8 Cool Things You Won't Want to Miss on Hawaii's Big Island

Are you heading to the Big Island of Hawaii? (also known as Hawaii.) Kona and Hilo are the two main cities and there is so much to explore between those two cities including Volcanoes National Park. Today, Audrey and Taiden Gregson (Lisa’s daughter and son-in-law), join Lisa to share 8 cool places to visit on the Big Island plus lots of great tips and insights that will make your trip run smoothly in this Hawaiian paradise.

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Are you trying to decide which Hawaiian Island to visit? Let us share many of the great things you can see, do and eat when visiting the Big Island of Hawaii!

Here are Audrey and Taiden’s Top 8 Cool Things About Hawaii

Night Snorkel with Manta Rays

  • Make sure you look through all the company options and find the cheapest option

  • All the tour companies go to the exact same spot and have the same views

  • Plan on being in the water for about 30 minutes (which felt like the right amount of time

  • The manta rays are huge! They can be up to 17 feet across.

  • Plan on a 25 - 30 minute boat out to the snorkeling site.

  • Manta Rays are gentle giants and do not pose a threat to humans.

Visit Volcanoes National Park

  • Plan to spend a full day at Volcanoes National Park

  • It’s almost 2-hour drive from Kona, so factor that into your schedule.

  • We bought a $4 cooler bag from Safeway and packed snacks and meals in it for the day.

  • Start at the visitors center! They’ll tell you if lava is flowing and where to see it. Plus they will let you know if any major attractions are closed.

  • After the visitors center we headed south to the Kilauea Iki Trail. 3 mile hike down into and across a crater. It can get cold and windy if it’s cloudy, so we’d recommend bringing a sweatshirt.

  • Then head to the furthest south part of the park to the Holei Sea Arch.

  • There are a lot of pretty lookouts along the road. Plan to stop a few times and snap some pictures.

  • There are also lava caves that are on this road that look awesome! But they were closed when we went. Ask the rangers at the visitor’s center to see if they are open the day you visit.

  • Then head back up north and past the visitors center to the other side of the park

  • Stop at the steam vents

  • Go to Uekahuna Overlook and wait for a while for the sun to set for a view of the lava

  • Then drive around the park again to the “best” lookout at Keanakokoi. Park at the devastation trailhead and walk about 1 mile to the lookout on Old Crater Road.

  • Save some energy for your drive back to Kona if that’s where you are staying.

Getting Around: HI bike Bike Share

  • The HI Bikes are a great way to get around town

  • $3.50 per 30 min ride

  • OR $10 for unlimited 30 min rides for 24 hours

  • Stations are at great locations

  • Download the PBSC app to see where the stations are and how many are available at each

Kayak and snorkel at Kealakekua Bay

  • Audrey and Taiden rented a double kayak and snorkel gear from Ehu and Kai Adventures

  • Kayak across the bay and snorkel by Captain Cook monument

  • You might see dolphins! This is a very popular place to see dolphins.

  • Chances for dolphin sitings are higher in the morning but you never know when they might be there.

Day Tip to Hilo

Yummy Food You Won’t Want to Miss!

  • Kaaloa’s Super J’s. You feel like you’re walking into someone’s kitchen! Homemade authentic Hawaiian food. Big portions and reasonable prices. Stop here on your way to Volcanoes National Park when driving from Kona.

  • On the Rocks for dinner. It’s a great place to go at sunset. It can be very busy so get there early.

  • Lava Java for delicious breakfast. The other food looks good too!

  • ABC Stores spam musubi rolls. It’s a rice, spam, and seaweed wrap.

  • Eat Haupia ice cream!!!! Roselani brand is our favorite and can sometimes be found in the local grocery stores. They tend to sell out quickly, so buy it if you see it.

  • Island Ono Loa Grill. Reasonably priced food. Yelps #8 best burger in the world

Kona Farmers’ Market

  • Do you love farmer’s markets? You won’t want to miss the Kona Farmer’s Market.

  • Closed Monday and Tuesday

  • Open Wed-Sun 7am-4pm

  • Stock up on fruits and vegetables. Lots of tropical fruit varieties are available.

  • It’s worth a few return trips during your vacation

Beaches!

As you can see, there are so many cool things to do on the Big Island of Hawaii! We hope this list will guide you to come up with a fun plan for your family when you get to visit the Big Island!

Beach, HawaiiLisa AndrewsComment