Hawaii 2019 - Circumnavigate The Big Island #2

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $150 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW
Here is your chance to enjoy great weather and be able to ride around the Big Island of Hawaii.  This ride allows us to see the volcanoes, watch lava bubbling at night, visit the Puuhonau Honaunau National Historical Park, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and many more beautiful sites as we circumnavigate counter clockwise around the island.  Due to demand for this ride, there is a first Hawaii ride starting on 1/4/19!

RIDE RATING
This ride is rated as a 2B.  There is one required ride day where the mileage and elevation exceed the rating  (it is indicated with an * below).  On this day, the van will provide support as needed for cyclists.  Roads will include state highways and county roads with good shoulders for the most part and light to moderate traffic.  In Kona and Hilo, traffic may be heavier and cyclists should be comfortable riding with traffic.

 ITINERARY

Day 0 (January 21st): Today is the extra day we added!  Arrive in Kona and be picked up at the airport.

Day 1 (January 22nd):  Our hotel will be the Sheraton Kona Hotel.  Assemble bikes and enjoy being by the ocean.  Happy Hour is at 5:00pm.  A welcome dinner will follow. 

Day 2: (January 23rd): Kona Off day - Local riding in the Kona area and visiting various historic areas. 

Day 3: (January 24th (8 miles & 1,727’).  A short uphill ride from Kona to Captain Cook.  In Captain Cook we will have the opportunity to visit the Kona Coffee Living History Farm.  Our lodging will be at the historic Mango Hotel for two nights.

Day 4: (January 25th) Captain Cook off day - A good option is to hike down to the Captain Cook Monument and spend the day snorkeling.

Day 5: (January 26th) Captain Cook to Neelehu (46 miles & 2,323’).  From Neelehu, we will be shuttled to the Kilauea Lodge in Volcano, HI.  Our lodging for the next three nights is at the Kilauea Lodge

Day 6: (January 27th) Optional ride – Volcano to Neelehu to Volcano (76 miles & 4,148’).  This is an optional ride today.  One could ride downhill towards Neelehu are far as they want and ride back to Volcano.

Day 7: (January 28th) Volcano off day – Today we visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and in the evening we will go back to the park and watch the beautiful multi color display of the bubbling lava at night.

Day 8:  (January 29th) Volcano to Hilo (28 miles) A downhill ride today to Hilo and the Hilo Hawaiian hotel.   

Day 9: (Januiary 30th) Hilo off day – A day to relax or rent a car and drive to where the lava flows into the ocean, take a helicopter ride, and or drive to the star viewing area on top of Mauna Loa volcano, which is one of five volcanoes on the island and is considered to be largest sub aerial volcano in mass and volume.  Mauna Loa has historically been considered the largest volcano on earth.

* Day 10:(January 31st)  Hilo to Waimea (58 miles & 5,537’) Today we ride along the coast before turning inland to Waimea and to the small Kamuela Inn.  Van support will be provided to assist cyclists as needed. 

Day 11: (February 1st) Waimea to Hapuna Beach (43 miles & 1,855’).  Today we follow part of the Hawaiian Ironman bike route, and we’ll take in Lapakahi State Park, Waikui.  The next three night’s lodging is at the beautiful Hapuna Beach Prince hotel (5 star), which is next to Hapuna Beach, one of Hawaii’s favorite beaches.

Day 12: (February 2nd) Hapuna Beach – Ride option – Hapuna Beach to Waimea & back (25 miles & 2,775’) or relax on the beach and snorkel.

Day 13: (February 3rd) Hapuna Beach – Ride option – Hapuna Beach to Waimea & back (25 miles & 2,775’) or relax on the beach and snorkel.

Day 14: (February 4th) Kamuela to Kona (40 miles & 2,280’). We continue to follow the Ironman route back to Kona.  Stops are planned for the Kaloko – Honokohau National Historical Park before riding thru Kona to our hotel Sheraton Kona.  Happy hour followed by a Group dinner.

Day 15: (February 5th) Departure day - tour ends after breakfast.

 WEATHER
The temperatures vary between 50 - 82 degrees with the cooler temperatures at higher elevations.  The amount of rain varies between 2 – 10 inches per month based on elevation, wind direction and the winter weather patterns.

 LODGING
Lodging will vary from plain hotels (3 nights) to nice hotels to 5 star accommodations.

 LOGISTICS
We start and finish in Kona Hawaii.  Our hotel is 16 miles from the airport.  Taxis, Speedy Shuttles and possibly Uber offer service from the airport (KOA) to our hotel.  Bike boxes can be stored at the hotel, no charge.  The driver and/or the leader may be available to help shuttle riders from the airport to the hotel for those who arrive a day early (January 21st) or early in the day January 22nd.  Happy hour the first night is at 5:00pm followed by our group dinner.  Figure 2+ hours for luggage and transportation to the hotel due to island time and traffic.  The ride leader suggests the Bike Works bike shop in Kona for bike rentals.  (Past riders were pleased with their rental bikes.)

 COST & ADMINISTRATION
The estimated cost for this tour is $2,900 and does not include the BAC registration fee.  Cost includes all lunches**, two dinners, one pizza night, 10 breakfasts, happy hours**, lodging, support, cue sheets and gpx files, cycling maps and van support when available or necessary.

 ** Note: Although the food and supplies for lunches and Happy Hours will be provided by the ride leader, all participants will be asked to assist with preparing the lunch buffet area, laying out the lunch supplies and clean up.  The same holds true for Happy Hours.  This will be done on a rotational basis in teams of four.

 SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY
Singles are welcome!  It is recommended that singles, who want a roommate, try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until August 1, 2018 with a full refund (minus the BAC fee and processing fees) or pay the $1,670 single supplement and stay on the ride.  Single supplement payments will need to be made directly to the Ride Leader.   If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  The ride leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.

 CANCELLATION POLICY
The BAC ride registration fee and processing fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

 RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

 SIGN-UP
To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC fee ($50) and tour deposit ($1,400) by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. The second payment of $1,500 will be due August 1, 2018.  BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Leader by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description, or preferably calling Warner at 775-843-3960.