Since you have found this page, it is likely that you are considering traveling to the Big Island of Hawai'i. For those who are visiting us from another island or across the ocean, these travel tips can help you be better prepared to get around the island.
Transportation and Travel
Flights
When booking travel to the Big Island, consider time restrictions at FPG Plant & Animal Sanctuary. Visiting hours are between 10am and 3pm, by appointment only. Work-traders on their first day should arrive at the sanctuary before sunset, which is about 5:30pm in the winter and 7:30pm in the summer.
Airlines
The closest airport to FPG Plant & Animal Sanctuary is Hilo Airport (ITO). Hawaiian, Mokulele, Southwest, and United all fly into this airport. Out of all of them, Southwest has the cheapest flights. They offer two checked bags for free. The easiest way to get to the sanctuary from Hilo airport is with Uber or Lyft, which runs about $40-50. You can take the bus, but it will take about 2 hours and require two transfers.
Flights into Kona Airport tend to be cheaper than flights into Hilo. However these savings would be offset through extended travel time and paying for an overnight stay in Kona or an Uber/Lyft across the island. Cross-island buses, although free, will take three hours to get you between Kona Airport and Hilo. Route 2 leaves the airport at 1:54 pm and will get you to the Hilo bus terminal around 4:19 pm. If your flight lands after 1:15 pm, you will most likely need to take an Uber or Lyft. From Kona it costs about $150-200. Hotel and hostel stays start at around $90 per night.
If you are going to be work-trading with us, please let us know when you book your flight so we can add you to our schedule. Your work-trade position is not confirmed until we have this commitment from you. Thank you for your understanding.
Visas & Entry
Each country has its own visa process, which can take weeks or months to complete. Check the Department of State website for official information on the Visa Waiver Program. The following information is only what we have heard from prior international work-traders:
Most international work-traders visit us on a tourist visa. We do not pay wages, so a tourist visa is usually appropriate. Otherwise, if you are lining up any paid gigs with other organisations on your visit then a work visa is required. Please check with your local US consulate regarding all of the rules, limitations, and allowances that apply to the visa you choose.
Agricultural Checkpoints
The movement of plants and animals to and from Hawai'i is restricted. Rightfully so. History has many stories of plants and animals brought here intentionally or by accident. Every incident has proven to be a problem for our island's sensitive habitat.
Travel to Hawai'i
On your flight to Hawai'i, your flight attendant will hand you an agricultural checkpoint card. Be sure to have a pen ready to fill out the form. We ask that you do not bring any animal products or raw vegetables to Hawai'i. If you brought them to snack on during the long flight, please be sure to finish the food before landing. Sharing with your fellow passengers is pono.
Leaving Hawai'i
When you leave the kingdom of Hawai'i, you will be required to have your bags inspected for agriculture. When you first get to the airport, place your checked luggage on the agricultural checkpoint conveyor belt. They will tag the handle with a colorful sticker. Once you collect your bag(s) you can continue to the ticket counter to check your luggage. Between the TSA checkpoint and your gate, you are required to have your hand luggage checked. Place the bags on the conveyor belt. If the agricultural officer did not detect plant matter in your bags, you can pick them up at the other side of the scanner.
For our international visitors, you will get a customs form before you arrive at your destination country. One of the questions may ask you if you have been on a farm or encountered livestock. You must answer "Yes" to both of these questions. Depending on your country, you may be asked to have your footwear scanned or inspected for harmful matter.
Buses
Between 2022-2023, our local bus system replaced all of its busses with new ones. The drivers are friendly, and you get to explore the Big Island in comfort. Through a COVID grant the busses are free until the end of 2024.
Know that the bus system operates in a mainly agricultural environment, not an urban environment. As such, buses are infrequent and often late. Good planning and lots of patience will help you use the bus system.
There are three types of bus routes. One-digit route numbers link Kona with Hilo (Route 2 leaves Kona airport at 1:54 pm). Two-digit route numbers travel along the major roads. Three-digit route numbers go into the community roads on a semi-regular basis. Check the bus schedule or the Transit option of your map app. Routes 10, 11, 40, and 403 will be the most common routes you would use. Call Hele-On at +1 (808) 961-8744 or +1 (808) 969-3163 to determine when the next bus is coming.
Route 403 passes our sanctuary front gate on its way to/from Kopua Farm Lots and Eden Roc. It runs every two hours between 10am and 6pm. The last 403 bus back to the sanctuary leaves Kea'au at 5:10pm.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking and riding in the bed of a pickup truck are activities that are not allowed in the continental US. On the Big Island of Hawai'i, though, some do this as their preferred way of traveling around the island. As always, use common sense and your better judgment before accepting rides from strangers. You can always call a manager on duty for assistance in getting you to your destination safely.
Car Rental
You can rent a vehicle from one of the established rental companies on the island, or through other car-sharing vendors, like Turo. It is typically cheaper to choose a car rental company outside of the airport.
How can I use my phone in the US?
Common phone networks in Hawai'i are Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. All have good service at the sanctuary and around much of the island. If you have an unlocked cellphone, meaning you can switch carriers, you can stop off at Walmart or Target and get a prepaid SIM card. Replacing your current SIM card with this one will give you a US phone number to use while you are here. Keep your original SIM card!
People will not be able to call you on your old phone number until you turn off the phone and swap out the US SIM card with your original card. Most of our international travelers use WhatsApp, so you will still be able to contact your existing family and friends and provide them with the temporary US phone number for your stay.
If you don't have an unlocked phone, you can get a "burner phone" with limited call minutes and text messages for your stay. Walmart and Target has these phones as well, but purchasing another phone does further impact our environmental footprint. Another choice would be to use the Wi-Fi at the sanctuary and at various Wi-Fi hotspots around the island.
