We did end up changin
I smiled at "only" four months. We do have a little wiggle room as we leave in five months.
I agree it will be safe to travel, but hanging out on the Kona side could be bad if it’s still erupting, as volcanic ash/vog tend to get funneled to that area.
Good to know, thanks. Our accommodations are 100% on the Kona side this time.
Coincidentally as I was typing this, I received an email from the Holualoa Inn (not staying there but am on their mailing list) saying it's business as usual right now and flights are going in and out of Kona without issue.
I mean there's a chance but more than likely this will just provide an increased opportunity to see some active lava flows which is very badass.
I'd do my due diligence @krista4 like checking cancellation policies, having backup plans to go elsewhere, etc. But I'd look at this as an opportunity to maybe see some super cool, amazing stuff instead of just the normal amazing stuff on the Big Island.
The first place we're staying has a 30-day cancellation policy and the second a 60-day, so essentially we'd need to decide by the end of February. That's a lot of time. The flight reservations and such are the bigger concern. I guess even if we don't do non-refundable, Delta still gives credits for changes without taking a penalty, as of now.
If it were just me, I wouldn't be as concerned. But this trip includes my mom, who will be nearly 80 but in good health, and her husband, who will be a couple of years younger but with lung and heart issues, plus some problems getting around quickly. That's what would worry me.
We could go to another island, I guess, but might still face flight/air quality issues.
We've seen active lava flow in other places, so not as big a deal to see it, though undoubtedly would be cool to do again.
We did end up changing our plans a bit, originally due to the volcano but eventually because we thought it was a good idea anyway. I'm the only one of our four who has been to Pearl Harbor, and the others were very interested in visiting that, so we switched the first half of our trip to stay on Oahu, on the north side next to Turtle Bay. So suggestions for any must-dos on Oahu, especially restaurants, would be welcomed! We still kept the second half of our trip in Kona and actually extended that by one night, but we're all set there on what we want to do.
Oahu restaurants, in no particular order:
Opal Thai - in Chinatown, reasonably priced place where the owner asks for dietary restrictions, then makes whatever he thinks will suit your tastes. The turnip cakes are spectacular. Yes, turnip cakes.
Azure - fancy, seafood in Waikiki
Roy‘s - pacific fusion, a chain, but a good one. There are multiple locations, including Turtle Bay. Butterfish is great, and I’m a sucker for their soufflé
Duraku - reasonable Japanese/sushi place. Good rolls and Brussels sprouts.
Sushi Sasabune - expensive sushi place with with obnoxious, “soup nazi” style chef - I’ve never been, but everyone raves about it.
Pig and the Lady - Vietnamese fusion, in Chinatown
Dagon/Rangoon - two Burmese restaurants, same owner and food. Both excellent. Try the tea leaf salad.
Little Village - noodle house in Chinatown. Or, if you like dim sum, Legend, also Chinatown.
Surf n’ Salsa - good shrimp burrito, on N Shore.
I think the Kahuku food trucks are overrated, but garlic shrimp is tasty.
Also don’t really care for shave ice, though most people like it. There’s a famous place, Matsumoto’s, in Haleiwa on the N Shore.
Consider a desert with haupia or ube instead. You can probably find both at local grocery stores. Also, Foodland poke is great.
Malasadas are also overrated - basically fried dough, but
Mochisadas aren’t. It can be hard to find the latter, as the original is only sold from a truck, Hauoli Pastry. Other places have started to sell them though. Might try Liliha Bakery, as they have good sweets regardless.
Full disclosure: My wife and I are pescatarian, though we eat mostly vegetarian. We barely drink. And I like deserts - this may explain some of my hostility in the keto threads. So our palates aren’t necessarily in line with most people.
As far as stuff to do, Pearl Harbor is a great start. Consider driving over the H3 and taking the Kamehameha Highway to the N Shore (Instead of more direct H2). It will take longer, but a much prettier drive. I’d skip Diamond Head, and go to overlook at Puu Ualaka’a instead. Go to Waimea Bay, if N Shore waves aren’t too big (and maybe even if they are). Avoid Waikiki like the plague (I only included one restaurant there. There are many others, but it’s just a clusterfvck of humanity most of the time). Hanauma Bay is good snorkeling, but probably not as good as neighbor islands.
I’ve hiked all over the island, but I’d need a better idea about the fitness and risk aversion of your group to make specific recs. Not a beach person, golfer or surfer, though the N Shore offers world class options for all that stuff.
You can DM or ask specific questions here , if you have any.
ETA Turtle Bay is a beautiful location, but pretty far (~1 hour) from Honolulu proper, where most of the restaurants are. All the restaurants at TB are pretty good, including the place on the golf course, Lei Lei’s. If you don’t wanna drive a ton, you’ll end up eating at TB, Haleiwa, or the shrimp trucks, which isn’t bad, all things considered.
Thank you!! Amazing stuff here. And I happen to love turnip cakes. Happy to see a dim sum recommendation! And Burmese - yum. All of the restaurants sound great. Believe it or not, there used to be a Roy's in Chicago, which was great but I'll probably skip since we've been there (many times).
In terms of hiking, I'd say moderate at this point. My mom still does 10Ks, but she is turning 80 this year.
