This summer, I went on a 2 week trip to the island of Hawaii with my family. The island is beautiful and offers lots to do for visitors! We stayed on the Western side in Kailua-Kona. It’s not as lush as it is further inland--in fact, much of the land is covered in black lava rock and scrubby bushes and trees, but it is just as lovely! I definitely recommend visiting the island of Hawaii if you can. Here I’ll share a few tips and some of my own experiences on the island.
Things to do:
Things to do:
- Beaches: The beaches of Hawaii are as perfect and crowded as you’d expect. There’s a few beaches up north on hotel property where they let a select number of the public come use the beach, and for those you have to get up early, but they’re a little less crowded. Two of those are Mauna Kea, a perfectly idyllic white sand beach, and Kikaua Beach, a sheltered cove with no surf, perfect for wading or seeing a few fish. These beaches are wonderfully uncrowded, compared to many others, but one must wake up early in order to nab one of the few spots. One fun thing to try at the beach is boogie boarding. Boogie boards are like really large kickboards. The pros know how to stand on them and surf, but the rest of us settle for laying across them. Once you get the timing right, it’s simple and fun to kick off the ground at just the right moment and ride a wave into shore. Often condos or hotels will have boogie boards you can use, but if not, they can be purchased at just about any store. Same goes for snorkels. Snorkel masks can be bought at most stores, or you can just use regular goggles to spot fish. Just remember not to bother sea turtles. Green sea turtles can frequently be spotted lounging on beaches or swimming around people’s legs, but it’s actually against the law to get too close to them. Most tourists have been there, but try not to be the one who follows the turtles around like a persistent groupie.
- Downtown Kona: Walking downtown Kona is great for a day where you want to be out of the sun. You can shop at the many little stores catering to those who want a souvenir or two, get a tattoo, schedule surf lessons, or eat. The tourist’s one stop shop for most everything is definitely the ABC store. ABC stores have souvenirs, but they also have necessities like water, sunscreen, and snacks. When the sun goes down, head to the Sheraton Keauhou Bay for some manta ray viewing. They’ve got a deck and restaurant overlooking a popular spot for manta rays and manta ray viewing. Or you could also go out on one of the manta ray viewing dive expeditions, but my way is free.
- Explore the Island: If you’re not sure what you want to do, try visiting a different area of the island. You can visit rainy Hilo, the lush forests, even cowboy country. The island has lots to offer!
- Volcano: My family hasn’t gone and visited the volcano for a long time, because it’s a long drive and hike away from where we stay. That said, if you’re willing to make the trip, definitely go for it to see active lava flows and all the beauty of nature.
- Zipline: This time, we tried something we’ve never tried before -- ziplining. We went to a place called Umauma falls. It was incredible. You get to zipline above the ground and even over a waterfall. The people working there were clearly having a blast with their jobs and made the whole experience more fun for everyone else. Obviously, this is not a great activity for those afraid of heights.
- Eat:
- Huggo’s: a fun place to grab some quick food in the evening or an alcoholic beverage for those over 21. Huggo’s is right on the water with artificial sand to stick your feet in, and live music most nights. A perfect place to watch the sunset over fries or a smoothie.
- Lava Lava Beach Club: on the beach at A Bay (another lovely beach - not too crowded, some fish to be seen, but not as idyllic a beach), Lava Lava is a great place to grab lunch during your day out. They’ll serve your right out in the sand. They also have some bikes for renting for a little ride down the beach.
- Tommy Bahama’s: This may sound unusual--Tommy Bahama’s is a clothing store after all--but Hawaii is home to one of the few Tommy Bahama restaurants. I’m going to be honest; we’ve never eaten a real meal there; we only go for the desserts. Tommy’s has some of the best pies I’ve ever tasted. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, try their peanut butter pie, or key lime. Or maybe one of each!
- Make sure to pick up some macadamia nuts! They’re delicious, from the island, and come in many varieties, from chocolate covered to salted.
- Huggo’s: a fun place to grab some quick food in the evening or an alcoholic beverage for those over 21. Huggo’s is right on the water with artificial sand to stick your feet in, and live music most nights. A perfect place to watch the sunset over fries or a smoothie.