We're headed for Hawai'i (Big Island only) on Thursday. Staying in Hilo for 10 days.

Our interests are-in no particular order:

Botanic Gdns., Palms, Native birds and other critters, Zoos, Snorkeling, Natural Beauty spots, Restaurants, Hawai'iana, Scenic Drives.

We've been to Hawai'i, but not the Big Island-would appreciate any help from locals and other travellers.

Thank you,

Ned Steel (OldNed)

Ned,

Paul and I really enjoyed our tour of the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens, just North of Hilo.

Ned, my best advice is to get this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Hawaii-Big-Island-Revealed-Guidebook/dp/098146100X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276283076&sr=1-1

Ned, my best advice is to get this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Hawaii-Big-Island-Revealed-Guidebook/dp/098146100X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276283076&sr=1-1

The book William has suggested is a must. Also, there is tons of info, topics, and photos here on the Forum. Get busy and learn how to use the search feature, and you will unearth a lot.

Thanks guys...I have the book and have been checking it and the Palm Talk forums for additional info.

Ned,

You're welcome to come by here for a garden tour. Send me a PM and we can arrange a day and a time.

Aloha,

Bo-Göran

Tack Bo-Göran! Jag skickar ett meddelande.

Oh, in case anyone on here doesn't speak Swedish, I think that means "Good morning Bo-Göran. My rental car is stuck in the mud". It's the only Swedish phrase I could find.

take photos!

what about Jeff @Floribunda???

Ned,

actually that was perfect! I'm impressed, and I'm sure you know more than that!

Bo-Göran

Be sure to order a Loco Moco at Ken's House of Pancakes in Hilo! Akaka Falls is nice, even though the second half of the walk is uphill (but easy) back to the car, For great snorkeling with no crowds, go to Mahu Kona county park, leave the park and walk northward along the coastline behind some old metal barns. Check the local listings, sometimes amateurs with telescopes will invite the general public to look through their equipment on the shoulder of Mauna Kea. To go to the Kona side, take the north route counterclockwise, it's much faster. The route beyond Volcano NP is slower and more tedious than it appears on the map.

Just got back from Hawai'i. The Big Island is amazing! We visited Karolyn and Bo-Göran Lundkvist at Lundkvist Palm Garden in Leilani Estates.

Truly a wonderous Palm Garden with great hosts.

A couple of pix from there:

C. renda "hedge"-why not?

One of three side-by-side Lodoicea maldivica

Part of the Orange Crush Forest

Darold...I've had Loco Mocos in other places in Hawai'i-not my fave. Must be an acquired taste (but I do like Scrapple and Durian). Ken's was always crowded-didn't get to eat there. Akaka Falls was very cool.

Matty... The Hawai'ian Tropical Botanic Garden was great as were several other "plant places".

Dave...We tried to get to Floribunda-the "road" to it has to be seen to be believed. One of those that is absolutely forbidden by Car Rental places-we left lots of white paint on trees, bushes and rocks. That's probably gonna cost extra. The only other vehicle we saw on that road was a horse!

If you're thinking of doing the "The Moku Lani" (the Big Island Palm Tour)-I say go for it. You will be amazed!

Oh, and if you drive around in the Hilo area, you'll see tens of thousands of Archontophoenix palms growing wild everywhere. It's an Invasive!...the Hawai'ian Kudzu.

Thanks for reporting back Ned! Sounds like you had a great time.

Ned,

It was great to meet you and your wife and I certainly enjoyed our little tour here. And about the road to Floribunda - I should point out that it has been vastly improved over the years! Up until several years ago (actually prior to the Biennial in May 2004) there were spots that were so rough that you had to come to almost a complete stop in order to then, VERY carefully, proceed over the VERY rough exposed lava! Anything above 2 MPH would have ruined the car!

Bo-Göran

Dave...We tried to get to Floribunda-the "road" to it has to be seen to be believed. One of those that is absolutely forbidden by Car Rental places-we left lots of white paint on trees, bushes and rocks. That's probably gonna cost extra. The only other vehicle we saw on that road was a horse!

If you're thinking of doing the "The Moku Lani" (the Big Island Palm Tour)-I say go for it. You will be amazed!

I must be kama'aina now as I haven't even thought twice about the drive to Floribunda. Rather pleasant IMO.

Considert coming back for The Moku Lani. Check out the gardens you didn't see, and the Kona side. You'll feel like a local now.

Seeing Bo-Göran's Lipstick Palm hedge gave me an idea; I can start one of my own!

Here's my C. renda before the Big Freeze of Jan., 2010:

During the freeze it took a little hit but, as you can see, it's recovering nicely.

If the warm weather holds for another 30 years or so-

I think it'll be lookin' pretty good.

Ned,

You should have posted the photos the other way around, and simply said "this Cyrtostchys has recovered nicely in just a few short months!"

Bo-Göran

Dang, Bo...That's funny-Wish I'da thought of it. I might have gotten emails asking me how I was able to do that so quickly.

I mentioned in post #11 that the Archontophoenix Palms were invasive. Check out this one. Note the exposed roots and the very curved stem. Pretty tough Palm.