While the vast majority of visitors to the Hawaiian Islands are repeat, there are many that come to the islands for the first time. Here are 5 things that we commonly find as must do’s for first time visitors. I would like to add that most people that have been to Waikoloa Beach Resort also still find them as must do’s.
Watch a Sunrise and Sunset
Hawaii has some of the best sunrises and sunsets in the world. While sunrise varies throughout the year, it is typically around 6am and rises out over the Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa mountains. Ainamalu at Waikoloa Beach Resort offer the best unobstructed views of the sunrises in the morning.
For those that do not want to get up that early, find a beach and watch the sun set into the horizon of the ocean. A’Bay is a spectacular location to watch the sunset from and is the spot some of the finest sunset photos are taken on the island. If you are staying at Kolea at Waikoloa Beach Resort and happen to be staying in a vacation rental on the front row, you can enjoy watching the sunset from your lanai.
Visit Two Beaches
The coast of the whole island is filled with beaches. Some of the beaches are well known, while others are less well known. We always recommend spending a day on one of the more popular beaches such as A’Bay or Hapuna Beach. It would be unfortunate to stay at Waikoloa Beach Resort and not visit one of those beaches.
We also recommend visiting a beach that may be a little less popular and off the beaten path. Depending on how adventurous you are, there are a couple of options. For the people that are very adventurous, you can visit a green sand beach or a black sand beach on the southern point of the island. These are two of the most popular beaches on the island for site seeing. Another option for those that are adventurous, is to hike to the bottom of Pololu Valley or Waipio Valley. While it is not recommended to swim in the ocean at these locations, they offer a nice adventure. For those that are less adventurous, there is a black sand beach about 10 minutes away at Mauna Lani. This is a nice place to spend the day and experience a black sand beach.
Enjoy One of the Islands Top Restaurants
Given the global location of the Hawaiian Islands, it has become home to a number of different cultures. Due to this, there are a variety of different restaurants around the island. If you can think of it, it is on the island. From Caribbean to Filipino to Japanese cuisine, the island offers it all and of course you can not forget restaurants that offer authentic Hawaiian cuisine.
While there are a number of restaurants, I would recommend visiting one of the restaurants offering an oceanfront setting. There are a few that offer a spectacular location as well as an amazing menu. Some of my personal favorites are CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani and ‘Ulu at the Four Seasons Hualalai. If you are looking for something a little less expensive, Tommy Bahamas at Mauna Lani Resort is a very popular option amongst guests.
Rent a Car and Tour the Island for a Day
While many hotels or resorts may claim to have everything that you need within the resort, the island has so much to offer that would be unfortunate to miss out on. Given that it is the Big Island, you have to drive from resort to resort and to tour the whole island takes a full day. One of the most popular aspects of the island is its diversity. On the west coastline you have what is known as the Golden Coast filled with luxury resorts. On the northern coastline you have the lush valleys and rainforests making for spectacular pictures. Along the western coastline you have a more lush landscape with waterfalls as well as the older town of Hilo. On the southern side of the island you have Hawaii Volcano National Park as well as some remote beaches. In the center of the island you have the Mauna Kea mountain, which among many things is known for the observatory near the top. For those that love astronomy you can see more stars than anywhere else in the world from this location. All of this is to say that there is a lot to do and see on the Big Island of Hawaii and it is worth renting a car and spending at least a day touring the island.
Relax
While there is so much to see and do on the island, one of the best things you can do is find a place to simply relax. Depending on where you are staying, some hotels offer cabanas by the pool. Some beaches are filled with palm trees and just setting up a lounge chair under them can be a great place to relax and spend a day. Some of the finest spas in the world are found on the island and can be a great place to spend a portion of a day. My favorite is Asaya Spa at Kona Village Resort. They offer the best service in a tranquil setting within the resort. If you do choose to enjoy Asaya Spa I recommend planning to spend a few extra hours dining at their beachside restaurant or just relaxing on the beach. There are some spas that offer oceanside cabanas to get massages in if that is more your taste.
Leaving the island relaxed and revitalized from your vacation is one of the best things you can do.
In closing, the Big Island of Hawaii is a spectacular place with something to offer for everyone. Make sure to spend some time prior to visiting the island to find some things you want to see. Understand that you can not do everything in one stay, but pick out some of the things that you want to do most. While you may not plan to return to Hawaii, over half of the visitors to the Big Island of Hawaii are return visitors so it is likely that you will love it enough to come back.
About the Author: Rob Dalton is the owner of Waikoloa Vacation Rentals and has lived on the Big Island of Hawaii for over 20 year