Plan a Week in Hawaii
So you’re thinking of heading to the beautiful island of Hawaii? Well, lucky you - you’re making a trip most people dream of!
We were fortunate enough to be able to travel here during December 2020, spending the entire week on the Big Island (which is just known as Hawaii, and the name we’ll use throughout this post). We found it to be an incredibly diverse island, both culturally and geographically. Follow along for the best tips to make the most of your trip!
Day One: Fly into KOA and drive to Hilo
The two major cities in Hawaii are Kona and Hilo. Hilo is more famous for their rainforests and the Volcanoes National Park, while Kona is seen as the more beach-friendly spot of the island. They are on opposites sides of the island, but only a 2 hour drive between them. If you have at least 4 days on the island, I urge you to spend time on both sides to experience Hawaii’s diversity!
Kona tends to be the bigger airport where more flights route to, so I suggest you spend the first day flying into the airport and making your way to Hilo. The drive is going to be mostly on the famed Saddle Road, where you get views of volcanic destruction on the way. Make sure to do get to Hilo with enough light in the day, as it can be a bit of a challenging drive.
Relax after your long day of travel with some takeout from Naung Mai Thai Kitchen or Cafe Pesto. Get some rest as you’re going to need it for the rest of your time in Hilo!
Day Two: See the Black Sand Beach and Rainforest Exploration
Today’s going to be a fun nature-filled day (you’ll sense this theme in Hilo), so get some breakfast and make your way to Isaac Hale Beach Park. You’re going to see the unique Pohoiki black sand beach on the island, caused by deposits of volcanic ash. In fact, just in 2018, there was an eruption that covered the shoreline with black ash! It’s a great place to explore and enjoy the waves in the distinctive sand. Additionally, there’s a natural hot spring you can hang out in while enjoying the strong Pacific waves from a distance.
Drive back to Hilo to grab some lunch (I’d recommend Saucy Dogs or Pineapples on the Bayfront), before the short drive to Rainbow Falls. This is a nice 80 foot waterfall, that is both centrally located and beautiful. It’s also close to Kaumana Caves, which is a popular attraction but I felt to be a bit of a miss because it’s a bit tight inside.
For your final adventure of the day, head to Coconut Island for a diving challenge! It’s a half hour away from Rainbow Falls, and features a famous diving tower where you can jump from 20 feet straight into the ocean! It’s also a nice place to picnic and enjoy the view of Hilo.
Day Three: Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Today’s the day you get to visit one of the two national parks in the state of Hawaii (the other is Haleakala on Maui). Start off early to get to the park by 9 am to make the most of the day.
Start off by driving down Crater Rim Drive to check out the views of the Crater and Steaming Vents. Expect some foggy conditions, due to consistent rains in Hilo and the altitude.
Next, move onto the longer Chain of Craters Road to make your way to the Kilauea Iki Hike down into the major crater. It’s an incredibly massive crater to see with your own eyes; pictures cannot prepare you for how deep & empty this land is. The hike will take you a good portion of the day, but it is certainly worth it.
Finally, I suggest you do the drive down to the beautiful Holei Sea Arch. It’s around an hour of driving, but you get to see incredible natural sights caused by prior volcanic eruptions that makes for quite a bit of stops along the way. You won’t regret the views you are going to get.
After a long day of hiking and exploration, you deserve a great meal to close out your last night in Hilo. Head out of the park to Hilo Bay Cafe. The restaurant is a bit more upscale and has beautiful views of the ocean. We really enjoyed their sushi options, but the parmesan custard stood out as a can’t-miss dish!
Day Four: Head back to Kona through the Waipi’o Valley
After a couple of days sprinting through the sights on the east side of Hawaii, move slowly as you make your way to Kona, taking the scenic northern route.
Start with a delicious breakfast at Pele’s Kitchen, serving both traditional and Hawaiian brunch fare. Tin Shack Bakery also offers an alternative if you want some pastries for the road. Start driving towards Akaka Falls, which boasts a 400-foot waterfall (putting Rainbow Falls to shame!). It’s an incredible site to hang around at and do a picnic lunch at.
Continuing to drive north, you will see Laupahoehoe Beach Park after around 45 minutes. The drive is a bit challenging, so make sure to go slow on the steep slopes, but it is certainly worth it to see the roaring Pacific blue waves attack the shoreline.
The big payoff of the northern route comes when you reach the Waipi’o Valley Lookout. You get an unbelievable, 360° view of the island and the coast, and it was my favorite spot for pictures. We enjoyed some malasadas (Portuguese filled donuts) from Tex’s Drive-In, while enjoying the sights.
From here, take your time to drive to Kona. The Big Island features 11 different climate zones, and you will certainly see most, if not all, of them during your drive. Be patient, and enjoy all the unique nature around you, as you pull into Kona for the night.
Day Five: Snorkel in the Ocean and take in a Traditional Luau
Now that you’re back in Kona, it’s time to check out the Hawaii that is pictured in the movies: it’s beach time! We went to Magic Sands Beach to start out the day, and it’s a bit on the smaller side; if you’re looking for something a bit bigger, check out Kealakekua Bay Beach or King Kam Beach. You’ve had a busy trip so far, so take some time to relax here.
After grabbing an oceanfront acai lunch at Basik Cafe, it’s time to go snorkeling! Hawaii has an incredible amount of sealife diversity, so getting to experience it upfront is hard-to-describe. Most tours you can find online budget around 3-4 hours for the entire trip. This is a must-do on the trip, as the boat captains also teach you quite a bit about the environmentalism needed in Hawaii.
Finally, after getting clean after your day in the ocean, learn about Hawaiian culture by taking in a luau. There is a nightly show at the Hilton Waikaloa Village, where we saw dancing & singing performances by native Hawaiians and an incredible fire show. It was the perfect mix of fun and educational, and you get dinner & an open bar, with the option to also explore the incredible resort for the price of admission.
Day Six: Check out a Green Sand Beach and Go Night Snorkeling
You’re going to see two very different, but both incredible sights today. Start off early as it’s around a 90 minute drive from Kona to Papakolea Green Sand Beach. Make sure to grab some breakfast and snacks for the road! Once you arrive, there’s a 2 mile hike down from the parking area to the beach, so dress accordingly.
This beach is 1 of only 4 beaches worldwide with green sand, so make sure not to miss this sight! It’s not a place where you can swim very easily, but the hikes and cliff views are definitely worth it. The sand is green due to a large cinder cone near the beach that gets eroded and deposits green crystals; what a spot!
Get some lunch at Taco Tita by the beach as you make your way back to Kona. Your only plan for the rest of the night will start at 7-8 pm, so take some time to chill before heading back to the ocean for a Manta Ray Snorkel. This happens in pitch black, which was something we’ve never experienced in the water. It’s quite different from traditional snorkeling, where you are hugging onto the boat as they throw light-up plankton into the ocean to attract stingrays near you! It’s so cool to see them up close, and this felt like a very unique experience, so I wouldn’t miss it! Grab a late dinner at Daiichi Ramen or Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill before you last day in the paradise of Hawaii!
Day Seven: A Long Hike up Mauna Kea before Flying out
You have to make your last few hours in Hawaii count! Do that by going on an incredible hike up Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that is technically the tallest mountain in the world. People often go at night because the view of the stars is said to be immaculate if you are lucky enough to not be shrouded by clouds. However, due to time and risk, I suggest you still go, but during the day.
It is a long hike up to the summit, taking around 7-8 hours roundtrip! If you get up early enough before your flight to commit to that length, definitely go for it - you won’t regret it. Alternatively, you can just drive to the summit and do the shorter hike to Lake Waiau, which only takes around 90 minutes.
Surely this expedition will tire you out, but it will be a perfect way to catch some sleep on your flight back home, where you can reminisce about this perfect trip to the Big Island.
