Advice for Viewing the Big Island Lava Flow

Recently, you might have read about the exciting volcanic activity at the Kilauea volcano a short distance from Kalapana on Hawaii’s Big Island.  Every year thousands of tourists come to watch the lava as it flows into the ocean from the Kalapana Lava Viewing Area on the Big Island’s east coast.

The spot where you can currently see the flowing lava is at the end of Highway 130 on the east side, close to Kalapana.  Here are a few tips for enjoying this rare and spectacular natural phenomenon.

The best time to go
The best time to watch the lava is around sunset and the period just after sunset.  Earlier in the day the harsh sunlight tends to reduce the lava’s glowing incandescence.  So the time just before and after sunset gives you excellent glimpses of the contrast between viewing the lava in daylight and in the night.  Also, in the hours before sunset, there will be sufficient daylight for you to walk more safely to the lava viewing point.  Currently, the viewing point opens only after 2 pm and closes at 10 pm.  Cars are not permitted to enter after 8 pm.  You’ll have to be prepared for about a two and a half hour one-way drive in case you’re going to drive here from the west side of Hawaii.

What to Wear
Shoes like hiking shoes that have a rugged sole and a good gripping tread are advisable since  you’ll mostly be trekking over uneven surfaces coated with hardened lava such shoes will give you a firmer grip and help you in keeping your balance.  Shoes with a good sole will also give your feet protection from the heat.

See that you wear long trousers for protecting your legs should you fall as the hardened lava is as sharp as glass and you could hurt yourself badly if you fall.  Similarly, gloves would protect your hands if you were to have a fall.  Sunscreen, lip balm, a hat or visor, and sunglasses would give added protection from the sunlight during the daylight hours.

What to carry
Carry water, energy bars or light snacks for you won’t find any restaurants in the viewing area.  Also, make sure you have a flashlight so you can find your way around in the dark, binoculars for better viewing of the lava and surrounding terrain, and cameras with charged batteries and lots of memory/film.  Since it could be windy near the water, bring along your tripod too if you have one.

A hiking stick to keep your balance while crossing uneven terrain, wet wipes, bandages, Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, mosquito repellant and something to tie back your hair if you have long hair, are some other useful items to carry along.

A few precautions

• Find out all you can about the dangers of getting too close to active lava.
• Follow the signs and instructions offered by the rangers and county employees.
• Try to get to the viewing area early so you can get prime parking space and won’t have to park too far away.
• See that you lock your car doors and tuck your valuables out of sight.

The experience of watching lava flowing into the ocean cannot be described in words.  So don’t miss the opportunity if you visit the Big Island and watch the lava flow from Kilauea Volcano.

Tips to improve your Hawaii Vacation

Are you planning to visit Hawaii for your next vacation?  Are you interested in gathering information on how to make your Hawaii vacation memorable and enjoyable?  Then please note these useful suggestions so which would make your trip to Hawaii a pleasant and enjoyable one.

Decide on your over night accommodations sensibly

While planning your vacation to Hawaii, you need to give more importance to where you are going to stay.  A peaceful stay would help you a lot in enjoying the vacation in a relaxed manner.  You can choose among varied range of places like hotels, resorts, condos, vacation homes and much more.  It is better to select the place that suits your needs the best for staying and make proper reservations in advance.

Decide the place according to your tentative schedule. So to be on the safer side, select a nice looking hotel or resort that includes the entire special features essential to enjoy your Hawaii vacation.

Remember to monitor the weather ahead of your trip

Changing weather conditions determine your satisfaction during the vacation.  As you would be aware of the weather prevailing in Hawaii, pack your things accordingly.  If you go unprepared, then weather might become a factor to spoil your vacation.  Learn about the expected weather forecast before you start your journey to Hawaii.  Depending on the weather forecast, make slight changes in your trip if necessary.  You can also avoid unnecessary last minute purchase tension, if you act wisely according to the weather forecast.
Continue Reading »
Planning Your Hawaii Vacation

Technorati Tags: Hawaii vacation

Planning a Hawaii Vacation – Here is why?

There is one destination you seriously need to consider if you are wondering where you need to take your next vacation – Hawaii.  Vacations in Hawaii have become very popular and there are five main reasons that we will discuss here:

1.  Easy on your wallet

With steep travel costs, it seems a difficult decision to plan a holiday.  But it would surprise you to know that choosing Hawaii as the destination for your next vacation would be one of the best choices you would make, considering the superb deals you will get while making the bookings online.

One way of looking for the best deals, you could try by looking up the websites catering to travel.  They are ideal for comparing the rates of airline tickets, hotel reservations, and car rentals.  Look carefully for special packages that are on offer.  These offer a relative convenience of booking and you can be assured of a reasonable discount.  Most of the websites that cater to hotels and airlines dealing with Hawaii related bookings offer direct deals to consumers that make booking online.

2.  Landscape

The beauty of Hawaii experienced for the first time has been known to take the breath away of most tourists.  But in addition to vacations, Hawaii also offers its islands as a venue for couples to get married.  As a wedding destination, Hawaii has gained tremendous popularity and that is also due in part, to the beauty of Hawaii.

The islands of Hawaii beckon tourists who have a hard time deciding on their next vacation destination.  There is no destination like the Hawaii islands where you can just unwind by taking a swim in the ocean, go check out volcanoes or take a hike to the lovely waterfalls.

3.  Activities

There is a wide variety of activities one can indulge in when in Hawaii.  Whether you are on land, on the water or flying in the air, there is plenty to see, do and experience while on vacation in Hawaii.  Beach activities include swimming, boating, surfing, dinner cruises, fishing, scuba diving and body boarding.  There are exciting land activities like sightseeing, biking, hiking, horseback riding, and camping.  You could also take a private helicopter tour to explore Hawaii by air.

4.  Other interests

There are other attractions.  All the islands on Hawaii – Lanai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai and Kauai – have some special features and points of interest that are famous and intrinsic to them.  The Big Island sports the famous Volcanoes National Park – a very famous landmark in Hawaii.

5.  Why Hawaii?

You may ask “why not”?  Not only is Hawaii the best destination for a vacation, it is one of the few places that offers the best rates and packages, be it for a wedding, a honeymoon, or a family vacation.  It offers attractions and activities for people of all ages and at very reasonable deals and discounts.  Just go ahead and book yourself and your family the holiday of a lifetime.

Aloha!

A1HawaiiVacations.com is website that gives you all the information on Hawaii.  Whether it pertains to accommodation, travel, vacation and tour packages, sightseeing, water sports and surfing or fishing, planning a cruise or even a wedding, this is the site that encompasses all the details and contacts to help you to get to know this group of islands called Hawaii even before you actually arrive there.

Hawaiians are renowned for their hospitality

It is a dream come true for most Americans, and also for people from around the world to make a trip to Hawaii at least once in their lifetime.  Calling it a “paradise on earth” would seem an appropriate description for this archipelago called Hawaii.  The islanders are a warm community of people who love treating the tourists as their guests and are an extremely friendly lot.  On arrival, visitors are garlanded with a Lei – a string of cowrie shells, or flowers, interwoven to form a garland.  This is a mark of friendship and the Hawaiian tradition of welcoming guests to their islands.

You can be assured of a memorable stay on any of the seven islands of Hawaii.  Among the various activities available are touring, surfing, scuba diving, horse riding or just plain sightseeing.  For golf lovers, there are several golf courses on the natural landscape which have been favorably developed to display some awe-inspiring views.  Tour operators offer bus rides with a guide at a small fee.  Or you could take a car on hire and drive yourself around to see the sights.

It is not too difficult to look for accommodation to suit your budget and there are different kinds of hotels and B&Bs available for your to choose from.  The room rates start at $50 per night and upwards depending on the kind of luxuries you are looking for.  The rates are cheaper between April and November as this period is considered off season in Hawaii.  For those on a shoestring budget, it is the best time to consider a visit to Hawaii. Continue Reading »
Welcome to A1HawaiiVacations.com