Has anyone done a day trip to the Big Island?

[CherylCT]

Doing more than that is not an option for us, so please keep that in mind when responding. If anyone could give me details of a one day trip and what you did. Are there tour companies that offer pick-up and drop from the airport? Which airport would we be better off flying into? Would love to do a stargazing tour but not sure if the timing of the flights would allow it. Would love to hear from anyone who has done this in a day!!!!

TIA!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Unless you have a private jet you cannot do stargazing as a day trip. Has to be a full overnight based on where most star tours go (Mauna Kea is not near either airport), darkness, and the timing on commercial flights.

 

[CherylCT]

Unless you have a private jet you cannot do stargazing as a day trip. Has to be a full overnight based on where most star tours go (Mauna Kea is not near either airport), darkness, and the timing on commercial flights.

Yeah, I thought that was the case. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Hubie]

A great day trip would be to reserve a rental a car located near the Kona airport. Then head north along the Kona Coast on Hwy 19 to Hwy 270 all the way up to Hawi for coffee/ice cream before heading back south on Hwy 250 to Waimea, which is home to the largest cattle ranch in the US. From there continue east on Hwy 19 and then southeast to Hilo. Check out the waterfalls along the way to Hilo and stop and walk the trails through the Botanical Gardens. The turn off for the gardens comes up quick and is on the left/coast side of the highway. Paved trails lead you down through the tropical forest/gardens to the coast. It's beautiful there and well worth the stop and your time to enjoy. Have a late lunch in Hilo and then either back track on Hwy 19 to Waimea and take Hwy 190 back to Kailua-Kona (recommended) or you could just continue from Hilo on Hwy 11 and go through the Volcano National Park down to Kailua-Kona (either way it's about an 8-hour drive roundtrip.) Then once back in Kona if you have the time there are lots of good places to have dinner.

Here's some photos of the falls and botanical gardens along Hwy 19:


Amee Falls just off of Hwy 19 and to your right when heading to Hilo


Short falls along one of the paths within the gardens


Orchid cluster along one of the paths within the gardens


Not sure what flowers these are?

 

[WillGan]

We actually did a day trip twice because of low prices on Hawaiian Airlines and was able to do 2 different activities. First one was the volcano! It was a sight to see from near and far! Too bad that it stopped for the moment but it was a great reason to go for my family! The second time we did a farmers market trip! As you’ll see, the fruit is just so much juicier down there! Everything is still so pure and untouched there! But, BUT…. both times we stumbled across this little food truck that had the most amazing Ube Malasadas! They were parked in Hilo by the Kai Store! Oh my goodness! There is nothing like it here in Honolulu! I hope you check them out! But nonetheless, it’s a great change of pace from every other island except Lanai and Molokai!.

 

[cgattis]

We actually did a day trip twice because of low prices on Hawaiian Airlines and was able to do 2 different activities. First one was the volcano! It was a sight to see from near and far! Too bad that it stopped for the moment but it was a great reason to go for my family! The second time we did a farmers market trip! As you’ll see, the fruit is just so much juicier down there! Everything is still so pure and untouched there! But, BUT…. both times we stumbled across this little food truck that had the most amazing Ube Malasadas! They were parked in Hilo by the Kai Store! Oh my goodness! There is nothing like it here in Honolulu! I hope you check them out! But nonetheless, it’s a great change of pace from every other island except Lanai and Molokai!.View attachment 728776View attachment 728777View attachment 728778

Annnnnd now I’m DYING for one of those!!! Thanks, man!!

 

[WillGan]

Man……it was awesome!

 

[WillGan]

Annnnnd now I’m DYING for one of those!!! Thanks, man!!

I think they were called Munchi Box and they did have a Instagram or something. Located in Hilo, Hi.

 

[WillGan]

Instagram link
Here is their Instagram where my wife found them. That purple color that symbolizes UBE, makes them stand out!

 

[pelequeen]

The big island has so much that trying to only go one day is hard. But if you’re committed to doing it, I’d def recommend hawaii volcanoes National park on the east side. Maybe do a helicopter tour? Seeing active lava is just breathtaking. Similarly, seeing the hardened lava and it’s impact on the land—esp with recent eruptions and the decimation of homes on the southeast part of the island. It’s so wild to see homes split in half by lava.

The other biggie is a trip to the top of Mauna Kea. Being above the clouds is heavenly and spectacular. You’d fly into Kona for this trip, I assume.

 

[pelequeen]

There are some black sand beaches on the east side too!

 

[CherylCT]

The big island has so much that trying to only go one day is hard. But if you’re committed to doing it, I’d def recommend hawaii volcanoes National park on the east side. Maybe do a helicopter tour? Seeing active lava is just breathtaking. Similarly, seeing the hardened lava and it’s impact on the land—esp with recent eruptions and the decimation of homes on the southeast part of the island. It’s so wild to see homes split in half by lava.

The other biggie is a trip to the top of Mauna Kea. Being above the clouds is heavenly and spectacular. You’d fly into Kona for this trip, I assume.

Thank you. Yes, unfortunately we will have only one day. For both places, would we fly into Kona?

 

[Anal Annie]

Waaay back in the day we had a couple of trips where we stayed on Oahu & Maui and we did 2 day trips from Oahu (I think we were in the islands a total of 10 days on those trips). We went to Kauai and the Big Island. This was actually pre-9/11 and you used to could just show up at the airport & hop on a flight. I believe the Kona airport is larger than the Hilo airport. I would highly recommend a helicoptor tour that goes all around the island to show off all the different climates on the island including the beautiful waterfalls and the volcanos. We've actually done helicoptor tours twice. If the volcano isn't actively spewing up the pilots can sometimes circle right over the vent and you can look down inside at the lava. It's truly incredible. Once we went into the Hilo side and just rented a car and we drove up to Akaka Falls and then all the way down to the other end of the island to the Black Sand beach. There's not much to see on the drive in-between the lush tropical end of the island and the Black sand beach as it's pretty much a desert in spots but it was interesting to see the various landscape changes. Plan to go early & return later in the evening to experience a full day on the island because it's amazing and so very different than Oahu. We just brought a backpack with a change of clothes in case we found a place to swim or something - which we did at the Black sand beach - there are also sea turtles nesting there.

 

[WillGan]

Thank you. Yes, unfortunately we will have only one day. For both places, would we fly into Kona?

All depends what you’re looking for. Kailua-Kona is more the touristy side where Hilo you have the access to the true feel, lush, and untouched land.

 

[Hubie]

I'm sure the helicopter tours are fabulous, but they're also very expensive. And when we were on the island the rental car agencies prohibited you from driving down to the Green Beach or up to the top of Mauna Kea. I think it's because sometimes they had to toll cars. The road to the green beach is pretty rough and up on Mauna Kea, due to the altitude, sometimes cars will stall. We didn't get to see either, but we did go to the Black Beach and to a couple of the other national park/monuments and since I've climbed volcanoes in Mexico where I was able to peer into the caldera and see the lava below, I didn't really care if I went up Mauna Kea or not.

One thing I did fail to mention previously, is that we ate lunch in 2011 at the restaurant right across from the Hawi coffee shop. I believe the place is called the Bamboo Room? Anyway, we felt like we were in an old-time movie there, like Casablanca, and the fresh fish of the day was wonderful! We also had to get gas one-time in Hawi and it felt like we were in the early 1960s. The teenaged attendant at the only gas station pumped the gas, checked our oil and washed our windshield! The picture below is of the coffee and ice cream shop in Hawi.


Other places we stopped on our drives to Hawi was the macadamia farm located just off of the highway and when we went to volcano -- a Kona Coffee Plantation. Fresh Kona coffee is to die for. And on our way black to the Houla Resort, we stopped at the Black Beach and this Sacred Monument, which is an awesome place to visit.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It is actually illegal to drive to the green sand beach, but locals do it anyway. The state really needs to take action as it is heavily damaging that ecosystem.

FWIW if you are going to VNP flying into Hilo is a better choice.

 

[pjacobi]

It is actually illegal to drive to the green sand beach, but locals do it anyway. The state really needs to take action as it is heavily damaging that ecosystem.

I saw lots of erosion from 4X4 vehicles on the hike to Green Beach. The vehicles only drive you to the edge of the cliff, then you need to scramble down the cliff on make-shift ladders to actually get to the beach. No thanks!


-Paul

 

[morrik5]

Check out this tour company who might be able to provide more info. https://www.robertshawaii.com/things-do/island-hopping/

 

[starry_solo]

Not yet but I'm currently looking at http://www.wasabitourshawaii.com/

 

[Alohafan]

We actually did a day trip twice because of low prices on Hawaiian Airlines and was able to do 2 different activities. First one was the volcano! It was a sight to see from near and far! Too bad that it stopped for the moment but it was a great reason to go for my family! The second time we did a farmers market trip! As you’ll see, the fruit is just so much juicier down there! Everything is still so pure and untouched there! But, BUT…. both times we stumbled across this little food truck that had the most amazing Ube Malasadas! They were parked in Hilo by the Kai Store! Oh my goodness! There is nothing like it here in Honolulu! I hope you check them out! But nonetheless, it’s a great change of pace from every other island except Lanai and Molokai!.View attachment 728776View attachment 728777View attachment 728778

This looks unreal! I can’t wait to see this during Merrie Monarch! We’re taking a day trip up there to check out the Craft Fair!