I am thinking of stopping in Hilo en route to HNL, coming from Maui. We could arrive at Hilo at 9:30 a.m., rent a car, drive to the Park then return to the airport to fly to HNL. Is it worth it, or should I just go to HNL and see the Park another time.
We could take a flight to HNL from Hilo at 5, 6, 7, or 8 PM.
Six hours enough to see anything?
Rushing anything in Hawaii is not worth it..in my opinon...by time you rent the car, it will be time to return it...Start planning your next trip for next year!
Six hours enough to see anything?
If you ever plan to return I would wait for another day, but you could get to the park and do the Crater Rim Drive. It%26#39;s about 2 hours with stops for looking around and walking through the Thurston Lava Tube.
I recently rushed through (because of winter wind %26amp; rain) and made it around the rim and Chain of Crater Road all the way to the Sea Arch in less than 4 hours... but I was fresh and not fried from a flight from the mainland and nowhere to go afterwards.
Do not expect to see flowing lava unless you take a copter. Aloha
Thanks for the replies. We would not be flying in from the Mainland. We would be leaving Maui after four nights there. But if there is no view of the lava flow, without helicopter, perhaps I will plan more time next trip.
In case anyone down the road is looking for the same information, I wanted to add my solution. Reading reviews on Trip Advisor, there were rave reviews for Vavoom Volcano Tours, with Lori the tour guide. Its listed as the number one activity out of Hilo. (808)966-8858.
I was able to extend our stopover on the Big Island making it a nine hour stop over instead. My wife and I are excited to be taking the six hour (full day) tour to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Last trip to Hawaii, we did something similar in Oahu, taking the Kos Hummer tour. We get a great sample of the island by these tours, and there%26#39;s a better sense of what to expect on future trips.
I agree with JBR, if you decide to take a tour, Vavoom Volcano Tours, with Lori the tour guide is a very good option. It%26#39;s a reputable company, licensed and insured. Lori sometimes takes local business people on a free tour just to introduce her company to others.
We just did a day trip from Maui to Hilo to see the Volcano. We had a total of 8 hours from arriving in Hilo to the time our flight left back to Maui. The Volcano park is nice, but without any evidence of flowing lava it was only OK. Last time we visited the park back in 1993 there was lava flowing into the ocean and it was a cool trip. This time we went with our kids to see the volcano and I have to say it wasn%26#39;t worth the effort or money. We spent about 3 hours exploring the park, then went to lunch in Volcano Village, took a quick drive to Rainbow Falls and a quick spin around Hilo and were back at the airport in plenty of time.
It%26#39;s not a terrible idea if the airfare isn%26#39;t much and you get a decent rental price, or if money isn%26#39;t an issue.
I assume the 9:30 is the nonstop from Maui, and that%26#39;s why you%26#39;re taking it (as most other flights would take you to HNL en route to Hilo from Maui).
6 hours -- are you counting the 60-90 minutes of airport time?
';Worth it'; is impossible to say from the little we know of you. It%26#39;s very individual how much you%26#39;ll enjoy the park, driving the Crater Rim and maybe Thurston tube. It will be a sight you can%26#39;t see elsewhere in the state.
Hilo airport is mellow, and the drive from the airport is not bad.
OTOH there%26#39;s no doubt you%26#39;ll have less vacation time on that day due to adding an airport in and out onto the trip.
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