Big Island Vacation Guide 2008 - (Page 18) KIRK AEDER HIKING & CAMPING HIKING Surfing lesson There are miles and miles of hiking trails on Hawai‘i’s Big Island. With so many climate zones to choose from, you can hike a sandy coastal trail one day, climb to the snow-covered summit another and trek to see molten lava splashing into the sea the next. There are trails for all levels. Hearty hikers with time to spare should consider hiking the 11-mile looped Crater Rim Trail in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park instead of driving around the newer road. Backpacking in the Mauna Loa wilderness is for experienced physically fit adventurers only. Beginners are welcome on the Onomea Trail north of Hilo and the Ala Kahakai Trail along the Kohala Coast as well as many other interesting trails around the island. CENTRAL TRAILS Mauna Kea Access Rd (32 miles, moderate) Mauna Loa Observatory Road (35 miles, easy) Pu‘u La ‘au Road (8.4 miles, moderate) ¯ ¯¯ HAMAKUA TRAILS Humu‘ula Trail (10.5 miles, difficult) Kaluakauka Trail (.4 mile, moderate) HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK TRAILS Crater Rim Trail (11 miles, difficult) Devastation Trail (1 mile, easy) Halema‘uma‘u Trail (7 miles, difficult) ‘Iliahi Trail (1.5 miles, moderate) Kı lauea Iki Trail (4 miles, difficult) ¯ Kı pukapuaulu Trail (1 mile, easy) ¯ Na ¯pau Trail (14 miles, difficult) Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail (3 miles, moderate) Pu‘u Loa Trail (2 miles, moderate) ¯¯ Pu‘u ‘O‘o Trail (7.4 miles, moderate) Waldron Ledge Trail (1 mile, easy) HILO TRAILS Kaumana Trail (3 miles, easy) ¯ Onomea Trail (.5 mile, easy) ¯ KA‘U TRAILS ‘Ainapo Road (16 miles, moderate) ¯ NORTH KOHALA TRAILS Muliwai Trail (18 miles, difficult) Pololu Trail (1 mile, moderate) ¯ SOUTH KOHALA TRAILS Ala Kahakai Trail (15.4 miles, moderate) When hiking the island’s trails, be sure to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water. And remember, it’s always a good idea to hike with a partner and, if possible, carry a cell phone in case of an emergency. For more information about trails in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, visit www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/hike.htm. For more information about trails outside the park, visit www.hawaiitrails.org. FAMILY ADVENTURES The Big Island is big on families. There are lots of things to do and even more to see for families and kids. The variety is as endless as the terrain. But a big island means more distance to travel to experience everything. To minimize time in the car, one solution is to split your visit and stay on both sides of the island. Stay on the Hilo side for exploring the waterfalls of the Hamakua Coast and the Kılauea Volcano. ¯¯ ¯ Move over to the Kona side for sun and fun on the beach and in the water. Besides the weather and large number of activities, perhaps the best reason to choose a family vacation on the island of Hawai‘i is that family and children are highly valued in the island culture. The word ‘ohana means family and the word keiki means children and you may hear these nearly as often as the word aloha during your stay. Your keiki are warmly welcomed here. Children enjoy exploring new things. Numerous hiking trails will take you to ancient heiau (temples) or past lo‘i (flooded fields) where taro, the Hawaiian staple, is still grown as it was hundreds of years ago. An authentic hula performance that may be staged primarily for the enter18 www.bigisland.org tainment of visitors is nonetheless based upon a chant that tells of the history or legends of the Hawaiian people. A road trip to stroll the sleepy plantation towns of North Kohala will just happen to take you past the birthplace of Kamehameha the Great, the first King of the united Hawaiian Islands. There are hundreds of species of marine life cavorting in the waters off Hawai‘i’s Big Island. You and the kids can see lots of them while snorkeling. You can even try catching a few of them off the stern rail of a deep sea fishing boat. Younger kids especially enjoy exploring the island’s tide pools, which are brimming with crabs, snails, barnacles, mussels and small fish. Some of the island’s resorts offer oceanography-related programs, including interactive exhibits. And, of course, if you’re around during the winter months, the most famous of our marine life—the playful humpback whale—can be spotted breaching just off shore. Mauna Kea, considered the world’s best observing site, is home to 13 astronomical observatories. From the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy on Mauna Kea to the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i in Hilo, the island of Hawai‘i offers many unique opportunities to explore space. Tours of the Puna Geothermal Venture plant or the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Authority will teach you about energy and oceanography resources. These opportunities to explore the new and different are topped by a secret weapon found nowhere but on the Big Island, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. A real, active volcano is a different experience than a theme park volcano. For one thing, it’s a lot more thrilling. For another, it’s really hot. With so much to do, a Big Island family vacation is a real bonding experience. But there is the occasional adults-only activity like a morning round of golf or a romantic candle lit dinner. For those times, many resorts offer programs for children that are much richer than just baby-sitting services. Beach excursions, crafts, hiking, tennis, tide pool explorations, games and hula lessons are just some of the activities usually offered. Check with your travel agent or your hotel’s website to find out what’s offered. http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/hike.htm http://www.hawaiitrails.org http://www.bigisland.org
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