A BLONDE VINTAGE

I love Maui, Oahu, Kauai…but the Big Island, Hawaii totally has my heart. And when I think of old school Hawaiian, the hype of 60s architecture and genuine hospitality this is what comes to mind. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m completely bias. I lived on the “rainy-side” of the Island in Hilo for a few years back in my college days and it was life changing. The slower pace, sweet Aloha spirit, peaceful raining mornings which would soon turn into a golden warm sun, it was everything I was needing and wanting at that time in my life. It truly changed me. Below is my travel guide to the Big Island of Hawaii, Big Island things to do, Big Island Hawaii hotels and how you can have the trip of a lifetime!

The Big Island (officially named Hawaii) is the largest island in the chain of Hawaiian Islands in the Central Pacific. It has a incredibly diverse terrain which includes green sand beaches at Papakolea and black sand beaches at Punalu’u to lush rainforest. Below you’ll read about all the unique adventures, five-star hotels and best restaurants. It’s all the must-do’s and must-see’s for the Big Island. Enjoy!

This post is all about Big Island things to do and Big Island Hawaii hotels.

Travel Guide To The Big Island of Hawaii

Big Island Hawaii Airport

Airports

There are two airports on the Big Island of Hawaii. One is in Hilo, Hawaii (ITO) and the other is in Kona, Hawaii (KOA). They are each located on opposite sides of the island. Depending on your trip plan, both are easy to fly in and out of from neighboring islands or the mainland.

Kona has a tendency to have better flights than Hilo from the mainland, and are priced a bit more competitively, but make sure to search both. If you have plans to visit Hilo or the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at some point during your trip, consider flying into Hilo to lessen your drive time.

Transportation

Car Rental – You’ll definitely want to rent a car on the Big Island. There is so much to see and do and if you’re the adventurous type, rent a 4-wheel drive jeep. You’ll be able to reach all the best spots! I recommend renting through Alamo Rental Car Agency or Enterprise.

Big Island Hawaii Hotels

Kailua-Kona Hawaii Hotels

Kailua-Kona is a town on the west coast of the Big Island and stretches almost two-thirds of the entire West side of the island of Hawaii. Beginning just south of Anaehoomalu Bay to Manuka Park. Along this expansive sunny and dry area, you’ll find everything from coffee farms to historic Hawaiian landmarks. Fun fact, King Kamehameha actually spent his final years in Kailua-Kona town!

Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel – Direct view of the ocean and walking distance from the beach, restaurants and Kona Brewing.

Hawaiian Oasis B&B – A relaxing retreat set above Kona town. This B&B is one of my favorites on the Island and has been featured in Sunset Magazine on multiple occasions.

Waikoloa and Kamuela Big Island Hawaii Hotels

Waikoloa and Kamuela do not have much of a town per se, but has resorts and shopping geared for tourists. Here you will find the big five-star resorts and family friendly accommodations such as some of the ones I’ve listed below.

Hotel Fairmont Orchid– Set on a lush 32-acre property overlooking Pauoa Bay, this oceanfront resort is a 13-minute walk from Holoholokai Beach Park. The service is impeccable and the dining on site delicious. You might not leave. Ask for a room facing the ocean, towards the south, it’ll be one of the more private rooms on the property.

Mauna Lani Auberge Resort Hotel – Nestled along the stunning Kohala Coast and in the piko, or spiritual center, of five great mountains, Mauna Lani Resort is just 25 minutes north of the Keauhou-Kona International Airport and features  62 oceanfront acres, and includes an ocean-fed lagoon, three pools with waterfalls, and two championship golf courses.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai – Set amid tropical greenery, this refined beachfront resort is a hotel lovers paradise. Rooms are chic and comfortable, the ocean is a stones throw and there is plenty to do on site to keep you entertained. Some suites even offer outdoor showers so you can be one with nature.

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel– My personal favorite on the entire island, this Rockefeller built masterpiece was one of the first resorts to be built along the Kohala coastline. It’s stunning and the property features a modern tropical vibe, while the best beach on the island is steps from your room. Ask for a room in the tower ocean facing, as these have the best views in the entire hotel!

The Westin Hapuna Prince – In tropical gardens along Hapuna Beach, this upscale resort overlooks the ocean and offers modern and well-appointed guest rooms. It recently underwent a large renovation and was purchased by Marriott. We stayed here for the first part of our trip and loved every minute! I especially enjoyed the workout center and spa, as it was brand new and had very high end amenities and equipment. The rooms themselves are spacious, and well-appointed, plus the lanai’s have a day bed for lounging and relaxing (I took a few naps outside on ours!).  Ask for a beach view room and you will not be disappointed!

Marriott Waikoloa– Set on 15 acres overlooking Anaeho’omalu Bay, this upscale beachfront resort hotel is next to 2 golf courses and is incredibly family friendly. You can walk to the Waikoloa Shopping area, and other nearby resorts. It also has bungalows set right along the ocean in case you’d like more privacy and be a bit further away from the main resort.

Hilo Hawaii Hotels

Hilo is mostly known for Wailuku River State Park, Waianuenue Falls and Rainbow Falls and is also home to bubbling basalt-lava rock pools known as the Boiling Pots. To the south of Hilo is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to rainforests and the active Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes.

What Hilo isn’t known for are luxe accommodations. There are a handful of nice hotels, I’ve listed them below, but what I’d recommend is looking for a Bed and Breakfast or Airbnb.

Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo– Recently purchased and renovated by Hilton, this is the nicest hotel in Hilo. It offers ocean views, a nice swimming pool and close probity to everything Hilo has to offer!

Old Hawaiian Bed & Breakfast– Whenever family or friends would come visit me on the Big Island, this is where I would have them stay. The property is absolutely stunning and the hosts provide breakfast every morning out on the lanai, full of fresh fruits picked straight from their garden.

Hilo Bay Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast – Another top choice in the area, this property offers lovely rooms with oceanfront views that cannot be beat! It’s also conveniently located near downtown and walking distance.

The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls– The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls sits among 22 lush, natural acres, surrounding Hawaii’s largest privately accessible waterfall. Hike every morning and then sit down to one of the best locally sourced breakfasts!

Big Island Things To Do

Visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park- In my opinion, you cannot leave the Big Island without making sure it’s complete with a trip to the Volcanoes National Park. At its heart are the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, which The Kīlauea volcano is the most active volcano in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is seen by millions of tourists each year. This makes it the most visited attraction in Hawaii and the most visited volcano in the world.

Hilo Farmers Market- Twice-weekly outdoor market with over 200 vendors selling produce, artisanal foods & crafts. It’s a great place to grab some lunch, produce, local crafts and gifts!

Drive the Waipi’o Valley- One of the most stunning drives on the whole Island, make sure you drive this route from Hilo to Waimea at some point during your trip. If you like to hike, this valley is one of the most beautiful and secluded places to go to for a hike on the Big Island.

Visit Rainbow Falls – Home to the Hawaiian goddess Hina, the goddess of the moon, the Rainbow Falls cascades over an ancient  lava cave. I would definitely plan to visit early in the morning perhaps even before breakfast to have the most peaceful view of the falls.

Hike to Green Sands Beach –  Green sand beach is a “once in a lifetime” place to visit. Its actual name is Papakōlea beach and it is one of two green sand beaches in the United States. To reach the beach, first you drive to the southern most tip of the United States, then you hike 2.5 miles (one way) from the parking lot to the beach. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but totally worth every minute!

Visit Black Sands Beach – One of the most famous beaches on Hawaii, Black Sand Beach is easily accessible and great for swimming, snorkeling, coastal hikes and seeing turtles!

Visit Hula Daddy Coffee- If you love coffee then this is a must-visit on your trip! Hula Daddy offers handcrafted, small-batch production coffee from a small plantation on Hawaii. During a visit you’ll be treated to samples and given a great tour of the grounds and coffee roastery.

Visit Waimea Town- Waimea is the center for ranching activities and true paniolo culture on the Big Island. It’s also the hub for everything agriculture and you must make an effort to visit one of the Farmer’s Markets during the week.

Visit Big Island Candies- When you’re looking for gifts to bring back for the whole family, this is the place to stop! They offer gourmet Hawaiian chocolates, cookies and candies, and a viewing area where you can see everything being made! My husband is particularly found of this place because they also offer samples of almost EVERYTHING they make. So you can purchase with confidence. Naturally.

Take a Snorkel or Dinner Cruise- Body Glove Hawaii offers an assortment of cruises! Check out my blog post here detailing the activities we chose to do with them!

Eat

Tex Drive In Malasadas– No trip to the Big Island is complete without a hot and fresh Malasada from Tex’s! They are absolutely delish and we always time it for right after a hike in the Waipi’o Valley!

Hot & Fresh Malasadas at Tex’s Drive In

Hawaiian Style Cafe- The first time we came here was because my dad read about it in a magazine as having “hubcap sized pancakes”! And boy, was that article right! You will not leave hungry from this place.. I encourage sharing and now they have three locations you can visit on the Big Island! Waimea Town is the original.

Da Poke Shack- When I think of Hawaii, I always think about all the fresh fish! This little joint is where you go to get some of the freshest and best Poke you’ve ever had in your entire life.

Umeke’s – Oh my gosh! I’m still craving the meal we had at Umeke’s Fish Market & Grill. We ordered the wonton nachos with Ahi, and then shared a plate lunch (we chose the two options and went with the Lau Lau Pork and then Kalbi ribs with the spicy crab and crab broccoli salad. To die for! Plan to come a bit early and hit happy hour (runs till 6) for some great deals on schooners of local brew.

Lava Lava Beach Club- Recommended by my followers on IG, we headed to the Lava Lava Beach Club (in Waikoloa) to grab some cocktails, small bites and watch the sunset. It was amazing! We got a few of their different cocktails and created a little “Island Sampler”. It was delicious! The sunset was also absolutely amazing and we seriously enjoyed this little spot off the beaten path. Make sure to come early to get a good spot as it can get busy and super crowded!

Big Island Brewhaus- Having begun his career as a brewer at McMenamins, Tom Kerns now brews and runs this little joint in Waimea Town. The beer is fresh and delicious and the food tasty. It’s a great spot to hit after hiking or the Waimea Farmer’s Market.

Merriman’s Big Island- Inventive, locally sourced menu of regional dishes, served in a simple, elegant mountainside space. This is our very favorite restaurant on the Big Island. It’s an easy drive from Waikoloa and Kamuela area hotels.

Ulu Ocean Grill and Sushi Lounge – This oceanfront seafood and sushi restaurant is inside of the Four Seasons, but one of our favorite “special date” spots while on vacation. The food is delicious and the ambiance perfect for a special evening.

Brown’s Beach House – If you’re looking for a great restaurant to celebrate a special occasion or maybe just nice dinner for your last evening on the island, this is the place. Set inside the Fairmont Orchid, this is a unique and memorable dining experience.

Hula Daddy Coffee (that view tho!)

For more information on The Big Island, I highly recommend purchasing the book Hawaii The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook it’s one of my favorite books to plan your trip to the Big Island with. It’s fill with Big Island things to do, Big Island Hawaii hotels and Big Island Hawaii restaurants.

I hope you enjoyed this travel guide to the Big Island of Hawaii and if you’re planning to travel to Maui during your trip, consider reading my Maui travel guide!

XO,
M

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