Burt, I just got back from the big island less than a week ago. We too drove all of the roads except for the southern most roads. We also drove on hwy 200 (Saddle road) to go up the observatory on Mauna Kea (4-wheel drive required because of the slope). The rental car people don't care if you take the car up there its just that you are not covered by their insurance and if you have problems with the car they won't come help you out. The road isn't that bad. It is narrow and bumpy but it is paved. It even has a stripe. I think that the main issue for the rental companies is that the road is remote, at least by Hawaiian standards.
The geography of the island comprised of three intersecting shield volcanoes. The shield volcanoes are very regular in form and have a relatively flat slope from the summit to either the intersection with another volcano or the shoreline. The summits are generally on the a south-east to north-west center-line of the island. On the south-west side of the island, the lee side, it is dryer and there is less to no vegetation, with many miles of the roughest most barren lava flows you've ever seen. I wouldn't even want to walk on it. The lava flows run clear into the water for a very rocky shore line. The majority of the shore line has no sand. (We suspect that the sand at our hotel was imported.) On the north-east side of the island, generally speaking, the windy and wet side of the island is very different. There are giant green leafy plants everywhere. There is always an on-shore breeze. There were white caps on the ocean every time we were over there. The lava flows respond to the ocean differently on this side of the island. Here the flows end in a cliff at the shore line. I suppose because of the wind and wave action. From what I saw the cliff heights range from 50 to maybe 600 feet in height. As others have said, there appears to be very little access to these. Every surface that is not vertical is covered in heavy foliage. There were some easily accessible cliffs down south where the volcano is currently erupting. From where public parking is provided for people to walk in and see the lava in action it is only about 100 yards to the cliff's edge. (no foliage) Vertical drop to the water, lots of people, catch the plane on landing or else... I think that this is the most promising place I saw for slope flying. (there must be a million places to fly thermal). Your best bet is to get connected with the locals. Slope flying only takes a small space which is easily over looked by a tourist, but I am sure that the locals would know where to go. I did a search for hobby shops in Hilo, the results are below. I would call these and see if they can help you out. Carey Schmidt design + logic 170 Chemawa Rd N Keizer, OR 97303 T 503.856.0078 F 503.856.0079 see our new web site at www.designlogic.cc PACIFIC MODELSPORTS 14 HOLOMUA ST # A HILO, HI 96720-5102 (808) 933-1348 RADIO CONTROL HAWAII 474 KALANIKOA ST # 104 HILO, HI 96720-4578 (808) 935-5629 SCOTT'S R/C PARADISE 14 MAKAALA ST # D HILO, HI 96720-5107 (808) 935-7777 RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off.
