My husband is blind: Looking for fun stuff on Big Island

Aloha all,

My husband and I will be on the Big Island for 8 days in April. It is his first time in Hawaii. We will sleep in Kona most of the time, have booked a corner oceanside unit at Hale Kona Kai. We will have a car and have friends in town.

We will also spend 2 days (one night) on the east side, visiting/staying at the volcano and exploring Hilo before flying home from there.

He will enjoy the sun and beaches, and hikes on lava rock and through rainforest. After some wrestling with my conscience I also plan to book him a dolphin swim through dolphinquest.org, since he can interact more physically with them.

Because of his blindness I think some experiences will fall flat, like attending a hotel luau/show (a real luau would be cool) or taking a helicopter ride. He loves coffee, so a coffee plantation? I would also love to take him on a really nice boat outing. I know he would love to go fishing but I get seasick. I%26#39;d be happy to see him off from shore if it%26#39;s a reputable boat company. Maybe horseback riding.

I lived on Oahu for 2 years and visited other islands including the Big Island twice so this is mainly his experience. Any ideas are welcome.

Much mahalo,

Diane

My husband is blind: Looking for fun stuff on Big Island

Diane, is he completely blind as in no light or color at all?

I think it is hard for the sighted to grasp the way he will experience things, at least it is for me.

The main thing that occurs to me as pleasurable would be listening to the ocean and being soothed by the trades.

Honestly, I don%26#39;t see the attraction of hiking on lava; it can be treacherous footing and is generally hot, and I would only do it to see something, not for its own sake.

The helo trips are very loud, and I think they don%26#39;t offer any pay off if you can%26#39;t see what you%26#39;re flying over. A lu`au would be enjoyable, I think, there is drumming and music and food. Try Kona Village Resort.

Again with the coffee plantation, there is just as good coffee available without going to a plantation; the plantation tours seem to me a visual thing. But sure, stopping at a tasting room or two ought to be fun.

There are lots of fishing charters out of Kailua-Kona, just run a search on fishing charters in the forums and you%26#39;ll find previous topics.

I wish I could be more help.

Hopefully someone will see this who has had a blind traveling companion and can give you tips.

My husband is blind: Looking for fun stuff on Big Island

Aloha, he will love being so close to the ocean and hearing the waves. Next door at the Royal Kona Resort they offer a luau, maybe you can walk over for drinks at the Beachcomer and find out how he reacts to the music from the luau and decide then if you might like to give it a go.

I wonder how he would feel about UFO Parasailing

http://www.ufoparasailing.com/

Being up there with the wind and the quiet is amazing.

At SeaHorse Farm

http://www.seahorse.com/

he would be able to hold a seahorse!

Kona%26#39;s Kailua Candy Company for tasting

http://kailua-candy.com/

Maybe an Ag tour?

Hawaii AgVentures is wonderful, I have done a few of the tours and have had first hand feedback about others, all positive. Favored reviews go to:

Hawaiian Vanilla, Amy Greenwell Ethno botanical Gardens, Green Gecko Coffee...

I believe Hawaii Forest and Trail still does Honopua Farm

hawaii-forest.com/adventures/merrimans-culin…

There are several botanical gardens on the NE side of the island and the smells are incredible!

The horse back ride into the Wiapio Valley would offer both sound and scent.

Finally Huggo%26#39;s has great music in the evenings in the bar area, as do many other.

For you both, don%26#39;t miss a sunset dinner at the Kona Inn...the best!

You couldn’t have chosen a better place to stay than Hale Kona Kai – it’s been a couple of years since we’ve been there (we were in 213, an absolutely wonderful unit with a wrap around lanai). If you open the doors and windows, you’ll hear the surf all night, plus the Royal Kona next door had a luau 3 nights the week we were there – you can listen to the music right on your own lanai.

Does your hubby like to fish? Mine does and he fished right off the rocks in front of Hale Kona Kai – yes he caught fish too, lots of them. I could sit on the lanai and watch him (laughed quite a bit too). You can pick up an inexpensive rod %26amp; reel at Walmart.

Pu%26#39;uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park is another place you might go if you are into Hawaiian history.

Over on the Hilo side, a botanical garden is a great idea for all the wonderful smells. Hubby fished in Hilo Bay, caught fish there too. Also, Rainbow Falls are near Hilo. The bottom of the falls are pretty neat, but it is a very easy walk to the top of the falls. Up top are ponds, tons of birds and you can hear the water going over the falls. Bring the bug spray though…

I second the horseback ride into Waipio Valley – it smelled wonderful and just tons of birds singing.

PM me thru TA if you need the whole low-down on shore fishing – we’re so into fishing on Kauai now, we bring our own gear.

Have a wonderful time!

Dorcee

Don%26#39;t miss Thurston Lava Tube in Volcanoes park. It%26#39;s got the neatest texture inside.

Maybe there will be a concert or two? A keiki hula show would at least have music.

The farmers market in Hilo? There should be some neat fruits to touch and taste.

Ah, mahalo to you all for replying so quickly and with such good suggestions! Horseback riding at Waipio might be a wonderful day trip. I see a few companies, does anyone recommend a particular one?

Kamaainak, Jack lost his sight completely at age 35 so he still has plenty of visual memory - even if we ARE going to celebrate his 60th birthday!

It IS hard to imagine life without sight but the other senses are important too, they just take a back seat for you and I. I chose Hawaii over many other potential destinations particularly because of the SMELL. That and the fact that, although we both love to beach it for a few hours at a time, there are plenty of other new sensory experiences available on the Big Island.

Adeline, thank you for the many links and the mention of parasailing. We married last year in Jamaica and took a tandem parasail the morning of our ceremony. It was the first time for both of us and we enjoyed it immensely.

Mamma0233 - you mentioned horseback riding through Waipio Valley too, do you recommend a particular company?

Dorcee, so glad to hear a recommendation for Hale Kona Kai, we managed to nab 412 and I am very excited. Also very glad to hear he can fish practically from the lanai! It would solve our ';he fishes while I throw up predicament';.

Pzp, thank you for the recommendation of the Thurston lava tube, I will add that to our schedule. I think we will just do one short hike over the lava. I think it will be quite memorable for him due to the smell and the hot feet!

We are staying at a lovely secluded cottage in Volcano Village, it even has a hot tub on the lanai. It will be his first rainforest experience.

YAY for the aloha spirit!

Diane

Diane, we used the Waipio Ridge Stables. Great experience! A wonderful side note is that they leave from the Waipio Valley Art Gallery which has the most extensive display of carved wood vases, bowls etc that I have found anywhere on the ISlands, best prices too! The gallery is worth the trip on it%26#39;s own!