If
you are fun loving, adventurous and interested in activities
like exploring secluded beaches, visiting the observatories
on Mauna
Kea or trekking the back country near Volcano,
you really should consider renting a 4 Wheel
Drive
vehicle during your stay. It can save you a lot of hiking
and you could explore some really amazing places.
If your
plans are to visit state beaches with parking lots, ranches
with driveways,etc...; we recommend an SUV
or other high road clearance vehicle. This will get you to most
places
in
the
larger towns and give you the clearance to deal with huge
speed bumps and semi-paved areas in comfort.. If you're relaxed
and patient, you can also explore a lot of interesting places
off the beaten path.
If you plan to cruise around the Big Island on Mamalahoa Highway, stop at the National Historic sites like Pu'ukohola, visit the malls in our more urban areas or drive around Volcanoes National Park, a standard 2WD economy car or premium convertible will do just fine. You might be able to get to the Visitor's Center on Mauna Kea ( 8000 feet ) but be careful of Saddle Road. It's beautifully paved from the Hilo side but turns into a 1 - 1/2 lane roller coaster past the Observatory access road.
Local folks
drive pickup trucks, SUVs and there are
a couple of VW vans around. Subarus are very popular.
As for
staying with us, we are located at the end of a one mile
long, privately maintained, semi-paved farm
road. Old Tobacco
Road is typical for rural South Kona and we have all of the
usual
services such as
UPS and
FEDEX.
Local deliveries range from eggs to 3000 gallon water
trucks.. In 12 years, we have seen a mix of guest vehicles
ranging from
Hummers to convertible
sports cars and all have successfully travelled up and down
our road with little more than the initial anxiety of
being in an unfamiliar place with a bumpy road and no street
signs. Coming
up Old Tobacco Road, you will pass ancient stone walls from
the days when the Hawaiians grew taro here, old coffee farms
and
macadamia
nut
orchards.
Wild turkeys, pigs, chickens and pheasants wander the various
properties. You will often see children and kittens playing
in the road.. Like everywhere else in Hawaii, people are friendly
and will often stop in the middle of the road to chat, even on busy streets in town.
Our road is not posted but 5-10 miles per hour is about average. Relax and go slow. You will miss the scenery and the sense of living in Old Hawaii. But
if you rent a standard 2WD vehicle and are an urban
driver used to fast, flat, smooth roads, please take a slow pace
and enjoy the scenery. But if you are uncertain about driving
our rural roads, please
consider a higher clearance vehicle such as an SUV or 4WD.
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