Recommendations for the big island
Return to DiscussionsI am visiting Hawaii for the first time in February. We will be staying near Kona and have not really planned the week out. Does anyone have any recommendations on the best things to do or see for a 6 day stay? i love the outdoors and would love to do some things that are more active like seeing the volcano, zip lining etc.
I was on the Big Island last spring, and yeah there's lots to do. A few I'd recommend:
Nude beaches - Beach 67 (north of Kona), and Kehena Beach (near Pahoa) - Kehena is the better one, but a long distance from Kona. If you google them, you can find directions, or message me and I'll give more details.
Go hiking in the Volcanoes National Park - lots of great trails there. Be prepared for rain though.
There are lots of great places for sea kayaking and snorkeling. You can rent a kayak for a decent price from a company called Kona Boys.
If you have the spare cash for it, helicopter tours are a great way to see some of the inaccessible parts of the island.
Message me if you'd like some more ideas. I miss the Big Island - wish I was going back!
Check ahead with Kona Boys - they're a good company. Kealakekua Bay, one of the main put-in spots for kayaks, is currently closed to all float craft, due to overuse. The Dept of Land and Nat Resources has been issuing nudity tickets at Beach 67. If you get to the Puna side, check out Kehena - a nicer, more social beach although it can be too surfy for safe swimming.
Kona is best for water access and for history; Hilo/Puna side for culture and geology. If you're into Hawaiian history, read up, and then visit, the Honaunau Place of Refuge (Pu'u Honuna o Honaunau), Kealakekua Bay with its massive temple/heiau and the monument (accessible only by a mile swim/snorkel or a 4-mile hike) noting where Captain Cook was killed, and the still-in-development Kaloko-Honokohau national park.
Be sure to go snorkeling! Kahaluu is crowded, but worth it, and you can rent snorkel stuff inexpensively there. Go as early in the day as you can, to avoid crowds and have good clear light. ALL touring here is best done early in the day, before the clouds begin to come in.
The lobbies and grounds of many of the hotels and resorts have great interest - they've picked historic sites, and collected artifacts for display.