Hawai'i, HI

Lodging

Porch at my uncle’s guest house

My uncle’s guest house

View from my uncle’s guest house of the pond in his backyard

• We are lucky enough that my Uncle lives in Hawaii, so we have a place to stay when we visit

Things To Do & Day Trips

Downtown Hilo across from the Hilo waterfront

Driving to the top of Mauna Kea at sunset

An observatory at the top of the volcano

Red rock at the top of the volcano

Observatory at sunset

Kona Joe Coffee Farm, overlooking the ocean

Volcanic rock beach in Kona

Downtown Kona

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Visitor Center

Factory at the visitor center

Onekahakaha Beach Park

Carlsmith Beach Park

Swimming with turtles at Carlsmith Beach Park

Coconut Island

Rainbow Falls

Hike up to the top of Rainbow Falls

Trees next to Rainbow Falls

• Walk around downtown Hilo and do some shopping or grab coffee

• Drive to the top of Mauna Kea, one of the island’s five volcanoes, with a summit of almost 14,000 feet. We timed it perfectly, passing above the clouds right at sunset. The views are absolutely breathtaking, and totally worth the lack of oxygen (there’s a checkpoint halfway up the mountain where everyone has to stop for 30 minutes to adjust to the change in altitude).

• Visit Kona on the other side of the mountain (we drove by way of Saddle Road, which passes up and over the center of the island - between two volcanoes, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The scenery along the drive (when the fog isn’t in the way) is amazing - featuring volcanos, volcanic rock, and volcanic steam. We also even caught a glimpse of Maui from across the ocean. In Kona, check out their famous chocolate and coffee farms. My personal favorite was a coffee farm, Kona Joe - not only was their coffee amazing, but the views were incredible. Some chocolate places to check out the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory and Donkey Balls Chocolate Factory. Also check out the beaches and stop by downtown Kona!

• Visit the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Visitor Center in Hilo. Macadamia nuts are a famous product of the island.

• Check out the local volcanic rock beaches like Onekahakaha Beach Park, Coconut Island, and swim with turtles at Carlsmith Beach Park!

• Visit Rainbow Falls. a local waterfall

Food & Drink

Poké from Poke to Your Taste

Fresh sashimi my uncle’s friend brought over!

Fresh dragonfruit

Cooking in an Imu

Hilo Brewing Company

Tasting room at Hilo Brewing Company

• Try fresh food like poké at Poke to Your Taste, local sashimi, dragon fruit, or food cooked in an Imu (tradition of underground cooking, we had a pig roast)! Because we were staying with my uncle, we didn’t eat out a lot, and were able to try a lot of local food!

• Visit Hilo Brewing Company