Never imagined myself writing a travel post on any other island in Hawaii aside from Maui, mostly because I spent part of my childhood living there and then returning as an adult to vacation over the years since I moved back to California. We can get so stuck visiting the same places once you feel familiarity and comfort somewhere.
Thankfully, I was pulled out of this cycle a few years ago when we went on a vacation with Paul’s family, and I discovered how much I love the Big Island.
This most recent trip was my 3rd visit to the Big Island, and here are my takeaways:
+ The weather is *usually* very consistent & nice. I have visited in November & March, and both times it was blue skies & sunny.
* The exception to that is if the volcano is erupting and the islands are experiencing vog (volcano fog) that affects the air quality and weather, or unexpected storms that can impact the conditions
+ This island is for beaching it. The water is gorgeous; clear, endless shades of blue, warm/refreshing, and clean. I think it has by far the prettiest beaches.
+ Understand that the island is, like its name, very BIG, so things are spread out. Pick an area you want to be within and stick to it so you’re not spending tons of time driving from place to place.
Where To Stay
We like the Kailua-Kona side of the island. Very ideal weather, usually minimal wind or clouds. Weather is very crucial for me to enjoy the beach so I love this about the island.
Hotel
Kona Village – Hands down my favorite hotel in all of Hawaii. In fact, it’s a top 5 hotel for us, period. There are so many reasons I love it there, but I’ll narrow it down to this: every room is its own little “hut,” but in an elevated, beautiful way. No large buildings or big corporate resort vibes. You ride bikes on white sand paths everywhere. The service, grounds, food & beach are impeccable. The best vibes 10/10.
House
Mauna Lani – We stayed in an Airbnb here once when the kids were much younger and enjoyed the access to their beach club for a very kid-friendly, chill beach. The location was very central to restaurants, beaches & other hotels to hop around.
This past trip, we stayed in a community adjacent to Mauna Lani, which we also really enjoyed. Same perks as staying at the residency at Mauna Lani.
Favorite Beaches
Hapuna – A known local beach that’s big with easy parking and bathrooms. The water is perfection here. Just enough waves for the kids to boogie board and play in the water without it feeling dangerous.
Beach 69 – Very close to Hapuna but more tree-lined (nature’s umbrellas) and secluded. The shoreline is a little rocky, and not as much movement in the water. Would love to visit this beach solo with a good book and no kids lol.
Mahai’ula – A favorite for us for its natural beauty and adventurous entrance. You have to drive over a few miles of lava rock (unpaved), so make sure you’re driving an all-wheel SUV. Once you reach the parking area, you still have to walk a good 10 minutes on a path before you reach the most untouched, stunning beach. The sand is pure white, and the water is straight out of a movie. Since this beach is a bit of a mission to get to, plan your day accordingly, as in bring enough food, water, etc. to last your entire day.
Mauna Lani Beach Club – We enjoyed this beach when our kids were younger since it’s very chill and small with hardly any movement in the water, but on this trip, our kids found this beach “boring” and “for babies” lol. If you have a toddler or baby, I think it’s a great place to be since they also have lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a snack bar where you can order food & drinks.
We visited a few others on this trip, but not our favorites so not including them in this list.
Where To Eat
Let me preface by saying that eating on vacation is a highlight for me. I always enjoy trying new restaurants and dishes, but in Hawaii, the food is very underwhelming to me. I’m listing out the places we ate at and giving my honest thoughts, since I’m sure you’re bound to end up at some of these places and feel it might be useful to know my thoughts.
Canoe House – Excellent all around. The location, vibes & food are all amazing. Very pricey and hard to get a reservation so if you’re wanting to eat here, make a res well in advance.
Queen’s Marketplace – Okay hear me out. It’s a grocery store with a massive assortment of fresh, hot foods and made-to-order options, letting everyone pick what they like and enjoy. We love their poke bowls, sushi, sashimi, teriyaki bowls, salmon bowls, caprese skewers, malasadas & fruit. We ate here a lot.
Island Vintage Coffee – Came here for coffee every single morning. I ordered in advance online, though, because the line is LONG in the mornings and you’ll be waiting 30-45 mins. Their pitaya bowls are delish and a perfect refreshing beach snack.
Lava Lava Beach Club – A casual/touristy spot on the sand that’s great for families. The kids can run around on the beach, climb trees, and play in the tide pools while the adults sip cocktails and watch them from a table. Ngl, their club sandwich was one of the best things I ate on the trip.
Marlin Bar by Tommy Bahama – This was a new spot that opened (next door to Queen’s Market) and was good! A more casual version of the full TB restaurant, with easy walk-ins and a good, straightforward menu.
Browns Beach House – Was good, not great. Not a lot of ambiance, and the food was fine, but nothing to write home about.
Lastly, I wanted to share the name of an incredible private chef we brought in one night for my mom’s birthday celebration. The Guarden flew in from Oahu and prepared us the most decadent 4-course meal with ingredients he grew and locally sourced. It was a unique fusion of Hawaiian, Asian & Italian. The flavors, presentation, and method behind the dishes were simply spectacular.
If you’re staying in a house on any Hawaiian island, it is 100% worth planning an evening with The Guarden & I guarantee it will be your best meal of the trip.
The Volcano
The first time we visited Kona, we drove up the volcano and spent the day hiking the crater (5 miles) with the kids. It was a great experience, but I don’t necessarily feel like I need to go back since it’s a 2-hour drive each way. If you plan to do it, expect to dedicate your entire day to exploring.
This past trip, we just missed the volcano erupting, which would have been an incredible thing to witness irl. However, I have heard that when it’s erupting, it’s very hard to get up there due to traffic, and the timing can be unpredictable.
If it’s your first time on the island, I think it’s worth spending the day hiking and then bopping into Hilo to see some waterfalls and explore that side of the island.
Manta Ray Experience
I did not, in fact, participate in this because it was a nighttime activity in the ocean and someone had to stay home with the kids 😉
My family raved about it though, and said it was definitely worth it. They took a boat ride at sunset to see manta rays up close & personal. Apparently, they saw 30 (supposedly, you usually only see 1-5??), so it sounds like they had an exceptionally good experience.
There were tons of companies that offered this experience, so I would just check what’s close to where you are staying.
Final Thoughts
Since the island is so spread out, my ideal day on the Big Island is purely just beach with some good poke bowls & fruit on hand. This will maximize your days since exploring will eat up a lot of your time. Of course, if it’s your first time and you want to explore/see things you should, but go into it knowing what your day will look like.
Overall, the Big Island has become my favorite because it offers a good blend of everything I like. My favorite hotel (Kona Village), some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to, good food, and great weather.