The Ultimate Guide to Hawaii’s Big Island

The Big Island has both adventure and luxury experiences and I would highly recommend a visit when in the Hawaiian Islands. It is a stark contrast to the crowds of Oahu. The remote feel of the island and unique terrain made this trip a standout experience.

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Papakōlea Green Sand Beach

One of four green sand beaches in the world. Papakolea’s green sand is formed from the mineral, olivine, that has eroded from the the volcanic cone surrounding the beach. The beach is on the south side of the island close to the most southern tip of the island and the United States. We hiked 2.7 miles to get to the beach. The hike was relatively flat and took about 55 minutes.

Pro Tips:

• Get there early to avoid crowds and the sun
• Wear tennis shoes.
• Do the hike!

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Stunning beach and like nothing I have ever seen before. The black sand is formed by lava flowing into the ocean and exploding. This particular beach was formed from volcanic activity in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park  The sand was very fine and hot from the sun, like walking on hot asphalt! However, it is frequented by Green Sea turtles! We saw five turtles swim up while we were there.

Pro Tips:

• This beach requires no hiking!
• Parking lot is right next to the beach
• Green Sea Turtles sunbathe here

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Rainbow Falls

Short 5 minute drive from Hilo town. The waterfall is a great stop because it’s right off the road (no hiking required). The falls are about 80ft high! Hilo Town was more commercialized and didn’t have as much to do as we were expecting, but this stop was good find!

Saddle Road

Runs between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. We drove during sunset through the clouds and had beautiful views of both volcanoes and Hualalai above Kona. Due to the high elevation, temperatures were as low as 40 degrees fahrenheit. A big contrast from sea level that had temperatures in the 80s in December.

Keauhou Bay

Explored from the Sheraton Kona property. It had beautiful cliffs overlooking the pacific. The bay looked like a great spot to kayak or paddleboard in the morning.

Kealakekua Bay

Popular snorkeling spot near Kona. Ehu and Kai Adventures had kayaks/paddleboards ready to put into the water right from the inlet behind Manini Beach and snorkel gear for rent (There weren’t any other companies that offered this. You had to pick up at their shop). The kayak ride to Captain Cook Monument was about 40 minutes across the bay. At the bay, I snorkeled tandem to the kayak. The water was very clear, reef was beautiful and filled with small fish. Sometimes dolphins swim here  and a couple days prior humpback whales made it into the bay!!

Pu’uhonua O Hōnauna National Park

Great opportunity to learn some Hawaiian history. We completed an hour long self guided tour of the royal grounds and pu’uhonua (refuge area for people who committed crimes). Highlights included ancient strategy game called konane, the massive 18 ft wide wall, lava formations and wooden statues of Hawaiian gods.

Pololu Valley

Offered a quick scenic hike on the north end of the island. Overall, the moderate hike took about 15 minutes to get down due to steepness and muddy/slippery areas. There were great views from the hike and at the end we found another black sand beach, river and forest.

Pro tips:

• Went early in the day around 11 – no crowds and cool weather
• Quick stop – took about an hour to explore

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Kahua Ranch

This horseback riding adventure was one of the highlights of the trip. Kahua is a working cattle ranch that has 8,500 acres of beautiful green pastures. We started at Na’alapa Stables where we took out Carebear and Matt with a group of about 8-10 people for an hour and half ride. We did the afternoon ride because they were getting some rain early in the morning. My horse Carebear was a sweetheart and always wanted to be at the front of the pack! He even was featured in an Airbnb Luxury Commercial.

Kona Lava Tube

Located off the side of Route 19 right before Kekaha Kai Beach Park. This lava tube was formed when Hualalai erupted in 1801. The popular Thurston Lava Tube was closed while we were visiting so this was a good substitute. A lava tube is a natural tunnel formed within solidified lava flow.

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Hapuna State Beach

Often listed as a must do on the Big Island because of its beautiful white sand beach. Unfortunately, when we went it was too windy and crowded to enjoy. The beach is not well protected by the bay. However, not too far north is the Kauna’oa Beach at Mauna Kea Beach Resort, which also has white sand and is much more protected!

Night Dive/Snorkel with Manta Rays!

Many locals and friends said this is a must do and one of the coolest experiences on the island.  However, our luck was not great and they didn’t show up! It was still a new experience to snorkel at night. The water was very cold so wear a wetsuit! We went with Big Island Divers (most companies go to the same location). They offered us 50% off our next visit since we didn’t see the manta rays.

EAT

Punalu’u Bake Shop

Sweet stop right before the Punalu’u Black Sand Beach to get some Hawaiian treats! It had a cute gift shop with Kona coffee, cookies and trinkets for family and friends back home. The shop is known for its sweetbread, which they had in unique flavors such as guava. There was a case full of sweet treats such as Lilikoi Glazed and Chocolate filled Malasadas (donuts).

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Hilo Bay Cafe

The restaurant’s outdoor patio has a stunning view of Hilo Bay and the food was delicious and fresh. We ordered the hand cut fries, Hilo Surf Sushi Roll, and Crab Cake Salad.

Sundried Specialities

Hole in the wall lunch spot, complete with folding chairs and tables, up the hill in Kealakekua town. Here we got authentic and delicious Opakapaka and Salmon fish plates. All dishes came with Rice and Crab Mac Salad or Seaweed Salad. For dessert, we treated ourselves to Lilikoi Cheesecake. The chef said they have their own fishing boat that catches the fish fresh daily. The spot also offers fresh poke and a range of desserts. It was the perfect post-kayaking meal.

The Fish Hopper

Located in Kona Town and offers seafood dishes. We ordered the shrimp ceviche, grilled sanddabs, and the fish and shrimp sampler. However, the prices are a bit high.

Hau Tree 

Hotel beach bar at Mauna Kea Beach Resort overlooking a beautiful white sand beach. We ate lunch at the bar and enjoyed fresh and healthy quinoa salads and tropical cocktails.  

Ulu Ocean Grill

On site at the Four Seasons Hualalai. We enjoyed breakfast here daily while staying at the resort. They offered a buffet with a traditional and Hawaiian specialities as well as a la carte options. The fresh squeezed juices at the buffet were delicious!

SLEEP

Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay

This hotel is a great “bang for your buck!” It is located in south Kona and is close to many of the great snorkeling spots and Kona Town. The rooms are a little outdated, but the beds are very comfortable. The grounds are beautiful with cliffs overlooking Keauhou Bay. The resort also has a large wrap around pool. It has a cute coffee shop on site that makes great macadamia nut lattes. We did more island exploring during our stay and didn’t spend too much time on site.

Four Seasons Hualalai

The resort is a luxury option on the Big Island complete with ocean front rooms, three pools, snorkeling pond, golf course and a variety of restaurant options. During our visit, we swam with an eagle ray in the snorkeling pond,  enjoyed oceanfront brunches at Ulu and relaxed at the Palm Grove pool with craft cocktails in hand. Our friend got married onsite and hosted beautiful events across the resort.

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Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Another luxury resort option on the Big Island. This hotel has a great beach on location and is located in north of Kona. It offers great access to the north side of the island with sites such as Polulu Valley and Waimea.

Aloha and Mahalo!