Hawai'i: Your Seven-Day Adventure on the Big Island

After landing at Kona Airport, pick up your rental car—preferably a Jeep to have a true adventure on and off the road.

Explore Kona’s food scene and grab something to go at Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill or sip on local beer at Kona Brewing Co. Watch the sunset from Kai Eats and Drinks or from Huggo’s.

Start your day early for a daylong adventure. Drive up Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and take a dip in the Pacific Ocean at Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area. This public beach is a perfect introduction to Hawai'i’s beautiful beaches.

Continue your drive up and have a nice lunch and enjoy some delicious tacos at Gill’s Lanai. After lunch, drive over to Pololū Valley Lookout. You can soak in the beauty of the valley and dramatic coastline. There’s a hike down to the beach, but it is not for the faint-hearted. There are guides available for any travelers inquiring about the hike down to Pololū Beach.

Continue your journey by driving down Walpole Road toward Hilo. You’ll stop at Waipio Valley Lookout and enjoy scenic views of the ocean, river valley & steep cliffs. On your way out, be sure to stop at Waipi'o Fruit Shack or Lilinoe Fruit Stand to try some exotic fruits.

Drive down Hawai'i Belt Road toward Hilo. Make a pitstop at Akaka Falls State Park, where you can walk a loop and admire the 442-foot waterfall.

After a long day on the road exploring, check into your accommodation and grab dinner at Ola Brew - Hilo.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at Tin Shack Bakery and try the Okinawan purple sweet potatoes. After a filling breakfast, make your way to the wondrous Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Be sure to visit the Kilauea Visitor Center to get the most up-to-date information on the park. You can enjoy a full day of adventure when you explore the Ha'akulamanu (Sulphur Banks) and Steam Vents, Crater Rim Trail, Halema’uma’u Trail, and Kilauea Iki Crater Trail. Be sure to drive down the Chain of Crater Road and see the Hōlei Sea Arch. If the volcano is erupting during your visit, be sure to go to Kilauea Overlook after sunset to witness the luminating lava. Be sure to visit the Nāhuku Lava Tube, where you can walk through a cave formed by ancient flowing lava.

Eat the best macadamia nut pancakes on the Big Island at Ken’s Pancake House. Visit the Hilo Farmer’s Market and buy your fill of tropical fruit for the rest of the week. Be sure to visit Two Ladies Kitchen and taste the best mochi on the island. This is truly a special spot with creative and tasty mochi that will leave you wanting more.

After exploring Hilo, head out on the road toward Kona. Drive down Hawai'i Belt Road/Mamalaho Highway and take one last look at the Volcanoes National Park. After driving through the national park, stop at the only winery in the region, Volcano Winery. It offers tastings—and you can certainly leave the island with some bottles to enjoy at home.

Continue with your drive to Kona and have some down time at Punaluʻu Beach. At this beautiful black-sand beach, you can enjoy the calm beach water and hopefully get a chance to spot the green sea turtles. After soaking in the sun at Punalu’u Beach, make your way to a well-deserved sweet treat at Punalu'u Bake Shop. Here, you can enjoy a traditional malasada at the southernmost bakery in Hawai'i. Also visit Big Dogs Hot Dogs for some of the tastiest hotdogs stacked with interesting toppings. If you have time, drive to the southernmost point of the US for scenic views that will make you feel like you’re at the end of the earth.

Make your way to your accommodation over on the Kona side of the island and settle in for the night.

On your way to the beach, grab poke from Honaunau Poke Shop, an unassuming poke gem.

Drive your 4x4 vehicle to a picturesque beach to enjoy your afternoon. I highly recommend Kekaha Kai State Beach or Mahai'ula beach. Both of these beaches are relatively close to each other and have calm waters. Be sure to bring some shade with you, as there is minimal shade with trees. You’ll definitely need a high-clearance all-wheel drive vehicle to reach these pristine beaches.

Wake up early to grab a good spot at Manini'owali Beach (Kua Bay). This beach is one of my personal favorites on the island. With lava rock and white sand, this beach is unique and should be on everyone’s list to visit when on the Big Island. Bring a boogie board to ride the strong waves. These waves are actually kind of serious, as there is a lifeguard on duty who keeps all swimmers in check when in the water.

If you aren’t staying at The Four Seasons, you can still enjoy a top-notch lunch at the Beach Tree Restaurant & Bar. This upscale beachside gem has spectacular views of the beautiful beach, and you can even see the island of Maui from here.

Catch the sunset at Honokohau Beach. Here, you’ll also have a good chance of spotting sea turtles! You can catch a glimpse of these beautiful animals in their natural habitat, either on the beach or swimming in the bay.

Join a morning boat tour and snorkel in Kealakekua Bay. There are multiple boat tours to choose from that take you down the coast toward Captain James Cook Monument and explore the underwater world. Our tour provided a delicious breakfast and lunch to keep us energized for a morning on the water. One of the best parts of our boat tour was how accommodating it was for those with limited swimming abilities. The tour guides provided sufficient floaties for everyone and made sure everyone was having a great time. Major kudos to them for having slides on the boat, too—added fun for everyone to enjoy.

After your morning fun in the water, shop local for your souvenirs to bring back home. I highly recommend purchasing some local art at Blue Sea Artisans Gallery. This gallery houses art from at least 16 different artists in the area. I had a lovely conversation with the gentleman at the counter and ended up buying one of his pieces of art on the spot. It’s a lovely reminder of my time on the Big Island and comes with a unique story to bring home. Also consider purchasing souvenirs from local stores like Olivia Clare Boutique and Puna Chocolate Company’s Big Chocolate Island.