A day late but worth the wait! I love making these new Big Island videos from our last couple of trips. Mahalo for watching! Check out our Island of Hawaii itineraries at www.thehawaiivacationguide.com/bigisland/
I’m glad you like our Aina (Land) and we built that and that’s our temple that we worshipped the God KU (the war God) and I’m Native Hawaiian myself and I am an Ali’i and I’m also the seventh grandson to the Chief and than king name Kamehameha 1 (The Lonely one) and I’m the Prince of Hawaii so I’m glad you liked our heiaus and my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii (Friends of the Chief), and (Friends of the King) because his first wife Kanekapolei is my seven time grandmother and his other 30 wives are my seven time step grandmothers and his kids are my great uncles and Queen Emma is my great Aunty so I’m glad you liked our Heiau and hopefully you can go visit it again and I’m glad you liked learning about us Hawaiian 🌺 so my people built that and if you forget my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii and my Hawaiian name means friends of the Chief and Friends of the King 👑 and I am part of the Royal Family and I’m the Prince of Hawaii and I’m also blood related to Kamehameha 1
We just returned from 8 days on Maui and found your Maui Wayfinder Itinerary to be worth every penny. I got my hubby and teenage sons to watch several of your videos before the trip and it made everyone feel more relaxed and excited. Thank you for putting so much passion and FUN into your work creating these itineraries and videos. This one makes the Big Island seems WAY more appealing than I would have expected!
So good to hear the itinerary and videos worked well for you! We have a blast writing the guides and making the videos. The islands are such a special place. Thanks for the feedback!
I did a lot of those things you suggested!!! My favorite snorkeling adventure ever was the captain cook experience! The water was so crystal clear the day I went that you could see all the plankton floating around! 😀 I want to go back and do the manta ray night snorkel!
I’m glad you like our Aina (Land) and we built that and that’s our temple that we worshipped the God KU (the war God) and I’m Native Hawaiian myself and I am an Ali’i and I’m also the seventh grandson to the Chief and than king name Kamehameha 1 (The Lonely one) and I’m the Prince of Hawaii so I’m glad you liked our heiaus and my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii (Friends of the Chief), and (Friends of the King) because his first wife Kanekapolei is my seven time grandmother and his other 30 wives are my seven time step grandmothers and his kids are my great uncles and Queen Emma is my great Aunty so I’m glad you liked our Heiau and hopefully you can go visit it again and I’m glad you liked learning about us Hawaiian 🌺 so my people built that and if you forget my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii and my Hawaiian name means friends of the Chief and Friends of the King 👑 and I am part of the Royal Family and I’m the Prince of Hawaii and I’m also blood related to Kamehameha 1
Much love to the big island. My wife and I purposely spent half our honeymoon there (the other half on Oahu) specifically for all the exciting things you can do: Mauna Kea observatories, manta ray snorkeling/scuba diving, helicopter over the volcano ... and coffee, of course. Sadly Volcano National Park was closed because that was the crazy 2018 eruption, but we did discover Volcano Winery across the street and became members!
I used to live in Kona! Now I'm planning a trip back to take my wife there for her first time, and your video was so good to refresh my memory! Mahalo!
It is SO FUN watching this video after visiting. Hawai'i was part 1 of a 2 week trip, Alaska was the other. My parents met in Alaska so that was where my heart was saying to spend more time. But my friend and I really LOVED the Big Island. We are already planning another trip, maybe as early as December...
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide I’m glad you like our Aina (Land) and we built that and that’s our temple that we worshipped the God KU (the war God) and I’m Native Hawaiian myself and I am an Ali’i and I’m also the seventh grandson to the Chief and than king name Kamehameha 1 (The Lonely one) and I’m the Prince of Hawaii so I’m glad you liked our heiaus and my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii (Friends of the Chief), and (Friends of the King) because his first wife Kanekapolei is my seven time grandmother and his other 30 wives are my seven time step grandmothers and his kids are my great uncles and Queen Emma is my great Aunty so I’m glad you liked our Heiau and hopefully you can go visit it again and I’m glad you liked learning about us Hawaiian 🌺 so my people built that and if you forget my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii and my Hawaiian name means friends of the Chief and Friends of the King 👑 and I am part of the Royal Family and I’m the Prince of Hawaii and I’m also blood related to Kamehameha 1 and so if you wanna ask me about my people and about my seven time grandfather Kamehameha 1 feel free to ask
This was good information. Your filming, editing and presentation for your videos is outstanding. Thank you for all the hard work you do to make your videos top notch and enjoyable. I can’t wait to get to the Big Island in October.
Thanks! Great recommendations. I would add a couple things. If you haven't been the pizza at Kona Brewing is the best we've ever had. We had the Hawaiian BBQ pizza (might not be your normal pizza, just try it). The 2nd thing is not for as many people, but if you're fit and like hiking the Muliwai trail is 9 miles each way to Waimanu Valley and Waimanu Falls. You can swim in the falls pool and it is all very secluded. Get your camping permit ahead of time. The hike has a different feel and is more like the ancient jungle Hawaii you may have imagined. Check the weather before you go as flash floods are real and the hike crosses like 13 smaller ravines/valley's.
In my opinion best place to stay is mountain view it's close to the national park it may rain a bit on and off but it's still pretty hot in Hawaii and the cool air is really good at night
My Alaskan family visited your beautiful state this past September. We stayed in Maui & it was love at first sight. Your videos were extremely helpful in making our decision. Thank you so much! We hope to return this coming February. 😊
So glad to hear you had a lovely time for your vacation! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment afterward your trip. See you in February!
I actually live in Big island in Waimea! Big Island is such a nice island because there’s many many places that feels like a dream and not so much buildings like oahu!
We got to the top of Mauna Kea on September 7th. We got PERFECT conditions for stargazing. No moon, the clouds all settled about 4,000ft below us and you could see the Milky Way with the naked eye. I did some astrophotography and got a shot that looks like Mauna Loa erupting the Milky Way into the sky! The tour guide that was there said we couldn't have picked a better night...
I'm am very jealous. Congrats on the perfect conditions. We can't wait to go up there again when Henry is a little older. He isn't used to the cold anymore! Thanks for sharing.
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide it was absolutely wonderful! Found a souvenir request on the road to Hana ( a Hawaiian thimble ) which was almost impossible to find anywhere, ate at Fleetwoods, did the UWW 6 hour snorkel tour, saw the sunset from Haleakala. It was absolutely amazing in every way. Thanks for sharing your tips and adventures. ☺️
Loved watching this. The next time you go, definitely check out the sea horse farm in Kona. It's amazing and you can hold a sea horse at the end of the tour. There is also an octopus farm nearby that we didn't get to, but hope to visit there on our next trip. Mahalo!
Thanks for watching and the tip! We always wanted to go to the Sea Horse Farm as Henry would love it but the price made us try something else. We will go for our next island-hopping adventure. Mahalo!
awesome video and Things to do! My wife and I were just given an opportunity to move to the Big Island for 5 months and we are flying out tomorrow morning :)
Great overall videos you two do! Check out the very affordable ohana room rentals on the windward side of the big island if you want to spend a night or two close to the volcanoes national park...Mountainview village is about a 20 minute drive to both Hilo and the volcanoes park...😃🌈🤙
I just purchased your Big Island guide! I feel such a time crunch since I will only be there for 7 days. I am going to book a tour to see the stars. But everything else I’m going to try solo 😊
thanks for purchasing our Big Island guide! Have a blast traveling solo! The Big Island has some great tours but one doesn't need a tour to enjoy the island!
Well done guy’s, nice job today 👍 We’ve never been to the big island but you certainly gave use something to think about 🤔 Keep up the good work guy’s , nice going 👍🇨🇦😎❤️
Since COVID changed our plans to Hawaii twice (!!) we are planning a longer trip to Kauai and the Big Island next year. We’ve been to Kauai before but have only been to Big Island for a day so this was super helpful! Thank you! I so enjoy your videos! 💚
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide I’m glad you like our Aina (Land) and we built that and that’s our temple that we worshipped the God KU (the war God) and I’m Native Hawaiian myself and I am an Ali’i and I’m also the seventh grandson to the Chief and than king name Kamehameha 1 (The Lonely one) and I’m the Prince of Hawaii so I’m glad you liked our heiaus and my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii (Friends of the Chief), and (Friends of the King) because his first wife Kanekapolei is my seven time grandmother and his other 30 wives are my seven time step grandmothers and his kids are my great uncles and Queen Emma is my great Aunty so I’m glad you liked our Heiau and hopefully you can go visit it again and I’m glad you liked learning about us Hawaiian 🌺 so my people built that and if you forget my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii and my Hawaiian name means friends of the Chief and Friends of the King 👑 and I am part of the Royal Family and I’m the Prince of Hawaii and I’m also blood related to Kamehameha 1
Thanks for the great "pre-trip" information; we're "non-touristy" tourists and I especially like the local suggestions. One important thing: I wanted to book a Waipio Valley tour and the County has the road closed, so only current option (as of 4/12/22) is to go to the lookout and hike down. We're flat-landers, so that's a hard "no", but hoping something might change by the time we go (last week July). If not, at least you've given some fabulous alternatives. I'll update after we get back. Mahalo!
Thanks for watching. Even hiking isn’t allowed at this time into Waipio. The community wants the beach open but the mayor is sticking to the civil assessment safety review. Have a great trip !
there you go! there is plenty to do without going into the water! There are a lot of land based tours, botanical gardens, nature walks, local museums, and more to explore. Oahu has more of the larger museums, shopping, zoo, aquarium, etc.
Mixed bag on that one. Cool green sand but a trek to get there. Five mile hike, hot, windy. Go early in the morning. We wouldn’t do it with our toddler but before him, it is fun.
Great video. If we had 10 days just for the big island would you recommend staying in one spot or moving around and staying in 2 locations making it easier to explore the whole island?
We like to stay in Hilo or Volcanoes National Park for a night or two if we are there for an extended period. One can do Volcanoes in a day trip but it is a long day.
Oh hell yeah! The Shaka app put you right to it....if you have young, curious kids, that love to run through the woods....HOLD ONTO THEM!!....there is a 500’ cliff that comes out of no where!😃🌈🤙
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide Actually interestingly enough a couple with their baby in tow were going to give us a ride in their Jeep Gladiator (we both sat in the pick-up bed). But given the baby they thought it was too rough a ride so they turned back - fortunately just as that happened one of the "shuttles" pulled up and we got in. I also wonder if you did the cliff jump nearby at the South Point (though you shouldn't recommend that it is dangerous).
I’ve booked a vacation for the beginning of December, where do I go to book tours ? I’ll be staying in Waikiki. I want to start booking early to make sure I get some good ones. Also, are there any tours/excursions that shuttle you from your hotel or do you have to have a car to get everywhere? I’ll be staying at the Hilton garden village.
We will have more of our favorite tours up on our website in the next month, you can see our favorites here: thehawaiivacationguide.com/hawaii-recommendations/hawaii-best-tours-and-activities/ For guided tours with a shuttle, check out Hawaii Tours. They are a local company with 20 yrs experience on the islands. We know Dan, the owner. Check out their tours here: thehawaiivacationguide.com/HawaiiTours
Thanks for this. Can you pls send us the link again for the recent covid requirement link before going to Big island. We’re going this firs week of April 2022. 🤙🏼
Hello from Los Angeles! Planning a solo trip to the Big Island at the end of September/early October and I have been consuming your content voraciously. Thank you! Quick question... is it pretty safe to drive on the Big Island as a tourist?
Thanks for watching and enjoy the trip! See our 2024 Big Island travel guide video for an update. We have never had an issue driving on the Big Island. The roads are in great shape.
If staying for a week or more, we recommend staying a night or two or three in Hilo or around Volcanoes. We give excursion days for the other side of the island in our Big Island itinerary: thehawaiivacationguide.com/bigisland
Things have changed alot in the last year. Was just there July 2022. Restaurants are understaffed and some are staffed with very inexperienced people - even the high end ones. Expect long waits, odd answers, and be patients Restaurant food is nothing to write home about. Be careful with poke. I got food poisoning that put me in bed for 2 days from a prominent restaurant in Kona. The only really good food that I had was Thai at a restaurant in Volcano. The food on the Hilo side is better than the Kona side because there are more locals. I enjoyed a coffee and homemade soup at a little hole in the wall in Pahoa called Third Eye Oasis and the most incredible fish and chips ever made from Ono at a hole in the wall in Pahoa called Pahoa Fresh Fish. Food is EXTREMELY expensive everywhere except Costco - especially on the dry side of the island. Go to Costco for lunch and to pick up food, snacks, essentials, and something you can make for breakfast and lunch. Go to grocery stores as a last resort since they're more expensive and their produce is poor. Make sure you get a rental with a kitchen. DO try a Maui Gold pineapple. Nothing like it anywhere in the world! Restaurants close down surprisingly early. Many close at or before sunset. Make sure to call or eat at McDonald's or Dennys. Expect gasoline to be at least a dollar more a gallon than back home. Everything sells out early. The bakery mentioned was sold out by 3pm, the food truck mentioned was gone by 4pm, many restaurants are also closed temporarily or permanently. The pandemic followed by out-of-control inflation and little increase in pay on the island had a huge impact on the workers on the island. Many left. Be grateful and generous with your tips - staff may be living on the edge of poverty. Tourists are no longer allowed in the Waipio Valley. You may only observe it from the overlook. I greatly enjoyed Kahena with its tropical forests and beautiful views of the ocean and Volcano with its misty weather and fern trees. I rented a house there for 2 days - totally worth it! The fern forest and t Thai restaurant is just down the street from Volcano National Park. Plan to see it in the afternoon, get dinner, and come back and see it glowing at night. Bring a waterproof windbreaker and flashlight. It's chilly, misty, and windy and very dark at night but the paths are easy to walk. My favorite beach was just north of Costco. Beautiful Sandy beach and bottom and gentle waves. Great for kids and just standing in the water. Most Big Island beaches are rocky and have treacherous waves. Be careful trying to swim. And check out the swim and surf advisory websites. Hurricane Darby had just come by when we were there and the waves were crazy. But beautiful to watch. The most beautiful views of crashing waves are in Southpoint. Aloha!
Thanks for the great information. ☺️I had no idea Hilo is the wet side of the island. Do you believe Mauna Kea summit is a worthwhile tour? We are spending most of our time on the island of Oahu however, since inter island travel is available after June 15th I would love to see Volcano National Park. Is a short visit worthwhile? Thanks!
Stay close to the national park entrance...stay in an Airbnb around, orchid land subdivision, fern acres subdivision, kurtistown, or Mountainview or volcanoes village. That’s close to Kilauea which is where the park is. I would stay a night or two because you got a little bit of a longer drive to Kona or kohala....plus you will be close to Hilo (20 minutes down 11)
@@thomasreto2997 Thanks so much for the great information. I think we can visit for 1 or 2 days. That it perfect. I would hate to travel so far and miss an opportunity to see Volcano National Park. Mahalo!🌺🌺🌺
Any tips on booking a car rental? Tried Hawaiian Discount Car Rental but for October, rates are $115 a day! Have the AirBNB and flight booked but the car rentals seem to be quite expensive! Thanks.
Sorry to say, that is a good price right now. Book with Hawaii Discount Car Rental as no prepayment and watch if prices go down. Try local car rental places and keep your dates flexible. They are good with working with you to get you into a car, at a fair price.
this one does: thehawaiivacationguide.com/activities/manta-ray-night-snorkel-with-sea-paradise/ FYI, the Sheraton is now the Outrigger. Have a great trip.
We have articles on that: Big Island: thehawaiivacationguide.com/how-many-days-should-you-spend-on-the-big-island/ Oahu: thehawaiivacationguide.com/how-many-days-do-you-need-on-oahu/ Maui: thehawaiivacationguide.com/how-many-days-should-you-spend-in-maui/
Hi and thanks for all the info! This will be mine and husbands first ever trip like this. It’s a once in a lifetime for us, we’ve booked for end of august and will have 4 FULL DAYS..we are staying at Royal Kona Resort, we want to snorkel, see and relax on beaches with drinks, see waterfalls and volcanos…that’s slot of info I’m sorry. I’m excited and lost! Is our hotel a good one? I want to zip,one maybe too👀, should we rent a car? Uber? Please help. I plan on getting your itinerary as well!
How exciting! We haven't stayed at the Royal Kona so I don't have an opinion on it. But if you're planning to do a lot of exploring, get a rental car or book a tour guide to take you around. We did a video on ziplining, so check that out and see if it looks like fun for you. Jordan had a great time! Enjoy your trip!
Lava tube or rental car. It’s a big place so best seen with a rental car. One can chill in a Kohala resort and see a lot with Uber or taxi though too. Depends on how much you want to see.
Aloha! My mother and I are Island hopping! We are going there from April 26th through May 17. Kauai has the most dates, a total of 10 days on the island. Should we just stay there for the whole 10 days or should we stay there for 6 days and travel to our favorite island instead? Thanks to Henry, my mother started bugging me about grandchildren. He is quick on his feet, that one. Mahalo.
There is a lot to do on all the islands for 10 days. We have an article on how many days on Kauai here: thehawaiivacationguide.com/how-many-days-should-you-spend-on-kauai/ I hope that helps! Best of luck with the grandchildren comments!
A day late but worth the wait! I love making these new Big Island videos from our last couple of trips. Mahalo for watching! Check out our Island of Hawaii itineraries at www.thehawaiivacationguide.com/bigisland/
I’m glad you like our Aina (Land) and we built that and that’s our temple that we worshipped the God KU (the war God) and I’m Native Hawaiian myself and I am an Ali’i and I’m also the seventh grandson to the Chief and than king name Kamehameha 1 (The Lonely one) and I’m the Prince of Hawaii so I’m glad you liked our heiaus and my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii (Friends of the Chief), and (Friends of the King) because his first wife Kanekapolei is my seven time grandmother and his other 30 wives are my seven time step grandmothers and his kids are my great uncles and Queen Emma is my great Aunty so I’m glad you liked our Heiau and hopefully you can go visit it again and I’m glad you liked learning about us Hawaiian 🌺 so my people built that and if you forget my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii and my Hawaiian name means friends of the Chief and Friends of the King 👑 and I am part of the Royal Family and I’m the Prince of Hawaii and I’m also blood related to Kamehameha 1
We just returned from 8 days on Maui and found your Maui Wayfinder Itinerary to be worth every penny. I got my hubby and teenage sons to watch several of your videos before the trip and it made everyone feel more relaxed and excited. Thank you for putting so much passion and FUN into your work creating these itineraries and videos. This one makes the Big Island seems WAY more appealing than I would have expected!
So good to hear the itinerary and videos worked well for you! We have a blast writing the guides and making the videos. The islands are such a special place. Thanks for the feedback!
It’s hard not to smile back at you guys when you guys smile 🤣
I did a lot of those things you suggested!!! My favorite snorkeling adventure ever was the captain cook experience! The water was so crystal clear the day I went that you could see all the plankton floating around! 😀 I want to go back and do the manta ray night snorkel!
And that kiddo of yours, so sweet!
Right on time. Was still looking for activities for our trip in 2 weeks
Thanks guys! Your videos are making it much easier to plan my trip.
Love the Big Island! Grew up in Hilo and now living on the mainland. Plan on visiting again summer 2022.
Great comprehensive guide guys !
There is soooo much to do on every island…looking forward to the adventures for the rest of my life ❤️
Don't you already know what's going to happen?
I’m glad you like our Aina (Land) and we built that and that’s our temple that we worshipped the God KU (the war God) and I’m Native Hawaiian myself and I am an Ali’i and I’m also the seventh grandson to the Chief and than king name Kamehameha 1 (The Lonely one) and I’m the Prince of Hawaii so I’m glad you liked our heiaus and my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii (Friends of the Chief), and (Friends of the King) because his first wife Kanekapolei is my seven time grandmother and his other 30 wives are my seven time step grandmothers and his kids are my great uncles and Queen Emma is my great Aunty so I’m glad you liked our Heiau and hopefully you can go visit it again and I’m glad you liked learning about us Hawaiian 🌺 so my people built that and if you forget my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii and my Hawaiian name means friends of the Chief and Friends of the King 👑 and I am part of the Royal Family and I’m the Prince of Hawaii and I’m also blood related to Kamehameha 1
Thanks fo showing my home island
Much love to the big island. My wife and I purposely spent half our honeymoon there (the other half on Oahu) specifically for all the exciting things you can do: Mauna Kea observatories, manta ray snorkeling/scuba diving, helicopter over the volcano ... and coffee, of course. Sadly Volcano National Park was closed because that was the crazy 2018 eruption, but we did discover Volcano Winery across the street and became members!
Volcano winery is a great spot!
I used to live in Kona! Now I'm planning a trip back to take my wife there for her first time, and your video was so good to refresh my memory! Mahalo!
Have a great trip back, thanks for watching!
You guys have such a beautiful family! Thanks for all the helpful tips and recs. We're so excited for our trip! :D
Have a wonderful trip and thanks for watching!
It is SO FUN watching this video after visiting. Hawai'i was part 1 of a 2 week trip, Alaska was the other. My parents met in Alaska so that was where my heart was saying to spend more time. But my friend and I really LOVED the Big Island. We are already planning another trip, maybe as early as December...
come on back anytime! The Big Island is a special place.
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide I’m glad you like our Aina (Land) and we built that and that’s our temple that we worshipped the God KU (the war God) and I’m Native Hawaiian myself and I am an Ali’i and I’m also the seventh grandson to the Chief and than king name Kamehameha 1 (The Lonely one) and I’m the Prince of Hawaii so I’m glad you liked our heiaus and my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii (Friends of the Chief), and (Friends of the King) because his first wife Kanekapolei is my seven time grandmother and his other 30 wives are my seven time step grandmothers and his kids are my great uncles and Queen Emma is my great Aunty so I’m glad you liked our Heiau and hopefully you can go visit it again and I’m glad you liked learning about us Hawaiian 🌺 so my people built that and if you forget my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii and my Hawaiian name means friends of the Chief and Friends of the King 👑 and I am part of the Royal Family and I’m the Prince of Hawaii and I’m also blood related to Kamehameha 1 and so if you wanna ask me about my people and about my seven time grandfather Kamehameha 1 feel free to ask
Visiting Hawaii soon for the first time! Your videos are super informative and helpful, thank you!!
Thanks for watching and have a great trip!
Thank you!
Me and my wife followed you guys on Maui and Oahu. We spend a wonderful time. Thank you for your tips.
that is great to hear! I hope you can make it over to the Island of Hawai'i
This was good information. Your filming, editing and presentation for your videos is outstanding. Thank you for all the hard work you do to make your videos top notch and enjoyable. I can’t wait to get to the Big Island in October.
I hope you have a wonderful trip!
I'll see you there in October! Lol also going to Kaui for 4 nights
@@cjcab3158 Lucky! I have not been there yet. Only the Big Island and Maui.
Thanks! Great recommendations. I would add a couple things. If you haven't been the pizza at Kona Brewing is the best we've ever had. We had the Hawaiian BBQ pizza (might not be your normal pizza, just try it). The 2nd thing is not for as many people, but if you're fit and like hiking the Muliwai trail is 9 miles each way to Waimanu Valley and Waimanu Falls. You can swim in the falls pool and it is all very secluded. Get your camping permit ahead of time. The hike has a different feel and is more like the ancient jungle Hawaii you may have imagined. Check the weather before you go as flash floods are real and the hike crosses like 13 smaller ravines/valley's.
Thanks for sharing those tips! That sounds like an epic hike into the jungle!
Great tips👍
In my opinion best place to stay is mountain view it's close to the national park it may rain a bit on and off but it's still pretty hot in Hawaii and the cool air is really good at night
love your videos I have been to the big island many times and I think you did a great job covering what to see.
Thanks for watching!
My Alaskan family visited your beautiful state this past September. We stayed in Maui & it was love at first sight. Your videos were extremely helpful in making our decision. Thank you so much! We hope to return this coming February. 😊
So glad to hear you had a lovely time for your vacation! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment afterward your trip. See you in February!
I'm here because my name is Kona .😅
In our country Kona means particle and in Hawaii it means leeward 🙂
I actually live in Big island in Waimea! Big Island is such a nice island because there’s many many places that feels like a dream and not so much buildings like oahu!
So true!
I love you guys, I am planning my first vacation at the big island, and you help me a lot 🙏👍. Viktor from Hungary 🏖️
I love your videos! They’re very helpful with my planning. Just curious as to timing to get around?
I went to hawaii and your videos really helped me experience a lot . I fell in love with the big island ❤ I miss it already !
I'm so glad we could help. The Big Island is wonderful
We got to the top of Mauna Kea on September 7th. We got PERFECT conditions for stargazing. No moon, the clouds all settled about 4,000ft below us and you could see the Milky Way with the naked eye. I did some astrophotography and got a shot that looks like Mauna Loa erupting the Milky Way into the sky! The tour guide that was there said we couldn't have picked a better night...
I'm am very jealous. Congrats on the perfect conditions. We can't wait to go up there again when Henry is a little older. He isn't used to the cold anymore! Thanks for sharing.
I love these folks
how did the trip to Maui go?
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide it was absolutely wonderful! Found a souvenir request on the road to Hana ( a Hawaiian thimble ) which was almost impossible to find anywhere, ate at Fleetwoods, did the UWW 6 hour snorkel tour, saw the sunset from Haleakala. It was absolutely amazing in every way. Thanks for sharing your tips and adventures. ☺️
thanks for info planning to be there short few weeks away
have a great vacation!!
Loved watching this. The next time you go, definitely check out the sea horse farm in Kona. It's amazing and you can hold a sea horse at the end of the tour. There is also an octopus farm nearby that we didn't get to, but hope to visit there on our next trip. Mahalo!
Thanks for watching and the tip! We always wanted to go to the Sea Horse Farm as Henry would love it but the price made us try something else. We will go for our next island-hopping adventure. Mahalo!
Going next month!! Thank you for the info!
Have a wonderful trip!
I want to go :/
LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!!
Thank you for watching!
Hello
Any update on the construction at Kona Village Resort, loved staying there !
awesome video and Things to do! My wife and I were just given an opportunity to move to the Big Island for 5 months and we are flying out tomorrow morning :)
Great overall videos you two do! Check out the very affordable ohana room rentals on the windward side of the big island if you want to spend a night or two close to the volcanoes national park...Mountainview village is about a 20 minute drive to both Hilo and the volcanoes park...😃🌈🤙
Thanks for sharing!
I just purchased your Big Island guide! I feel such a time crunch since I will only be there for 7 days. I am going to book a tour to see the stars. But everything else I’m going to try solo 😊
thanks for purchasing our Big Island guide! Have a blast traveling solo! The Big Island has some great tours but one doesn't need a tour to enjoy the island!
Thank you, we are going to the Big Island next April, have the Condo and car booked already. Love your channel
Love the advance planning! Enjoy the trip!
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide Mahalo can't wait!!
Well done guy’s, nice job today 👍 We’ve never been to the big island but you certainly gave use something to think about 🤔 Keep up the good work guy’s , nice going 👍🇨🇦😎❤️
Thank you!
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide No problem guy’s 👍❤️😎🇨🇦
Big Island Grill in Kona!!!
Since COVID changed our plans to Hawaii twice (!!) we are planning a longer trip to Kauai and the Big Island next year. We’ve been to Kauai before but have only been to Big Island for a day so this was super helpful! Thank you! I so enjoy your videos! 💚
Enjoy your make up trip! Two great islands to see.
Hello 👍🔊
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide I’m glad you like our Aina (Land) and we built that and that’s our temple that we worshipped the God KU (the war God) and I’m Native Hawaiian myself and I am an Ali’i and I’m also the seventh grandson to the Chief and than king name Kamehameha 1 (The Lonely one) and I’m the Prince of Hawaii so I’m glad you liked our heiaus and my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii (Friends of the Chief), and (Friends of the King) because his first wife Kanekapolei is my seven time grandmother and his other 30 wives are my seven time step grandmothers and his kids are my great uncles and Queen Emma is my great Aunty so I’m glad you liked our Heiau and hopefully you can go visit it again and I’m glad you liked learning about us Hawaiian 🌺 so my people built that and if you forget my name in Hawaiian is Kahoalii and my Hawaiian name means friends of the Chief and Friends of the King 👑 and I am part of the Royal Family and I’m the Prince of Hawaii and I’m also blood related to Kamehameha 1
Hill farmers market on Wed and Sat very worth while!
thanks for sharing! The Big Island has a lot of great farmers markets we noticed, compared to the other islands.
Hilo
Thanks for the great "pre-trip" information; we're "non-touristy" tourists and I especially like the local suggestions. One important thing: I wanted to book a Waipio Valley tour and the County has the road closed, so only current option (as of 4/12/22) is to go to the lookout and hike down. We're flat-landers, so that's a hard "no", but hoping something might change by the time we go (last week July). If not, at least you've given some fabulous alternatives. I'll update after we get back. Mahalo!
Thanks for watching. Even hiking isn’t allowed at this time into Waipio. The community wants the beach open but the mayor is sticking to the civil assessment safety review. Have a great trip !
omg I'm so excited !! planning my trip now. Worried about Covid restrictions though...
Have fun! Sign up for our newsletter is you'd like to stay up-to-date on changing restrictions: thehawaiivacationguide.com/openupdates/
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide Thank you :)
How can I enjoy HI not a swimmer. However, love looking/walking the beaches, zoo, musuems, history & shopping.
there you go! there is plenty to do without going into the water! There are a lot of land based tours, botanical gardens, nature walks, local museums, and more to explore. Oahu has more of the larger museums, shopping, zoo, aquarium, etc.
great video like always! Would you recommend visiting papakōlea beach, and is it easy to get to?
Mixed bag on that one. Cool green sand but a trek to get there. Five mile hike, hot, windy. Go early in the morning. We wouldn’t do it with our toddler but before him, it is fun.
Punaluu breads are now sold in maybe all KTA stores.
thanks for sharing!
The Panaewa Rainforest Zoo on the Hilo side is a must see. It was free but nice if you can leave a donation. Reopens July 19th.
Thanks for sharing the tip!
Great video. If we had 10 days just for the big island would you recommend staying in one spot or moving around and staying in 2 locations making it easier to explore the whole island?
We like to stay in Hilo or Volcanoes National Park for a night or two if we are there for an extended period. One can do Volcanoes in a day trip but it is a long day.
Don’t forget to see the Devils Throat and you have to try Donkey Balls !
Yes! Donkey Balls are great
Oh hell yeah! The Shaka app put you right to it....if you have young, curious kids, that love to run through the woods....HOLD ONTO THEM!!....there is a 500’ cliff that comes out of no where!😃🌈🤙
It's like you guys knew I'm in the middle of planning out my August trip to Big Island :) Thanks so much for all these informative videos!
Perfect timing! Enjoy your trip and planning
Thank you for the video. Can 3 yrs old also attend those activities? Such as Manta Ray snorkeling etc? Thank you!
Check with the tour operators but five is typically the youngest.
How about the Green Sand Beach? I realize it was kind of a trek getting there but was super cool.
We went in back of a pickup on the way there, and walked the way back. We wore hiking boots and happy we did! 😃🌈🤙
Yeah we used the "shuttle" to get there and back. Felt like being in Madagascar!
@@Scambush we really had to hold on tight otherwise we would have flown right out the back!😃🌈🤙
Very cool place to go but didn’t do it with the toddler in tow.
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide Actually interestingly enough a couple with their baby in tow were going to give us a ride in their Jeep Gladiator (we both sat in the pick-up bed). But given the baby they thought it was too rough a ride so they turned back - fortunately just as that happened one of the "shuttles" pulled up and we got in. I also wonder if you did the cliff jump nearby at the South Point (though you shouldn't recommend that it is dangerous).
I’ve booked a vacation for the beginning of December, where do I go to book tours ? I’ll be staying in Waikiki. I want to start booking early to make sure I get some good ones. Also, are there any tours/excursions that shuttle you from your hotel or do you have to have a car to get everywhere? I’ll be staying at the Hilton garden village.
We will have more of our favorite tours up on our website in the next month, you can see our favorites here: thehawaiivacationguide.com/hawaii-recommendations/hawaii-best-tours-and-activities/
For guided tours with a shuttle, check out Hawaii Tours. They are a local company with 20 yrs experience on the islands. We know Dan, the owner. Check out their tours here: thehawaiivacationguide.com/HawaiiTours
Thanks for this. Can you pls send us the link again for the recent covid requirement link before going to Big island. We’re going this firs week of April 2022. 🤙🏼
Here you go: thehawaiivacationguide.com/hawaii-travel-restrictions/
Thanks. Also, any good food trucks in Big Island?
Hello from Los Angeles! Planning a solo trip to the Big Island at the end of September/early October and I have been consuming your content voraciously. Thank you! Quick question... is it pretty safe to drive on the Big Island as a tourist?
Thanks for watching and enjoy the trip! See our 2024 Big Island travel guide video for an update. We have never had an issue driving on the Big Island. The roads are in great shape.
I have 2 weeks starting at Oahu. I can pick one more island to see, what should I choose?!
Maui but we are biased! Go to the Big Island for a very different feel than Oahu if you are looking for less crowds.
Do yall recommend staying in one city and traveling from there or is it better to road trip around to different places to stay the night?
If staying for a week or more, we recommend staying a night or two or three in Hilo or around Volcanoes. We give excursion days for the other side of the island in our Big Island itinerary: thehawaiivacationguide.com/bigisland
The dude at 3:26 didn’t look too happy. Lol.
He gave a friendly wave after the stare 😂. I surprised him.
Things have changed alot in the last year. Was just there July 2022. Restaurants are understaffed and some are staffed with very inexperienced people - even the high end ones. Expect long waits, odd answers, and be patients Restaurant food is nothing to write home about. Be careful with poke. I got food poisoning that put me in bed for 2 days from a prominent restaurant in Kona. The only really good food that I had was Thai at a restaurant in Volcano. The food on the Hilo side is better than the Kona side because there are more locals. I enjoyed a coffee and homemade soup at a little hole in the wall in Pahoa called Third Eye Oasis and the most incredible fish and chips ever made from Ono at a hole in the wall in Pahoa called Pahoa Fresh Fish.
Food is EXTREMELY expensive everywhere except Costco - especially on the dry side of the island. Go to Costco for lunch and to pick up food, snacks, essentials, and something you can make for breakfast and lunch. Go to grocery stores as a last resort since they're more expensive and their produce is poor. Make sure you get a rental with a kitchen. DO try a Maui Gold pineapple. Nothing like it anywhere in the world!
Restaurants close down surprisingly early. Many close at or before sunset. Make sure to call or eat at McDonald's or Dennys.
Expect gasoline to be at least a dollar more a gallon than back home.
Everything sells out early. The bakery mentioned was sold out by 3pm, the food truck mentioned was gone by 4pm, many restaurants are also closed temporarily or permanently. The pandemic followed by out-of-control inflation and little increase in pay on the island had a huge impact on the workers on the island. Many left. Be grateful and generous with your tips - staff may be living on the edge of poverty.
Tourists are no longer allowed in the Waipio Valley. You may only observe it from the overlook.
I greatly enjoyed Kahena with its tropical forests and beautiful views of the ocean and Volcano with its misty weather and fern trees. I rented a house there for 2 days - totally worth it! The fern forest and t Thai restaurant is just down the street from Volcano National Park. Plan to see it in the afternoon, get dinner, and come back and see it glowing at night. Bring a waterproof windbreaker and flashlight. It's chilly, misty, and windy and very dark at night but the paths are easy to walk.
My favorite beach was just north of Costco. Beautiful Sandy beach and bottom and gentle waves. Great for kids and just standing in the water. Most Big Island beaches are rocky and have treacherous waves. Be careful trying to swim. And check out the swim and surf advisory websites. Hurricane Darby had just come by when we were there and the waves were crazy. But beautiful to watch. The most beautiful views of crashing waves are in Southpoint.
Aloha!
Thanks for the great information. ☺️I had no idea Hilo is the wet side of the island. Do you believe Mauna Kea summit is a worthwhile tour? We are spending most of our time on the island of Oahu however, since inter island travel is available after June 15th I would love to see Volcano National Park. Is a short visit worthwhile? Thanks!
Stay close to the national park entrance...stay in an Airbnb around, orchid land subdivision, fern acres subdivision, kurtistown, or Mountainview or volcanoes village. That’s close to Kilauea which is where the park is. I would stay a night or two because you got a little bit of a longer drive to Kona or kohala....plus you will be close to Hilo (20 minutes down 11)
@@thomasreto2997 Thanks so much for the great information. I think we can visit for 1 or 2 days. That it perfect. I would hate to travel so far and miss an opportunity to see Volcano National Park.
Mahalo!🌺🌺🌺
@@Sabrina-od4mr it does take more than a day to see it in detail. It rains a cold and quiete windy rain. Never mind umbrella bring rain parkas
@@thomasreto2997 Goodness a rain parka. Thanks for that information.
Would you be able to approximate the real time drive time from Kona airport to Waikoloa village? Never sure how accurate Google Maps is.
It is accurate per our experience. There can be traffic on the road but it is a straight shot up there.
Any tips on booking a car rental? Tried Hawaiian Discount Car Rental but for October, rates are $115 a day! Have the AirBNB and flight booked but the car rentals seem to be quite expensive! Thanks.
Sorry to say, that is a good price right now. Book with Hawaii Discount Car Rental as no prepayment and watch if prices go down. Try local car rental places and keep your dates flexible. They are good with working with you to get you into a car, at a fair price.
How did you do Manta Ray Night Snorkeling, with an infant?
We didn't! Young kids can do a ride along on some tours but Erica and I switch off going on some of these tours.
which manta ray tour departs from the sheraton? I don't want an extra 40 min boat ride to take off from somewhere else.
this one does: thehawaiivacationguide.com/activities/manta-ray-night-snorkel-with-sea-paradise/
FYI, the Sheraton is now the Outrigger. Have a great trip.
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide what tour is better the earlier one or later?
Hi
Can you thel me how many days do I stay at Big Island, Maui and Oahu?
Thank's
We have articles on that:
Big Island: thehawaiivacationguide.com/how-many-days-should-you-spend-on-the-big-island/
Oahu: thehawaiivacationguide.com/how-many-days-do-you-need-on-oahu/
Maui: thehawaiivacationguide.com/how-many-days-should-you-spend-in-maui/
Any thoughts on Gluten Free options?
There are a lot if you search for them. We love Aloha Reel Poke
Hi and thanks for all the info! This will be mine and husbands first ever trip like this. It’s a once in a lifetime for us, we’ve booked for end of august and will have 4 FULL DAYS..we are staying at Royal Kona Resort, we want to snorkel, see and relax on beaches with drinks, see waterfalls and volcanos…that’s slot of info I’m sorry. I’m excited and lost! Is our hotel a good one? I want to zip,one maybe too👀, should we rent a car? Uber? Please help. I plan on getting your itinerary as well!
Zipline*
Oh also, it is our anniversary 😍😍😍….and also again, are luaus a must and if so where?
How exciting! We haven't stayed at the Royal Kona so I don't have an opinion on it. But if you're planning to do a lot of exploring, get a rental car or book a tour guide to take you around. We did a video on ziplining, so check that out and see if it looks like fun for you. Jordan had a great time! Enjoy your trip!
What's the best way to get around the Big Island? Car rental? Uber/Lyft? Helicopter?
Lava tube or rental car. It’s a big place so best seen with a rental car. One can chill in a Kohala resort and see a lot with Uber or taxi though too. Depends on how much you want to see.
How are you able to open your eyes underwater with no protection?
Do you know of where I can get reeallly gooood Mac nut bread ? Thanjs
Banana Bread Spot is south of Captain Cook. Amazing stuff. Mac Nuts are in banana bread sometimes but just Mac nut bread is rare.
I can't go more than two days without good Mexican food. Any suggestions?
That is a tough one! Shaka Tacoz is our favorite. It is above Kailua-Kona in coffee country
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide Beach, bears, and tacos. Can’t go wrong
The itinerary that I had purchased from you have links that do not work :-(
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I’m so sorry to hear that. Let us fix your order. Please email us at aloha@thehawaiivacationguide.com
Hapuna state beach
Aloha! My mother and I are Island hopping! We are going there from April 26th through May 17. Kauai has the most dates, a total of 10 days on the island. Should we just stay there for the whole 10 days or should we stay there for 6 days and travel to our favorite island instead? Thanks to Henry, my mother started bugging me about grandchildren. He is quick on his feet, that one. Mahalo.
There is a lot to do on all the islands for 10 days. We have an article on how many days on Kauai here: thehawaiivacationguide.com/how-many-days-should-you-spend-on-kauai/
I hope that helps! Best of luck with the grandchildren comments!
awesome! I have also uploaded video about west oahu on my channel😀 inspired from you both😍
I thought you said they were free :(
we have free itineraries here, if that is what you are referring too: thehawaiivacationguide.com/hawaii-itineraries/
ATV- WTH? Hike into Waipio Valley to appreciate it, not on a destructive noise machine.