You’ve bought your plane tickets to Hawaii, booked your Big Island bed and breakfast accommodations, and now it’s time to start planning – from what to expect during your stay to planning your day trip reservations and must-pack items, this guide will help you make the most of your Big Island vacation!
What To Pack – Big Island Essentials
Hiking Boots or Trail Shoes for World-Class Trails
One of the best parts about staying in our boutique hotel rooms in Volcano is that you have world-class trails just minutes away, several focused around the volcanic areas of Kilauea and Mauna Loa, with others traversing lava fields and dense forests. The terrain is highly variable, especially on routes like the Kilauea Iki Trail, which goes from a wet rainforest floor to sharply contoured expanses of hardened lava within just a few miles. Closed-toe shoes are also necessary for ziplining (highly recommended) or exploring the nearby underground lava tubes (one of the more unique geological phenomena on the Big Island).
Water Shoes – Discover Beaches on Your Big Island Vacation
Beaches on the Big Island are as varied as anywhere in the world, with everything from miles of white sand to newly-formed black-sand beaches and even green-sand coves, all just a short drive away. Beaches near our Volcano location are known for their pristine and off-the-beaten-path beauty, a far cry from some of the luxurious and developed beaches on the other islands. Some of them, like Isaac Hale Beach Park, have formed in the last few years due to Kilauea’s ongoing eruptions, bringing gorgeous black sands to its shore. Because of their more “wild” nature, the contours of the sand, both in the water and along the coast, can be more rugged and less predictable – having a pair of water shoes helps to make the swimming, beach-walking, and tidepool-exploring experience safer and more protected from foot scrapes and cuts.
Rain Gear for Big Island Weather
We all dream of endlessly sunny days in paradise, and the Big Island certainly gets its fair share of classic tropical heat – the average temperature year-round in Hilo stays between 65-83 degrees, even during our “winter” – but the Hilo side of the Big Island also famously gets around 130 inches of rain annually. Even during the height of summer and into early fall, our “dry” season, Volcano Village still receives 6-8 inches of rain. So, when you head out for a day of exploring in Volcanoes National Park, having a rain shell that folds up small in a hiking pack can save you from the surprise showers that roll through often. It’s best to expect rain at some point in the day and have proper waterproof protection if/when the skies let loose.
Bring Layers and Mineral Sunscreen
On a related note to rain gear, bringing a variety of layers will make your Big Island vacation getaway much more comfortable. Chain of Craters Road – one of the most scenic drives anywhere in the world and a must-do during your stay – goes from the summit of Kilauea down to the shoreline, an elevation change of over 4,000 feet. So, within a couple of hours, you can go from being surrounded in chilly mist and fog at the Kilauea Overlook to hiking across shadeless and baking lava fields near the Pu’uloa Petroglyphs, followed by sunbathing on a black-sand beach. Having breathable and adjustable layers will make these changes in the weather and environment much more pleasant. Sunscreen is essential for any skin not covered by layers, and due to a new sunscreen law that went into effect in late 2022, only mineral sunscreens are allowed for use on the Big Island. This rule helps to protect the extensive coral reefs, which are susceptible to damage from the harsh chemicals in many non-mineral-based sunscreens.
Binoculars for Wildlife Sighting
We all know to bring our swimsuits to Hawaii; binoculars, on the other hand, may not be at the top of your list, but you’ll be glad you packed them. From zooming in on wildlife roaming free in the national park to seeing whales far offshore and catching the detailed plumage on rare endemic birds like Nene and Apapane, a pair of binoculars will bring the Big Island’s stunning nature close to your eyes. If you happen to be visiting when lava flows at Kilauea, everyone in the family will love passing around the binoculars and getting an up-close view of the volcanic action.
Big Island Vacation Excursion Reservations – Make Them Early
The Big Island is BIG, living up to its name, so renting a car is the best way to take in all the island has to offer, from the untouched Kohala coast at the far northern tip down to Volcano and the vast areas to explore in and around Volcanoes National Park. After your plane tickets are purchased, get your rental car situation squared away, especially during the summer high season when car rentals get snatched up early and quickly. If you plan to surf or golf, both incredible near Hilo, opt for an SUV rental to accommodate your gear.
As you start sketching out your itinerary and nail down which day trips you’ll be taking, make reservations for popular activities like helicopter tours, ziplining outings, and lava tube cave tours as soon as possible. Ziplining tours often book up early on the weekends, so go on a weekday for more flexibility if your schedule allows it. And it’s best to book helicopter tours during the first part of your stay, as this provides for leeway with rescheduling should the weather cause a tour cancellation (which is not uncommon).
Check Kilauea and Mauna Loa Volcano Status Updates Before You Fly Out
Part of the magic of staying near Kilauea and Mauna Loa – the world’s most active and largest volcanoes – is that they can start erupting anytime! In the days leading up to your trip (and during your time in Volcano), check the USGS Kilauea website, which updates the status of any current lava flows within the Kilauea summit caldera daily. They also detail whether the Halema’uma’u lava lake is active, where you can sometimes see lava activity even when there isn’t a major eruptive episode. If so, those binoculars you packed will come in handy!
Also, check the USGS updates for Mauna Loa, which has been historically less active during the last 30 years but roared to life in late 2022. Regardless of whether lava is actively flowing, the volcanoes provide a stunning backdrop during your time in Volcano, and they may spring to life while you’re here!
Book your stay with us, start packing, and get excited about your epic Big Island vacation!
