Big Island, Hawaii (Mar 2022)

We couldn’t resist booking flights back to Hawaii (Big Island) when we saw them on sale for $150-200/p each way.

This was our 6th time to Hawaii, and we had a fantastic, fun filled trip!

Now that we’re back home since our trip, I looked back at our pictures and reflecting on what a great time we had. We really packed a LOT of things, from multiple beaches around the island (including some unique ones like Green Sand Beach, Black Sand Beach), saw sea turtles, saw whales (even breaching), saw a real lava flow from volcano, walked in lava caves, went to a Luau… Staying in 5 different places (condos, cottages, B&B, etc) around the island was a fantastic idea to minimize driving around, even though we still drove over 600 miles total. My son just sat next to me looking at all the pictures and with almost every one he was like “Ohhhh, that’s when we were at this place and and and……”. Brought a smile to my face with every picture and his amazing memory, even the little details.

If interested to read further and see pictures of our trip, please see below for Day by Day.

[Day 1] Travel to Hawaii, Rental Car, Condo, and Keawakapu Beach

♥ Once landed in Kona, we showed our QR codes, and on our way to exit the airport.

♥ Picked up our rental car (Jeep Rubicon, my favorite), then off to our condo (Kona Mansions Condo) to drop off our bags.

♥ Headed to KTA Superstore to pick up some groceries as we had a full kitchen, then walked to near-by beach (Honl’s Beach) for some sunset pictures. 🙂

[Day 2] Travel to North Kohala / Kohala Coast

♥ First full day in the Big Island… exhausting day as we did a LOT, but we enjoyed ourselves!

♥ It was mostly up the Kohala Coast and all way up to the northern part of the island.

♥ First we tried to get to Mo’okini Heiau (sacred temple) but the narrow road was gated and said private property.

♥ Then went to Pololu Valley Lookout (recreated the same pic took with Milla 11 years ago).

♥ Then lunch at cute town called Hawi, then Lapakahi State Historic Park.

♥ Then Hapuna Beach, then Holohotokai Beach Park & Petroglyph Park.

♥ Then finally Kiholo Bay. We saw 4 sea turtles and lots of whales!!!

♥At least 10 or so, they were hopping in and out of the water everywhere! It was so near to see, even from a distance!

[Day 3] Headed South, s kona Coast and to Ka'u South Area

♥ After breakfast in our Condo, checkout, and we headed South.

♥ Stops at Kohalu’u Beach Park (snorkeling), Painted Church (St Benedict’s), Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historic Park, Ho’okena Beach Park, and 1 more place we hiked.

♥ We made it to south side of the island, stayed at a lovely place, and now ready for today’s adventure!

[Day 4] Ka Lae, Ka'u South and then Head to Kilauea Area

♥ Our adventures continued by first going to Ka Lae, the Southernmost point in the entire USA..

♥ Recreated the same picture with Camilla sitting on the cliff from 11 years ago.

♥Then we stood on the back of a locals pickup truck for the off-roading to Green Sand Beach! Bumpy but fun ride!

♥ This is in a really remote area and one of the most uniques beaches in the world.

♥ The beach gets its name from the green olivine crystals that make up the sand.

♥ The crystals come from the cinder cone next to the beach which was formed during an eruption 49,000 years ago.

♥ You can really see the crystals in the sand sparkle as you walk on it.

♥ Afterwards, lunch at a local taco shop, then Punalu’u Bake Shop (southern bakery in all USA) for icecream and sweet stuff.

♥ Then Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, then to our lovely cottage (Alii Kane Cottages).

[Day 4] night special... lava flow!

♥ We did something very special and NEVER did before in our lives……. saw a real volcano lava flow!!!

♥ We hiked at night (using flashlights) deeper into the Volcano National Park and saw the active lava from the volcano, as Kilauea is actively erupting, flooding the floor of its Halemaumau Crater with fresh lava flows!

♥ Spectacular seeing this in person, these pics really do it no justice.

♥ That 3 mile RT hike in the dark was so worth it! Kids also loved the star gazing (soo many super clear stars!). Possibly a once in a lifetime viewing!!

[Day 5] VolCanoes National Park

♥ Craters, steam vents, sulphur banks, lava tubes, petroglyphs, sea arch… Too many places to list specific names but captured lots of good pics and memories,

♥ This included a couple of recreated ones from same spot on previous visit over a decade ago here.

♥ Then off to Hilo on the East side.