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Friday, July 30, 2010

My Favorite Places on the Big Island, Hawaii - naked or not


Naked Places on the Big Island of Hawai'i

First of all on my list are the places where you can shed your clothes without too much hassle from the public authorities or other people. While public nudity and naked sunbathing at public beaches is illegal, there are places where this law is not strictly enforced and a few where it is never enforced.



1. Kehena Black Sands Beach (milemaker 19 on Hwy 137, not far from Kalani).

2. Kalani Honau Oceanside Resort
Even if you are not a guest, you can arrange for a visit for breakfast, lunch or supper (organic buffet style). You may be able to use the clothing optional pool (4:pm- 11pm) by asking or by paying (or by taking tour of the new villas for sale (as a potential owner - you might be offered several amenities). There are also non-nude activities at the resort like yoga, massage, and volleyball (so that you can squeeze in a swim in the nude at the pool).


3. Steam vents scenic point -- located about 5 miles from Pahoa ( less than 1 mile after turn off to Leilani Estates on Hwy 130 (near milemarker 15) is a scenic point where the road widens for off-curb parking. Here there are natural steam vents that have created enclosed and open air saunas. One of the them is almost a perfect teepee shape and has a small entrance you must climb through, holding 4-5 people. Locals and visitors alike enjoy these usually (but not always) in the nude, and it's great on a cool evening. Sometimes gay cruising occurs, or the straight couple get in a romantic mood and tryst, but straight locals and tourists also mingle too, so be aware and courteous.


4. Beach 67 (near Wailea Bay (sometimes called Waialea) or Beach 69) is located in South Kohala area between Kawaiihae and Waikoloa. Wailea Bay Marine Preserve's two beaches are nicknamed 69 and 67 because of their identifying numbered telephone poles (not milemarkers). Beach 69 is the larger and is great for snorkeling and diving. Beach 67, on the north side of the bay, is smaller and frequented by naturists and gay men. On Hwy. #19 at Mile Marker 71, turn into Puako Village, then right onto old Puako Road.

Beach 69 is much larger and more beautiful, but it is NOT nude. You come to it first. You'll see lots of cars park at the entrance of Wailea Beach 69. To access clothing-optional Beach 67, go about 350 yards more up the roughly paved road to a higher place, then turn right onto the gravel road at telephone pole #67, drive out onward to the bluff, then hiking down to the beach. You can also park under the trees outside the fence around a private house. Nude sunbathing on the small white sand beach hidden by trees, brush.
There is no water but there is a rustic port-a-potty. So take everything you'll need.

[Partly taken from http://www.gayhawaii.com/ ]
NOTE: Never leave valuables in a parked car in a deserted place. Auto break-ins are very common everywhere in the Hawaiian islands. Some people even leave their windows open to say 'see, there's nothing worth stealing here.'

5) Honokohau Harbor and Kaloko-Honokohau Beach is located in the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park on the Kona Coast, north of Honolokohau Harbor off of Highway 19. The north end of this yellow sand beach is a popular gay beach. Privacy is difficult to find here, and Federal Park rangers often patrol to enforce a ban on nude sunbathing. However, with its warm climate and good snorkeling, this remains a very popular nude beach. Go inside the harbor/marina driveway, turn right at first intersection, go 250 yards, park inside the free parking lot, and walk into the Park via the side gate. When you reach the beach, follow to far right. [Taken partly from http://gohawaii.about.com]

You can also get a boat rides for whale and dolphin viewing as well as diving/snorkeling with giant manta rays from this harbor.


NOTE: By the way, you can always get naked at deserted spots almost anywhere on the Big Island - there are plenty of places to hike up lava-coated hills or down the shoreline and find a nice quiet place to get naked - but do so with discretion.
There are a lot of such hiking spots along Hwy 19 between Kailua Kona and North Kohala. In Puna (Pahoa area), you can do so at spots along the coastal highway, Hwy 137 (Kapoho-Kalapana Road or 'red road' as it is still called locally), such as MacKenzie Beach Park.

At times, I've been naked at some of my favorite spots below:

-----------------
Other Sightseeing Spots

Of course, 1 - 5 above are some of my favorite places (because I can get naked in nature), but there are tons of other spots too.

6. Kapoho tidal pools (Hwy 132, turn right onto 137, take Kapoho Kai St into residential area, bear left to reach Wai Opai warm tidal ponds, great snorkeling spot, beware of sharp and slippery rocks, however,
There is a hot springs-fed tidal pool in a small park about 1/2 mile further down Hwy 136, Ahalanui Park, if you don't have time to snorkel.

]

7. Volcanoes National Park - Viewing the Kilauea Crater, walking through lava tubes, and seeing the current lava flows (under the guidance of park rangers)


8. Kalapana lava flow area (where it's possible to hike out near the current point where the lava flows into the ocean - but also highly hazardous). Access it from the near the intersection of Hwy 130 and Hwy 137 (coastal road).

9. Laupahoehoe Point (a county park, site of a tidal wave disaster in 1960s, and very beautiful beach park (with camping - by permit). Descend from mark entrance on the north side of Laupahoehoe Gulch (a couple of miles north of the town) on Hwy 19 about 25 miles north of Hilo.
Of course, you may want to stop at Akaka Falls on your way north out of Hilo.





10. Waipio Valley (great view, fairly strenuous hike back up). I (and I have seen other) people get naked in the far beach once you've descended to the valley floor.)
Honoka'a Town is a quaint little stop with and nice eatery or two (good place to stop on your way back from hiking Waipio)

11. Waimea (Town) - nice stop for refreshments and couple of cool shops

12. Hawi and Kapa'a small towns in North Kohala - Hawi has nice art boutiques and historical sites, I highly recommend Sushi Rock (cafe/restaurant). There are also nice lookout point at the far north tip of the island.

13. World-Class Beaches along Kona-Kohala coast -- Spencer Beach Park is a good place to stop for a swim or shower (or picnic/bbq),
Hapuna Beach, Mauan Kea Beach, Waikolao In some case, they appear to be private, but just being dominated by the big resorts. Citizens have access right to the public beaches ocated inside (almost anywhere in Hawaii) - so don't hesitate to drive in and tell them you are going to the beach. They can be crowded and full of tourists but they are worth seeing.

Puako, the Big Island's best spot for snorkeling and viewing turtles, tropical fish species, and coral is the Puako coastline. Just stop at any public access point along Puako Road found in between the multi-million dollar homes. Be careful when entering the water, as it can be tricky. You won't have to go far to see sea life, and it's also a great sport for scuba diving, too, from shore.

14. If you have time, then a drive around the southern tip of the Big Island makes a wonderful trip. Some people enjoy visiting Green Sand Beach at Ka Lae, (South Point), the most southern point in the USA. There are great sites along the route. However, traffic can get bad when you reach populated areas in south Kona because it's only a two-lane highway, so plan ahead.

An alternate route is to take the Saddle Back Road from Kona to Hilo via the moutain road that passes over the hump between the two main mountains, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. It's great if you traveling at sunset (or sunrise).

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Russian River - Cool and classy gay summer getaway

The Russian River resort and recreation area,

located about 70 miles from San Francisco, California, has changed somewhat since I used to visit there regularly. Then there was the flood of 2006. Some establishments were just wiped off the map - so to speak. Others would recuperate after the expense of repairs and loss of business and have come back with gusto. Others decided to go 'straight' and clean up their act. However, the area is thriving both as a wine producing area that - to some degree - rivals its high profile neighbor, Napa Valley, and as a summer resort / recreation area which has a long tradition of attracting gay and lesbians day-trippers and vacationers. The main 'town' is Guerneville, CA - but there are a sprinkling of little hamlets nestled along the banks of the meandering Russian River as flows quietly to the Pacific Ocean or scattered through Sonoma County.

Russian River remains a great destination for San Francisco residents to escape the urban din or anyone visiting the state or city who wants a more laid-back and pastoral travel experience. It offers a lot: canoeing or rafting on the gentle Russian River, vineyard visits and wine-tasting tours, outdoor recreation like hiking and horseback riding, and all with a hour or so from other great sites, such as San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, Fisherman's Wharf, The Castro, and the Sonoma Coast Beach Parks along with Bodega Bay.



See more info at: http://www.gayrussianriver.com/



Although I have been there recently since I did go for the Russian River Winegrower's Association Grape to Glass Wine Festival last year Aug 13-15, 2009, I stayed at Highlands Resort. It will be held again this year from August 20 - 22, 2010. You can find the details at:


http://www.rrvw.org/grape-to-glass/

I just love that Russian River Pinot Noir! It's light red with a delightful bouquet of tastes given to it by the fog along the banks of the Russian River. It was actually my first time to try it, and I have been a big fan of it ever since.


I've already mentioned Highland Resort allows nudity around pool and also at the jacuzzi. It is sometimes hard to book a room/cabin at either so make up you mind soon.
Last year, I greatly enjoyed the Grape To Glass (Russian River Winegrowers Annual Festival). You can take part in
three days of fine wine, food, music, art and recreation in the vineyards and neighborhoods of the Russian River Valley:

Unique In Depth Tours • Virtual Photo Contest • Live Concert • Cycling & Kayaking • Hog in The Fog BBQ • Live & Silent Auctions • Sparkling Brunch


I didn't attend all the events at Grape to Glass last year, but the private vintner tours and wine-tasting were very nice, especially if you get to meet the winemaker (and all the staff who help grow it).
The Saturday massive wine-tasting party and barbeque, called
Hog in The Fog BBQ, was quite nice as well.

As far as I know, the only clothing-optional resorts are Highland Resort and The Woods.

Highlands Resort http://www.highlandsresort.com/
Nudity is allowed at the pool and and in the hot tub.

The Woods http://rrwoods.com/ The Woods resort allows nudity around and in the pool.

There are other places listed here: http://www.gayrussianriver.com/

Fife's has changed hands, now known as Fern Grove Cottages is a gay-friendly resort. It seems the new owners wanted it to be a 'classy' place so they put an end to the camping (I used to try to be nude whenever possible), and also to the cruising (anonymous outdoor sex) that used to go on on its grounds. Too bad! However, things like that have a way of restarting - but I cannot vouch for that.

RRR (Russian River Resort) is another popular gay accommodation right in Guerneville. RRR used to allow nudity in its enclosed hot tub area, but not at their pool, and it may still do so. You can probably still buy a day-pass to get in and use the pool.

RRR was remodeled in 2006 after the flood. They have a new saline pool, hot tub, poolside bar/BBQ, indoor bar and piano bar. The resort also has the wonderful Triple R Bar & Grill restaurant. We are a host resort for many wonderful annual events as well as providing live weekly entertainment.

See their website at: http://www.russianriverresort.com/

There is also a nude beach (of sorts) out on the river, but I have never been able to get anyone to explain exactly how to get to it, so I have never been there myself. It's not close to town evidently and takes a good while to walk (or drive).

Horseback riding in the redwood forest (nearby) and winery (wine-tasting) visits, plus floating down the Russian River make for a great week (or weekend of fun).

Armstrong Woods Trail Rides http://www.redwoodhorses.com/

See other activities links at: http://www.gayrussianriver.com/activities.html

Sometime there are events at the gay bars that bring in more people, but it was mostly just a few people whenever I was there in the off weekend.


There is a old theater in downtown Guerneville that hosts a repetoire of classic and kooky favorities plays and shows, such as The Rocky Horror Show, (or at least it had been doing so.) There are also a couple of jazz and rock music festivals and other events, like a airshow that happen throughout the year.

For those who enjoy camping, you can camp out at Highland Resort, or at Johnson's a RV and tent campground riverside right in town.

I r
ecommend driving back from Guerneville to San Francisco via the Sonoma Coast (at least part of the way) and stopping along the road at Bodega Bay, which was a location of the Hitchcock film, The Birds. However, it's pristine coastline views are gorgeous (when the fog has lifted). That fog is what flows up the Russian River and adds to the makeup of flavors in the Russian River pinot noir grapes.




Sunday, July 04, 2010