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[quote=Anonymous][b]We are planning a similar trip for Spring Break, splitting our nights between Waikoloa (6 nights) and Volcano (2 nights).  What roads did you drive between the two sides?  Any favorite stops?[/b]

-I recommend downloading the Shaka guide, and then you can follow his routes to and from VNP (and in VNP).  There are basically two ways to get there - one route to the south, and we stopped at the black sand beach on the way.  There are turtles resting and swimming on the beach - and it's basically a must do to stop there.  My friend went to a green sand beach also near there, but we felt we didn't have time (and I think you can skip if you don't have time - you have to pay a local to take you there - it's too far to walk and you can't take your own car).  On the way home we drove the saddle road route mid island.  My parents and sister stopped at Hilo and really liked it that stop (they saw a rainbow falls and nene birds and farmers market).  My car just went straight through but it was interesting to drive past Mauna Loa.

[b]Did you think 3 nights in Volcano was the correct amount of time?  Favorite hike?  Curious about the food options there.[/b]

-I think it was maybe one night too many but we didn't feel rushed and we feel like we saw the whole park.  I liked doing the chain of craters drive with the stops recommended by Shaka guide.  The thurston lava tube was interesting but gets crowded.  We did it early.  If you park not at the tube, but at the overflow parking - there's a nice walk with a view of kilauea iki.  My dad, my husband, and my 9th and 6th grade sons all did the whole kilauea iki hike and liked.  My mom, my sister, my 3rd grade daughter and I did something else - but I have to look up what it was.  We liked it - and the boys went back and did it the following day.

Are you staying in the lodge there?  We ate the breakfast every day in the lodge and had one dinner there.  We also ate at the Tuk Tuk Thai Food Truck one day which had a long wait (like 40 mins) and then who tried to come after us got turned away as they were out of food.

[b]Any favorite beaches on the Kona side of the island for early elementary kids?[/quote][/b]

My kids are in 9th, 6th, and 3rd.  We went to Magic Sands beach one day - it had really big waves.  I'm not really scared of big waves - but it's not for people who are.  Both of my boys lost their snorkel gear in wave incidents but no one got injured!  Where are you staying?  I would probably try to go closest to where you are.  We went to this beach - which was nice.

https://www.southkohala.com/things-to-do/big-island-beaches/secret-mauumae-beach

We liked the captain cook hike and snorkeling - but it's two miles each way for the hike.  The hike was fine for my 3rd grader - but most challenging for my mom.  My 70 year old dad runs a lot and was fine with it.  You should check out the company I recommended for manta ray snorkeling.  My friend already said she tried to contact them for spring break and they were full - but I suggested she try to call them and see if they're really full.  I don't know if she did.[/quote]

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