Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site noscvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!sdchema!sdcsvax!noscvax!cunningh From: cunningh@noscvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.travel Subject: Re: What to see in Kona Message-ID: <221@noscvax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 5-Oct-83 04:58:04 EDT Article-I.D.: noscvax.221 Posted: Wed Oct 5 04:58:04 1983 Date-Received: Mon, 10-Oct-83 09:54:01 EDT References: <166@houxr.UUCP> Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego Lines: 44 If you'd like a bit more peace and quiet than you'll find in Kona, consider having your travel agent book you into a hotel on Hilo (the other side of the big island) for part of your stay. You can get equivalent accomodations in Hilo for substantially less than Kona, plus nice package deals with rental cars. Then drive over to Kona, stay there for a while. You can fly in one side of the island, and out the other by paying a small "drop charge" for your rental car. If you'd rather stay at a "resort-style" hotel with its self-contained golf courses, tennis courts, semi-private beaches (and possibly also a riding stable), there are several good ones north of Kona on the western side of the big island. I can recomend the Sheraton Waikaloa, though I'm not sure exactly what the current rates are (definitely more expensive than staying in Hilo, probably more expensive than Kona). It's possible to spend a great deal of time at Volcanos National Park, and still not see it all. There are innumerable hiking trails (for a very short one try the "desolation trail" that makes you feel like you're walking on the moon). Although it's not on the direct Hilo-Kona route, the "Chain of Craters Road" down towards the south coast offers some spectacular scenery. Unfortunately, accomodations up near Volcano are limited -- you have to book into Volcano House months in advance. A real bargain are several (admittedly primative) cabins nearby that are run by the Volcano House. In fact, if you'd like to rough it, there are a considerable number of state-operated cabins in various places around the Big Island. An exceptionally economical way of visiting -- but I'd plan on staying my last night in a regular hotel to enjoy the relative luxury before leaving. For a very unusual tour, try calling the University of Hawaii Support Facility in Hilo to see if they have any (usually free) tours of the astronomical observatories on Mauna Kea. The observatories are at about 12,000+ elevation, and it tend to be chilly up there. There's not all that much oxygen, so it's definitely not for the weak of heart (literally). During the summer, there are evening tours where you can see astronomers in action, and almost always get a chance to look through at least one of the telescopes. -- Bob Cunningham ...{ucbvax|philabs}!sdcsvax!noscvax!cunningh 21 17' 35" N 157 49' 38" W MILNET: cunningh@nosc-cc