Hawaii: The Big Island
- colleenjcolvin
- Jul 24, 2021
- 10 min read
Updated: Jul 25, 2021
We spent nine days on Hawaii's Big Island and have plenty of spots to share!
Disclaimer: There is a LOT of info below! Use the Table of Contents to find what is most helpful to you, or read it all for a comprehensive look at our trip to Hawaii!
Table of Contents
Travel Info
Flights: If you are traveling to the Big Island (Hawaii Island) you can fly into/out of Kailua Kona (KOA) or Hilo (ITO). We found cheaper flights to Kona and were worried about Hilo being the rainier side, so our itinerary is based around that.
Stay: We stayed in an amazing Air BnB 9 minutes from town center! In unit washer/dryer, private lanai with ocean view, king bed, all the beach supplies we could need, and more! Here is the link.
Rental Car: Here’s the deal, y’all. If you want to explore the rest of the island at all, you’ll need a rental car. This may be a deal breaker for you seeing as rental cars can get quite pricey. However, supply is low and demand is HIGH in the Uber/Lyft/Taxi category on the island. Your request can time out or you may have to wait thirty minutes to get a ride. Not ideal when you’re in a time crunch to get to that snorkel tour or dinner reservation. We rented a car and could not recommend it more. Check out cheaper rental car companies like Dollar or Thrifty...or rent on Turo! (like Air BnB for cars)
Beaches
If you are going to Hawaii, you can expect there to be a plethora of beaches to hit. We've listed a few below, complete with details about parking and more. We recommend packing a lunch and a good book, because once you find a great beach, you won't want to leave!
#1 Manini'owali Beach (Kua Bay)
Probably our favorite beach we found! If you get there early enough, parking is free! We arrived around 8:30 AM and found parking and a great spot on the white sand beach.
PROS: Free parking, white sand, bathroom facilities, clear blue water
CONS: Beach fills up quickly and gets busy later in the day
#2 Hapuna State Park
This beautiful white sand beach had
calm water and tons of space to spread out. We snorkeled here near the few rocks and saw a wild honu (green sea turtle)!
PROS: White sand, calm water, tons of space, bathrooms
CONS: Parking fee (was $10 when we went)
#3 Beach 69 (Hapuna State Park)
Beach 69 is also known as Waialea Beach and is part of Hapuna State Park as well (this is a different beach than listed above). It is easier to find shade at this beach compared to the other two that have virtually no shade, but it can get crowded. Regardless, the blue water and shady trees made it a good stop for us!
PROS: Clear blue water, shady trees, bathrooms
CONS: Parking fee, can get crowded later in the day
#4 Two Step Beach
A MUST in our opinion! Two Step is located in Honaunau Bay and is our favorite snorkeling spot on the island! If you get there relatively early you can park for just $5 (all proceeds go to a local church). There isn't a ton of room on the beach, but anyone will tell you this is a great spot to spend one of your days on the island. It is also right next to Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historic Park (also known as the Place of Refuge), so you can hit two spots at once!
PROS: Fantastic snorkeling, easy in and out of the water
CONS: Parking fee
#5 Kahalu'u Beach Park
Another great spot for snorkeling! This beach is right in Kona and parking is free. Make sure you get there before or around 9AM for a parking spot. The rocks getting into and out of the water can be slippery, but once you're in you'll love seeing a variety of fish in the reefs. Be sure to stay on the south side of the beach so you don't run into a surfer!
PROS: Snorkeling, easy and free parking
CONS: Busy spot in Kona
#6 Kiholo Bay
We stumbled upon this beautiful beach north of Kona. This black sand beach is
very rocky so you may want to keep your shoes on as you walk. It is very secluded - we even spotted a wild goat on the beach! Often turtles are seen here, though we didn't see any when we went. The water is pretty calm, so swimming was fun as well.
PROS: Free parking, secluded beach, black sand
CONS: Have to drive down a dirt road to get there, rocky sand
#7 Old Kona Airport
There is TONS of free parking here, so you should never be unable to find a spot. While this beach is pretty rocky and not great for swimming, there are some cool tidepools and lava rocks covering the beach. It is also a great spot to watch the sunset or picnic!
PROS: Abundant free parking, easy access to downtown Kona
CONS: Not great for swimming
#8 Honokohau Beach
We didn't go here to swim or snorkel, but we did go here to watch the sunset! There is an amazing thatched roof heiau and beautiful palm trees that enhance the sunset colors in the sky. You can park in the harbor and walk on a short sandy path to get to the beach if you go for the sunset.
PROS: Heiau (traditional Hawaiian temple) is very cool and free parking
CONS: We didn't go here to swim, so we aren't sure of any cons!
Must-See Sights & Activities
As you probably know by now, there is a ton to do on an island that can fit all the other Hawaiian islands inside of it! Here are a few of our favorite things to do apart from beaches:
#1 Snorkel with Wild Dolphins
We cannot recommend this more! This excursion was hands down our favorite thing we did on the island. We went with Kona Snorkel Tours (shoutout Raj and Wyatt), but there are a bunch of companies if you need one that fits into your schedule.
#2 Night Manta Ray Snorkel
Again, cannot recommend this more! We were skeptical but it was AMAZING! The entire excursion felt super safe and our guides were so kind and knowledgeable about mantas. We saw five at once and they got so close to us! We went with Sea Paradise, but there are also a bunch of companies that run these tours.
#3 Hawaii Volcano National Park
Depending on where you are staying, you should devote a full day (or most of a day) to this park. We loved the Thurston Lava Tube, the lookout point from the Steam Vents, driving the Chain of Craters Road (pull over to look at all the craters!), and the beautiful drive down to the Holei Sea Arch. Re: Arch - Many people just take a couple photos and leave, but we recommend packing a picnic lunch (we did this every day to save money) and eating it on the rocks by the coast. It truly feels like you are on the edge of the earth! $30 entry fee to the park
#4 Pololu Valley Hike
There is an amazing view from the Pololu Valley Lookout, but nothing compares to hike. We were a little nervous based on a wide range of reviews we read (some people said it wasn't bad, others warned that it was very difficult), but we decided to bring lots of water and go for it. We are SO glad we did! The hike down is not bad and once you get to the bottom, you are greeted by a stream, a black sand beach in a valley, mountains on either side of you, and rope swings made of driftwood! This hike was one of our favorite things we did. The hike back up is challenging but do-able, especially because you can stop every now and then to rest. Exercise caution if you choose to do this, but we definitely recommend.
#5 Hilo
We devoted a day to go see Hilo, the town on the eastern side of the island, but we wish we had devoted more! We were fortunate that it did not rain the day we went. We visited Rainbow Falls (free!), The Hilo Farmers Market (bought a delicious coconut and loved looking at the vintage aloha dresses for sale), picnicked on Coconut Island (saw a honu), and got vegan affogatos (Vibe Cafe). The architecture on this side of the island is adorable in the downtown area. We could have done a lot more if we had devoted more time to it. This side of the island is definitely worth a visit!
#6 Waipi'o Valley
& Hamakua Coast
This was a hike we did not attempt! Much of the land in Waipi'o Valley is occupied by private residences who do not like to be disturbed. We chose to hang at the lookout point and it was very beautiful. There were some informational signs that we read as well that helped us learn more about the valley. From there, we drove the Hamakua Coast into Hilo. There are beautiful views of the ocean the entire time and you drive through some cute small towns, which I love to see.
Coffee Shops
Kona Coffee is in abundance here (naturally) and here are a few of our favorite spots to enjoy a cup of fuel:
#1 Kona Coffee & Tea
Originally the first Starbucks on the island, this local spot offers delicious cold brew and a variety of vegan donuts! We love the outdoor patio seating with string lights and the convenience of being right in downtown Kona.
#2 Waimea Coffee Company
WCC screams local! While it is about 45 minutes north of Kona, it's a great place to hit on your way to the Pololu Valley or one of the Waimea beaches. They offer a variety of baked goods, acai bowls, and an outdoor patio with seating.
#3 HiCo Coffee
This place close to Kona Brewing offers not only great coffee, but cocktails as well! They give you your coffee in little bowl-like cups and the inside of the shop is covered in hanging plants. Very cool!
#4 Ka Lae Coffee
Ka Lae Coffee is a perfect spot to hit on your way back to Kona from Volcano National Park or Hilo. It is on the southern end of the island nestled in the quaint small town of Naalehu. Enjoy a cup of joe under the umbrellas on their patio!
Good Eats
It is no secret that traveling can cost an arm and a leg. We listed a couple of our favorite restaurants along with a detailed breakdown of what you can expect from each one to help make your eating out decisions a little easier!
#1 Jackie Rey's Kona
Our favorite by far! We saved our money so we could splurge on our last night. We made a reservation here and couldn't recommend it more! There are two locations: one in Kona and one in Hilo. Our servers were out of this world fun to interact with (Lexie and Beverly) and truly made us feel so cared for!
What you should know: Jackie Rey's isn't on the waterfront strip in downtown Kona, but that's why we loved it. It's a little south of the main strip and it isn't one of those overpriced touristy spots with mediocre food. The food is delicious and well worth the price.
Happy Hour: Their HH is from 4PM-5PM daily and offers some great deals! We made our reservation at 4:30 so we could enjoy some HH drinks and pupus (apps), then we stayed for dinner.
Cost: Non-happy hour menu includes pupus from $4-$19 and entrees from $26-$39. Their HH menu includes a few $5 pupus, $15 entrees, and deals on drinks as well!
#2 Kona Brewing
You just have to go to the original Kona Brewing location! You may wait an hour, but they offer you beer at a tent while you wait and we definitely think it's worth it.
What you should know: Expect a wait - this place is popular. Their selection of beers is fantastic, even if you aren't a beer person, you should try at least one. Food is good too - try the edamame!
Happy Hour: Visit Kona Brewing Monday-Friday 3PM-6PM to get deals on drinks and two of their pupus.
Cost: All food on their menu is around $13-$20.
#3 Vibe Cafe - Hilo
This vegan-friendly restaurant is located in Hilo. If you find yourself over there, it is well worth a visit, especially if you have a food allergy!
What you should know: Service may take awhile. Don't go if you are in a rush, but the food is unique and worth it if you make it there! Drop in for a vegan affogato, coconut rose latte, pizza, or fancy cocktail.
Cost: Coffee drinks range from $3.50-$8, entrees from $11-$25, and cocktails from $11-$15.
#4 On the Rocks
The view and the happy hour deals make this place for us! Definitely expect a wait, but it's convenient downtown Kona location makes it easy to walk around to shops while you wait for a table.
What you should know: There is always a wait and you can't call ahead to put your name on the waitlist. They do have a number that texts you when your table is ready, which is nice. If you are looking for deals, be careful not to confuse it with its more expensive sister restaurant next door (Huggo's)!
Happy Hour: HH is daily from 3-5PM. You can choose from two of their cocktails for $6 and get a few pupus from $5 each.
Cost: Everything on their HH menu is $6 or less. Entrees on their regular menu range from $15-$25.
#5 Acai Bowls
I adore acai bowls in all shapes and sizes and ate my fair share of them while on the Big Island. Below I rank my favorite spots to grab a bowl of fruity freshness.
1. Waimea Coffee Company
The granola made this bowl for me - definitely homemade with candied pecans... NOM. Cost: $13.95
2. Kona Wave Cafe
My favorite is the Kona Wave Bowl add peanut butter. Downtown Kona, rarely crowded. Cost: Around $11
3. Kona Coffee & Tea
Really good acai sorbet base! Cost: Around $12
4. Basik
A local staple with its cool location above Snorkel Bob's! Their busyness in the morning and decent bowls gave them this spot on our list. Cost: $8-$14
Hit It or Miss It
If you can't tell by now, all the spots listed above are major "hit its", meaning you should definitely try them out! However, there is a lot vying for your attention in Hawaii, so we wanted to share with you a few of our "miss it" spots, meaning we don't think you're missing much if you choose not to go.
Miss It #1: Ka Lae - Southern Most Point in the US
I'm not sure what we expected - maybe a sign or plaque with information about Ka Lae considering it is a registered National Landmark. However, we drove 25 minutes down a dirt road to get to a cliff where locals were jumping off into sketchy water. It was pretty for sure, but if you are headed this way, skip Ka Lae and do the hike to Green Sand Beach instead.
Miss It #2: Mauna Kea Beach
We read about this private beach at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel having parking for 40 cars who are not guests at the hotel. We knew we had to get up there early, but even by 8:15AM all the spots were full and we were turned away. I am sure the beach is beautiful, but there are so many other beautiful beach options that we didn't feel we were missing much.
Miss It #3: Island Lava Java Dinner
Unless you are going for breakfast! I have heard their breakfast/brunch is good, but we only went for dinner. It isn't bad, just pretty average overpriced touristy food. Try it for breakfast, as that may be a different story!
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