I know someone that wants to hike to Half Dome in the first week of May. She finishes her first year of college then, and wants to do it then before summer gets too busy (other trips, college volleyball team training, etc.)
I've been up several times, so I know with all of the snow there will be several issues on the trail.
Mist Trail should be open by then. Will sub-dome still have snow? Cables most likely will still be down?
Suggestions for alternate challenging dayhikes from the valley:
Yosemite Falls Trail(I've done this as well, but last Fall when not much water and no heat.)
Will Glacier Point bus be going yet? If not, Up 4-Mile Trail(will it be open then?), then down the Panorama Trail.
Other suggestions?