Best airline to fly to the Big Island? (Hilo: military, budget)

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by SkyBob

A Cadillac on the Saddle Road? Have the car rental companies relaxed the restrictions about using their cars on that road?

Bob

Yes. At least Enterprise has. I recently had one from them and no more Saddle Road speeches by the employees. Even if they did have the restriction, it does not prevent you from taking the road anyway. It would simply negate any extra insurance coverage that you may have purchased through them.

[mogon]

There's more to it than that.

For companies that still have the Saddle, Waipio Valley, and South Point restrictions (and some still do and some don't), if you happen to have a breakdown on these roads you will be billed for the cost of coming to retrieve the car. And particularly in the evening that could equal the cost of your vacation.

While usually more expensive, a local company, Harpers, has no restrictions and are good folks to deal with.

[nwcountrygal]

Don't know if the comapanies have relaxed on it but it completely doable for cars now - they have fixed rerouted the road alll the way. A couple of one way bridges but it is "all good" now. Exscape a few invisable cows............. From my trips Hawaiian does offer best prices if you choose the same days maybe .. I like Aslaska from PNW straight shot no issuses and they have air on the plan, Last time flew Hawaiian and no air on flight above you> WTF I flew fisrt class !

I have found if you fly into and outo on a Wednesday or Thursday it is allot cheaper not matter waht airlines. I like the straight strecht though you can't really enjoy an island from an airport.

[mogon]

Originally Posted by nwcountrygal

...they have fixed rerouted the road alll the way....

Sorry, not quite. The west side from just makai of Pohakuloa to the intersection with the upper road has not been fixed. It is still basically a one-and-a-half lane road, full of potholes and ungraded curves.

The long-term plan for fixing is to reroute the western end to connect with the road to Waikoloa Village.

http://www.saddleroad.com/images/0806map1024.jpg

[mdand3boys]

I was on it a few days ago - there are no pot holes on the short, unfinished section. It may still have some lumpy areas in the road, but is much improved. There is construction on the unfinished section which consists of widening the narrow bridges water drainage pipes and related work.

[mogon]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on what the meaning of "is" ... I mean "potholes" ... is.

[hotzcatz]

If the OP has some sort of ground support (i.e. doesn't need to rent a car) Pacific Wings flies directly into Waimea/Kamuela. No rental cars there, though, so you have to have either left a car there or get picked up by someone.

[Alicia64]

Thanks everyone. I meant that I'd fly into Kona. And, I agree, it looks like flying on a Wed. or Thurs. saves the most money.

I'm think we'll visit after Labor Day in Sept. Is there a price break point in that month. Like, does the price dip after 9/15 or something like that?

Thanks again,

Alley

[surfmonkey17]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

Yes. At least Enterprise has. I recently had one from them and no more Saddle Road speeches by the employees. Even if they did have the restriction, it does not prevent you from taking the road anyway. It would simply negate any extra insurance coverage that you may have purchased through them.

My mom just rented a car from Enterprise last week. They didn't mention any restrictions until she specifically asked, but they did say Saddle Road is restricted.

[mogon]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

I was on it a few days ago - there are no pot holes on the short, unfinished section. It may still have some lumpy areas in the road, but is much improved. There is construction on the unfinished section which consists of widening the narrow bridges water drainage pipes and related work.

Well, we must be driving different Saddle Roads.

I thought maybe something had substantially changed since the last time I drove it, given what you say.

But I just drove it today, east to west:

1. The new section from a few miles mauka of Hilo to Mauna Kea State Park is extremely nice and built to modern standards.

2. The next 8 miles from Mauna Kea State Park to the boundary of the North Kohala district has been repaved, but not re-graded or re-aligned (you can see the almost finished realignment a quarter to a half mile or so to the right) and the surface is fine but it is still relatively narrow and there are significant some roller-coaster sections.

3. The ten miles from the North Kohala District boundar to the junction with the upper road is AWFUL. AWFUL. No change, unless for the worse. Narrow, patches upon patches upon patches, potholes and the occasional big rock. Work being done on rectangular drainage culverts that have little warning and could be deadly if hit. Blind curves into one-lane bridges.

In short, if you are going from Hilo to Mauna Kea summit, or Mauna Kea State Park, or Pohakuloa, it's a an adequate to fine road.

But if you're traveling the western ten miles, do so with extreme caution. And if you value your life (and certainly your car), do what most long-time locals do and don't even think about driving it at night. I have two long-time local friends who have lost friends to night accidents on that 10 mile stretch -- which, to repeat, is absolutely unchanged and, if anything, is worse that in years past.