Hawaii. It’s one of those places that seemingly everyone wants to visit. And it’s no wonder; the landscape, the culture, the food, the views, all are beautiful.

Or trip was to the Big Island, primarily in Kona-Kailua. It was a combination of planned time and unscheduled time, with six of us staying at an Airbnb up the hill from the airport. We had several days fully planned but we also left several days open to have some down time or add in activities that were recommended to us. We can’t stress this enough: ask the locals where they eat and where they visit to get a more authentic experience. In addition to finding new places you may not read about in travel books, you have a better chance of avoiding the tourist crowds.

The home we stayed in is unfortunately no longer listed, otherwise I’d share the link. The reason I mention it is the amenities: not only did we have a washer and dryer available to use, it had a full kitchen and we were allowed to use their snorkeling and swimming gear, which was an added bonus. We tend to book with Airbnb for those reasons, as well as the lower prices we often see versus hotels.

Things to Do & See

Snorkeling

If you’ve never tried it, don’t be afraid to try snorkeling! A few tips for snorkeling: if you’re in salt water, you’ll be much more buoyant. Start with life jackets, kick boards or even pool noodles to help you feel more comfortable in staying afloat. And it’s not a bad idea to purchase a fitted, comfortable mask and snorkel and bring it with you, especially if you plan to do more experience snorkeling in the future. And always remember DON’T TOUCH THE CORAL. Maintain a “Leave No Trace” attitude.

Two Step Beach:  This was an unbelievable experience.  It is mostly a local beach, not a lot of tourists. Having some local friends is a bonus, as they brought kayaks so we could go out on the water and away from shore in the hopes of seeing some of the dolphins that frequent the area.  You definitely will need some aqua socks if the bottoms of your feet are tender.  The hardened lava rocks along the edges can get very sharp.  There is an area that’s more comfortable to walk out from, but from there you’ll have to swim a bit to get to the prime fish-viewing areas. Once in the water, just take it all in. You’ll know if you’re in the right place when you see the corals and schools of fish. There are so many variations of both that it was hard to remember everything.  Unquestionably this is one of our favorite places to snorkel, and we’ve done so in several areas in Hawaii, Cozumel, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and around Ambergris Caye in Belize. 

Ho-Okena:  This is also an out of the way beach, several miles outside of the Kona area with even less tourists than Two-Step. Be aware that the drive downhill can be a bit rough, a little like switchbacks on a mountain in some spots. The black sand of the beach is beautiful.  It can be very hot on the feet, but it’s gorgeous, and so different from the typical white sand beaches Hawaii is known for.  The beach itself is set back into a cove.  One end is covered by a cliff that rises hundreds of feet up and several thousand feet out from shore.  The other end of the beach is extrusive igneous rocks, which is worn, black lava flows that have hardened.  An exploration of this area is necessary.  Coral, sea plants and many small crabs and sea creatures abound in the tide pools within the rocks.  There are also several pools you can watch the waves crash into, and the natural movement of the water rises and falls as much as ten feet into the crevices of the rocks.  The snorkeling here is good.  It’s not as amazing as at Two Step but on the weekday we were there, very little water traffic around the reefs made this a pretty easy snorkel.  The waves here are definitely more significant than at other locations we visited, but not so heavy that most average swimmers would not be comfortable. 

Kekaha Kai Beach Park. This. Place. Is. Beautiful

It’s a fairly long drive down a non-maintained road – we managed it (very slowly) in a minivan; a Jeep or SUV would be better. But don’t let that deter you from visiting this amazing beach. Once you arrive at the parking area, you’ll wander across the hardened lava fields before you reach a more remote area of the beach, and it’s stunning.

If you’re able to make it to Captain Cook, stop by Sacred Grounds Coffee Farm. Our fellow travelers had previously met the owner, who is the nicest guy you could meet. Aside from that, the coffee is amazing, and 100% Kona blend. (The coffee you see at your local grocery store typically only has 10% Kona in theirs.) You can also wander the property and pick fresh fruit from the trees. The starfruit was especially good.

Oh, and by the way, go to a Luau. Most of the big hotels on the island probably have one, and any that you attend will likely be pretty fantastic. It’s not just a cheesy tourist trap; it’s a beautiful way for the islanders to share their their culture with visitors. That, and the beauty of the islands, are part of why so many people return.