Aloha, and welcome to our Big Island adventure! πΊ
Some places you visit. The Big Island of HawaiΚ»i is a place that gets into you. Stand at the edge of the PololΕ« Valley lookout β green cliffs tumbling straight into a deep blue sea, waves curling onto a black-sand beach far below β and you understand pretty quickly that this island plays by its own wild, beautiful rules. π
It surprised us at every turn. In one trip, Doug and I (plus our travel crew) floated with manta rays in the dark, hiked across a still-steaming volcano crater, watched spinner dolphins from a snorkel boat, chased sunsets with our toes in the sand, and reconnected with the deep, gentle spirit of the islands.
This is our home base for everything Big Island β every story, every honest tip, every "I wish someone had told us that" moment, all in one place. Whether you're planning your first trip or your fifth, we hope our experiences help you fall in love with this island the way we did.
One thing wove through our entire trip, and it's the heart of everything you'll read here: respect the island, and be a good guest. π The Big Island gives so much, and asks only that we treat it with care.
So grab a cup of Kona coffee β, settle in, and explore. Here's everything from our Big Island journey:
ποΈ EXPLORE OUR BIG ISLAND SERIES :
π Manta Ray Night Snorkel (Keauhou Bay) β Floating in the dark Pacific while gentle giants feed beneath you. β [Manta post]
π¬ Kealakekua Bay Snorkel (Captain Cook) β Crystal water, reef fish, spinner dolphins, and a sea cave reshaped by an earthquake. β Coming soon!
π Volcanoes National Park β Hiking across a steaming crater floor, steam vents, and a ranger's eruption stories. β Coming soon!
ποΈ Big Island Beaches β Hapuna's fine sand, dolphin sightings, and rip-current safety. β Coming soon!
π½οΈ Restaurants & Eats β Sunset dinners with our toes in the sand, dinner at the volcano's edge, and warm malasadas. β Coming soon!
πΆ Live Music & Entertainment β Hawaiian music and hula at the volcano summit, plus live music at Lava Lava Beach Club. β Coming soon!
ποΈ Local Art & Shopping β Meeting island makers, including the beautiful handmade clay flowers of Nana's Clay Flowers. β Coming soon!
π North Kohala & King Kamehameha β The original Kamehameha statue in KapaΚ»au and the scenic North Kohala drive. β Coming soon!
The Big Island isn't just a destination β it's an experience that stays with you long after the sand washes off. We can't wait to go back. ππΊ
Have a question about planning your trip, or a favorite Big Island memory? Come say hi on Instagram @retired_wife β we love hearing from fellow travelers! πΊ
Mahalo for reading, JoJann (your Retired Wife) & Doug (definitely not the wife, but the somewhat patient husband π) π