8hrs Hilo, do VNP or 4 Mile Scenic Drive first? Help!!

NCL one day stop at Hilo. Is it best to go to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park early to beat the heat %26amp; tourists and then with whatever time left do the North of Hilo route?.....Thanks.....Allan

8hrs Hilo, do VNP or 4 Mile Scenic Drive first? Help!!

Do VNP first to be sure you get as much time as you want. Then if there is time left do 4 mile drive.

8hrs Hilo, do VNP or 4 Mile Scenic Drive first? Help!!

I disagree, because of the morning sun and light I would head directly to the scenic drive... continue to Akaka then back to Hilo and the volcano.... you will arrive at the visitor center about 2.5 hours after your start spend 45 min min at the Visitor center..... and 3 hours driving the crater, chain of craters and thurston Lava tube... then 1 hour back ot ship..... there is your 8

You are doing it ther reverse of the bus tours and taking advantage of morning sun at the falls........ skip rianbow.... its a bust

I did similar in a day trip from Honolulu. We had about 10 hours.

Went to Liliuokalani Gardens, Banyan Drive, Rainbow Falls %26amp; Boiling Pots.

Then 4 mile scenic drive %26amp; Akaka Falls

Then Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

RiverSwim,

Like the screen name, but limit your swimming in rivers in Hawaii - health reasons.

I would recommend going north first, going to Onomea Bay (the scenic route) and then on to Akaka, then back track, pick up lunch in Hilo (bento from Hilo Lunch Shop) then on to HVNP. If you have a small collapsible style cooler bring some water and sodas so you don%26#39;t need to stop again. You%26#39;ll need to rent a car obviously.

Note: be careful not to leave your car along the Onomea Bay route - especially if you have anything in it, there have been break ins recently.

Check out the HVNP website well before you go, have in mind some of what you want to see before you go, so you make the most of your time.

Good luck and happy travels!

it%26#39;s best to check out the weather when you start out. The best light on Hamakua side is in the morning, but if it%26#39;s raining, Hamakua isn%26#39;t much fun. If it%26#39;s sunny when you get off the cruise, I%26#39;d say go for the north of Hilo as it%26#39;s likely to rain at some point any given day, especially at about 4pm even on sunny days, but can rain mornings too.

I don%26#39;t think you necessarily beat the tourists at the park because many people are staying in the park and get going right away. It%26#39;s not hot in the upper park.

If you go to VNP second and plan to do any hikes, maybe ask on the board what the estimated duration is...otheriwse you may run out of time. That%26#39;s why I suggestedthe park first. There are lovely hikes that get you onto crater floors, thru forests across ash, to petroplyphs, etc.

Thanks very much Hawaiidan, dusty56438, Kamaainak, Honuohana, %26amp; echolynch. Should I have mentioned this one day will be on Dec 2 ?......Allan

yes, the day matters because it%26#39;s almost the shortest day of the year and in the rainy season ... at least the heat won%26#39;t be an issue!

Plan to be back in Hilo before it gets dark, and then have a nice dinner, there are some fine choices, or if you are eating dinner on the cruise, maybe some pupus. December 2nd being a Sunday, quite a few restaurants are closed, but Cafe Pesto on the main street of old downtown is open, serves early, and has live jazz on Sunday afternoons.

car purchasing advice