Aloha, Anniversary: Big Island Bliss
The Big Island of Hawaii, also known as Hawaiʻi Island, is a tropical gem often overshadowed by the more well-known Hawaiian destinations like Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai. But this breathtaking island is a must-visit destination, offering a unique and unforgettable experience for those who desire to venture off the beaten path. It’s a destination teeming with natural wonder, from the volcanic rock extending from the peaks of Mauna Kea to white sandy beaches where the sun melts into the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean.
My fiancé, Andrew, and I decided to spend our sixth anniversary immersed in Hawaiian charm on the Big Island with our dear friends Nate and Katelyn, who just so happen to share an anniversary date with us. The four of us celebrated our relationships on an eight-day vacation in Kona, lounging on pristine beaches, hiking volcanoes, and exploring the lush tropical forests!
In this blog post, we’re excited to share our visit to the Big Island of Hawaii through the eyes of seasoned travel experts and first-time visitors alike. You’ll get an insider’s look at our itinerary along with expert tips and hidden gems to inspire your own unforgettable getaway to this vibrant island where you, too, can soak in all the charm and romance it offers!
The coastline at Mauna Loa Village, just outside of Kona, Hawaii.
Let’s Start with the Beaches:
When travelers picture a vacation in Hawaii, white-sand beaches are often high on the list of must-haves. Fortunately, the Big Island offers several pristine sandy beaches where you can soak in the sun, enjoy a bubbly drink, catch some waves, or float on the salty Pacific Ocean.
Our group spent the majority of our beach days relaxing at White Sands Beach Park, conveniently located near the Mauna Loa Village where we stayed for the entirety of our vacation. This beach is popular with tourists and locals alike, but it was by no means over crowded at any point when we were there soaking in the sun.
We were able to reserve sun loungers, a cooler, and an umbrella from our resort that we brought with us for each visit and we never had trouble finding a good spot to set up our “base camp” each day. We spent countless hours swimming, laying in the sand, and soaking in the laid-back Hawaiian vibe of this particular beach including picnicking for lunch on two separate occasions. We were even visited by a sea turtle on this particular beach!
Another great beach spot is Manini'owali Beach (Kua Bay), located just outside of Kona. Kua Bay is actually a state park, so the area is both idealistic and undisturbed aside from the few visitors it gets each day. This beach is less populated than those inside the city of Kona, but you’ll need to bring plenty of water, food, and boozy beverages with you since there are no stores within a half-hour drive.
Kona also has several black-sand beaches and one green-sand beach that make for excellent adventures. The black-sand is created by copious lava flows from Mauna Kea and the crushing power of the ocean waves. The green sand is created by a common mineral in Big Island lava called olivine, which stays deposited on this beach because it is heavier than the other components of the lava. Both kinds are located further away from Kona and Hilo, the two largest cities on the island, but they are worth a visit for pictures alone!
Volcanoes National Park:
On our second day visiting Hawai’i island, the four of us hopped in our rental car and drove up to one of the calderas that formed the island nearly 70 million years ago. Volcanoes National Park is maintained and studied to this day by geologists and natural researchers, but we were fortunate enough to hike around the the volcano, travel through a now cooled lava tube, and witness several steam vents in action!
The National Park Service maintains this globally recognized natural wonder for visitors the world over to marvel at its beauty. Within the park, there is a hotel, restaurant, and museum (with a gift ship), where visitors can learn the cultural and geological history of the volcanoes and come to understand how the Hawaiian islands were formed.
Our group chose to embark on a longer hike so that we could visit a lava tube that researchers have deemed safe to traverse. The mouth of the tube stands about 15-by-10 feet and narrows to a passageway that measures about 10-by-10 feet, which we followed to travel below the lush forest that has grown across the entire volcano. After a brief 15 minuets under ground, we emerged near the top of the caldera for a breathtaking view.
This national park is a can’t-miss location when visiting Hawai’i Island, especially if you and your traveling group enjoy hiking and a bit of adventurer. Even if you don’t want to hike, I highly recommend taking the time to drive for a visit to the museum and the volcano overlook, which are all accessible by car.
Steam rising from an active vent within the tunnels of the volcano.
Hilo - Tropical Bioreserve & Rainbow Falls:
Kona, the city where we stayed on our vacation, is on the western side of the island, but Hilo, the other major city on Hawai’i Island, is located just opposite on the eastern side. Here, we went to visit the Tropical Biroreserve, Rainbow Falls, and Mauna Kea.
The Tropical Bioreserve is a protected part of the island that was founded in 1977 with explicit purpose of preserving the natural beauty of Hawaii by providing a singular place where visitors can explore the unique flora and fauna of the islands without disturbing the actual tropical forests and wet lands.
We visited the Bioreserve during a bit of rain to see flowers in literally every color and shape I can imagine, trees with leaves larger than my own body, and crashing ocean waves on tide pools populated by local crustaceans of all kinds. The four of us agree, this destination was one of the most special parts of our vacation despite (or maybe because of) the humid rain adorning each petal with shining, diamond-like droplets of warm water.
Rainbow Falls is located just outside of Hilo, so close to the city that you absolutely have to visit if you’re there! Unlike many other destinations on the island, you can simply drive there, park, and arrive at the waterfall without any additional walking/hiking needed.
We spent about a half hour here enjoying the sound of cascading water while sitting underneath a truly massive tree. We did see a few people who had hiked down to the bottom of the falls to swim in the pool below as well, but we decided to skip the swim.
Overall, another must-visit location in Hilo located close to the local farmers market where we acquired island-made souvenirs and some delicious shaved ice!
Rainbow Falls, just outside of Hilo, Hawai’i Island.
Hawaiian Delicacies:
Food is an important part of any vacation, and Hawai’i Island did not disappoint any of us in this regard!
The four of us went to Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill on our anniversary for dinner. Jackie Rey's is a popular Kona restaurant serving upscale Hawaiian and Japanese food with a focus on seafood. Katelyn and I indulged in some incredible scallop and swordfish dishes while Nate and Andrew opted for tasty land-based cuisine.
You also can’t miss O’s Kitchen, an unmatched food-truck style kitchen serving up mouth-watering Japanese food alongside Hawaiian treats like the most delectable shaved ice I’ve ever had and spam musubi. We stopped here after a long hike and couldn’t have been more impressed!
For eating in Hilo, we adored Hawaiian Style Cafe, which treated us to an assortment of Hawaiian, mainland-American, and Japanese food. We all loved each dish we ordered and the atmosphere was unique and inviting!
Activities on the Big Island:
Aside from lounging on the beaches, visiting volcanoes, and admiring waterfalls, our group did engage in a few awe-inspiring activities while on vacation in Kona.
For one, we decided to hike to the Captain Cook Monument that marks where his ship first landed on the Big Island. The hike itself was absolutely gorgeous with floral-covered trails, rocky vistas, and a great view over the Pacific. When we got down to the shore, Nate took a swim in the perfectly clear water while the rest of us relaxed in the tide pools, which are now a popular snorkeling spot full of bright yellow fish.
What we didn’t realize initially, is that the hike down to Captain Cooks’ monument includes 2000 feet of elevation. We became acutely aware of the fact as we started back up the cliff side. If you choose to go on this hike, bring plenty of water and take it slow on the way back up!
We also took part in one of the coolest excursions I’ve ever done in my life: swimming with Hawaiian manta rays. These gentle giants gather on the shores of Hawai’i Island every night to feed on shrimp, krill, and plankton in large numbers before swimming farther out into the Pacific by morning.
We boarded a ship with 20 or so other travelers at around 10 pm on our last night in Hawaii to visit these amazing creatures armed with wet suits and our own curiosity. Once we arrived at a suitable location a mile or so out from shore, our guides gave us snorkels and pool noodles before releasing large surf-boards into the water that have been modified with lights and handles for us to hold. Using the noodle to float, we each dipped into the ocean and held onto the surf board to wait for manta rays to swim by.
The lights under the surf board attract plankton to the surface of the water in the same way the sun does during the day, which in turn attracts the manta rays to sweep as close as a few inches below the board to have themselves a late-night snack! We saw nearly 20 manta rays swooping, looping, and snacking no more than a foot away from our goggled faces. All four of us agreed that this experience was so special and that it is an activity that no one can miss when they visit the island!
Contact us today to plan your own visit to the Big Island of Hawaii!
I cannot possibly overstate the natural beauty and charm of this tropical hidden gem! You have to visit to truly understand, so reach out to us today! You’ll have access to our expert services including the insider tips we didn’t include above.
