🌊The Big Island of Hawaii, See You Later!🏝

🛩When to go— High season for tourists is April through November, but it’s Hawaii, so every month is a bit touristy.

🚗Rent a Car— That’s the easiest, most affordable way to get around. If you book way in advance, you might be able to get a fantastic deal. Be ready to spend some gas money.  Twice the size of the other islands, The Big Island is 92 miles long and 76 miles wide. It takes 1—2 hours to get to most places.

🏠Where to stay— We found Airbnb to be the most affordable option. There are plenty of luxury hotels on beaches, if your budget allows. The best spot is Kona, where there are a ton of things to do, and within a 45 minute drive.

🥙🌯Where to eat—

🥗Umeke’s place

🐂🐓Waipi’o Cookhouse, the first farm-to-table restaurant in the United States

🛥Harbor House Restaurant

🌰 Mauna Kea Macadamia Nut Factory

🍍Pineapple Restaurant

☕️Conscious Culture Cafe

☕️Hilo Shark’s Coffee

🍽Paul’s Place

🌯Lucy’s Taqueria

🥡New Chiang Mai Thai

🍧Hawaiian Brain Freeze Shave Ice

🥞Ken’s House of Pancakes

🥩Jackie’s Rey’s Ohana Grill

🌶Habaneros Grill

🥐Evolution Bakery

☕️Kona Coffee Lounge

🍩Holy Donut

🍺Kona Brewing Company

🚁Sights & Tours— wake up early and beat the crowds

⛰Mauna Kea for sunset

🏊🏼‍♂️Manta Ray night snorkel with Sunlight on Water. They have the best lights for attracting plankton, which attracts Mantas

🐬Swim with the dolphins snorkel with Sunlight on Water. We were blessed with a chance to see Pilot Whales

🐬Snorkeling and dolphin watch with BodyGlove. They have a huge, two-story catamaran with a slide, amazing breakfast and lunch buffets and an attentive and friendly staff

🐠Captain Cook Reef snorkel with Captain Zodiac for the best and most adventurous snorkel experience.

🦐Ocean Riders Seahorse Farm for an amazing experience

🐙 Kanaloa Octopus Farm for a handshake with an octopus

⛰Waipi’o Valley by car or hike for some amazing beach/valley views

🏞Akaka Falls State Park

🌈Rainbow Falls

🏖Samuel Beach Park

🏖Hapuna Beach

🏖49 Black Sand Beach

🏖Honaunau Beach for snorkeling

🏖Papakolea for a green sand beach

🏖Punalu’U Beach

🏖Captain Cook Reef for hiking & snorkeling

🗿Pu’uhounua O Honaunau National Historical Park

⛵️Stuff we didn’t do, but hear is cool— Book in Advance

🚁a helicopter tour of the lava

🛥A boat tour of the lava