Hawaii — the Big Island
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Jason Dundas saved the biggest island 'til last. All of the Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanic activity, but only on
Hawaii, the Big Island, are they still active.
Hilton Waikoloa Village
If you're on the Big Island, you may as well stay in a big hotel. Hilton Waikoloa Village is almost a miniature city. Sitting on 25 hectares, it has 1240 guestrooms and suites. Guests travel between its three seven-storey towers — Lagoon, Ocean and Palace — via a light-rail system, in canal boats or along an almost 2 hectare network of flagstone walkways, lined with works of art. The Village has an artificial lagoon, complete with waterfalls and a beach of imported sand, lined with coconut palms.
Families love it as there are loads of things to do and places to eat, including Donatoni's Italian fare, teppanyaki and sushi, Chinese, Palm Terrace buffet, great Hawaiian-themed dinners at Kamuela Provision Company and a Legends of the Pacific luau.
There's golf and tennis and the resort's highlight is the dolphin encounter. The interactive program is an experience of a lifetime. Guided by marine mammal experts, you have the chance to come face-to-face with one of the ocean's most amazing and intelligent creatures.
Kona
Jason's pick for a night out was the coastal town of Kona, which is Hawaiian for "leeward". It's famous for sport fishing, snorkelling, sunsets and coffee.
Huggo's Restaurant is in the centre of all the action. It opened in 1969, and is still run by the original family. Diners sit over the rocks of Kailua Bay by the light of tiki torches as they watch night fisherman coming and going.
There's loads of fresh seafood and their teriyaki steak's secret sauce has been a favourite from day one. You must try the fantastic Kona tomatoes with Maui onions. The whole experience is island-relaxed and elegant at the same time.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
This amazing place is often called "the drive-in volcano". News of a fresh eruption has people flocking to see molten lava and fire cones bursting from the ground and running down to the sea. It first erupted around 600,000 years ago, most recently in 1983, and it's been going ever since.
The park highlights two of the world's most active volcanoes — Kīlauea and Mauna Loa — and shows the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, evolution and the birth of the Hawaiian Islands. More than half of the park is designated wilderness and provides fantastic hiking and camping.
To the south of the park, Kikuea's crater rim drive is an 18km loop encircling the caldera.
While it's all easily accessible, it's worth getting yourself a guide. Jason's guide tipped him off that the Kalapana Lava Viewing Area is the place to go at night.
Location
Hawaii, Big Island, in the
Hawaiian Islands.
Cost
Hilton Waikoloa Village accommodation starts at around $241 a night.
Quest Program Dolphin Encounter is about $248 per person, for ages 10 and over and they are half an hour in duration. Encounters run every weekday between 8am and 9pm.
Native Guide Hawaii Volcano Adventure costs about $182 per person for two or more people. Hotel pick-up, full-day tour, lunch, drinks and snacks are included.
VroomVroomVroom convertible car hire is around $118 a day. Regular sedans are about $75 a day. Visit the website for further information or to book.
Hawaiian Airlines has special fares to Honolulu, with free connecting flights to Hawaii, the Big Island.
Fares from:
- Sydney $1115
- Melbourne and Brisbane $1295
- Adelaide $1455
- Perth $1615
Available for sale until September 18, 2009, and for travel until September 24, 2009, between October 7 and December 16, 2009, and January 13 and March 31, 2010.
Prices correct at August 20, 2009.
For further information
Hilton Waikoloa Village
69-425 Waikoloa Beach Drive
Waikoloa
Hawaii HI 96738
United States
Ph: +1 808 886 1234
www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com
Dolphin Quest
Ph: +1 808 248 3316
dqhawaii@dolphinquest.org
www.dolphinquest.org
Huggo's
75-5828 Kahakai Road
Kailua Kona HI 96740
United States
Ph: +1 808 329 1493
www.huggos.com
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
PO Box 52
Hawai'i National Park HI 96718-0052
United States
Ph: +1 808 985 6000
www.nps.gov
Native Guide Hawaii
HC2 Box 6908
Keaau HI 96749
United States
Ph: +1 808 982 7575
warren@nativeguidehawaii.com
www.nativeguidehawaii.com
VroomVroomVroom
Ph: 1300 722 920
US: +1 888 463 8946
www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au
Visas: Most Australians do not need a visa, providing they have a machine-readable passport with at least six months validity after the departure date, have a round-trip non-refundable ticket and do not intend to stay longer than 90 days. From January 2009, Australians need to complete a pre-travel authorisation at www.cbp.gov/esta.
Electricity: 110V to 115V at 60Hz. Outlets take two-parallel, flat prongs. Australian visitors will need a US adapter and converter.
Time zone: Hawaii is GMT -10.
Currency: The American dollar.
International dialling code: +1.
