Hawaii; Should I Visit One Island or Two or More?
Filed under: Big Island, Most Popular Questions, Vacation Planning
Hi Lisa
i happened upon your site while doing research on Hawaii vacations..
here is my dilemna…my husband and two daughters (13 & 16) will be coming to Hawaii in July. I am trying to book a nice vacation and at the same time trying to control costs…
Since this is a once in a lifetime trip for us I am trying to decide if we should do 2 islands or just enjoy one. We want to have some down time to relax and some time to explore. I am definetly staying on the big island. By staying on just one island will we get to see all Hawaii has to offer?
You didn’t say how long your trip will be. I like to recommend no more than one island for every 5-7 days in Hawaii, for just that reason. Relaxing is important. Packing and unpacking and flying and renting a car all over again is not relaxing, typically.
The other islands are quite different than the Big Island, but the Big Island definitely has something to offer for everyone, and it’s the only island with the volcano and an awesome black sand beach (punaluu) and it’s best beaches (Hapuna and Mauna Kea) can rival the best anywhere in the islands.
I don’t think you will be missing out on anything by staying on the Big Island, unless someone else in your party has their heart set on something specific like Pearl Harbor. There is always the option of a day trip too - meaning you could just fly over for a day and fly back that evening, but that could the priciest way to island hop if you go with a predestined tour.
So, don’t worry if you just stay on the Big Island. Others may tell you that you were missing something, but I don’t think you will be.
Aloha, Lisa
Kona-Kohala Remote and Secret Beaches, Big Island Hawaii
I will be traveling to the West side of the Big Island slightly north of Kona this coming January. Do you recommend any remote less crowded beaches to go too?
I have hiked from Hwy 19 to a couple of secluded beaches off of the beaten path. Is this safe to do?
It is 100% safe to do., in my opinion. People do it all the time. There is very little person on person crime here.
You could go to Maumae Beach through the Mauna Kea Beach hotel. The entrance station guard will give you a map. It’s a beautiful beach. There is Kiholo Bay and Beach 69 or Waialea Beach. the trailhead is by the 71 mile marker. Also try Makalawena, which you walk to from a trail at Kona Coast state Park. about 20 minutes.
Have a great time!
Beach 69 Video
Big Island Itinerary
Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Activities, Big Island Areas, Hawaii Volcanoes, Vacation Planning
Itinerary
Fri PM leave Oakland 3:30pm
EVE arrive Hilo 7:05; drive to Honaka’a
Hotel Hotel Honaka’aSat AM Mamane Bakery; HAWAIIAN MACADAMIA PLANTATION, INC., Waipi’o Valley; drive down Valley Rd, Kahuahine Falls & Waiulili Falls
PM take Rt 19 west to Kawaihae; Pu’ukohola Heiau; Hapuna Beach swimming and snorkeling; Malama Petrograph Trail
EVE check in at hotel and relax (die) or go to ukulele entertainers, Kings Shops at the Waikoloa Resort. Call (808) 886-8811
Hotel Kona Seaside HotelSun AM Hulihe’e Palace; Mokuaikauna Church; Cloud Forest
PM Kahalu’u Beach, snorkeling
EVE open
Hotel Kona Seaside HotelMon AM snorkeling/whalewatching
PM open
EVE open
Hotel Kona Seaside HotelTues AM Keauhou Sea Cave Adventure (kayaking/snorkeling)
PM open
EVE open
Hotel Kona Seaside HotelWed AM check out; Captain Cook; Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden; Holualoa Kona Coffee Company tour; Ho’okena, Green Sand Beach; Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
PM continue drive to Volcanos National Park
EVE open
Hotel Volcano CabinsThurs AM Visitor Center, Jagger Museum, Crater Rim Drive, walk Devastation Trail and Thurston Lava Tube walk
PM Chain of Craters Road
EVE picnic lunch at End of Chain of Craters Road
Hotel Volcano CabinsFri AM check out, leave park 5:30am, depart Hilo Airport 8:30am
PM arrive Chicagois this reasonable? I’m I getting at the good stuff or did I miss alot?
It looks good to me - let me talk about a few things here:
To drive down in Waipio Valley you need a four wheel drive. It’s not an easy drive. Have you found directions to the falls? Doing all this plus swimming at Hapuna beach will be quite a packed day.
You’ll need a 4 wheel drive to get to the green sand beach too unless you plan on hiking a couple of miles each way.
Don’t stress if you aren’t at the Hilo airport 2 hours before you fly out. ATA is the only airlines that goes to the mainland from Hilo. We just flew that flight to Oakland last week. We left our house at 7 am, got there at 7:15, and had NO problems. There were no lines - nothing. That’s just how the Hilo airport is usually. I’m not saying to plan to get there with only 1 hour and 15 minutes to spare like we did, but don’t stress about it.
I think you covered about as much as possible in the time you have. Cool.
Have fun! Lisa
Flight departure to Kona, Big Island of Hawaii
Monday
Flight departure to Kona, Big Island of Hawaii
Drive: for 3 to 4hrs to the Town of Volcano (See map) and stop at supermarket for groceries for the Bungalow Check-in: Kate’s Bungalow Address: 19-4039 Hapu Ln, Volcano Ph: (877) 967-7990 Evening: At leisure (Pack lunches for tomorrow’s Volcano National Park excursion) Tuesday
Morning: Hawaii Volcano National Park Visit: The Visitor Center and obtain information about Volcano and the latest info and location of lava flow also ask about directions in and around the park. (There are two scenic drives with a wealth of volcano views An 11-mile drive, called Crater Rim, passes by many rising steam vents) Visit: Steam Sulphur Banks Vents, Kilauea Overlook, Jaggar Museum, Halemaumau Crater, Devastation Trail (45min hike) Afternoon: Thurston Lava Tube (20min hike), Kilauea Iki Overlook, Kilauea Iki Trail (Little Kilauea), Hilina Pali Overlook, Holei Sea Arch (end of road where lava flowed) Evening: Return to see the lava flow after dark, (take a flashlight, water bottle, and jacket) Wednesday
Morning: (Check-out) Wake up early and drive to Hilo Airport (1hour drive-See map to Hilo Airport) Tour: (1010hrs) Blue Hawaiian Helicopter (Circle of Fire plus Waterfalls Tour) #1963497799 Ph: (800) 786-2583 Afternoon/Lunch: Lunch at Kuhio Grille 111 East Puainako Street, #A106, Hilo (Located at Prince Kuhio Shopping Plaza) Drive: Richardson Beach Park (walk around and take a look at the black sand beach and scenery), Rainbow Falls State Park (at the edge of Hilo town and view the falls), North to scenic drive detour at Onomea Bay along the Hamakua Coast, Visit: Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens and Onomea Bay Trail (Stop at What’s Shakin Smoothie Stand near the Botanical Gardens for refreshments) Drive: north to Akaka Falls State Park (Hike short trail-loop and view Kahuna Falls and Akaka Falls) Drive: North to the Waipio Valley Overlook, Drive: from Waimea, descending down to Kona Check-in: Surf & Racquet Club Address: 78-6800 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona Ph: (808) 331-8878 Evening: At Leisure Morning: At Leisure Afternoon/Evening: (1320hrs) Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Tour (tour pick-up: Buns in the Sun 75-5675 Palani RD) Ph: (808) 322-2366
regarding the Big Island - which way are you driving to Volcano? The southern route or the northern route? The southern route may be your best bet, and it should only take 2 to 2.5 hours unless you stop a lot, which you may.
And groceries? There are no major grocery stores along the southern route. It’d be best to stop in Kona. There is one in Naalehu but it’s small with very high prices.
There’s a lot of things to do in Kona - go to Kahaluu Beach to snorkel and see turtles. Go to the Puuhonua National Park - I think your pass from the Volcanoes National Park might get you in. Check with them. Go on the Fairwinds boat tour - go on a glass bottom boat and or the atlantis submarine.
related: Multiple island itinerary