If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii and debating which islands to visit, consider the Big Island of Hawaii. The Island of Hawaii is the youngest and largest of all the Hawaiian Islands. Known for its diverse landscape, with climate zones ranging from cold tundra to wet tropics, this island has plenty of adventure to offer. The island is strewn with volcanic rock and is known for its many volcanoes including its young, currently active volcano, Kilauea, and the largest volcano on earth, Mauna Loa. Although the relative newness of the island does mean less sandy beaches for sunbathing, there are many awesome things to do if you are looking for adventure and incredible sights!
Go Snorkeling
Hawaii has a plethora of sheltered volcanic bays where coral and marine life flourish. There are many great spots to hop in the water and snorkel. On our recent trip we checked out Kahalu’u Beach Park. Located a half hour from the Kona airport, this is a great spot to snorkel with all experience levels. There are fish and wildlife in abundance, from shallow depths of around 3-4 feet to deeper waters up to 10 feet. If you’re lucky, you might see a sea turtle! Gear is available for rental across the street, at the Kahalu’u Bay Surf and Sea, with daily and weekly deals. The staff was friendly and helpful, they provided us with fresh picked Naupaka Leaves which we learned can be used as natural anti-fog for your snorkel goggles! Of note, there is a popular surf spot just to the right of this beach park; if you’re feeling adventurous consider renting a board as well!
Visit Kona Brewing Company
After spending the day snorkeling, stop by Kona Brewing Company for a flight and dinner. Located in Kona as the name suggests, this brewery was founded in 1994 by a father and son team. The brewery has a great vibe from the minute you arrive. There are outdoor tables with umbrellas for shade and a nice air-conditioned bar with restaurant seating if you’re tired of the heat. The menu offers a wide variety of brews, if you are a fan of craft beer a flight is a must! Their food menu offers a variety of sandwiches and salads, but I would recommend trying one of their wood fire pizzas. I got a personal sized Hawaiian Lu’au, with traditional Kalua Pork and Pineapple Salsa, which was fantastic!
Go on a Manta Ray Tour
The Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii is one of the only places in the world to see the giant manta rays up close! Often confused for sting rays of Steve Irwin infamy, manta rays are actually gentle giants. With wing spans up to 23 feet, these majestic creatures are “filter feeders” and gather zooplankton with open mouths as they swim. The best way to see these peaceful animals is by booking a night manta ray snorkel tour. Under the cover of darkness, floating light structures in the water attract plankton, which in turn attracts the manta rays. The tours are great for people of all comfort levels, the only necessary skill is being able to hold on to the light structure and breath through a snorkel. We booked a tour with Kona Style and would highly recommend their tour! After meeting the tour group, we took a beautiful sunset catamaran ride to the snorkel site. The actual “in water” tour time is 45 minutes, after which back on the boat we were provided with snacks and a warm drink. The staff were so friendly and happy to answer questions and offer recommendations for the rest of your visit, truly a highlight of our time on the Big Island.
Shop the Hilo Market
For a more relaxed day, explore the Hilo Farmers Market! Located on the northeastern coast, Hilo is the largest settlement on the island. The city’s farmers market is open 7 days a week from 7 am to 3 pm, with Wednesday and Saturday being “Big Market Days”. There are stalls and stalls of fruits and vegetables, food for a quick bite, and souvenirs. Stop and get some fresh Hawaiian fruit and watch the vendors crack a coconut for some fresh milk! The downtown of Hilo also offers an array of shops to wander through at your leisure.
Chase A Few Waterfalls
Hawaii is known for its beautiful waterfalls, and the Big Island certainly doesn’t disappoint. As with all the islands, there are many spots you may hear about by word of mouth which are not open to the public and/or are not safe for swimming. A safe, open to the public spot for some waterfall viewing is Wailuku River State Park. Located near Hilo, this state park offers beautiful views of Waianuenue (Rainbow Water) as well as Pe’ep’e Falls and the Boiling Pots. Waianuenue is an 80 foot waterfall known for the small rainbows formed in the mist of the waterfall. Further upstream, you can see Pe’epe’e Falls and the Boiling Pots. The Boiling Pots are small pools formed by lava in the past which the river runs through and bubbles and spurts as if the water is boiling (it’s not). While some do choose to climb down to this water to swim illegally, it is not known to be safe. We chose to visit Wai’ale Falls, just 6 minutes up the road, to have lunch and take a swim. This waterfall is located just off the road. There is a small trail leading to a beautiful waterfall with a generously sized swimming hole. There are many other waterfalls to visit throughout the island, with varying degrees of public access. As always, remember when you are visiting you are a guest and responsible for your own safety!
Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
A trip to the Big Island of Hawaii wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Visiting the live volcano, Kilauea, and watching lava actively spurt and flow from the ground is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced. Read our upcoming article on Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for more information!
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