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1896 Kalaniana'ole Street, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, United States
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Trying to take a photo of the lava from room
Akaka Falls - April 09
Akaka Falls
Flight to Hilo
Hi,
I'm travelling to Hawaii by myself and I'll be flying into Hilo for 12 hours next Monday (3/15/10). I want to see a black-sand beach and a volcanoe. I'd rather not be herded along with an over-priced large tour group. Any suggestions on a good way to get around or what to see? I've heard sunset over the volcanoe is beautiful.
Thanks in advance for any advice!!
rent a car and use a map to find your way out there. Remember the black sand is hot, hot , hot, wear sandals. The volcanoe is the opposite direction, so planning is important if you want to see the sunset. Last, ask the locals when you get there
rent a car and use a map to find your way out there. Remember the black sand is hot, hot , hot, wear sandals. The volcanoe is the opposite direction, so planning is important if you want to see the sunset. Last, ask the locals when you get there
Definitely rent a car and drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It's pretty easy to find things there. Timing will depend on how much hiking that you want to do. Punalu'u Beach (black sand beach) is further south, towards the southern end of the island). On thing to keep in mind is that the Big Island of Hawaii does not have any large highways, so driving from one point to another can sometimes take longer than you think. However, with 12 hours, you should have plenty of time to get to both places. Another nice thing to see near Hilo is Akaka Falls, one of the higher waterfalls in Hawaii. However, it is in the opposite direction (north) from the other two sights.
Thank you - sounds like a great itinerary!
Did I mention before that Hilo is the wettest city in the US? Really, it does rain alot...on and off. So, expect to get wet. If you're planning a hike on this side of the island, bring and wear rain gear. If you're headed to Volcano, bring warmer rain gear. I remember taking a picture of it raining like cats and dogs from my lanai, and five minutes later taking the same picture with the sun shining.
Check out this bar called Flipside Too. I think it is on Mamo St. But I know for sure it is across from the open market (Saturdays...) The bartender was a hoot in a half. And the patrons look like they've been there forever! VERY nice and made Frank and I feel real welcomed! The guy sitting next to me.. his pidgen was so thick I barely understood him. But he was VERY kind. He showed me all his tatoos. MANY on his legs and arms and even his back. The arm and leg tatoos were traditional Hawaiian style tatoos and his family's amakua (the Honu- turtle) was on his arm. I took picture! It came out kinda dark, so this picture here is his back. One Hawaiian woman on Rocks!
OK, local's do not fear footwear hahaha. However, it is considered very very very rude and offensive to enter a local's home with your shoes on. Why? Because it's dirty and nasty! We don't know what you stepped in and carpet cleaning is expensive nowadays. No... but seriously it's deeper than that. Hawaii is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and tradition. During the sugar plantation days in the 1800's, many immigrants were brought over and indented themselves to wealthy European men. These immigrants came from Korea, China, The Phillippines, Japan, Portugal, and the Azores Islands. They were promised rich and weathly lives due to the popularity of Hawaiian sugar in those days. Instead, many of them ended up working their whole lives and in the process indenting their children who also worked most of their lives. It wasn't until the early 1900's when the American influence truely took over (thank goodness!!) when the legal slavery slowed down. Many immigrants had nothing left to go back home and were better off staying thus settling and having families. To this day, many traditions still stick and is how we have our "chop suey" culture. Leaving your footwear outside would be wise and respectful.
Eh bra, whatcu like hah? You no stay looken at me ah? No talk la'dat to me I gon poun you out!
Translation: Sir, what do you want? Are you looking at me? Do not speak that way to me or I will get physical with you. (you can laugh now!! i know i am!!)
I guess you could say its a language in in it of its self. Pidgeon can be very confusing to anyone who visits the state as it is unique to only Hawaii. Sure, many other places have their own version of broken English (Ebonics for example). Again, this goes back to sugar plantation days. Imagine you're from Japan (or maybe you are who knows!) and you've just arrived in a camp with other Japanese servants. Over on the otherside you see a camp full of Fillipinos and on the other, Portugese. Many times, you would need to communicate with them and of course, you don't understand them. The servants made up a way to communicate in the form of this broken English we now know as Pidgeon (because it sounds like birds attempting to talk.). Unfortunately, many youth here only know to speak that way and come off as very unprofessional when they begin to work. It is discouraged in the school system because it contributes to rediculously low IQs and adds to a steriotype.
Anyway, if you want to learn some words, here they are below:
Bruddah/Brah - Brother/Bro
Sistah - Sister
Madda/Fadda - Mother/Father
I no like dat - I don't like that/it
I goin poun you out cuz - I'm going to put a hurting on you
my slippah stay broke - My flip flops are broken
ho brah, dis poi is ono cuz! - Wow! This taro paste is tasty!
HAHAHAHA this is too funny, hope you enjoyed this crash course!
You will want a jacket and a rain poncho. Just because you are going to be in Hawaii doesn't mean
that all days will be warm and sunny. You will have some rain also. Bring comfy shoes with good traction for hiking. You can find most things that you will need in Hilo so don't worry if you forget something.
There is even a Wal-Mart there.
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