The Big Island of Hawaii

Kahalu’u Beach Park            
Just South of Downtown Kona. Great snorkeling spot. Can often spot turtles here. Snorkling gear rental available. Also usually has a food truck there. Puuhonua o Honaunau Place of refuge. (30 min stop) Has great tikis.

Punaluu Black Sand Beach     
Good picture stop. A real beach with black sand.

Punaluu Bake shop                             
Good stop to pick up sandwiches if going to the volcano. Also has terrific breads. They can pack it in a travel box to take home. Fill gas in Punaluu.

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory
Located off of highway 11 on the right side of the road when driving from the volcano area down to Hilo. Neat stop and FREE samples.

Akaka Falls                                      
Short jungle hike to a 420 ft. waterfall. In Hilo area.

Kilauea Volcano          

Stops to make: 

Visitor’s Center:
Movie and information about the park

Volcano Art center.
Just to the side of the visitor’s center. Local artist interpretation of volcano.

Volcano House.
Just across the street from the visitors center. Good stop for a bathroom break, light snack and souvenirs. Great view of the crater.

Do Crater Rim Drive.             
Stop at the Steam vents, Jaggar museum, recent lava flows,

Halemaumau crater overlook,

Devastation trail and Thurston lava tube.
I don’t think that it is usually worth the drive DOWN Chain of Craters Road to try and view the active lava flow. It is a long drive and you usually can’t see much. You see a steam cloud where the lava enters the ocean. No gas stations.

Opakapaka and Onaga                   
Great tender snapper fish. A Dr. Lum Favorite!

Beach Time                                        
Best time of the day to swim in the ocean is in the early morning. Later in the day the surf and waves tend to pick up. Swim shirts can help to protect your skin.

Best time of year                              
May/September/October. Good weather lower rates. Aloha Week festival in September. With kids early June.

www.alternative-hawaii.com
List of Free local activities. Listing for all islands.

www.honoluluadvertiser.com
Look under entertainment for weekend special events.

www.gohawaii.com
Official Hawaii Visitors Bureau web site.

www.hawaiiradiotv.com/puka
List of a ton of Hawaii Web sites.

www.dakine.net
Pictures of the top spots & reviews.

Have a wonderful trip. Please share our tips with your friends and family. Thank you for telling your friends and family about our office we greatly appreciate referrals. Tip sheets for Disneyland, New York City, Las Vegas, Italy, Spain, London, Paris, Washington D.C., Seattle, Puerto Vallarta Mexico, Monterey Bay, Big Island of HI, Maui, San Francisco Bay Area, Bay Area Restaurants are also available online at www.LumOptometry.com under patient forms. This sheet and updated information in on-line.
 

Randall T. Lum, O.D.         (650) 589-7198                More Tips online @ www.LumOptometry.com