamia Factory (A macadamia brand you will find everywhere in Hawaii stores) and Wailuku River Rainbow Fall as add-ons.
Rainbow Fall
KA-ME-HA-ME-KA~~~ Dragon Ball
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