Big Island was the fourth Hawaiian Island my wife and I visited. This trip was also our first long-distance trip with our 5-month-old son, so there was a bit of uncertainty on how he would handle being in a plane for 8+ hours. Fortunately, he was well-behaved, which gave us a ton of confidence in making future trips with him. During this trip to Hawaii, we encountered a day of heavy rain and another day when the eastern half of the island had rain, so we could not see specific points of interest. This forced us to cancel several sights we planned to visit. However, there was a positive trade-off of being “stuck” at the resort, and you will see why as you keep reading.

Day One: Arrival

We arrived at Kona International Airport on the Big Island around 3pm. We rented a car from Turo (you can read my review on Turo and our experience here), collected our luggage, and walked to the airport parking lot, where our car was already waiting for us with the keys inside. The distance to Hilton Waikoloa Village from the airport was about 20 miles and a 30-minute drive. On the way to the resort, we stopped at a lookout point to take in the scenery. If you see a lookout point anywhere, just stop your car and enjoy the views.

Since sunset was around 6:15 p.m., and by the time we got situated, it was already close to 5 p.m., we spent the rest of the time at the resort enjoying the sunset views.

I’ll have a separate review on the Hilton Waikoloa Village, but this was a wonderful, kid-friendly property.

 Day Two: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Stops Along the Way

On the second day, I drove from Waikoloa to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park while making a few stops in between. I downloaded the Gypsy App specifically for the Big Island, and it guided me on where to make stops between Waikoloa and Volcanoes National Park. It costs $9.99, and you do not need to have data to work with it. The most appealing aspect of this app is that the narrator gives you historical context concerning culture and geology at various stopping points and why it might be worth stopping or skipping. The app is a knowledgeable tour guide, and I highly recommend using it for Big Island.

 

Places of Interest En Route To Volcanoes National Park

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach Park was the last place I stopped before entering Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. After this one, there are a few other points of interest, such as South Point (the southernmost point out of all the 50 states) and Papakolea Beach, a green sand beach. Getting to the beach does require over two hours of hiking, and I did not want to run out of daylight where I’d be hurrying at Volcanoes National Park. I skipped these two, but if you leave Kona before sunrise or stay in Hilo, you’ll have plenty of time to see both places.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

I’ve been asked if I brought my 5-month-old to this park, and the answer is no. Since the steam vents emit sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gas, I did not want to expose my son to potential lung irritants. If you’re pregnant, have heart problems, asthma, or COPD, it’s probably best to avoid the steam vents at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Some parts of the park were still closed due to the eruptions from 2018, and the lava tubes were also not accessible during this time. As you continue your drive through the park, I highly recommend taking Chain of Craters Road down to the coast. It’s about 20 miles from the caldera, and the drive is among the best in any of the 50 states. Pictures don’t do it justice, so I took a short video to give you a better idea.

You will also find plenty of fantastic photo opportunities and other points of interest.

You will find a sign for the Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs Field closer to the shore. This area is considered sacred to the people of Hawaii, and you will find many symbols and images carved into the hardened lava. It’s a 1.4-mile round-trip hike, and I highly recommend it. Further down the road, you will see cliffs made from lava. This is the newest land on the Big Island, and it’s made when lava hits the water and solidifies into rock.

 

Day Three: Pololu Valley and Stops Along the Way

On this day, there was rain in the forecast after 2 p.m., so I made it a point to get this hike done as early as possible. The mornings also have cooler temperatures, making a much more comfortable hike. Pololu Valley is about a 45-minute drive from Waikoloa and about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Kona. You can just park your car on the road and enjoy the views from the lookout, but if you want to get the splendid views of the valley, you should go on a hike. The hike down isn’t challenging, but it can be slippery due to the frequent rainfall in the area. Returning up the hike is moderately difficult, and you will need plenty of water and some granola bars.

Waimea Valley is nearby and also offers spectacular views. However, hiking there requires entering private property, which would be considered trespassing. You can also drive down there but need an AWD or 4WD vehicle with some clearance.

Day Four: Whale Watching From Hilton Waikoloa Village (due to rain)

On this day, the plan was to go to Akaka Falls. If you are on the Big Island, visit Akaka Falls because it is beautiful from the many pictures and videos I have seen. Unfortunately, a lot of rain moved in and spanned the entire island. But there was a silver lining.  As I’ve mentioned before, winter is humpback whale season in Hawaii. Mothers and calves are near the coasts of every Hawaiian island, and this is when mothers teach their young how to be whales. Since our resort was right on the shore, I took my camera and started filming when someone pointed out the whales in the distance. Then they started coming closer and closer.

Out of nowhere, the mother whale breached the water, and I was lucky enough to have my camera recording. I’m sorry for the grainy quality.

Whales were seen four out of the five days we stayed at Hilton Waikoloa Village, and it really made it fun and exciting for the kids who were also whale watching.

Day Five: Snorkeling in the Hilton Waikoloa Village Lagoon and visit to Kona

Day five was supposed to visit either Akaka Falls or the green sand beach. Both places had rain in the forecast, while our side of the island was bright and sunny. I used this time to go snorkeling.

This property does not have an oceanfront beach due to the powerful waves and riptide currents common along the Big Island. However, it has a sand lagoon that functions as a beach, which is excellent for swimming and snorkeling. I saw plenty of colorful fish and several sea turtles, one of which I could follow for almost two minutes.

Kona

The owner of the vehicle we rented from Turo recommended Umekes Fishmarket Bar and Grill in Kona for dinner. We ordered Tempura-Battered Fish and chips and Cajun-Style Ahi Fish Tacos, both of which were perfect.

This concluded our trip to the Big Island in Hawaii. A popular question I get asked is, among the four islands I have visited, which is my favorite? I really can’t say I have one. Each island has its own unique charm and offers something different for everyone. The Big Island has a volcanic landscape that’s so vast it can’t be seen anywhere else in Hawaii. It also has stunning valleys, excellent beaches, and a green sand beach that can’t be found on any other Hawaiian island. Since it is not as heavily trafficked by tourists, you get a better flavor of Hawaiian culture throughout the island. Big Island is also known for its coffee and macadamia nuts. If you have the time, you should visit a coffee or a macadamia nut farm.  But just like the other Hawaiian islands my wife and I have been fortunate to see, the locals are wonderful. They are some of the nicest and friendliest people in the world. The physical beauty of the islands is undoubtedly attractive and makes for great pictures, but the Hawaiian people and their hospitality keep us coming back. We look forward to coming back. As always, thanks for reading.