Hawaii-Eco-Resort-Off the Beaten Path-nonhumongous resort wanted

[itsjustme0770]

Hi all,

We are contemplating a trip to the hawaiing islands for some diving. We've not been to the islands before. Truthfully (and I say this with the hope I don't offend anyone) we have the vision of Hawaii as one disney type "you never have to leave the resort" resort after another. This just isn't our thing at all. For some reference, we've spent lots of time hiking central america, just bought property in the bay islands of honduras, have spent time on the atolls of Belize and prefer to see the lesser seen sights.

With that preface, we'd like to find something of an eco-resort with out of this world diving. Does such a place exist in the Hawaiian islands? Thanks very much in advance for your help and or suggestions.

 

[bluemagoo]

My first thought: Manago Hotel in south Kona/Captain Cook/Kealakekua Bay http://www.managohotel.com/ -- just across and down the street a bit is a park dedicated to local boy Rodney Yano, posthumous Medal of Honor; also small-kid time home for Ellison Onizuka, STS-51L...

My second thought: Kula Lodge in upcountry Maui http://www.kulalodge.com/ ; not sure if the altitude would be a potential DCS problem tho', but the bloody buses grinding by at o-dark'thirty to catch the sunrise on Haleakala are...

 

[friscuba]

My first thought: Manago Hotel in south Kona/Captain Cook/Kealakekua Bay http://www.managohotel.com/ -- just across and down the street a bit is a park dedicated to local boy Rodney Yano, posthumous Medal of Honor; also small-kid time home for Ellison Onizuka, STS-51L...

My second thought: Kula Lodge in upcountry Maui http://www.kulalodge.com/ ; not sure if the altitude would be a potential DCS problem tho', but the bloody buses grinding by at o-dark'thirty to catch the sunrise on Haleakala are...

Just a note, the Manago, which I enjoy and have stayed in a couple times prior to moving here, is just a little hotel. It is not what is typically known as a "eco-resort", economy hotel, yes. I can't think of any places on any island which fit in my idea of eco-resorts. The original poster may really enjoy any number of B&B establishments on the outer islands though.

later

 

[LioKai]

You did use the term "resort", and that makes suggestions difficult. Did you want "off the beaten path", or a "resort"? For the resort concept go to Maui. But it sounds like you want the Big Island. North Kona is the resort area (AKA Disneyland), but the rest of the island should do just fine. As far as the term "eco" goes, no one on the Big Island cares about a title. You will not see a sign boasting "eco" anything. Heck, you won't see hardly any signs at all. Your name and reputation are something you earn, not purchase or wear, when you live and work on the Big Island. If you did not intend to dive I would suggest staying somewhere remote on the island, but since you want to dive I suggest you stay within 20 miles of Honokau Harbor. For a reference point Manago Hotel is about 17-18 miles south of the harbor, and you will want to stay south. As for the diving, 1/3 of the Kona coast is protected against collecting. Locals put this rule into effect, not the Fed or the State. You will not find a better protected diveable reef structure anywhere else. Most dive oporators in Kona are knowledgable, passionate, and protective, about the place. The diving is awesome and the above water life is excellent too. I have logged hundreds of miles on foot on the Big Island. Mountains, beaches, rainforest, volcano, state and federal parks, and the list goes on for days.

 

[diversteve]

Something on Lana'i or Moloka'i might work. Both have great diving and are significantly less crowded than any of the others. Never stayed on either one so I can't help with that. Diving's great off Lanai, most of the Lahaina(Maui) charters run there for that reason.

You can also find peace/quiet in South Kaui, but there's a lot of resorts/ house rentals nearby, so you won't find isolation there.

On Maui there's Hana. I've read there's some great unspoiled diving there. But I don't think there's any diveshops in Hana, so you'd have to bring tanks, unless maybe the Hotel Hana-Maui has them. And it's not the kind of place you're going to drive back and forth from - the road to Hana is a couple hr. trip.
http://www.hanamaui.com/

So you'd have to probably rent tanks in Kahului for the week before driving there - I think there's a Maui Dive shop in Kahului a few minutes from the airport.

 

[bluemagoo]

Something on Lana'i or Moloka'i might work. .....

About 6yrs ago, I stayed at the WaveCrest which out east of Kaunakakai http://www.wavecresthawaii.com/ . Nice place next to the beach with kitchenette and a small sundry/grocery store on the grounds which saves the drive back into town. I don't know if Halawa Valley has been re-opened for free access by the public. Access to some of the more interesting places such as Pepeopae Bog/Kamakou Reserve and Mo'omomi Beach are controlled; I think mainly by the Nature Conservancy; I can't remember the contact's name on Molokai at the moment but he's been there forever http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/hawaii/ . The North Coast is spectacular but pretty much inaccessible except by boat and only in good conditions. There are/were some small tour operators; I recall a Bill Kapuni ran something, including dive charters apparently, from near the harbor but he might not be doing it anymore. Exploring Molokai is tough unless you know what you're looking at. The standard reference is by Catherine Summers, "Site Survey of Molokai" which is probably out-of-print but could be found on the used-book market. "Tales of the Night Rainbow" by Pali Lee and Koko Willis has been re-released and provides an excellent insight into the heritage of a Molokai family along with sites. "Paddling My Own Canoe" by Audrey Sutherland is an excellent story of adventure on the North Coast by the nicest, gutsiest, and craziest woman I've ever met (her son Jock is an even crazier big-wave surfer who has a spot named for him, "Jocko's", between Laniakea and Chun's Reef on Oahu's North Shore).

 

[E.Hi.Divers]

The east side of the Big Island is were you want to be. Kalani Honua and Yoga Oasis do eco. If they are to out there for you there are lots of vacation rentals. Oh yea the diving is great on this side if the ocean cooperates.