Hawaii; Big Island

Hawaii; the big island

I like to think of the big island of Hawaii as the rural island; it's raw, far less developed & has lots of wide open space (relative, of course.. you can still drive across the island in less than 2 hours..).  This is the island to come to if you like getting off the beaten track and nature is more your thing!  Some of my favourite things from a week on Hawaii..

{hiking}

Kaumana Caves Park

I did very little hiking during my stay on the big island.. the hiking I did do was mainly short sight-seeing type hikes.  Unfortunately, the Waipio Valley was closed due to a dengue fever outbreak, but I hear it has great hiking!  Kaumana Caves Park is just outside of Hilo and has a lava tube that you can follow for at least 1km!  It's really neat to see.. I'd recommend taking a light & coming back through the lava tube - the surface trail isn't well maintained or marked.  Green Sand beach is on the southern part of the island and requires a 6 mile hike round-trip (or an expensive & questionable ride on the back of a 4 x 4).  The beach is really nice (although the type of place I'd only go once..), and while I was there we saw a turtle swimming!  There are a couple of trails around Volcanoes National Park as well, but I had such an incredible night-time visit there that I would recommend that option!

{beaches}

Green Sand Beach

The beaches are a bit more spread out on the big island, and you'll find some beach areas quite rocky - especially on the east coast.  Between Kawaihae & Captain Cook are generally where you'll find all the best white-sand beaches. The Samuel M Spencer Beach Park near Kawaihae has excellent facilities and a lovely beach.. it's also a great spot to watch the sunset if you're in the area!  Mauna Kea beach is also gorgeous, although you'll need to get there early if you want parking (parking is issued by the hotel and only limited spots are available).    Green Sands beach is also a really neat spot to experience!

{sights}

Rainbow Falls

There is no shortage of incredible sights to see, scattered throughout the island!  The highlight for me was definitely Volcanoes National Park.  I arrived just after sunset.. the red glow of the lava combined with a sky full of stars was absolutely unreal.  Ahalanui Park is on the southern part of the island & has a great ocean-water pool that is warmed by the lava underneath; it's similar to a hot spring, minus the sulphur smell.  I would also highly recommend snorkelling at the Kapoho Tidal Pools.. so many fish & some of the best snorkelling I've ever done!  There are also a few waterfalls worth checking out.. Rainbow falls is really pretty (& if you hike up behind the falls there's a great swimming spot!) and Akaka Falls are one of the highest falls in the world (twice the height of Niagara Falls!).

{food}

Kapoho Tidal Pools

In Kona, you'll find Huggo's On the Rocks has delicious meals at both their casual beach-style section & formal waterfront option.  In Waimea, James Angelo's Underground Pizza is top-notch.. he makes all the hand-tossed pizza himself and will hook you up with your favourite topping combo.  In Pahoa, the Tin Shack Bakery has the best vibes & people watching around... it's great for a full-on breakfast or just a coffee break.  You'll also find plenty of grocery deli's & cafes in the towns with great snacks or light lunch fare.. although perhaps avoid eating an entire litre of blueberries in one day..

{budget}
Depending on where you stay, I found the big island to be slightly more budget-friendly than Maui or Oahu.  It's less touristy and more small-town feel.. but it's still an isolated island.  The only place I stayed & would actually recommend to anyone was the My Hawaii Hostel in Kona.. this brand new hostel just opened a few months ago and they've done an incredible job!  It's extremely clean, the rooms are spacious & the decor is super modern & fun!

J.
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