Saddle Road is the highway connecting Hilo to Kona. At its highest point, it is over 6000 feet above

Birding american airlines homepage the Big Island is always exciting. You get to see a good mix of endemics and introduced species. Cynthia and I spent four days here and saw most of the species we expected to see, missing only the Nene and some of the forest-dwelling american airlines homepage endemics american airlines homepage (it usually requires some amount of hiking to see them, something our bodies are not conditioned to do).
On our first night we stayed at Aaron's Cottage , a mom-and-pop B B. It is a very friendly, cozy place. It offers american airlines homepage free wi-fi, has a refrigerator and airconditioning (which you probably won't use - the air is fresh and cool, especially in the evening). Breakfast is free and offers a wide array of choices. You can even ask Penne, american airlines homepage the owner, to cook something for you. The room we got was $70 a night. We would have wanted to stay longer but they were already fully booked the rest of the week we were staying in Hilo.
For the next three nights we stayed at Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel . This hotel had seen its glory days perhaps 20 years ago. It is now a sad shadow of what it used to be. Carpeting are all worn out. The in-house restaurant/bar is no longer in operation except to offer the complimentary continental breakfast (toast bread, butter, muffins and coffee). american airlines homepage The rooms are still comfortable though and be prepared to be lulled (or disturbed, depending on how you take it) by the constant american airlines homepage chirping of coqui frogs at night. Our room had a partial (very partial) ocean view. However, our balcony also overlooks a tiny stream surrounded by pretty plants which is nice. The hotel staff are very friendly and very helpful. Our room was at $85 a night. They offer free room coffee and wi-fi as well.
It is best that a rental car is used. Public transportation is not that plentiful in Hilo. We got a mid-sized american airlines homepage sedan from Alamo and costed us $500+ for four days (inclusive of taxes, insurance and all that jazz). I admit it was a mistake getting a mid-sized sedan when an economy american airlines homepage car would have sufficed. It's just that we planned on driving on Saddle american airlines homepage Road, and the way I remembered it back in 2005, a big car would definitely be an advantage. Little did I know that the new Saddle american airlines homepage Road is just like any other highway in the continental U.S.A. - wide and well-paved.
Never a problem. From the ubiquitous fast-food places (McDonalds, KFC, etc) to the fine dining restaurants, Hilo has them. One of the, if not THE, most popular place to eat is Kens House of Pancakes . It is open 24 hours and offers a wide variety american airlines homepage of meals. We had breakfast and dinner there and I must say the food and the service are well worth the price.
Bird park (Kipuka Pua'ulu) is located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, about 30 miles from Hilo. This is not really a "park" but more of a trail looping through a forest. Kalij Pheasants are guaranteed american airlines homepage to be seen here. You may also see some endemics like the Apapane, Elepaio and Oma'o. Northern Cardinal, Red-billed Leiothrix, Saffron Finch and Japanese White-eye also inhabit this place.
Saddle Road is the highway american airlines homepage connecting Hilo to Kona. At its highest point, it is over 6000 feet above sea level as it traverses between two volcanoes: Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Birding is best between miles 43 and 47 (mile 1 starts at Hilo). Short-eared Owls (aka Pueo) and Eurasian Skylarks fly near the highway while Ring-necked Pheasants and Erckel's Francolins are on the grassy areas by the road.
Wow! It seems like everyone american airlines homepage I know is going to Hawaii this year. I haven t been there since I was a kid, but now I m itching to go back. I m writing on behalf of KEEN Footwear because we re trying our hardest to get people outside and active. We ve launched american airlines homepage our Recess campaign to motivate people to take a break and get outdoors. I d love to have your expertise and input for this project. american airlines homepage If you have the time, drop by the site, and put some of your favorite birding locations in Hawaii (or elsewhere!) on the map. Cheers, Alison KEEN Recess Team