Some Hawaii wheeling pics

[lesslimited]

Just because I'm sick of looking at this...





The wife and I have been fortunate enough to visit Hawaii ten times so far, starting with our honeymoon back in '90. Other than that trip, we have rented various 4wd vehicles in order to get off the beaten path and see places that most tourists don't. Some of the pics aren't the greatest quality, as they are scanned photographs.

In '94 we explored Lanai for a day, in a 'zuki. From the highest point to miles of secluded beaches, we drove more miles off pavement than on.
This is the only pic of it I had...



Kauai '97, another 'zuki. Explored some of the dirt roads around Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park. And visited our favorite beach, Polihale



Kauai '99, upgraded to a ZJ.
Kee beach, our other favorite , all the way at the other end of the road. Also a great place to watch the sunset...





Kauai '00, a WJ this time. Did some camping at Polihale, and explored the various forest roads in the center of the island.





Mt Waialeale, average 440 inches of rain per year



Maui '01 rented an XJ from this place http://www.mauijeep.com/
It was even a Limited, like mine.



Unfortunately, the 4wd did not work so we exchanged it for this one, shown at Polipoli State Park at 7000' up on the side of Haleakala



Explored Molokai for a day, in a wrangler. More secluded beaches and forest reserve roads.







To be continued...

 

[lesslimited]

Kauai '01, downgraded to an Explorer. It did OK though.



And on the Big Island, another step down to a Blazer. Did some exploring around South Point, which is the southermost point of the US.




The album for these trips is here http://travel.webshots.com/album/69535294DtVqBF

Mostly scenery, some nice sunsets, etc.

 

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Maui '03, rented a YJ Renegade. The plastic body cladding was rather lame, but it was cool with the top down. At this time my XJ was at 3" with 31s and I was somewhat learning how to drive off-highway, so we did do some actual wheeling on this trip.



Had another Explorer on Kauai, didn't bother to take a picture. It did ride nice with the independent suspension though.

Rented a TJ on the Big Island, explored a lot more by South Point.



Maui '05 rented this sweet Chief. Massive amounts of blowby, but ran good. Checked out a fun 4wd road by La Perouse Bay. This road has since been closed





Top of Haleakala...



Off the Hana highway...



Another wrangler on Kauai...



Did the beginning of the Powerline trail. This cuts across part of the center (rainy) part of the island, and has mudholes that have swallowed hummers completely.



On Molokai, we had an Explorer reserved from a small family owned business. Imagine my disappointment when they gave us this

 

[ehall]

damn that looks nice

my brother is stationed there and I really need to go before his mos is up

 

[lesslimited]

Maui '07, I requested the Chief again, but it wasn't available. They gave us a ZJ Limited instead. The V8 guzzled the gas, but it was nice ride.



Explored some of the road that had been closed due to that quake on the Big Island.



On Kauai we rented the standard wrangler. As we headed down the highway to the condo, I could feel death wobble trying to start. Since they didn't have another one ready to use, they gave us this...





Not such a great breakover angle in stock form



On the Big Island, I had reserved a Grand, but all they had was a Commander. Nice ride, but rather gutless with the V6. We still checked out South Point, though...



That much articulation was enough to stop forward progress.

 

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Just did the Big Island for '08. The new wrangler was pretty nice, and got great gas mileage.

Found some cool places south of Hilo...





The fire dept. still uses an XJ



Hit South Point again...



Unfortunately, we did not find the girl that lost this.



Decent stock articulation

 

[lesslimited]

Since this jeep proved fairly capable, we decided to try something a bit more adventurous. The Mauna Kea Access Road circles Mauna Kea at various altitudes up to 9500'. It's 35 miles long and did require 4wd in a couple steep spots.





From the start on Saddle Road, you're already above the clouds. Open fields, some forested areas.







As the road goes around the mountain, it begins to look more volcanic, starting with some black sand dunes, then getting very desolate





Views of the summit, 13,796'






Yes, this is Hawaii...




Then it began to get very foggy...





If you watched this video, would you ever guess it's in Hawaii?

http://travel.webshots.com/video/3072360100049957266FCtLyg

And after the first 5 miles or so, we did not see one other vehicle.

 

[GSequoia]

Take Holly and me next time!

I just showed Holly and she wants to do this. It's pretty sweet when the wifey wants to go on a wheeling trip

 

[besthaticouldo]

thats freaking sweet

those are some awesome pics! thanks for sharing!

 

[lesslimited]

Take Holly and me next time!

I just showed Holly and she wants to do this. It's pretty sweet when the wifey wants to go on a wheeling trip

Better book your flight soon, we're going in March. And you won't even need to bring me Kona beer!

thats freaking sweet

those are some awesome pics! thanks for sharing!

Thanks, glad you enjoyed them.

You California guys have a shorter, cheaper flight to get there, but not the horrible Chicago winter as incentive. The wife and I would probably go loony if we didn't get a break from winter.

 

[srimes]

very cool.

 

[woody431]

Cool pics! My best friend is stationed out there. I definetly know what you mean about the IL weather, blah. My brother just moved up to Rockford and I don't envy him at all.

 

[xjtrailrider]

Cool pics!

I'm not showing this to my wife, the trip will cost me a bunch of XJ upgrades and a new tow rig

 

[Wayne Sihler]

I believe I could deal with that fog----better than the snow in your back yard.


Wayne

 

[adventurr]

Nice Pics!!

 

[BruceB83]

Very cool! Do the people renting the Jeeps to you know that you're taking them those places? Do they allow it?

 

[lesslimited]

Very cool! Do the people renting the Jeeps to you know that you're taking them those places? Do they allow it?

The folks at the Maui Rent-a-Jeep advertise that off pavement is OK. http://www.mauijeep.com/

The bigger national rental companies, not so much. If you have problems off the highway, you're on your own.

However, for you or I, or hopefully most people here, that know how to drive off road in a vehicle that is designed for it, there is no more abuse happening than from a pothole or speedbump on the road.

The Maui jeeps are the only ones I wheel anything like I would my own, the others I am much more cautious with.

 

[BruceB83]

The folks at the Maui Rent-a-Jeep advertise that off pavement is OK. http://www.mauijeep.com/

The bigger national rental companies, not so much. If you have problems off the highway, you're on your own.

However, for you or I, or hopefully most people here, that know how to drive off road in a vehicle that is designed for it, there is no more abuse happening than from a pothole or speedbump on the road.

The Maui jeeps are the only ones I wheel anything like I would my own, the others I am much more cautious with.

Very true. Well that's pretty cool then!

 

[IslanderOffRoad]

Hmm... I just saw a Hawaii trip advertised in the paper for $299 per person including flight...

 

[BruceB83]

Hmm... I just saw a Hawaii trip advertised in the paper for $299 per person including flight...

Do they give you the tour of their oceanfront property in Arizona before or after the trip?