The Big Island is a dreamy destination for Hawaii romantic getaways, surrounded by active volcanoes, majestic waterfalls, and gorgeous trails to oceangoing boat trips, thrilling helicopter tours, and rainforest relaxation. When you stay at our Big Island bed and breakfast, you’ll have all this tropical beauty, adventure, and leisure available within minutes – the perfect place for a romantic escape to Hawaii with your special someone.
Here is a suggested itinerary for your romantic getaway on the Big Island. Make sure you order your picnic lunch or Aloha snack pack ahead of your stay to take on your day trips.
Day 1 - Visit an Active Volcano
- Enjoy a relaxing breakfast in your room, with coffee on your private lani
- Pick up your picnic lunch from the innkeeper
- Today we suggest you explore Volcanoes National Park, and take a hike along one or more of the trails in the park.
- In the evening, head back to the park to see the glow of the Halemaʻumaʻu, or if there is no lava flowing during your stay, drive to the top of Mauna Loa and watch the changing colors of the sky as the sun sets.
On your first day visiting the park start with a stop at the Kilauea Visitor Center, where park rangers can supply you with maps and up-to-date info, including any current lava flows in Kilauea. Head out for an easy hike on thze Halema’uma’u Trail, one of the most scenic introductions to the park’s stunning terrain, including rare flowers, massive ferns, and views into the gigantic Kilauea crater. Stop along the way and take in the volcanic vistas, sharing in the awe of the natural beauty everywhere you look.
After your hike, take a drive down Chain of Craters Road, which descends 19 miles from the towering summit of Kilauea to the ocean down below. Stop off at the parking area for the Pu’uloa Petroglyphs (also worth visiting and one of the park’s most unique and well-preserved artifacts of ancient Hawaiian history) and take the 1.5 mile trail to view the Pertoglyphs. After you leave the parking area, continue heading south on the Puna Coast Trail, which crosses hardened lava flows while dipping in and out of rainforest sections. Pull off at one of the many overviews and enjoy your picnic lunch with views of the ocean in the distance.
Note that your pass for Volcanoes National Park is good for 7-days so you can enter and leave the park during your stay without needing to pay each time.
Day 2 - Explore Volcano Village & The Black Sand Beach
- Enjoy breakfast in your room with the current days selection of local fruits and a hot entree before heading out.
- Take a tour of Volcano Village in the morning and visit the Volcanoes Art Gallery, 2400 Farenheit ( Glass Gallery) and the Orchid tropical greenhouse. Enjoy lunch at one of the cafes in the village and then head to the Black Sand Beach and spend the afternoon swimming with the turtles.
- Get back to Volcano by 4:00 pm and visit the Volcano Winery for a flight of locally made wines.
- In the evening take a drive to Hilo and enjoy dinner in one of the fine dining places in Hilo.
When heading to the Black Sand Beach take a couple of beach towels from the hotel and lots of water. There are no vendors close to the beach so also take some snacks. While at the beach you can enjoy the sea turtles that frequent the area. Take a pair of shoes suitable for walking on the beach as the black sand gets really hot.
For an evening on the town in Hilo, head out for a sushi feast at Sakura Sushi, where the fish is freshly caught and sourced right from the boats in Hilo Harbor, a couple of blocks away. Propose a toast to your romance with glasses of delicious sake or wine, followed by appetizers like asparagus miso soup and fried oysters. Indulge in flavor-rich pieces of ahi or salmon poke, one of the Big Island’s most beloved delicacies, and choose from over twenty specialty rolls made by their expert sushi chefs. If one of you isn’t into seafood, their menu includes entrees like steak and chicken teriyaki alongside Japanese noodle dishes such as ramen and udon. Finish the meal by sharing their tempura fried cheesecake, a decadent dessert to wrap up a delightful meal.
Day 3 - Waterfalls and Hilo
- Enjoy a relaxing breakfast in your room with a big cup of of locally grown Kona Coffee
- Start in Hilo with a helicopter tour of the Big Island
- After your helicopter tour visit the Hilo Farmers Market for some lunch then take a tour of the waterfalls of the Big Island and start with the closest one, Rainbow Falls.
- After Rainbow Falls, continue up the coast and stop at the Botanical Gardens (takes a few hours), or take a short hike (.6 miles) down the Onomea Bay Trail.
- Continue onto Akaka Falls and take the short walk to the falls.
Plan in advance of your trip to Hawaii and book a helicopter tour, one of the most spectacular ways to see the Big Island’s epic landscapes. Several tour operators fly out of Hilo (just a 30-minute drive away), all reputable and offering unique tour routes. Blue Hawaiian will take you to the far northern reaches of the island on their Kohala Coast tour, where you’ll see endless waterfalls and cliffsides rising hundreds of feet high from the Pacific Ocean. But for the ultimate experience, take the “doors-off” tour from Paradise Helicopters, where you’ll both have the wind flying through your hair as you hold hands and fly over Volcanoes National Park and above Puna’s vast rainforests, taking in views of paradise that you’ll remember forever.
If flying isn’t your style then schedule a boat outing with Hilo Ocean Adventures – Hilo’s premier dive shop and family run with a welcoming aloha spirit – for a different but equally memorable Big Island adventure day. December through April is prime time for seeing the annual humpback whale migration, the focus of their 90-minute whale-watching tour. To make it even more unforgettable, add on their whalesong snorkel option – you’ll get to head underwater with snorkeling gear and hear the songs of the humpback whales, sure to be a moment unlike any you’ve shared as a couple.
For something even more intimate, book a 3-hour private charter boat tour, when a captain will take you up and down the east coast of the Big Island, with rugged sea cliffs, hidden waterfalls, soaring seabirds, and never-ending blue ocean setting the backdrop for your romantic day at sea.
When you’re not out exploring near volcanoes, eating tasty meals, or flying high above waterfalls, relax at Volcano Village Estates. Several of our cottages, like Rainbow Falls, Umauma Falls, and Pineapple, have fireplaces perfect for enjoying each other’s company late into the evening. Hop in the shared hot tub for extra soothing hangtime, or stay in Pele or Pineapple Ohana to enjoy your own private hot tub for more privacy. Whichever cottage or bungalow you choose, you’ll have the best of both worlds – Big Island adventures during the day, followed by rainforest repose at night. Stay with us and escape to Hawaii with your love – paradise awaits!
