where to wheel in the big island hawaii

[ronin-0707]

I received no reponses on chat, so I'll try again here.
Will be in Kona for 5 days wondering if and where to wheel. Something easy, fun and scenic would be great. Something a rental could handle.

I looked up some tours but of the two the min. age was 5 and 6 years old-too old for my youngest to come along on.

 

[DirtyHarry]

There is not a whole lot of wheeling, but enough to keep you busy in a stocker. Mana Road is very pretty and goes from Waimea up to Mauna Kea, it could be muddy depending on if they have had rain. South Point also has come decent trails with good scenery if you continue on to the Green Sand Beach. There are several rocky trails to beaches north of Kona too, however most do not have signs. Just turn off the road towards the ocean and explore.

 

[chicago]

IIRC, there were some stipulations regarding insurance and off road driving...
If the rig broke down off road, the insurance was NULL and VOID, if you had taken any!

At least that's how it was in Maui for the road to Hana, but im usure if that applied to all the islands!

Have fun and get pics!

Chicago

 

[DirtyHarry]

That is the case for most rentals on the big island, a lot of them void your insurance if you even stay on the pavement (if you can call it that) and take the saddle road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

 

[ronin-0707]

thanks for the info. we are here already. we did saddle road last night in the rain and fog, but it has been paved-not sure how long now.

anyhow, we don't have a 4wd but a awd mini-van, my sisters family has a jeep commander 4x4. when you say no wheeling but fun for a stocker is it just dirt roads or a bit more. how hard is the road to green sand beach can an awd car do it?

thanks

 

[DirtyHarry]

The Hilo (east) side of the saddle road has always been paved but the Kona side was still really bad when I moved last year. As for the rain and fog, that is always there! Too bad you did it in the dark, there are always owls up there on the Kona side, which is cool if you or your family are in to birding.

Attached is a photo of the road to the Green Sand Beach, I don't think you will make it all the way without some scrapes. South Point is really nice so I say just go as far as you feel comfortable in the mini-van.

And the beach itself:

Another option is to go to Waipio Valley on the north end of the island. Not a dirt road but a super steep and narrow paved road that leads down to water crossings and a very nice beach. Here is a shot from Waipio:

 

[ronin-0707]

yikes on green sand beach-my sister is set on giving it a try. I guess we will go as far as the mini-van will allow and have the jeep do a second trip. definitely a must do on the green sand beach-beautiful.

sidenote-I should have asked regarding waipio-we went to the overlook and turned around-should have taken that 25% grade with the mini-van.

 

[ronin-0707]

i'll post pics if we make it.

 

[moondog]

I used to live in Waipio Valley and as far as I know, (i never had a rental - drove the lady who I was caretaking for's rig - weee), rental companies don't want you to drive down there...not that that should stop you, but, well..... If you make a right at the bottom of the hill there's a pretty cool beach, although if it has rained watch out for the muddy spots - they might not look to bad, but can be way deeper than you think, more than an all-wheel drive van could handle. If you go the other way at the bottom of the hill and go across the river, which as long as it's not high water you should be able to do in an all-wheel drive van (I've seen subarus make it) you can kind of explore more of the back of the valley, but as you get farther back it gets hairier and people (if you see any) will probably start giving you funny looks - 'cause pretty much everyone who lives back there knows everyone else who lives back there and when they see people and vehicles that they don't recognize they start to wonder.