Upon arrival on the Big Island of Hawaii, visitors may be surprised by the rich geographical diversity that can be overwhelming upon first glance. With a stunning coastline, sharp volcanic slopes, and breathtaking canyons, anyone with an affection for the great outdoors will be unable to resist the urge to explore all this spectacular island has to offer. Head to the Big Island for your next vacation and experience the majestic nature of this jewel in the Pacific Ocean.
With its prime position in the middle of the Pacific, there are bound to be a number of activities you simply cannot wait to participate in after arriving on the Big Island. Whether you are staying on the coast or further inland, you should consider heading out into the depths of the ocean to some of the most secluded and spectacular spots in Hawaii. You can swim with exotic fish, circle gorgeous reefs, and view ancient lava flows on a diving or snorkeling excursion or stay inside the boat for a cruise in search of dolphins, whales, and manta rays.
If you are looking for a more thrilling, heart-pumping adventure, hop aboard a deep sea fishing charter for a try at some of the big fish off of the Kona coast. There are numerous fishing boats that will take you in search of marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, dorado, and spearfish so you can come back from your trip with a story about the catch of a lifetime. If you enjoy seeking out your own thrills, grab a kayak and explore coral gardens, sea caves, lava tubes, and the different nooks and crannies that line the coast of the island.
For those times when all you want to do is sit back and relax, head to one of the many beautiful beaches the Big Island has in store for you. Kua Bay at Kona Coast State Park has beautiful white sand surrounded by a lush green landscape that is perfect for catching some sun or springing into the clear water that is great for swimming. Kaunaoa Bay or Mauna Kea Beach is one of the more popular beaches on the island due to the long crescent of white sand and the pleasant water conditions that allow for swimming and snorkeling. Don’t be surprised, however, if a green turtle or two comes across your path while strolling these soft sands.
When you want to explore the Big Island’s stunning terrain, there are a few places to head to see some of the best aspects of the island. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park rests upon two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, and visitors can view lava from the hiking trails or take one of the scenic drives around the park. The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden allows visitors to traverse trails that will take them through the rainforest and past flowing waterfalls and streams. This tropical oasis offers an exceptional and protected look at a myriad of plants from all over the world, including palms, bromeliads, gingers, and heliconias, so generations to come can revel in their beauty.
Another popular tourist destination is the Mauna Loa Macadamia Visitor Center located along the slope of the Mauna Loa volcano in Hilo. Here, you can drive through the plantation, walk through the nut and chocolate processing plant to see how the end product is created, and receive chocolate demonstrations and free samples near the gift shop Also, during your time in Hilo, be sure to stop by the Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo to see the only tropical rainforest zoo in the United States. With more than 80 animal species including the white Bengal Tiger, this free zoo is certainly worth a stroll.
The Big Island of Hawaii is a great place for anyone who wants to combine an abundance of water activities with a one-of-a-kind landscape that will simply take your breath away. When searching for the right accommodations for your trip, look into the numerous Big Island vacation rentals that are located throughout the island. Whether you want to stay along the shores in a luxurious condo that has the most amazing views or you prefer surrounding yourself with the vibrant colors and lush greens that make up a large part of the island, there is a vacation rental that will meet all your needs and make it easy to relax throughout your trip.
I used my road trip planner to plan a great 8-day trip to the Big Island and found so much to see and do on the Kona Coast alone that I really needed two weeks to fully explore the island. So, by combining my Kona Coast experience with recommendations from locals, here then is a two-week road trip that will give you the full Big Island treatment.
I'd recommend staying one week on the Kona Coast and the next in Hilo to have a great jumping off point for your many explorations. We'll start our road trip planning on the Kona side, the sunnier region. We stayed in the Kailua-Kona, site of the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon (scheduled for October 11th this year) and home of the revered King Kamehameha, the leader who united the islands. It has a great waterfront and pier, where you could enjoy dinner each night with a view of the sun dipping behind the water horizon. My favorite was the Kona Brewing Company (baked garlic, home-made focaccia & melted gorgonzola dip).
Make sure to include plenty of beaches in your road trip planner. Snorkelers should go to Kahaluu Beach Park, surfers to White Sands Beach, privacy buffs to Kona Coast State Park, and beach lovers can choose from Anaehoomalu Bay, Hapuna Beach, or Mauna Kea Beach.
Other places to consider in your road trip planning in Kailua-Kona: The Hulihee Palace, Kokuaikaua Church, and Kamehameha's Compound at Kamakahonu Bay. I found souvenirs and affordable wine at the Kona Wine Market. Include one Luau in your trip; I went to the Island Breeze Luau because it was right on the beach in the King Kamehameha Compound at the Kailua Pier.
Along the Kohala Coast, your road trip takes you north into some quaint towns like Hawi. The road ends a few miles past Hawi, where you'll view the Pololu Valley (very dramatic!). But first, catch a tour at the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm at the Natural Energy Lab, the only seahorse farm in the US. Stroll through the Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site, the temple Kamehameha built to the war god to insure his success in battle. Keep driving up Highway 270 in North Kohala to the Lapakahi State Historical Park for a view of a typical 14th-century Hawaiian village and the Mo'okini Luakini Heiau. The original Kamehameha Statue is along this route, as well as a view of Maui. A mile from the Pololu lookout, enjoy a picnic at the Keokea Beach Park. On your way back, check out the Puako Petroglyph Archaeological District.
Along the southern coast on the Kona side, you'll find Captain Cook, Kealakekua Bay, the Place of Refuge and Honaunau Bay. All of these make for a perfect full day's exploration to add to your road trip planner, with historical places and monuments, great scenic shots of the bays and snorkeling/swimming at Honaunau Bay, considered the second best place to snorkel or scuba with turtles, fish, and huge coral growths!
Now it's time to move your home base to the Hilo side to give you plenty of time to explore the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Leaving Kailua-Kona, include in your road trip planning, stops at South Point (the southernmost spot in the US), the Punaluu Bakery shop in Naalehu, and the Punaluu Black Sand Beach.
We didn't spend nearly enough time at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park because the ranger told us the current lava flow was outside the park (in August, 2008, drive one hour to the end of Highway 130 in Kaimu, then hike 20 minutes over lava beds to the viewing area). Schedule two days in your road trip planner to fully explore the Kilauea Visitors Center, Halemaumau Crater, Thurston Lava Tube, Devastation Trail, and a Crater Rim drive as well as make the sunset trek to the lava flow. Local Shannon Cormie says, "Seeing the ribbon of red lava snake its way down the side of the mountain and then thunder into the ocean is a sight you will never forget".
One reason to place Hilo front and center in your road trip planning is because it's so lush! David Carpenter, a local, recommends the Akatsuka Orchid Garden for its large assortment of orchids. It's situated about halfway between Volcano and Hilo. Shannon recommends Banyan Drive, Liliuokalani Gardens, Lyman Museum & Mission House, the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and the wonderful botanical gardens like Nani Mau Gardens Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, and World Botanical Garden.
From there, you road trip takes you north to the Hamakua Coast with stops at the Akaka Falls and lunch in Honokaa. Then check out Waipio Valley, the birthplace of Hawaii's kings, before heading for Waimea, a cowboy town with the Parker Ranch Visitor Center & Museum as the focal point.
Pencil in a full day in your trip planner to explore Mauna Kea. Rent a four-wheel drive vehicle to climb to the top (13,796 feet) or book a full-day tour where guides will take you to hidden waterfalls, sacred spots and an observatory, treasured by astronomers around the globe.
All of the above will fill your Big Island Road Trip to the brim. Plus, more places are bound to catch your eye. But take heart, if you don't get to them all this round, you'll have a perfect excuse to fill another road trip planner for your next visit!
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Jennifer Weiss has sinced written about articles on various topics from Vacation Rentals, Vacation and Aspen Travel. GreatRentals.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, consider