Honeymooning on the Big Island

The big island of Hawaii is one of the most spectacular places on this Earth. From the valleys covered in lush green rainforests to the rocky snow-covered heights of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, this island has it all.

The island can be divided into two halves: the Kailua-Kona and Hilo coasts. We had the pleasure of staying at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Kona coast. This side of the island tends to be drier and hotter than the moist Hilo side of the island. However, with the aid of a rental car, this entire island can be your playground. We rented a convertible and absorbed the sights, sounds, and smells at our own pace. The island is not huge; you can drive completely around it in a few hours, but there are countless places to stop and see, so don’t rush it.

There are a couple of must-sees, however, the first one being Volcano National Park. This national park contains the Hawaiian Islands only active volcano, which is nothing short of a religious experience. Another great stop is the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park. At this informational park you can take a step back into time and see how Hawaiians lived, worked, and ate during the time of the kings. The final experience I will mention here is our favorite restaurant on the island, the Kamuela Provision Company. From this restaurant you can cap off your day with an amazing view of the sun setting into the Pacific.

This island is one of the world’s best vacation spots - you will not be disappointed.

Quick Tips:

It is a great idea to get out of the big resorts to save a little money on food. There are grocery stores to buy bottled water and snacks, but the big thing is the local eateries. There are so many good little mom-and-pop restaurants, or even wonderful Vietnamese or Japanese takeout, and it is all really cheap.

Best Way To Get Around:

I highly recommend getting a rental car. The island is so big and there is so much to see that the local transportation doesn’t cut it.

The rooms were not the biggest, yet they were nicely decorated and very welcoming. However, the views from the balconies were breathtaking. Each one overlooks the pool area and beyond, including the ocean.

For the most part, you don’t have to leave the resort if you don’t want to. There are plenty of pools to pick from, waterslides, coastlines to walk, a spa, and wonderful restaurants. The staff is wonderful as well. They always go out of their way to help to make your stay unforgettable.

One of the amazing things about this place is how big it is. You never feel cramped or that you need to fight for space. Whether you are lying at the pool or walking the mile-long art gallery, you always feel like there are only a handful of people around you.

This was where I had the most romantic dinner I have ever experienced! Eating here becomes an evening event. You want to make sure to get here early so that you can get an outside ocean-view table. This way, while you are enjoying your food and listening to the live music, you will also be able to watch a breathtaking sunset.

Not to mention that the food was great and the staff was charming.

The park is amazing! As you drive along the road through the park, there are places that you can pull off to the side and get a little closer to some of the natural attractions. Whether it be the gas vents, sulfur vents, or old lava flows, everything is very accessible and doesn’t require much walking, if that is a concern.

You do, however, need to check with the park rangers at the Welcome Center to see how long the hike is to the actual flowing lava. Also, if you are planning on hiking to the lava flows, make sure to wear good hiking shoes and bring a lot of drinking water. There is a ranger station down by the lava flows that you have to pass before starting your hike, and you can be sure that they will stop you if they don’t think you are prepared.