GPS on the Big Island

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Actually, I don't agree at all. While it is true that there are not streetlights, the highways are very well marked with reflectors on the sides and in the middle. Your headlights shine on the reflectors and show the way. We've driven between Kona and Hilo at night quite often and never have any problems seeing the road. I think nighttime driving is better on Hawaii with the reflectors than in many mainland states that don't have reflectors and the only streetlights are at highway entrances and exits.

You don't need a huge sign saying "turn here" to find Pahala. The OP is driving from Hilo and it is the first town you come to after passing the entrance to the volcano park. There is a sign at the turn-off -- if he misses that he must be sleeping.

[MrSaturdayNight]

Oh boy..well ill be starting my drive from the airport at around 5:30 am and if im correct, the sun doesnt come up till 6:30am which gives me about an hr of driving in the dark then...i hope the driving and directions are still as easy as it sounds even in the dark

[demtion35]

Just get yourself a Garmin ETrex Legend and program Garmin MapSource four disc set with instructions and E United States, W United States, Alaska and Hawaii, United States

Load the area according to the instructions where it is you will be going (Route ext.) and put these maps into the Legend.

It is very easy. I recommend this unit over any TomTom anyday, the reason why is you can use the Legend for navagation and load Waypoints into it for, yes Geocaching (While you are in Hawaii of course).

Having the Legend will be a small peice of equipment that will show you all the great places there are to be seen and discovered, even places that are in the area you live at.

Good travels
Thanks

[mogon]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

Actually, I don't agree at all. While it is true that there are not streetlights, the highways are very well marked with reflectors on the sides and in the middle. Your headlights shine on the reflectors and show the way.

That's true in some places, but not others.

We've driven between Kona and Hilo at night quite often and never have any problems seeing the road.

You've been lucky. If it's raining hard (and on the Hamakua Coast that's a pretty sure bet for any given day at some point), then it's very difficult to see the road at night, it's easy to hydroplane, and in the gulches and cuts (e.g., the cuts just south of Honomu) it's very easy to hit a large rock that has tumbled down on the roadway. I know someone who was nearly killed that way.

[hotzcatz]

No reflectors on rocks. No reflectors on feral pigs. And don't forget the Invisible Cows! There is a sign up at the observatory ranger station warning about those, ya know! We don't drive at night if we can help it.

Let's see, from the airport, out to the first stop light, turn uphill (left). Keep going. There will be a 7-11 in Kurtistown just past Keaau (maybe seven miles up the road?) so you will have coffee acquisition opportunities. If you miss Pahala, there is another nice coffee acquisition opportunity at the Punaluu bakery in Naalehu. If you get that far, get coffee and go back the other way.

[KoaKine]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

No reflectors on rocks. No reflectors on feral pigs. And don't forget the Invisible Cows! There is a sign up at the observatory ranger station warning about those, ya know! We don't drive at night if we can help it.

Let's see, from the airport, out to the first stop light, turn uphill (left). Keep going. There will be a 7-11 in Kurtistown just past Keaau (maybe seven miles up the road?) so you will have coffee acquisition opportunities. If you miss Pahala, there is another nice coffee acquisition opportunity at the Punaluu bakery in Naalehu. If you get that far, get coffee and go back the other way.

I do like the coffee house route its a must!

[MrSaturdayNight]

Ok so i just came back from my big island excursion and rest assured my GPS did work just fine in fact. That drive from the airport to pahala was quite long and boring and it did rain a bit on the drive back but everything went fine. On one interesting note, I stopped by the black sands beach near Pahala during my lunch break and it was fantastic! I have never been to a black sand beach and it was quite interesting. Great place to snorkel and see lots of turtles for those interested.

[Naturen]

Why do you need GPS in Hawaii? You can't get lost? and whatever happened a map

[hotzcatz]

GPS don't indicate coffee opportunities, do they? Sure would be nice if they did.

Were there any good spots in Pahala? We never seem to actually turn off the highway to go there since Tex Drive Inn doesn't have a malasada place there anymore.