The Big Island (Hawaii) is one that is worth making the short flight to if you are visiting one of the other Hawaiian Islands. I don’t think you need more than 3 days there, but if you’re looking for some extra relaxation it is a good location for that! We did 4 full days on Oahu (see that itinerary here), and then flew Hawaiian Airlines to Kona, Hawaii for 3 additional days. We flew back to the mainland right from Kona. Hawaiian Airlines flies between the two islands several times each day, the cost is reasonable, and the service is great. This itinerary has some adventure, but also quite a bit of relaxation time given how busy our time was for the first half of our vacation. This was a spring break trip when my kids were 11 and 8, plus my parents were along. This is a good option for all ages and really any time of year.
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Here is a sample 3-day itinerary for Hawaii based on our family trip in the spring:
DAY 1: RESORT DAY AND LUAU
First, where to stay? There are two main tourist villages on Hawaii – Hilo and Kona. Kona is drier and has more beaches and snorkeling, plus a little more to do as a visitor, so we chose to stay on the West side. Hilo gets more rain, so it’s more lush with vegetation, and there are fewer options in terms of restaurants and hotels. We chose the Marriott Waikoloa Resort, just North of Kona. There’s also Hilton Waikoloa Village right next door which is much larger and has a lot to offer (including dolphins!), but it’s also much busier. The Marriott Waikoloa has beautiful grounds with lots of walking paths, beachfront, and resort-style pools with food and beverage service. We even saw several turtles on the beach here!
Also, I do recommend renting a car in Hawaii. It’s a big island (see how I did that?) and you’ll need a car to properly explore it!
For the first full day in Hawaii, you’re probably ready for a down day. If you’re staying at a resort, spend the day exploring all it has to offer…the pools, the beach, snorkeling, etc. We did buy another set of boogie boards when we got to Kona since the kids enjoyed it so much in Oahu. It’s cheaper to buy new ones than to check them on the airplane!
Since we hadn’t done a luau in Oahu, we booked one right at the Marriott for the first night. This one is particularly family-friendly. A luau is something you should do at least once. Prior to the start of the luau, they do the un-earthing ceremony where the pig has been cooking for several hours. It’s pretty interesting to see how it is prepared and cooked, assuming you’re not too grossed out by that sort of thing! They also have some crafts for the kids and you can buy fresh leis before the dinner begins.
The luau takes place during sunset, which is an extra-bonus. Dinner is served buffet style and has an open bar. It’s a 3-hour event that includes hula dancing and fire dancers as well. It’s a lot of fun for all ages, and a great way to spend an evening. Just be sure to check the website and book in advance, as the luau’s are held only certain nights of the week.
DAY 2: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND HILO
One of the must-do’s in Hawaii is to visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. It’s on the Hilo side (East side) of the island. There are tours through companies like Trip Advisor (this one is an evening visit to the park (if you’re lucky you can see lava flow in the dark) and includes star gazing which would be really cool), and Viator has this small group tour that includes hotel pickup, but you can easily do it yourself as well. We decided to do it ourselves after doing a little research on the best way to see everything. You’ll want to have a hearty breakfast, pack a lot of water and snacks, bring some rain ponchos, and dress in layers!
Assuming you’re staying on the West side of the island, start the day early and take the “scenic way” along Highway 19 and then 11, that run along the South side of the island and back up to the park. It is about a 2.5 hour drive total. A little over 2 hours in to the trip, be sure to stop at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach. In my opinion, this one is even more beautiful than the one we went to in Maui on the Road to Hana. It’s worth stopping for 20-30 minutes, and sometimes you’ll see turtles there too!
Just a few miles from the entrance to the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is an area called Volcano Village. I’d recommend stopping there for lunch before heading in to the park. There’s a lot to do and see in the park, so be sure to do your research beforehand and plan the day accordingly, depending on what is important to you. We decided to do two main things, starting with the Crater Rim Drive Tour. Along this road, there are several places to stop to see views of the Kilauea Crater (this is the active volcano), steam bluffs, sulphur banks, and other inactive crater sites.
We spent about 45 minutes on the Crater Rim Tour, but the big activity for us was to do a pretty extensive hike. There are a lot of options for hikes, depending on what you are up for physically, and how much time you have. We did the Kilauea Iki hike, starting from Devastation Trailhead. This is the longest route, but gives you the full volcano experience. You’ll start in a rainforest, and then descend 400 feet down to the Kilauea Iki crater (inactive since 1959), where you can walk across a hardened lava lake, and then back up through the Nahuku Lava Tubes. It’s about 6 miles round trip. If you are up for it physically, it is really an amazing hike. My parents were in their 60s when we went (they are in pretty good shape), and they did just fine, along with my son who was only 8 at the time.
There are maps and checkpoints along the way where you can stop to read stories and facts about what you are seeing at that point in the hike. There’s so much variation in landscape and temperature along the way. We found ourselves shedding layers, then adding them back, then adding ponchos when it would start to rain, etc. Definitely bring layers because the weather can change quickly!
After fully experiencing the park, I’d recommend driving the 45 minutes to Hilo to check out that area and grab some dinner. There are several restaurants along the shore there, so it’s nice for a little walk (we were too tired of walking from our hike!) as well. Try Cafe Pesto for delicious pizza and pasta (you’ll be ready for some carbs after a hike!) for dinner. After dinner, the fastest way back to the Waikoloa resort area is to take the saddle road that goes up and over Mauna Kea (up to an elevation of over 6,600 feet). It’s about a 1.5 hour drive, but can be a little scary at night due to fog. It is quite cold up there and snow is possible, so check the weather first and drive with caution!
DAY 3: HAPUNA BEACH BOOGIE BOARDING AND TRAVEL HOME
Many of the flights back to the mainland leave Hawaii late at night. On Day 3, we had a 9:30PM flight from Kona, so we had all day to explore. The hotels are pretty good about providing a hospitality room that you can use to shower before heading to the airport. Just ask at the front desk toward the end of your trip; we were able to reserve a 30 minute slot so that we could shower after a day at the beach!
There is a shopping area called King’s Shops that is a short walk from the Marriott where we ate a couple of times. Try Fosters Kitchen for lunch, and be sure to order the Lilikoi Lemonade. Lilikoi is the Hawaiian word for Passionfruit, and it’s used a lot in desserts and drinks there (along with macadamia nuts!). We loved it so much, we bought our own bottle of Lilikoi Syrup to take home. Also in the same shopping area is the Original Big Island Shave Ice…when in Hawaii you must have shave ice.
After packing up and checking out, grab some lunch at the King’s Shops and then head 15 minutes North to Hapuna Beach. This is a beautiful beach that is perfect for boogie boarding, playing in the sand, or just relaxing and taking in the last few hours of the vacation. We spent hours there enjoying the waves!
When we got back to the hotel, we found another family at the beach that was just starting their vacation, so they were able to take our boogie boards off of our hands…pay it forward! We were able to shower in the hospitality room at the hotel and have dinner there before heading back to the airport. The Kona Airport is small (and open air), so there’s not a lot to do there. We were stuck huddled under an overhang when heavy rains started while we were waiting for our flight! Red Eye flights aren’t much fun, but you’ll probably sleep well given all of the fresh air and exercise you all got during the day.
The Big Island is the best. We have spent many weeks there in the last decade. So much variety. The Captain Cook Green Market is a must visit for us. The nearby Kealakekua Bay has dolphin cruises and Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park has impressive cultural sites.
I’m glad you stayed at the Marriott, The Hilton is so big we had to take a water taxi, a tram, and walk forever to get to our room, 45 minutes total from check-in. We prefer the Bay Club (Hilton) 2/3 bedroom villas with larger verandas and great views of mountains. It’s a little farther from the water, but the lack of crowds and the space to spread out and cook makes it an excellent choice.
The Puna area is unique (seedier?) with its Space Market (Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar and Farmers Market, Kalapana), Pahoa town and Kehena Black Sand Beach.
Another good lunch destination if staying at Waikoloa is Hawi, about 45 mintues north, a totally different landscape with a spoooky cultural site (Mo’okini Heiau).
Let me know if you return, there is so many other must see places.
These are great suggestions John, thank you! Now I need to go back and try some new things!