Big Island Recommendations

Figured I'd get more responses here than the BI thread.

Shipping stock 4x4 Off-Road Tacoma to BI for vacation in Dec. for about 2 weeks.

Planning on at least Mana Rd. / staying at the ranger cabin as well as Waipio valley day trip.

Any other recommendations? No matter Hilo or Kona side as we'll be doing both. We're into SCUBA and pretty much anything outdoors esp. nice secluded beaches.

Thanks in advance

 

@cubiclesurfer is from there. Hopefully he can chime in.

 

well... I don't know how the other big island guys feel, but I know my boys would be pissed if I outed the prime/local/secret spots to check out. so, I think you can start with the normal spots that a lot of people know about, and that were stated: Mana Rd. and Waipio are good fun. Makalawena is also a fun one and you get a nice beach at the end. south point has plenty of roads (Google satellite view and you'll see all the paths). I haven't been down there in a few years though, so I don't know what the condition is like now. if get snow, you should go Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa. if you wanna get adventurous, Manuka, but there's nothing down there unless you're fishing/diving, but I wouldn't advise going alone. it's a long road down and shit can go bad, real quick down there.

let me know how your Duratracs fair. I'm moving back and I have Duratracs too... lots of reports of weak sidewalls so that has me a little worried, especially since some of the spots we fish and camp are like 2-2.5hrs offroad from the main highway.

 

Lol was going say cubicle ain't going drop the secret local spots that fo catch cracks from da old timers

 

id recommend makalawena. fun little drive, my favorite beach in the state

 

If you a water type of guy they night time manta dive is pretty sweet I did it a few years back

 

Papakolea if still can not sure haven't been in years

Waipio valley

 

mahalos.


if I got time, ive got a few spots can check out and I spend most of my life outdoors anyways.


pretty much could live out of your truck if you wanted...

 

Manta dive was sweet! Did get wanaed and had the spikes sticking through my wetsuit. Heard it's too crowed now.

Thanks for all the replies. Much appreciated.

Definitely understand keeping secret spots secret especially on a public forum. I know I'd be pretty pissed if droves of tourists started showing up out west on Oahu.

As far as the Duratracs go I got load E rated instead of the C. Hopefully the sidewalls do well...

 

Our tentative plans:

-HPP 2 nights
-Ranger cabin off Mana Rd. 2 nights pending permits (can only book 1 mo. Out)
-Hapuna 2 nights in A-frame shelters
-Kalopa (sp.) 2 nights. Plan to check out Waipio valley during the day.
-Volcano at end of "rainbow road" 1 night. There's a campsite there. End of road is where can backpack to Halape (not doing that this time though)
-HPP 3 nights. May checkout botanical garden in Hilo and drive to makalawena. Tide pools, Richardson beach park, and hot pools are also on the list.

 

Sounds like youve got an idea of what u want and wjere to go. Since you have a truck, could also camp out in other areas. Most of my weekends are spent on different parts of the island and theres many places to "camp". I woke up on one beach, watched sunset from another and then took a midnight drive down to south pt and gonna wait for the sunrise. That's my weekend so far and that's how it usually goes.
Go mana rd on a weekday. I know there's people like me who who go on early morning to try get the cabins 30 days in advance. Might get lucky. Not much to do on mana rd itself but I like sunrises from the east side of the mntn and sometimes can get a very nice sunset on the waimea side. You're not supposed to go off the rd either but there's forest reserve areas with some hiking trails...but none with great views. Keep skyline in mind, might wanna take a cruise in that. Like mana rd, u can drive slow and just appreciate all the area. If you can't get the keanakolu cabin, maybe try for the mauna kea state ones or could always post up along mauna kea or loa access roads.

I think you have rainbow rd confused with red road, which pretty much is non existent except for a small stretch by kapoho. Red road was known as that cause it was made with red cinder but recently repaved. Ive heard it called rainbow rd by transplants, but dont be surprised to see some weirdos and colorful people and a buncha wtf in one area. Maybe take a drive from keaau to pahoa and continue on to kalapana. From there you can travel the coastal rd back towards hilo. Kalapana you can check out the new black sand beach and on Wednesday/saturday nights uncle Roberts awa bar(kalapana night market) usually rages. The rd basically will take you to the warm tide pools and can find a bunch of places to post up. Some nights are scary down there...at night I don't stop to talk to anyone...I keep driving even if they're standing in the rd. I've camped at the bottom cliff areas of hpp a lot but gotta be careful down there too.

I'll prolly just pm you my number...it'll be easier that way. Get ready for adventures....lol

 

Thanks Kala! We're looking to book at midnight to get the cabin.

The campground in volcano is Kulanaokuaiki.
I called it rainbow road as I always see rainbows up there. Here's a shot from a couple years ago.




The photo above is near Isac Hale New Year's Day 2014.

I know what you mean about sketchy people. Slept near Isac Hale one time and woke up to some interesting sites. Mahukona also gave me weird vibes at night.

 

Ok i havent been to that camp site in volcano yet but maybe down to that beach. For some reason I couldn't remember where halape was, as there's many Hawaiian place names that also has other names...but I believe I've driven down to the coast near there before. Definitely looks nice. That side of the island has couple nice beaches that you could also go.

I've got some pretty mento stories of some.parts of this island and have had different experiences that definitely reminds me of spirituality and respecting mother nature.

 

How feasible is makalawena on a 3rd gen all stock TRD OR?

 

whoa, sorry. I haven't logged into here in a couple months cause I sold my Tacoma and got a Tundra.

is your truck a short or long bed? that road has been getting really trashed lately thanks to all the idiot tourists and their jeeps. the first drop off the road is pretty bad. there's maybe 2-3 spots after the turn by the abandoned van that are pretty sketch for stock trucks. then the bottom turn at the ocean. but honestly, doable with a stock Tacoma. just gotta take your time. I took my leveled Tundra (w/ 33's) down and only scraped my tow hitch at the first drop off the road. if I can make it leveled with my Tundra width and length, Tacoma's can. I used to make it from the highway to the end of the road in 15 mins with my MT Tacoma. lol