This summer was my first time staying on the Big Island in Hawaii, and it was amazing. I loved every minute and left the trip feeling so relaxed and content. I went with my boyfriend (Mark) and his mom. The three of us always have a blast together, and Hawaii was especially fun.
Where to Stay
We stayed at Club Wyndham Kona. I would definitely rate our stay here a 10/10. The rooms are like condos, there’s plenty of space. We loved cooking breakfast every morning and eating it outside on the balcony. At night, we would use the hot tub and heated pool. There were two pools. What was cool about the hot tub was that the bottom wasn’t simply cemented, it was full of smooth, tiny pebbles. This gave it more of a tropical, luxurious feel. Wyndham also has lots of activities on the hotel grounds. Mark and I learned to make leis together. Location-wise, Wyndham is a good spot. The area is beautiful. It’s not right on the beach, but it’s extremely close. We were a short walk and an even shorter drive to plenty of black and white sand beaches. We were also close to a lot of cute beach shops and restaurants. The Hilton is also a good option, especially if you want more of a hotel/resort type of stay. Hilton has multiple pools and hot tubs, as well as a water slide. Part of the ocean runs through the hotel’s exterior, and there’s a nice mini beach area you can swim in. The hotel is so huge that there is a train that takes you from one side of the hotel to the other. There are also lots of activities you can do and see here during your stay.
Transportation
Depending on the hotel you stay in, you could probably just Uber from the airport and then walk for the rest of your stay. However, I think it’s best to rent a car for the duration of your stay because it allows you to explore the island.
Where to Eat
We cooked a lot of our food since our hotel had a kitchen, but still went out to dinner each night of the trip. My favorite was Foster’s Kitchen. There are a few locations in Kona. We went to the one on Ali’i Drive. The restaurant is upstairs, and from the balcony, you have a gorgeous ocean view, especially if you dine during sunset. After Foster’s, we were walking down the street and looking at the shops, and we came across a shaved ice shop named Scandinavian Shave Ice. The line was out the door. I told Mark we have to stop by here because if the line is out the door, that means it’s gotta be good. Plus, you can’t go to Hawaii without getting shave ice at least once. We got inside and ordered a large snow cone to share. No exaggeration, this snow cone was bigger than my head. It had ice cream in the core of it, and it was smothered in toppings on top. This was a highlight of the trip for me. Another good dinner (and lunch) spot is Lava Lava Beach Club. We went there on the last night we spent in Kona. This restaurant is near the Hilton and right on the beach. We even saw a sea turtle mid dinner. The food was delicious, and we went for a dip right after, at sunset. The swimming spot right by this restaurant is perfection. It has soft sand and warm water. I wasn’t even cold swimming at night here. Mark and I spent our whole evening playing in the waves.
Beaches
Kona has so many black and white sand beaches that you will be stumbling across them. There were some small ones near our hotel that we loved, but we also went out to explore others.
Here are a few that we went to and loved:
Hapuna Beach: This beach is larger and the best option for a beach day. We were able to spend over five hours here with no problem. I spent most of my time looking for seashells here, and I found lots. There are options to rent paddleboards here, too. I tried one but couldn’t stay on the board for more than five seconds, so I’m not sure how much I recommend renting one.
Two Step/Pae’a: This beach is different but still a must-see, especially if you love snorkeling. Mark and I spent two hours snorkeling here. You go down steps into the water and are immediately able to snorkel and see tons of tropical fish. There are also natural water pools formed by the lava rocks here. They’re shallow and warm, making them perfect for young kids. I felt like a mermaid laying out and tanning in these.
Magic Sand Beach: This white sand beach is perfect for laying out in the sun or going for a dive. Mark and I swam out as far as we could to snorkel and look at the coral reefs and tropical fish. It’s close to the Wyndham, so it was very accessible.
Adventures
There are lots of hikes and adventures you can do in Kona. My favorite thing we did was swimming with manta rays. This is an experience I will never forget. You arrive and get dressed in a wet suit. Then, you get onto the boat that takes you out to where the manta rays go at night. They give you a noodle for your legs to stay up in the water while you hold onto a light-up flotation device. They also provide snorkel gear. When you get out in the water, you don’t have to swim at all, you just hold onto the device. The manta rays are very friendly. They do not bite, sting, or attack you. They are completely harmless. They’re fun to watch because they do lots of barrel rolls and swim up super close to you. Not to mention, they are ginormous. If they like you enough, they will barrel roll up against your stomach. After your time is up, you get back into the boat and go to shore, where you are offered hot cocoa and cookies to warm up. There is also a gift shop right there. I still have a stuffed manta ray and seashell jewelry holder from there. During the day, we would drive to local beaches and markets. There are farmers’ markets and tiny outdoor markets everywhere. We also shopped at the stores along Ali’i Drive a lot because of how close it was to our hotel. The Coffee Shack is another cool place to stop. The coffee is delicious, and there’s a tropical trail right by it. The view from the coffee shop is amazing as well. It’s super high up, so you can see the ocean, tons of trees, and lava rocks. The Coffee Shack also offers a tour to show how they make their Hawaiian coffee, and they sell bags of their coffee beans. I took one home to my family. Lastly, we spent an evening at the Hilton. We were able to see part of a luau and some dolphins. We took a walk along the paved trail that goes along the hotel and stopped to hang out in some lawn chairs for a bit. During sunset, we were able to get some beautiful pictures here, too.
Kona is a gorgeous place to visit. It truly gives you the Hawaiian experience. Nothing can compare to their beaches. They are perfect. It’s great for a relaxing getaway and cleanses your mind and soul. If you’re interested in booking a trip here, contact us, and we can help you plan!