• Viewing an active volcano and hiking through a volcanic landscape 
• Kayaking on a phenomenal bay and being visited (we hope) by Hawaiian spinner dolphins 
• Walking along black sand beaches and seeing Hawaiian Sea Turtles close up 
• Hiking through lush Hawaiian landscapes
• Snorkeling on beautiful reefs with spectacularly colorful fish
  
• Learning about Hawaiian history, customs, and culture

The Big Island of Hawaii is known both for its active volcano and its exceptional natural diversity. Since some parts of the island get 5 inches of rain and other parts get 200 inches, its not surprising to learn that 11 of the 13 world's climatic zones can be found here. We'll see it all as we circumnavigate the entire island, stopping frequently to sample the best it has to offer. We'll hike in an extinct crater, horseback ride in a valley with a long and fascinating history, snorkel among brightly colored fish, sea kayak on a gorgeous bay, and relax on white sand beaches.

any healthy woman who enjoys being outdoors and being active, and wants to see the Big Island. Rating:  1  [2]  3  4  5

• two night at a hotel in Kona 
• one night at Hotel Honoka'a
• two night at a very large and private house just outside Volcano National Park (look for the Aloha Retreat on this website)
  
• three nights at vacation condos in Kailua (look at condos 109, 135, 206, 226 on this website)
  

• experienced guides
• eight nights accommodation in condos, hotels, and houses 
• all meals from dinner on Saturday to lunch the following Sunday 
• transportation during the trip
• all activities on the itinerary: hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, snorkeling, whalewatching (relaxing is on your own)
  

Arrive in Kona, Hawaii (KOA) by 5 pm on January 22

Most flights leave late in the day so we will be back at the Kona airport by 5 pm on January 30 (exact timing will depend on flight schedules). If you plan to fly out earlier, please check with us before making your reservation

 you can download the complete trip information here

Like all itineraries on adventure vacations, we may follow it exactly or we may modify it based on weather or group interests. In particular it may be altered by where and whether lava is flowing.

Saturday: Arrive anytime today. Our trip officially starts at 5 pm. We will schedule two airport pick-ups depending on participants' arrival times, and women who are arriving either significantly earlier or later can take a taxi into town. If you do arrive early, you can explore this charming and touristy town. Once we're all gathered, we'll meet for introductions and then go to dinner at a restaurant with some of the freshest seafood in town that opens directly on to the bay. Since most of us will be suffering a bit of jet lag, bedtime will undoubtedly be early. Overnight Kona

Sunday: Today a short drive takes us to a state park with an exquisite white sandy beach, reached by a 1/2 mile hike across lava. We'll spend the morning swimming and sunbathing, enjoy a refreshing dip in the "queen's bath" and then share a picnic lunch. In the afternoon we'll go to a completely different beach, a more protected one that is known for good snorkeling and a large green turtle population. This evening we will attend that most Hawaiian of all events, a luau. While it is definitely a tourist event, it also showcases and explains what is a truly Hawaiian custom. Overnight Kona

Monday: Today we Leave Kona behind us as we drive across the island to the northern tip and the Waipio Valley. This rugged beautiful steep valley looks as if someone carved out a slice of land and lifted it out. Its fascinating human history has been shaped by periodic tsunamis that have scoured the valley floor, and at various times it has been occupied by kings, farmers, and hippies. We'll go for a guided horseback ride, the best way to get a sense of what the valley floor is truly like. After the ride you'll have the option to spend some time on the beach at the valley's mouth. Although definitely not a place to swim, it is stunningly beautiful. For those of you who prefer not to ride, another great option is a hike up the the other wall of the valley to a small waterfall and a great overlook. Either way we think you will be impressed by the rugged beauty of this remote valley.  
We'll spend the night in a funky hotel, Hotel Honoka'a, in the funky town of Honoka'a. Originally built as a club for plantation managers who oversaw sugar cane production that later became the social center for the Japanese workers, today it is a testament to the Hawaii that exists beyond the tourist path.

Tuesday: This morning we drive down the rugged west coast of the Island (read Isabelle Bird's account of her journey- at least we have roads!) to Volcano National Park, stopping on the way to see Akaka Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all Hawaii. With a brief stop in Hilo for shopping, we continue to Volcano Village and our three adjoining vacation homes about 10 minutes outside of the National Park. After taking time to get settled, we'll head for Volcano National Park. Our first stop is at the visitor center, where a ranger orientation will introduce us to this amazing place. Then we'll head down the Chain Of Craters road and, depending on our time, take a couple of short hikes. Our last hike is out to Pu'u Huluhulu Cinder Cone (shaggy hill), the best place for seeing the glow of lava reflected in the nighttime sky (at least it has been- but that's the thing about this volcano, you just never know where its going to start flowing). We'll have a picnic supper atop the hilltop as we watch the sun set and the lava glow begin. Hiking back by flashlight, we'll return to relax in our lovely houses. Overnight Volcano Village

Wednesday: Today we'll spend a full day at Volcano National Park. We may start with a couple of ranger talks and then do the classic park hike: the Kilauea Iki trail, that goes through rainforest and over an old volcanic crater that still has steam coming out. As part of the loop trail, we'll take a short detour to Thurston Lava Tube, the largest accessible lava tour in the park. We'll also drive the Crater Rim, stopping at the Jagger Museum and the Halema'uama'u Crater, known as Pele's home. There are some other great hikes we could do and whenever we've had enough, we'll return to our peaceful lodging for a hearty dinner. Overnight Volcano Village.

Thursday: We pack up this morning and head back to the sunny side of the island. Along the way we'll stop at a true black sand beach where sea turtles are often seen. Our destination for the day is Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park, formerly (and incorrectly) known as City of Refuge. The park preserves the site where Hawaiians who broke a "kapu", or one of the ancient laws against the gods, could go to avoid certain death. This is the best preserved archeological site in Hawaii and a must see. It is also adjacent to some good snorkeling! Following a hike and a swim, we head to Kailua and our condo homes for the next 3 nights. Overnight Kailua

Friday: Kealakekua Bay is the site of Captain Cook's first landing in Hawaii. The largest sheltered natural bay on the island of Hawaii, the bay is a spectacular marine environment with an abundance of colorful tropical fish, a variety of beautiful coral reefs, and visibility often to 100 feet. Its calm, protected waters, extensive coral reef, and sunny skies provide superior snorkeling and kayaking and that is how we'll spend the day. We'll kayak across to the Captain Cook Monument and then enjoy excellent snorkeling in the shallow waters there. The bay is also known for a pod of Hawaiian Spinner dolphins that frequently visit the bay to rest and feed. On the way to the Bay we'll stop for a tour of a coffee farm. After all, this is the home of Kona coffee! We'll also pick up fresh fish to grill when we get back to the condos. Yum!!

Saturday: During the winter months, Hawaiian waters are host to the breathtaking humpback whales. Traveling more than 3,500 miles from the frigid Arctic, the whales arrive here to congregate, breed, calve, nurse and teach their young. We'll take a three hour cruise on a boat staffed with a marine naturalist who can answer our questions about the humpbacks and any other marine life we may encounter. Returning to our condos in the early afternoon, we leave the rest of the day for just relaxing. Our condos are located right across a road from the ocean and adjacent to White Sands State Park so whether you want to walk on the beach, go for a swim in the ocean, or simply relax, its up to you. Overnight Kailua.

Sunday: We'll pack up this morning and return to Kona. Along the way we'll stop at an exotic animal sanctuary, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to care for injured animals, provide a home for abandoned animals, and teach Hawaiian children about the fragile ecosystem. The woman who started the sanctuary is absolutely amazing with a wealth of information about animal behavior. We'll be back in Kona with time for last minute shopping, exploring, and sharing a final farewell lunch. Depending on everyone's flight schedules, we'll arrange a couple of drop off times at the airport. Most flights leave late in the day so we will be back at the Kona airport by 5 pm on January 30 (exact timing will depend on flight schedules). If you plan to fly out earlier, please check with us before making your reservation.