Hawai’i is an archipelago composed of 8 main islands: O’ahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island (Hawai’i), Ni’ihau, Molokai, Kaho’olawe, and Lanai. The Big Island is the biggest island of the archipelago though it is not the most populated. This is because it is one of the newest lands due to the active volcanoes.
Here’s a list of a few tips that will help you plan your trip and some things I would’ve liked to know before my trip to Big Island (Hawai’i):
- Everything closes early. That means you should always carry snacks, water, and food to avoid starving at night. We stopped at KTA supermarket (there are 7 of them on the island) for water and food, and ABC store for alcohol.
- The west and east are two different worlds. The west is sunny, dry, and warm while the east is always rainy, tropical, and verdant jungle. It will take you about 2 hours from west to east and about 3 hours north to south.
- There are 2 airports: KOA on the west side and ITO on the east side.
- You will definitely need a car to get around the
island. There are not a lot of gas stations, so plan ahead!
- We had breakfast included at the hotel but if you don’t, I recommend you visit the grocery store and grab a couple things. If you stay on the west side like we did, the breakfast restaurant options are less.
Day 1: Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station and Pu’u Kalepeamoa hike
- Lunch: We stopped at Island Lava Java at
Waikoloa on our way. They have a breakfast and lunch menu.
- The visitor center is halfway to the top of
Mauna Kea Observatory, and you are required to stop there to get used to the
elevation. We went from 700ft to 9,200ft in an hour! That was a change of
temperature from 87 to 51 degrees Fahrenheit and less air pressure.
Nevertheless, the experience, hike, and view were totally worth it. You need a
4x4 to get to the summit which is 14,000ft above sea level.
- The hike is just across the visitor center
parking lot. It was very windy, and I was a little short of breath, but the
view is amazing!
- Dinner: We visited Kona Brewery and Pub. Be
ready to wait to be seated! We went to Puna Chocolate Company and grabbed a
coffee while waiting for our table.
Day 2: Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
- We stopped at the Hilo Farmer’s Market and grabbed lilikoi (passion fruit), kuawa (guavas), and mango bread. We also saw lots of artisans and local Hawaiian artifacts.
- We grabbed sandwiches at Keaau Shopping Center to carry on our backpacks since there are no food options once you get to the National Park. Plus, the parking is limited, and we weren’t taking the risk of leaving the park and not finding parking afterward.
- The entrance fee is $30 per car. Military families enter FREE.
- Once in the park, we explored the park in the following order:
- We stopped at the visitor center for advice and to use the restroom. Make sure you bring a jacket, rain jacket, hiking/comfortable shoes, and preferably long pants.
- Steam vents – very easy to get to the parking
and just a 5-minute walk. Amazing!
- Park at the Kilauea Iki Trailhead and
walk 0.4 miles. You will see the crater from above.Cross the street to...
- Thurston Lava tube trail – it is a 0.4-mile loop trail. It was created by a river of molten lava. Now cross the street again to...
- Kilauea Iki crater – Zigzag down the
mountain about 1 mile to the crater. Be careful and make sure you carry water!
Now hike 1 mile back plus the 0.4-mile to the car.
- Kilauea Overlook - everyone wants to see the volcano during the day and night. So we drove to Devastation Trail parking lot at 3pm, took a nap, and right when we got down at 5pm there were people being turned around because the parking lot was full. The viewing area gets super busy after sunset. We took a spot on the floor, it was freezing because of the wind but we had towels and jackets to cover up and wait for it to get dark. It was definitely worth it!!!! Impressive, and such a unique experience!! Keep in mind the park is open 24/7 so if you want to avoid the crowds, going right before sunrise might be your perfect time.
- We stopped at a fast-food restaurant in Hilo before driving back to the hotel.
Day 3: Waterfalls hopping and Punalu’u Beach
- Since we stayed on the west side, we took Hwy 19 and enjoyed a beautiful panorama of the north coast and many waterfalls along the way.
- Akaka falls Park – $5 per person and $10 per
car. About a 20-minute loop trail to see the spectacular view of a 442 feet
waterfall.
- Rainbow Falls – 80-foot fall just across the parking lot. Better view in the morning and more chances to see a rainbow since the sun will shine on the waterfall.
- Ken’s House of Pancakes – We ate hamburgers and
steaksbefore a 1-hour drive to…
- Punalu’u Beach – Black sand beach created by lava flowing into the ocean. You have a lot of chances of spotting a Honu (turtle) basking or just relaxing on the beach.
Day 4: Enjoy the hotel; pool and beach day
- Hapuna Beach – we snorkeled and saw 3 turtles in
less than 10 minutes. The water was blurry, so we really didn’t enjoy
snorkeling there, but it was worth the 10 minutes. It’s a beautiful
turquoise water to swim in and sunbathe. There’s a lifeguard on duty. There is a
fee to enter but it’s everyone’s favorite beach so definitely worth a try!
- We had a late lunch at Laniakea Café at
the airport.
Mahalo!
