Biking Hawaii- Suggestions please!
 

Going to Hawaii next mont and would like to do some biking while I'm out there. Since it's my first time going, I really have no clue what or where to ride. I plan on renting something, and will be traveling to a few of the different islands. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

I only visited one island, Oahu. Cycling around Diamond Head has nice views.

If you're going to Oahu, contact [MENTION=418278]billytwosheds[/MENTION].

On the Big Island, head north from Kona like you're an Ironhead on the Queen K, turn right at Hawi, and circle back. You'll be treated with this view.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5612/3...aa671c5c_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/258/31...5a287f1f_b.jpg

Holy moly!

I've ridden all over Oahu. What kind of riding do you normally do? If you're into climbing, there are plenty of routes I could steer you to. If you are more of a flatlander, maybe the Pearl Harbor Bike Path.

I definitely second a loop or two or three around Diamond Head. If you're feeling really salty, start from around Aloha Stadium and follow Kamehameha Hwy (99) to N. Nimitz Hwy (92) (Nimitz runs under the freeway and along the airport, taking you right into the heart of downtown Waikiki where it turns into Ala Moana Blvd). It terminates in downtown at a T intersection with Kalakaua Ave. Turn right. Kalakaua Ave. takes you right through Kapiolani Park, then joins up with Diamond Head Rd. You can either make a loop around Diamond Head Rd. or keep on going on straight onto Kahala Ave. turning left onto Kealaolu Ave. which joins up with Kalanianaole Hwy (72) which takes you all the way to Hanauma Bay.

Sorry, not my fault the natives seemed to only know two or three consonants :rolleyes:

Check it out on Google Maps. It's pretty straightforward. Really. I haven't ridden there since 2002, but I could find my way with my eyes closed even today ;)

An epic climbing route is from downtown from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, just off Awaiolimu St. Look for Tantalus Drive. It's a loop the turns into Round Top Drive on the downhill, return leg. It's a leg burner, but hey, nothing is free on a bike, right? Plus you'll hit 60 easy on the descent. Ask me how I know :)

If you really want details, hit me up via PM. And give me an idea of your fitness so I can advise accordingly.

Btw, I did Tantalus/Round top with nothing bigger than a 42/24 and I smoked about a pack of Cowboy Killers a day back then. Was in my mid 30s. I can't image the gearing I'd need to get up it today!

DD

OP,
I would suggest you contact member billytwosheds he lives on Oahu and because he is local could give you some insights on where to ride and some of the better /lesser known sites to visit along the way.
Gugie, gave you a good one on the Kona side but you need to be prepared for the climbs and changes in the weather, bring lots of water and snacks in case the little shops are closed along the way. If you do that one on your way back try renting a cabin by Hapuna State Beach....nicest beach in my opinion on that side of the island and a good place to RR. It is also close to a couple of great hotels if you want to splurge or just have a great meal.
Nothing wrong with how Hawaiians pronounce or name their streets or other things that they use.... the Hawaiian language has 13 letters in its alphabet, not 74.
Seems like you will become a traveler, and not a tourist while you are there, much more enjoyable...Just as easy to say "hoaloha", or "mahalo" as it is to say friend or thank you.
i kekahi manawa nui i loko o kona hawaii.
Aloha, Ben

Geez, [MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION]. You did that ride on a Bike Friday? That a lot of ups and downs, especially on HWY 250. I've done it several times in a car (my cousins had a condo just south of Kona back in the 80s), as well as the long haul up to the observatories on Mauna Kea. That would be a hell of a ride!

Are you a climber? If hills don't intimidate you then Maui has some great riding. Rent a bike like I did at Maui Cycles in Paia and ride up to the top of Haleakala - not many places you can climb 10,000 ft in one go. Or; if you run out of steam on the way up, turn back for an entertaining coast back to the beach!

I drove around the island and I still dream of riding the loop counter clockwise to Hana and back. It is on my bucket list. Much of the route to Hana is remote in this direction with very little traffic. Riding back on the Hana Highway will seem like a freeway in comparison :-)

It's easy to do if you stop often enough.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/393/31...d7111938_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/260/31...e04c6c0c_c.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5521/3...af3798b4_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/599/31...a5e87887_c.jpg

I don't mind climbing. Slow and steady for me. I think I need to figure out which two or three islands I will be going to and map out some of these routes. I will send you guys some pm's with more info.

Please do Mauna Kea so I can live vicariously through you.

Is that a well known bike route?

It's a well known death ride. Many have tried, few have succeeded. 4200 meters of climbing, my understanding is that you should be in near TdF shape and have a sag wagon.

https://cyclingtips.com/2014/11/tack...biggest-climb/

There's plenty of climbing in the islands. The Haleakala climb in Maui is doable by mere mortals, but only those in most excellent shape. It's a mere 3048 meters of climbing. I've known of one person who did it (an Ironman triathlon finisher), a few others that made it to the ranger station and turned around.

If the climb up does not kill you, the ride down might! :twitchy:
Ben

Rental contracts were pretty hard-set against driving around the extreme western and eastern portions of Maui as of 12 years ago.

Simply being on the big island will distort your sense of reality. Oahu can be a traffic nightmare (with great scenery). Kauai really doesn't have a lot of paved road options.

I don't know about TDF shape, but SAG is probably a must.

Alls I know is it is on my list of things to do before I die.

Well I do have a washboard stomach, albeit with a fair amount of dirty laundry on it... deff not in any kind of tdf shape at all!

Dying on my vacation is deff not on my bucket list.

Jumping in here (and thanks for the mentions [MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION] and [MENTION=367427]xiaoman1[/MENTION]!).

I'm doing some serious downsizing on the C&V collection (S-1 related) and may have something you can borrow/ride while you're on Oahu. PM if you're interested and I'll see if I have something that will fit you.

We've got a pretty poor bicycling infrastructure here but the suggestions above are pretty good.

If you want to climb, there's Tantalus and any number of neighborhoods built up into the valleys.

Biking around Diamond Head and Kahala is my jam, some little hills and many miles of beautiful flat coastline once you get out of the Waikiki area.

I'm back on island next week, shoot me a message and I'll be happy to help.

It's not terribly expensive to get a biking tour *down* Haleakala (on Maui), with some spectacular views.

(not my pic)

http://alohatrunk.com/wp-content/upl...-Haleakala.jpg.

Hell, if you give me dates in advance, I might just meet you on another island!

Aloha.

.
...there's one ride on Kauai that is popular enough that they rent people bikes and motor transport them to the top so they can ride down.

https://outfitterskauai.com/activiti...downhill-tour/

Kauai Biking

While this discussion is about road riding, the mountain biking in Hawaii is phenomenal. I got my start mountain biking waaay back in the early 90s when I was stationed at Oahu. I couldn’t begin to tell you where, but we rode trails inland on Oahu and it was fantastic riding. Throw in the fact that there were almost no other mountain bikers on the island at the time and it was sublime. I am sure it’s much different today with many more options.

I finally have my schedule for this trip. I will be in Hawaii on the following dates: Aug 22-23 I will be in Honolulu. Aug 24-29 Will be in Maui and 30-1st back in Honolulu.

Glad we got connected. See you in a couple weeks :thumb:

West Maui loop, clockwise direction. One of the most fun and beautiful ~60 mile rides I've ever done. Incredible.

I was at Schofield from '93-'96 and lived on the north shore. I rode my mountain bikes all over, my first MTB race was there. If I ever go back I will rent a MTB. Road cycling sucks on the concrete island. Too dangerous, too much traffic. The Big Island is freaking awesome, though.