Visiting Hawaii - Pahoa

[Jason762]

Hey all -

Back from Alaska (working for AmeriCorp/SAGA), visiting friends and family for Christmas here in California. Thinking about heading out to Hawaii afterward. Specifically thinking of going to the big island, over by Pahoa. Girlfriend's working at a yoga retreat there and would like to visit.

My plan is to arrive in Kona (it's cheaper to fly there) and take the free bus to Hilo (http://www.heleonbus.org/). From there, ride my bike to the yoga retreat.

Some questions I was wondering about -

Any good campgrounds in Pahoa?

What are the roads like? My bike is a road bike, am I going to be getting frequent flats due to bad roads?

What stop on the bus schedule (http://www.heleonbus.org/schedules-and-m...s-schedule) is closest to the Kona airport?

Any rules about hunting/fishing/gathering of edibles?

A SAGA buddy of mine went down to Hilo to do some WWOFing (volunteer organic farming - http://www.wwoof.org/) and apparently got robbed by 5 guys at gunpoint. Lucky for him he has family in Hawaii and he's staying with them until his AmeriCorp service in Texas starts. Any pointers on avoiding crime in Hilo/Pahoa?


Anyway... I've never been outside California and Alaska so any tips and stuff will be helpful!

Jason

[missydog1]

Jason, the bus system doesn't really serve the KOA airport. The bus system is mainly for island commuters, not to serve arriving or departing visitors. The closest stop is the Matsuyama store which is in a shopping center just to the south of the airport.

As for the hunting/fishing/gathering, you need to respect private property. Not sure about the licensing. As for fruit, it is not OK to pick fruit off people's trees. A lot of people have come here with the idea that it's like the Garden of Eden. It isn't welcoming to the nomadic lifestyle. People here may farm, fish, hunt, but it's something they work to pull together. I suggest maybe you bring money and plan to buy yourself groceries and not try to live off the land.

A good way to avoid crime is to have a car and a roof over your head instead of riding a bike and camping. YMMV.

[Jason762]

Kathy, thanks for the response.

I knew the bus didn't serve the airport, which is why I was curious where the closest stop was. According to your info, closest stop is a 5 mile jaunt. Do-able if I get up early enough in the morning.

As for respecting private property, I will do exactly that. I don't like it when people wander onto my property, and I sure as heck wouldn't like it if someone picked fruit off MY shrub/tree on my property. Point being, I'm not disrespectful of other people's property.

I will be bringing money and I will be looking for a roof over my head. I'm hoping Christina reads my e-mail and likes me enough to consider me as a tenet. Cristina's ad http://www.punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11498 I would only be camping as a temporary form of shelter until I found a house to live in.

Thanks for your response,
Jason

[dmbwest]

Cannot stay with GF @ retreat ???

[csgray]

Jason,
You should know that Matsuyama store is 5 miles from the airport, but 1500 feet above see level (the airport is close to sea level) My car has trouble with that climb, I can't imagine trying it by bike.

Carol

[missydog1]

Hi again Jason []
From your response, you sound quite grounded and respectful. Sometimes people come here in the mindset of finding a sort of utopia as some of the hippies did 40 years ago.

I did 't think the bus stop was that far. It seems very close with a car. That center is the only commercial area right near the airport - no question it's the closest stop. The airport is maybe 1 mile in from the highway and I suppose a bit of a grade.

Have you looked into staying rustic at Kalani? That would seem safe ...

I don't think of Pahoa as unsafe and the story of your friend surprised me. I do think that the more a visitor is staying on the fringe and unconnected to others, the more vulnerable to simply disappearing. I'd look for a private campground over public.

www.alternative.hawaii.com is a useful site.

[Bullwinkle]

Frankos maps has a good set of local activity and travel maps - best of all - advertisment (agenda) free

www.frankosmaps.com

[tnd]

Also, having just done that trek from the airport clear down to the ER at Kona Hospital (9 miles south), that hill,(and the traffic) to get there takes a good 20-30 minutes depending upon the time of day.

Crime--- what crime? Oh you mean harvesting the tourists! LOL... Sorry we just find it humorous. We've never seen evidence of the 'thugs' or "gangs" we heard of on our first trip over several years back now... We spend two to three weeks in Pahoa/HPP/Kapoho area every few months, and have just been smart. You've lived in Cali-- then follow the same rules.

Lock your rig, biking is fine, but we'd not consider it primary transport.
The roads are fine. You shouldn't worry about flats on the main roads... or even if you had to be down on the Red Road-- a bike should handle those roads without issues.

As in ALL situations, the place you put yourself in, reflects the risk. There are places you should stay away from--

[Bullwinkle]

http://frankosmaps.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_code=F&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Frankos-Hawaii-Big-Island-Guide-Map

here is a link to that big island map - good topography info for bike route planning

[tnd]

Just use your common sense, and that all animal instinct to be aware of where you are and what you are doing. You know, like in any place you visit. Vegas, Portland, LA, NY, HNL, Kapoho, etc.

Have fun! The east side is definitely gorgeous!!