I did some research this weekend and came up with a list of things I'd like to do while we are in Hawaii in a few weeks. I sent the below list to my sister for her to review with her friends and see which of the below she'd be interested in . . .
Puuhonua o Honaunau (pronounced Hoe-now-now). Also called the Place of Refuge. Prehistoric house sites, royal fishponds, coconut groves and spectacular shore scenery comprise this park on the Big Island, south of Kailua-Kona. Per Frommers: Protected by a huge rock wall, this sacred Honaunau site was once a refuge for ancient Hawaiian warriors. Today you can walk the consecrated grounds and glimpse a former way of life in a partially restored 16th-century village, complete with thatched huts, canoes, forbidding idols, and a temple that holds the bones of 23 Hawaiian chiefs.
Punaluu Black Sand Beach
Volcanos National Park Per Frommers: Since Kilauea's ongoing eruption began in 1983, lava has been bubbling and oozing in a mild-mannered way that lets you walk right up to the creeping flow for an up-close encounter. Yellowstone, Yosemite, and other national parks are spectacular, no doubt about it. But in my opinion, they're all ho-hum compared to this one: Here, nothing less than the miracle of creation is the daily attraction.
An Evening Under the Stars At the Kahua Ranch This is one of those "unique Hawaii experiences" that you will remember long after your tan has faded. Perched from the vantage point of 3,200 feet on the slopes of the Kohala Mountains, "An Evening at Kahua Ranch" is a night under the stars with wonderful food, great entertainment, fun activities, and storytelling around a traditional campfire.
Akaka Falls From Frommers: See one of Hawaii's most scenic waterfalls via an easy 1-mile paved loop through a rainforest, past bamboo and ginger, and down to an observation point. You'll have a perfect view of 442-foot Akaka and nearby Kahuna Falls, which is a mere 100-footer. Keep your eyes peeled for rainbows.
World Botanic Garden From Frommers: Just north of Hilo is Hawaii's largest botanical garden, with some 5,000 species. When the fruits are in season, they hand out free chilled juices. One of the most spectacular sites is the 1/4-mile rainforest walk (wheelchair accessible), along a stream on a flower-lined path to the viewing area of the three-tiered, 300-foot Umauma Falls.
Snorkeling at Kealekekua Bay Per Frommers: The islands have lots of extraordinary snorkel and dive sites, but none is so easily accessible as mile-wide Kealakekua Bay, an uncrowded marine preserve on the South Kona Coast. Here, you can swim with dolphins, sea turtles, octopuses, and every species of tropical fish that calls Hawaii's waters home.
Gawking at the Day's Catch in Honokohau Harbor. Per Frommers: Every afternoon between 4 and 5pm, local fishermen pull into the fuel dock to weigh in their big-game fish: 1,000-pound blue marlins, 150-pound yellowfin tunas, and plenty of scale-tipping mahimahi, ono (also known as wahoo), and others. Sit in the bleachers and check out these magnificent creatures.
Hunting for Petroglyphs. Per Frommers: The majority of Hawaii's ancient rock carvings are found in the 233-acre Puako Petroglyph Archaeological District, near Mauna Lani Resort. The best time to go looking is in the cool early morning or late afternoon. There are more than 3,000 petroglyphs in this area alone -- see how many you can spot!
Shopping at the Hilo Farmers Market. Per Frommers: For a handful of dollars, you can buy a pound of rambutan (a sweet Indonesian fruit), a bouquet of tropical orchids, and a couple of tasty foot-long Hawaiian laulau (pork, chicken, or fish steamed in ti leaves). But be sure to arrive early -- the market opens at sunrise -- because many of the 60 or so vendors quickly sell out.
