jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Exactly! Just because its feet are wet that doesn't mean it can't enter the contest.

JPL

Yes, Mauna Kea, 33,474 ft! Of course more than half is sub sea, but still the highest mountain on earth. And probably the only chance for me and many others to live to say honestly they have been to the top of the highest mountain on earth. :wink:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest_mountains

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

And were driven to the top in a car! Try that on Everest.

Mubashm Loc: Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hi Bob,
You are lucky to have that kind of trip. My wife and me visited Kauai in 2009. It is a paradise for the nature lover but mot of the part can be seen only by air. We took a helicopter with door on. I wish if we had taken one with doors off just like one of our member mentioned that they took the one with doors off. However, I used only one lens
18-250 with polarizer. I saw to much reflections and glare from the windows. Just imagine I was composing the scene and the same time using the polarizer to cut down glare and reflections caused by the windows or the doors. Since you are so high in the air, you don't need a small aperture for the dof. I used 5.6f with my camera on aperture priority. Here are some sample photos taken from the helicopter with doors on. Thanks.

Mohammed

Squint Loc: Stockton, CA

Jack Harter helicopters is the only one that has open doors - to make it much better to shoot. Get the real feel of Hawaii! You can only take one lens, but that's all you need. Also, there is a "lava hotline" on the big island that will tell you what the lava conditions are. The trek to the lava field is a bit arduous at night so call to make sure that the trip will be worth it.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

I flew with Mauna Loa charters on a Robinson 44 helicopter with the doors off, with just my wife and I.This was on Kauai, but was told they also do the same on the big island.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

As I understand it you are looking for lens recommendations. We will be going to Hawaii in Nov for 10 days. (Haven't been there since '69. Wonder if it's changed?). In fact, my carryon is always my backpack with as much gear in it as I can fit. My 70D has a cropped sensor so some of my choices may differ sightly from yours, which I believe is a full frame. Anyway: 24mm f1.4 for indoor and landscapes. Either my 17-40 or 24-70 for walking around and my 70-300 for those long shots that are bound to appear. If I have room I may also take my 35mm and my 60mm macro, but they are not priorities. We will be on Oahu visiting, among other things, the ships and indoor military displays of Pearl Harbor so my needs may be somewhat different then yours. Spent a week in Bora Bora in 2012. Incredibly beautiful. If you have a circular polarizing filter be sure to take it. Or buy one. A good quality one. Can make a tremendous difference in your photos since you will be constantly near the water and the reflections it produces.

etcraig Loc: Chandler, Az

Forgot to mention one of my favorite spots Hilo side of the island. About 40 miles south oh Hilo is the small town of Honokaa, Not much is there but on the main road and Loke St. is Tex's cafe ( there is a large glass building next to it) Its a favorite stopping place for locals and tour buses. They have a fried dessert, Malasadas---they are so good, They are filled and so tasty. It was always a must stop. Food isn't bad

Squint Loc: Stockton, CA

OK - restaurants. One of my very favorites for lunch or dinner is Holuakoa Gardens in Holualoa - near Kona. Nice Art galleries right there as well. Another favorite is Merriman's Restaurant in Waimea. The big island is just that - a big island. More than you can see in 3 days - darn it!

bigshot Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Going to the Big Island - how I envy you. Beautiful. I was there more than 6 years ago. I took the helicopter ride when I was there and really enjoyed it. If the lava is flowing into the ocean, you might consider a boat tour. Look for bargains. At the time, I had a time-share and received discount coupons through it.

On the west side of the island are the lava fields. You will see man-made rock piles of white lava stones on the black lava. Do not remember why.

Hilo has a tsunami museum that is interesting. Hilo is the tsunami capital of the world. It gets tsunamis from Alaska. Hawaii has special tsunami sensors in the ocean to determine to detect them.

No one mentioned the beaches on the island. Various colored sands. On the black beach near the south west tip, you will find the green turtles.

http://www.magical-hawaii.com/Hawaii-Beaches.html

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

One of those pictures reminded me...... When you see a sign that says, "Watch for Falling Coconuts" they are NOT kidding! People have been killed by those things; imagine that your head is a watermelon and the coconut is Gallagher's Sledge-O-Matic.

The tsunamis have spawned an interesting trait in some buildings at Hilo's seaside (near the airport). Even at the restaurant at our motel, there are painted waves on the windows and dates indicating when and how high the water got. Buy the way, if there is a tsunami warning, the Hilo airport will be closed; you'll have to leave via Kona. You'll understand when you land at Hilo.