Hawaii (Big Island) 2019

July 23, 2020

Hawaii (Big Island) 2019

PHOTOGRAPHY | TRAVEL

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

A friend and I went to Hawaii for the first time in late April and we were there for a week. We stayed the first few nights at an Airbnb and then with a friend for the rest of our stay (both places were very close to downtown). The first two days we had a truck and drove to Hilo, which is on the other side of the island. We didn't have a lot of time with the truck so we couldn't go see everything (including the volcano), but there were lots to do even with a small budget. The whole trip cost under $1,000 CAD (including airfare), though we were really there to take a break from work and go beach hopping. I also really wanted to see some lava, but since we went a few months after the volcanic eruption, there weren't any active flows.

One of the days with the truck, we went up Mauna Kea to see the sunset. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world when you measure it from its underwater base. You need a 4x4 vehicle to get up and need to acclimatize for 30 minutes at the information station before heading up. Of course with our luck, when we got to the observatory it was snowing and they turned us around.

There were pockets of rain almost everyday while we were there and the locals kept telling us how sad they were for us, but a little rain doesn't hurt a Vancouverite. Also, the rain was mostly in the early morning or at night, so it was actually nice and cool during the day. Luckily, we were able to catch a few really nice sunsets.

Food can be quite costly, but we mostly ate at local diners and I loved everything I tried. The only food-related disappointment came from a poke place with great reviews; it was extremely salty and overpriced. Fruit from the markets are amazing, especially if you love tropical fruits like I do. We bought an avocado the size of my head and ate it for two meals. The vendors also help you pick out fruits and give you options depending on when you want to eat it, so it'll be nice and ripe. Papaya with lime, mangoes, and avocados are a must.

The Island's public transport system is really meant for local workers, so they have limited schedules for commuting hours. We used the trolley to explore downtown because it's very inexpensive and stops at all of the touristy places. At some point we just stayed on it for the full loop around the city (don't forget to tip your drivers). We got to explore a lot of the beaches near downtown via trolley, Uber, and walking.

Each beach has its own characteristics, so choose accordingly depending on what activity you want to do. Some have big, aggressive waves, while others are quieter. We went stand-up paddle boarding downtown and snorkeling can be done just about anywhere. There's also a few isolated pools that are slightly warmer than the rest of the ocean and they're perfect for watching the sunset (unless you're us, then it'll rain and you'll run for cover even though you're already wet).