Hawaii’s massive island is filled with adventures, from mountain tops to underneath the ocean, it’s probably the most various and the biggest island in Hawaii by far.
I spent three weeks on the large island, exploring the coasts and jungles in between. This itinerary consists of a number of choices relying on how a lot time you’ve got and no matter your wishes could also be.
Three Days – Seashores + Water
On condition that I’m a water lover and Hawaii has among the greatest underwater adventures attainable, I’ll begin with a brief itinerary out of Kona that includes stunning seashores and dolphins. This three day itinerary is ideal if you want to only stay within the Kona space:
Day One: Dolphins and Mantas
Start your journey with an early morning swim with wild dolphins within the bay round Kona. This is among the coolest experiences that I’ve had with marine animals. Attending to glide within the water alongside pods of dolphins is magical. You’ll be able to guide it right here.
To spherical out the day, spend a while on the seashore in between your dolphin expertise and the nighttime Manta ray snorkel. Watch as majestic Manta rays glide underneath you, feeding on the plankton that the lights mounted to the boats attracts. It doesn’t get a lot better than this for a primary day on the Big Island!
Day Two: Two Step and Inexperienced Seaside
When you didn’t get sufficient dolphins (and who can ever get sufficient?), head two step within the very early morning to see in the event you can see some extra hanging out within the bay. In any other case, this is among the greatest snorkeling spots on the island.
When you actually need one of the best of one of the best, take a look at Kealakekua Bay, which is simply accessible through kayak or snorkeling tour. When you’re open to taking one other tour, I like to recommend this one. In any other case, self drive to 2 step and convey your individual snorkel and fins.
Subsequent, drive south and spend the afternoon taking a 45 minute stroll alongside the coast to the inexperienced seashore, certainly one of solely 4 on the earth. When you nonetheless have a while left, cease by the Punalu’u black sand seashore to see Hawaiian sea turtles.
Day 3: Pololū Valley Lookout and Hapuna Seaside
Head Northwest on day three to the Pololū Valley Lookout. This is able to be an incredible spot to go to early in the event you don’t wish to share it with too many individuals and wish to see the dawn. It’s attainable to hike alongside the seashore cliffs in the event you’re up for it as properly.
End the day on the white sand seashore of Hapuna and catch the sundown earlier than heading out.
Three Days: Climbing + Mountains
When you’d favor to spend extra time on land and also you’re brief on time, then I like to recommend testing the large island’s most well-known characteristic: Volcanoes Nationwide Park. This itinerary makes much more sense if you can be flying into Hilo. Utilizing it as your base, these are the adventures you possibly can have:
Day one: Volcanoes Nationwide Park
You’re nearly assured to really feel such as you’re strolling on the floor of the moon. Although there are tons of hikes, I actually loved the Kīlauea Iki crater path and catching golden hour to sundown close to the steam vents.
Day 2: Mauna Kea
That is the one place in Hawaii the place you possibly can see snow. If you want to see a very distinctive a part of Hawaii, that is it. There are multi day hikes within the park, although you may get an incredible overview with the summit path.
Day 3: Akaka Falls and Waipi’o Valley Lookout
Go chasing waterfalls by starting the day early at Akaka Falls State Park and making your means north to the Waipi’o Valley Lookout. Get some mountain climbing in in the event you’re up for a problem, or head over to the Pololu Valley for an additional attractive lookout and a shorter hike possibility.
7 Days: Big Island Highlights
If in case you have every week or longer, hire a automobile and plan to remain throughout the island as you flip this into an epic street journey. Remember the fact that the Big Island lives as much as its title, and is surprisingly massive!
Day one: Dolphins and Mantas
Repeat the suggestion for the primary three day itinerary and swim with Mantas and dolphins. Actually, this expertise is magical!
Day two: Funky Coloured Seashores
Make your means south from Kona, stopping by two step on the way in which and arriving at inexperienced seashore round midday. Make sure you take a hat and sunscreen with you as there isn’t a protection on the stroll. You too can pay a neighborhood to drive you or take your individual Four x Four automobile, although the street was so tough I turned again.
Take into account stopping by the Southpoint cliff soar, particularly if you wish to snorkel with the fish ball.
End your day with golden hour on the black sand seashore and test into an Airbnb (right here’s a reduction off your first reserving) in volcano for the evening.
Notice that you’ll most likely wish to convey snacks or perhaps even some lunch with you. There isn’t loads of meals choices other than Naalehu close to the southern level, the place there’s a reasonably good meals truck known as Aloha Combine.
Day 3: Vocanoes
Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park is among the most original issues to do in Hawaii! There are quite a few mountain climbing trails of various distances to select from, or in the event you’re not a lot of a hiker, there are many the factors you could drive as much as.
That is what I like to recommend testing:
- Hōlei Sea Arch: In your means down Chain of Craters Highway, there are many lookouts the place you possibly can see sweeping views all the way in which up the shoreline as you make your strategy to the ocean arch. It could be an incredible spot for sundown.
- Nāhuku – Thurston Lava Tube: A brilliant cool lava tunnel – not for the claustrophobic! On the time of this writing, that is closed however they’re engaged on re-opening it.
- Kīlauea Iki Path: That is the most well-liked path within the park and for good motive. You stroll alongside the crater rim earlier than descending down into it, strolling throughout what seems like a moon panorama. If in case you have a transparent sky, this is a superb place to stargaze.
Day 4: Hilo and Waterfalls
Hilo will really feel much more authentically Hawaii than Kona does. There’s loads of nice meals on the town and since your previous couple of days could have been motion packed, it’s good to only chill and discover the city whereas testing among the waterfalls, like Rainbow falls and naturally the botanical gardens and Onomea Bay Path.
Day 5: Akaka Falls en path to Waipi’o Valley Lookout
Head to Akaka Falls State Park proper when it opens to keep away from the crowds, and proceed to make your means north to the Waipi’o Valley Lookout. I like to recommend going for slightly hike right here, or if that’s too strenuous, proceed on to Waimea. There are many ranches on this space that provide horseback using and alternatives to strive the scrumptious native espresso.
Day 6: Pololu Valley Overlook and Hike
That is certainly one of my favourite components of the large Island, the Pololu Valley. When you’re motivated, that is an incredible dawn spot. There’s additionally a hike that stretches down from the lookout and continues, nearly endlessly, although the circumstances is probably not nice the farther you go.
From right here, make your means all the way down to Hapuna seashore for the day. You’ll have stunning white sand and an unbelievable sundown.
Day 7: Head House out of Kona
Head house again out of Kona, assuming that your final day is a journey day. If not, I like to recommend working in an additional day on this itinerary in volcano in case you expertise rain, which is widespread in that space.
Two Weeks: Add in Puna and Sluggish it Down
I spent two weeks on the Big Island throughout my final go to and even that didn’t really feel like sufficient! I did the 7-day itinerary however took it slightly bit slower, spending a whole day on the Southern level cliff soar and a number of days in Volcanoes Nationwide Park, in addition to a day in Puna doing the Pepeekeo Scenic Drive. I used to be additionally home looking, which you’ll see on YouTube.
Subsequent time I’m on the market, I plan to do much more mountain climbing round Mauna Kea, which was closed once I was there, and to spend extra time on the Hamakua coast. When you’re in search of true Hawaiian magnificence, love the dawn, and peace and quiet enchantment to you, it doesn’t get a lot better. Couple that with the quite a few waterfalls and beautiful views and also you’ve acquired my favourite a part of the Big Island.
I’m nonetheless exploring and attending to realize it, however I might extremely suggest performing some multi-day hikes on the large Island, if that’s what you’re into, and exploring the Hawaiian tradition and historical past. Make sure you reference this publish which fits geographically from Kona, down south then east to Hilo, after which again up and round, for the complete itemizing of the entire greatest issues to do in Hawaii.
Benefit from the island, it’s my favourite out of all of them.
PLEASE: When touring in Hawaii, swear off plastic. Take refillable water bottles and buying baggage, and don’t purchase objects that are available single use plastic, like tender drinks, fruit, bagged lettuce and many others. Hawaii not recycles plastic or paper! Please assist hold the islands clear.
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