The next island we are going to explore is The Big Island 🌴 This is the Island I grew up on until about upper elementary and then my family moved to Oahu 😊
Now there are 2 major sides too this island Hilo and Kona and both have an airport so make sure to check both when looking for flights 😊 One side of the island is more “touristy” than the other I would say.. and that would be Kona that is where you will find all your “nicer” hotels 🤣
Hurricane season is from June 1 through November 30… So it may be a little rainier than usual.
Now the color of our sand is a little different than most are used to 🤣 We have black, crystal green, white, coral and fresh lava rock.
Sooo on to the good stuff 🤣
Top Hotels on the Big Island
- Fairmount Orchard
- Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
- The Weston Hapuna Beach
- Hawaii Island Retreat
- Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Best Beaches
- Kiholo Bay
- Mauna Kea (arrive early to get a permit to park at the hotel.. the beach is free)
- Kua Bay
- Green Sand Beach (Mahana)
- Kahalu’u
- Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
Best Hiking
• Kilauea’iki Trail
– 4 miles – difficulty medium
• Waipi’o Valley
– 6.5 miles – difficulty medium
• Pololu Valley
– 2.5 miles – difficulty easy
• Hawaiian Botanical Gardens (fee)
– 1.5 miles – difficulty easy
• Mauna Loa Lookout
– at least 1.5 miles – difficulty easy
Best Eats
- Manta – Known for breakfast buffet but you MUST TRY the dinner entrees Macadamia Nut Encrusted Mahi Mahi
- Island Fish & Chips – Inside Kings shops are Waikoloa by the koi pond
- Hula Hula’s
- Merriman’s
- Kona Brewing Company
- Cafe 100
- L & L Hawaiian Barbeque
- Longboard Legends Pizza
- Tex Drive-In
Vegan/Vegetarian Eat
- Sweet Potato Kitchen and Bakery
- Under the Bodhi Tree
- Basik Açaí
- The Booch Bar
- Kamana Kitchen
Things To Do
- Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Visitor Center
- Stargaze atop Mauna Kea
- Tour a coffee plantation in Kona
- See historic Kona
- Rainbow Falls
- Akaka Falls ($5 for vehicles)
- Downtown Hilo
- Hawaii Volcano National Park
- Dinner at Volcano House (Also known as The Rim)
**Please remember don’t remove lava rocks from the island it’s bad luck**
I hope you find this information useful! Until next time!!
Remember if you would like to book a trip to Hawaii or any other destination please drop me a line 😍
Windy
Travel Agent 🌴