Hawaii, or the “Big Island” as it’s called, is the largest island in the Hawaii chain. You could fit the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Maui, and Molokai in it and still have room to spare. It takes about 8 hours of nonstop driving to cover the island’s perimeter, though it’s a drive worth taking – new and beautiful vistas open up at every turn. Hawaii’s got a startlingly diverse geography, with a desert-like western half known as the “Kona side,” and a much more tropical eastern “Hilo side.”
The Big Island is packed with sights to see and adventures to go on; it’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream!
Come with me on my Hawaiian journey…
Aloha, Hawaii
I landed on the Kona side of Hawaii. The airstrip is built right on top of a lava flow, carved into the igneous rock. It’s quite unique and beautiful, and a reminder of what you actually just landed on: a group of five volcanoes. Hard to imagine that a few hundred thousand years ago, this beautiful and abundant island was just a desolate black rock.
Immediately after arrival, I hurried to the rental lot. I suggest that you rent a car, as it’s one of the best ways to experience the island. GPS in hand, I set out for the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Kona. The resort is located on the historic site of Kaupulehu, about a 10-minute drive from the airport, laid out along half a mile of white Kohala coastline. It’s an incredible piece of land, and the resort takes great care in keeping with the nature and solitude.
Four Seasons Hualalai is a quiet, serene place where you can take yourself or your family for a relaxing time. It’s got five pools, three wonderful restaurants, and a top notch fitness club. It also offers tons of recreational activities, including tennis, canoeing, surfing and, for those who want to relax while they’re relaxing, a full service spa where you can have an outdoor massage or body scrub.
Endless Adventure
Once I was settled, I ventured out of the resort, ready to take advantage of all the Big Island had to offer. There are dozens adventures to go on when you visit Hawaii; it’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream!
One of the best adventures the Big Island has to offer is a tour of an active volcano on the Hilo side of the island. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters offers the most spectacular way to see it… and really the only safe way, if you want to get in close. They provide several aerial tours, which take you over and around the volcano, over the Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa Volcanoes (now extinct), Parker Ranch, and through the Kohala Mountains to the magical 1,000-foot waterfalls that cascade down the cliffsides. It’s an experience you can’t afford to miss. Even if you don’t have time for anything else, make room for this helicopter tour. And while you’re at it, request pilot George Nischan for the adventure – he’s a great flyer and a very informative guide.
There’s another cool way to see this vast island: by boat! The ORCA Raft Adventure takes you on the ride of your life aboard their 28-foot, 350-horsepower hard bottom boat. It’s great fun and a fast way to get you in the water at Kealakekua Bay and snorkeling with spinner dolphins. Let the incredibly knowledgeable Mitch Stauffer and Kirk Hering round off the experience with detailed info about the island and its underwater life, sea caves, and lava tubes.
Did you know that the Big Island is one of the best areas to stargaze? For hundreds of years, explorers and astronomers have flocked from all over the world to Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, the highest point in the Pacific. It’s technically the tallest mountain in the world, (though more than half of it is submerged) rising 33,100 feet – more than twice the height of Mount Everest!
Mauna Kea is home to the enormous Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, where you can take guided tours up to the summit (about an 8-hour journey). But if you’re not keen on frigid day-long ascents, or if you just don’t have time for the climb, that’s okay! The Four Seasons, as well as many other resorts on the island, regularly invite expert astronomer Wayne Fukunaga (and his telescope) to share his knowledge with the visitors. It’s a very educational — and far less exhausting way to stargaze.
Scuba divers take note! If you’ve never tried a night dive, this is the place to do it. Multiple Kona diving facilities offer what’s called “dinner with the manta rays” (don’t worry, you’re not the dinner). It’s an amazing experience to be in the water with these shy sea creatures. The adults have wingspans of over 12 feet and can weigh as much as an elephant. Each manta has a descriptive pattern on its underside, and over 100 of these have been identified and studied. While I was there, three new ones were added to the list. If you’re a diving enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this one of a kind experience.
Take a Little Drive
Navigating Hawaii’s endless roads can be quite daunting at times, but driving offers some spectacular views that might otherwise be missed. Take Pu’u Mahana, for instance. Also known as the “Green Sand Beach,” it’s got a beach full of emerald sand. Yes, you read that right. Green. It’s probably the only time you’ll ever see signs urging you not to steal sand. Accessible from Highway 11, it’s a moderate 6-mile hike down to the beach area.
If for some reason you hate the color green, don’t sweat it. Instead check out one of the many black sand beaches around the island. Particularly famous is Kehena Beach, formed virtually overnight some time long ago when hot lava met sea water. Here you can explore the lava inlets, where sea turtles sometimes visit, and relax in lava-lined pools, heated by a volcanic stream to 95 °F.
In addition to gorgeous beaches, the Kona area is also known for its coffee farms. You’ll find a bunch just off Road 11, and more on the way to the green and black sand beaches. On one of these farms you can find Margaret McGuire in a makeshift tent, selling her specialized coffee from the mountains of Waialua Valley. Purchase a cup of coffee, a bag of roasted beans, or, for those not into the caffeine scene, some white chocolate and macadamia nut spread. McGuire’s coffee is called Kilauea Kofe, and is some of the best I’ve ever tasted. I recommend the Pahoehoe, a delicious dark blend.
There are some great restaurants to check out on the Big Island. Try the Kilauea Lodge, which won the Aina Award for being one of the best restaurants on the island. If you’re looking for a luau, head over to the Kona Village Resort for an evening to remember!
So Much to Do, So Little Time
There’s a tourist book I saw at the airport that says there are 101 things to do in Hawaii. If you ask me, that’s an underestimate! The entertainment and activities here are inexhaustible. You can “Go Flumin'” through the old sugar plantation waterways or Humvee-ing in the rainforest, hike under a 500-foot waterfall or ride an ATV from the mountains to the sea. You can go rafting, ride horses, roast your own coffee, watch whales, surf, kayak, visit Waimea Town, tour an ancient peace temple, and, of course, shop till you drop.
Whatever part of the Big Island you choose to visit, you’re in for a unique and unforgettable experience. And with the number of things that’ll be left to do at the end of your stay, you may just have to start planning a return visit.
I wonder how many days will it take for tourists to really enjoy Hawaii FULLY? My husband and I really want to go but we can’t figure out how long we should take. Budget isn’t an issue and we just want to have a good time without getting bored. While there are 100+ things to do in Hawaii, at some point when you stay longer than 3 days, it sometimes feels a little boring already. We’re even planning on hotel-hopping. Just so we can experience different places in a matter of days.
We stayed at the old plantation villa for a couple of days. The place is beautiful and located very close to the volcano. Reminds me of the Disney movie Moana that my daughter loves. The place definitely feels like that.
We loved our stay in Four Seasons Resort. The food was great, the pools were beautiful, the rooms were clean and all had a view of the ocean and King’s Pond where you could snorkel with little ones was the best! We loved going to sleep to the sound of the waves every night! It felt calming and it was like we were always being rocked to sleep at night. We’re considering going back next year but we’re planning on staying in another resort. While Four Seasons was a great experience, it’s nice to try other options.
I know, Four Seasons Resort is really expensive.
I like looking at travel articles from Urbanette. I don’t have a budget for another vacation just yet but I’m working on it. Looking through the articles makes me feel more inspired about saving up for my next holiday. Gotta work on this budget so fast because the list of places I want to go to is getting quite long.
Oh my, the macadamia and white chocolate spread makes my mouth water. I do wish you had photos of it though!! I have this habit of collecting jams and spreads whenever I’m on a trip. If it’s not jams and spreads, whatever the delicacy is in that area, I’d definitely give it a try. It’s a nice yummy souvenir that will always remind me of that place… During breakfast.
I’ve had them and for someone who doesn’t like sweet spreads that much, it’s amazing.
I’m so in-love with Hawaii and its wonders. It never fails to amaze me.❤️❤️❤️ The photos speak for itself!
Awww, I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii. I’m a beach bum and this is the place for me. Although some would argue that it’s a little overrated and asia has better virgin beaches, I’ve really etched it on my mind that Hawaii is the place to be when you really want an authentic tropical adventure under the sun. I’m looking forward to that time that I’m going to go there. I just don’t want to travel alone and I have never really met someone that’s well worth it to take with me. I love my friends but I want to reserve this once in a lifetime adventure with my special someone. I’m just hoping that I won’t be single forever because I won’t be able to go here, hah!
I’m posting this on facebook so my husband knows that he needs to take me here! It looks so majestic, especially the scenery. ?
The scuba diving at night is scary. I do know that Hawaii is for adventurous people but I don’t even have the courage to do that. I’ve done a couple of snorkeling adventures but I can’t hide the fact that it takes a while for me to relax once I’m in the water. I get so paranoid! I feel like the fishes are going to eat me. What more manta rays that are so big in size. I’d get scared to death! ? I do love the beach though but exploring the deep? Not exactly my thing.
I have the same fear, but then… Hawaii is not for the weak of heart!
Our experience in riding the Blue Hawaiian helicopter was fantastic and awe-inspiring. The island is truly stunning and it is impossible to see the true beauty of it without touring it by helicopter. It’s like you’re in a life-size drone! Don’t ever forget to bring cameras with great quality. A zoom lens is definitely recommended here and get our settings ready. Our pilot, while being an excellent pilot was also a brilliant tour guide. I would highly encourage anyone traveling to the islands to take advantage of this tour. You really shouldn’t miss this. It’s not a Hawaiian holiday if you don’t try this. It’s very rare for tours to have you ride on helicopters! Absolutely loved this one and it was my favorite.