Hawai’i: Get Lost on the Big Island

Whether you’re coming in on a short flight from another island or touching down after a longer-haul flight, you’ll want to fly into Kona International Airport to tackle the west coast.

It’ll likely be afternoon, so spend the rest of the day checking in and relaxing by the pool with a Mai Tai.

Find the hotel bar or restaurant at some point so you don’t miss your first Big Island sunset.

Hit the beach! There are too many to choose from and it will be hard to hit them all, but a great one to start with is Anaehoʻomalu—A Bay, as the locals call it. It’s right next to Waikoloa Beach, but you’ll want to park in the A Bay free parking lot and head in from there.

There’s plenty of sun to be had, but if you want a shady spot, there are trees to be found too, especially in front of the Lava Lava Beach Club, which is where you can have an island cocktail and a great local lunch.

Tip: The rocky area in front of the public restrooms and the beach club is a great spot to look for turtles swimming around.

Head out for an all-day natural wonder adventure. (Note: This day can either be done through a guided tour or on your own with a rental car).

• Stop 1: Coffee at Greenwell Farms on the Mamalahoa Highway, where you can sample and sip 100% Kona coffee from their cozy mountainside farm. Keep an eye in the trees for the chameleons.

• Stop 2: Fill up on malasadas (sweet and delicious doughnut like pastries) at the Punalu’u Bake Shop, the Southernmost Bakery in the US.

• Stop 3: Take in the black-sand beach and giant green sea turtles lounging at Punalu’u Beach.

• Stop 4: Time for a new climate zone at Volcanoes National Park. Stop at Mauna Loa Lookout, the steam vents, and the Nāhuku (Thurston) Lava Tube. If daylight allows, take a short hike out Devastation Trail.

• Stop 5: Dinner in the park at the Kilauea Lodge and Restaurant.

Relish a leisurely morning at the hotel and then head out midday for beach time.

Stop first for lunch at Magics Beach Grill, but make sure to grab a seat outside overlooking the turquoise waters of La'aloa Beach Park (aka Magic Sands, because the beach all but disappears in the winter months.) From your table you can watch the beachgoers body-surf the waves, and maybe you’ll work up the nerve to jump in after your meal.

If the waters look too rough, head down the road to Kahalu’u Beach Park for a calmer swim. It’s a small beach, so you might have to hover until a spot on the sand opens. It’s one of the best for snorkeling, so make sure to bring equipment along and take water shoes. You’ll have to cross some rough sand to get into the water, but it’s worth it.

While there, take a short stroll down Ali’i Drive to see the cute Saint Peter’s Catholic Church by the sea.

Nighttime

Try some poke for dinner from Da Poke Shack or fish tacos from Shaka Tacoz.

You’ll need sustenance (and maybe some Dramamine) for a nighttime Manta Ray Snorkel Tour. There are several companies that offer them, but make sure to book one that provides wet suits and hot chocolate after.

Today is for an experience you can only have on the Big Island: a visit to Mauna Kea.

You’ll need to work through a tour company. (Note: For some tours, you must be 16 or older to participate.) The company will take you in a luxe van all the way to the summit so that you can see the NASA telescopes, watch the sunset over top of the clouds and then do some stargazing as you head back down the mountain in some of the darkest skies around. You may feel like you’ve just touched down on the moon.

If you’re on the island with younger kids, you can still have a one-of-a-kind experience at a lower altitude with a visit to Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm where you can tour the facility and gain some seahorse knowledge.

It’s back to the warm beach for more swimming and sun.

Head to Hapuna State Beach, the largest white-sand beach on the island, where there’s plenty of sand and sea to go around. It’s a great public beach and ideal for swimming, snorkeling, bodysurfing, and sunbathing, plus it has lifeguards on duty. In the winter, you may be able to catch some whales swimming by.

This beach is a prime spot to stop by Anuenue Ice Cream & Shave Ice for a classic Hawaiian treat. There will likely be a line, but the wait makes it taste all that much better. Tip: Order the “snow cap” on top of your shaved ice for the most authentic version.

For a laid-back dinner, try Umekes Fish Market & Grill, or Kona Brewing Co.

On your last day, head into the little town of Kailua Kona for a stroll around. You’ll be able to stock up on gifts (maybe a Hawaiian shirt from Hilo Hattie) to take back home.

As you walk along Ali’i Drive, keep an eye out for Hulihe’e Palace, Keiki Ponds, and the starting line for the Ironman near the Kailua Pier.

Find a lunch spot overlooking Ōneo Bay at Huggos or On the Rocks.

Burn off lunch with a walk down to Honl’s Beach (one mile south of Kailua Pier) where boogie-boarding was invented.