There may be affiliate links in my posts to products I use and like. If you take action after clicking on the link (i.e. make a purchase), I’ll earn money to support my next adventure. I appreciate your support.
In 2017 I checked destination: Hawaii off my vacation bucket list.
For our first trip to Hawaii, we spent 13 days exploring the Big Island of Hawaii. Since that time, we’ve had the privilege to visit two additional Hawaiian Islands: Kauai and Maui. However, the Island of Hawaii, the Big Island, is my favorite.
Beaches
A trip to Hawaii must include sun-kissed beaches. When it comes to beaches, the Big Island does not disappoint. The Big Island is home to many beautiful, picture-perfect white sand beaches. Surprisingly, it is also home to other unique beaches including black and green sand beaches.
Hapuna Beach State Park.
Hapuna Beach State Park is an international Top Ten listed beach. Hapuna is a gorgeous white sand beach that is great for the whole family. There is easy parking, there are restrooms nearby, and the swimming is perfect. We spent half a day or so lounging on the beach and swimming in the gorgeous Pacific Ocean. For us, this was a great beach to use our snorkeling gear. We also had fun playing with our underwater camera. Hapuna beach is the ideal beach day. Highly recommended.
Makalawena beach.
While Hapuna is beautiful it can become crowded with tourists. We found ourselves looking for an equally beautiful beach with fewer tourists. Prior to our trip my boss lent me a travel guidebook, the Hawaii the Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook. In this guidebook I learned about Makalawena beach, a white sand beach that few visitors know about or visit. It sounded perfect.
For us, Makalawena beach was perfect. However, before making the trip there are a few things to know. Visiting Makalawena beach is an adventure. A little effort is required to access Makalawena beach. If you can, and are willing to make the effort, you will be rewarded.
First, don’t make the same mistake we did. Only attempt to access the beach if you have a taller 4-wheel drive vehicle. Seriously, I don’t think the car rental place was very happy when we returned our Ford Mustang…that is a story for another time.
To get to Makalawena beach we took a very rough offroad to access a small parking area, and from there we walked. Not far into the walk is Mahaiula Bay. The bay is a beautiful spot. Many visitors made the bay their stopping point. However, we were committed to finding Makalawena beach, so we carried on. I don’t remember the exact distance but I would guess we walked approximately a mile over slightly rough terrain. Portions of the path were through old lava beds and very rough. After what felt like a long time (but, probably wasn’t that long), we came upon the most stunning white sand beach I have ever seen. And, even better, we were the only ones there! The water was perfect temperature and calm…great for swimming.
If you decide to make the trip, you should note that there are no facilities or water available. I highly recommend taking water and snacks, but only take what you need and nothing more. Whatever is taken in must be carried out.
Pololu Valley Lookout.
Pololu Valley Lookout overlooks a beautiful black sand beach. After a short moderate-level hike down (so more difficult when hiking back), it is possible to explore this beach. The trip to Pololu Valley Lookout made for a nice day trip from Kona or Hilo. Pololu Valley Lookout is at the very end of the road at the northern tip of the island. I recommend stopping in Waimea as part of the trip to Pololu Valley. In Waimea, I was pleasantly surprised to find cattle, ranches, and cowboys. Another thing to love about Hawaii – beaches and cowboys.
Papakōlea Beach.
Papakōlea beach is a unique green sand beach at the southernmost point of the island. Reaching Papakolea beach is another great day trip from Kona or Hilo. When we arrived at the parking lot there were a few locals willing to drive folks in their truck beds to the beach—for a small fee. If drivers aren’t available, the beach can be reached by hiking across approximately two miles of relatively flat terrain.
WhilePapakōlea beach is a rare experience, the southern shoreline is very windy. I found the waves atPapakōlea beach a little rough. There were no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk.
Like other secluded breaches, if you decide to make the trip, you should be aware there are no facilities or water available. I highly recommend taking water and snacks but only take what you need and nothing more. Whatever is taken in must be carried out.
Pro tip: the resorts and hotels often have beach chairs and umbrellas to use or rent. I recommend checking with the front desk before stopping at Walmart.
Tours
On our first day on the island, we stopped by the concierge desk. I’m really glad we made this stop because we walked away with an organized plan for us to maximize our time on the island. In addition to beach days, we scheduled a handful of tours.
Helicopter tour.
If you can afford it, I definitely recommend a helicopter tour. With over 4 thousand miles to explore, a helicopter lets you experience more of Hawaii beyond strictly exploring by land. With continuous lava flow into the ocean, the island of Hawaii grows daily. You can watch lava pouring into the ocean from the helicopter windows. The concierge booked us a good price through Paradise Helicopters. Our tour took us over the active volcano, along the coastline, above beautiful waterfalls, and landed on a scenic overlook ridge.
Snorkeling.
While staying on the Kona-side of the island we took a snorkeling tour. I suspect the water on the western side of the island is best for snorkeling. Our snorkeling tour took us down the coastline to the Captain James Cook Monument. This bay had beautiful, calm, warm water perfect for snorkeling. Along the way we came upon a pod of dolphins. The captain stopped the boat and allowed us to swim with the dolphins. It was such a cool experience. On the way back we were fed a light lunch.
Sunset cruise.
If you are looking for a couples activity, I recommend a sunset tour. If I remember correctly, we booked the Body Glove dinner cruise. This cruise is also on the Kona-side of the island and cruises down the coastline to the Captain James Cook Monument. After reaching the bay, we were served a warm dinner and then cruised back as the sun began to set. It was a perfect photo opportunity. On this cruise we stopped to watch a dolphin pod. The evening cruise was enjoyable and relaxing. I wouldn’t recommend for small children.
Zipline.
Like many of my experiences on the Big Island, ziplining was a first for me. We booked our zipline trip while staying on the Hilo-side of the island. Our tour took us up into the rainforest and we ziplined over lush greenery and beautiful waterfalls. Halfway through our tour we stopped in an outdoor stand and enjoyed local snacks and drinks. I found the zipline staff fun and very focused on safety. The company had good equipment. I would definitely do this activity again.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
While on the Hilo-side of the island, we visited the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I highly recommend this visit. It is a rare to get so close to an active volcano. We booked this stop through a tour company. Among other highlights, we were guided through old lava tubes up to the active crater.
Volcano Winery.
On our way to the national park, our tour stopped by the Volcano Winery. Prior to our visit to the island, I hadn’t connected Hawaii with a winery; just another reason why this island is so awesome. At this stop a we received a tour of the winery, were given wine samples, and enjoyed a delicious BBQ dinner.
Food
Luau.
The luau on the big island is my favoriteluau experience. The luau food is delicious: kalua pork, steamed rice, fish poke, fresh-cut pineapple, banana bread, and much more. In addition to the food, luaus are also a fun way to learn and experience the Hawaiian culture. At the luau on the big island, we experienced a traditional imu ceremony (the removal of the pig roast), received a hula lesson, and enjoyed the Polynesian storytelling and Samoan fire dancing. Luaus are a great experience for couples and families; this is a must-do when in Hawaii.
Loco Moco.
I learned about loco moco on this first trip to Hawaii. It was the first thing I ordered on my second trip; it’s that delicious. The dish is simple and surprisingly tasty. It’s the perfect lunch or dinner plate – a beef patty on a bed of steamed rice, covered in gravy, and topped with a fried egg.
Malasadas.
Malasadas, a Portuguese fried dough, is similar to a donut. They are perfectly raised yeast dough, fried to perfection, and coated with sugar (and sometimes filled with jelly or pastry cream). Malasadas are a must try while in Hawaii. They can be purchased in many locations across the island. However, if you happen to visit the Papakōlea Beach (the green sand beach), you should plan to stop by “the southernmost bakery in the USA”, Punalu’u Bake shop. Make the stop; you won’t regret it.
Farmers’ Market.
Fresh fruit and vegetables can be found at different stands across the island. However, if you are on the Hilo side of the island, I highly recommend visiting the Hilo Farmers Market. The Hilo Farmers Market not only provides an abundance of fresh produce and flower options, but you can also grab a lunch plate or purchase other Hawaiianspecialties. These include food, crafts, art, and clothing. The farmers’ market is a great place to pick up souvenirs; just remember TSA may not allow fresh produce and flowers to be taken on the plane.
If you are thinking about a trip to Hawaii and are unsure of which island to visit, I highly recommend Hawaii, the big island. As you can see from the fourteen recommendations above, there are many diverse things to do on the Big Island. With a variety of beaches and tours, a vacation to the big island is guaranteed to be enjoyable. However, for me, it wasn’t only the beaches, tours, or food that made for an excellent vacation. It was also the people that made the experience. Every person we encountered on our trip was kind and extended the aloha spirit. I hope you take the trip. Mahalo!
