15 Rainy day activities for the Big Island (and 2 to skip)
You booked your trip to the Big Island several months ago, and now, in the weeks and days leading up to the trip, you see…
[read post]Big Island for Beginners: Need-to-Know Tips for First-Time Visitors
Nearly every mainland flight to the Big Island lands in Kona, on the west side of the island. Plan on 7 days here, with 4…
[read post]What is the best time to visit the Big Island?
Whale season on the Big Island runs from November through April, and it’s the only time of year you’ll see humpbacks offshore. Winter brings its…
[read post]Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts for the third time this year
Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island is Erupting! Lava viewing is a must-do activity if you are on the Big Island now.
[read post]Big Island on a Budget (Cheap & Free Things to do on Hawaiʻi Island)
It’s no secret that it will cost you a pretty penny to visit Hawaiʻi. Flights and accommodations, which are amongst the most expensive in the…
[read post]The 7 Best Black Sand Beaches in Hawaiʻi
When it comes to beaches, Hawaiʻi is no one-trick pony. There are the familiar white sand options, of course, but there are also black, red,…
[read post]The 10 Best Hawaiʻi Waterfalls to Swim in (all islands)
Of the ten Hawaiʻi waterfalls you can swim in, one has lifeguards: Waimea Falls on Oʻahu, where staff decide at 9am daily whether swimming is…
[read post]Mauna Loa’s 2022 Eruption: What Happened and What It Means for Future Travel
Mauna Loa erupted for two weeks, from November 27 to December 10, 2022. It was the volcano’s first eruption since 1984, a 38-year gap, and…
[read post]13 Best Sunrise Spots in Hawaiʻi: Big Island, Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi
Haleakalā sunrise requires an advance reservation and a hotel departure around 3 a.m. Diamond Head opens at 6 a.m. and charges an entrance and parking…
[read post]Hawaiʻi’s Lava Tubes, Sea Caves, and Blowholes, Island by Island
Kaumana Caves in Hilo drop into a lava tube Mauna Loa’s 1881 flow carved for 25 miles. No permit, no tour operator, just walk in.…
[read post]A Beginner’s Guide to Snorkeling in Hawaiʻi (+12 easy snorkeling spots)
A first snorkel comes down to two things: where you get in, and what the water is doing that day. Nerves are the smaller problem.…
[read post]The 16 Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Hawaiʻi: Big Island, Maui, Oʻahu & Kauaʻi
When Kīlauea is erupting, the crater rim at Volcano House gives you two shows in one: the sun goes down while the Halemaʻumaʻu glow builds…
[read post]Stargazing in Hawaiʻi: The Best Spots on Four Islands
From secluded beaches to dark volcanic summits, the BEST stargazing spots on Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Maui, and the Big Island selected for their dark skies and…
[read post]The 9 Best Spots to Find Sea Turtles in Hawaiʻi (All Islands)
One of the most common questions we get from visitors to Hawaiʻi is where they can reliably encounter sea turtles, either on land or in…
[read post]16 (short) Things to Do for your Big Island Itinerary
Looking for activities to add to your Big Island itinerary? Below, we offer ideas that range from active adventures to educational museum stops – and…
[read post]Big Island or Kauaʻi: which island fits your trip?
Kīlauea has erupted in more than 50 episodes since December 2024, and the Big Island is the only Hawaiian island where that’s true. That settles…
[read post]Big Island or Maui, which is better?
The Big Island? Maui? Or both? Plan your trip to Hawaii by comparing the activities, volcanoes, night life, beaches, and natural variety.
[read post]Oʻahu or the Big Island: which is better?
O'ahu? The Big Island? Or both? Plan your trip to Hawaii by comparing the activities, the volcanoes, the night life, the beaches, and the natural…
[read post]The 8 climate zones on the Big Island
How many climate zones are there in the world? And how many of those can you find on the Big Island? (spoiler: 8, not 10,…
[read post]Hawaii, the Earthquake State?
Hawaii is the state with the highest earthquake density in all of the USA! Learn where you are most likely to feel an earthquake (the…
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