Hawaii

General Information

Day 1: Wednesday

Due to our jet lag, we woke up early and enjoyed a peaceful day exploring the beautiful resort. We spent time at the hotel lagoon beach, tried out various pools, and experimented with different boats in the lagoon.

Hilton Waikoloa Village Beach Lagoon

Later, we drove up to Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s tallest mountain. While Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world when measured from base to peak, much of it lies underwater. The drive offered breathtaking views, but be prepared for cold temperatures—bringing a sweater is a must. Once we reached the visitor center, only 4x4 vehicles were allowed to continue. It's not recommended to go to the peak with children under 16 due to low oxygen levels. After exploring the area around the visitor center, we began our descent. If you drive up, don’t miss the stunning sunrises and sunsets, as well as the opportunity for stargazing and close views of NASA’s telescopes.

The peak of Mauna Kea at sunset

Day 2: Thursday

We set out toward Hilo, planning several stops along the way. Since the drive was lengthy, we paused at Harold H. Higashihara Park to enjoy the beautiful wooden playgrounds and scenic views.

Next, we drove to Green Sand Beach. You can park and hike from the lot, but it’s a hot and lengthy trek! Alternatively, you can pay about $20 USD to ride in the back of a pickup truck to the beach. Just be aware that the ride is quite bumpy. We chose to drive ourselves, which was an adventure! The road was incredibly rough, with mini cliffs to navigate, and at times I worried the Jeep would overturn. Our kids giggled the whole way.

Green Sand Beach

Upon reaching the beach, we admired the view from above, opting not to descend the steep, winding staircase with our 10-month-old. The view from the top was stunning! Green Sand Beach also has a trailhead leading to the southernmost point in the U.S.

We then headed to Punalu’u Black Sand Beach. Although we didn’t have much time here, the contrast between the black sand and blue waters was beautiful!

Black Sand Beach

After that, we drove to Hilo Airport for our helicopter flight to see the volcano from above. Unfortunately, rain grounded the helicopters, and while they offered us a different tour, we declined. Instead, we drove to Volcano National Park for a closer look. During the day, we had a good view of the crater and the steam rising from it, but the nighttime experience was truly special. We watched native Hawaiians pray and sing to the volcano and saw a halo of fire above the crater—it was surreal! We also found several steam vents throughout the park where we could feel the volcano’s heat.

Volcano National Park at night

Hilo is cooler than the rest of the Big Island, so be sure to pack sweatshirts!

Day 3: Friday

We spent the morning kayaking in the resort lagoon and lounging at the beach.

Later, we headed to Kona for our glass-bottom boat tour. Throughout the tour, we spotted a variety of beautiful fish, reefs, and turtles. Our guide shared the island's history and discussed volcanic activity, making for an enjoyable experience. Our kids loved the boat ride!

Glass bottom boat tour

Day 4: Shabbos

We spent a relaxing day walking around the resort and playing games on the field right outside our room.

Day 5: Sunday

Another day at the beach included boat rentals and pool time. We also visited the dolphins and watched them perform tricks.

As the day ended, we enjoyed a stunning sunset over the ocean from the lava fields just beyond our resort.

Day 6: Monday

After starting the day at the pool, we strolled around Waikoloa Village, checking out local art galleries and shops. We enjoyed walking past fields of lava surrounded by lush greenery—it was a beautiful sight!

We capped off the day with another gorgeous sunset from the field outside our hotel.

Day 7: Tuesday

My husband and son set out early for their submarine tour while my baby and I headed to the pool. Since we were checking out, we rented a cabana to store our belongings for the day. The cabana came with an icebox full of drinks and other amenities.

While I relaxed in the baby pool with my little one, my husband and son explored the ocean floor in a tourist submarine. They said the experience was amazing, with beautiful views!

Atlantis Submarine

After regrouping at the resort, we visited the dolphin area, where we swam and played with a dolphin and its trainer. I almost wanted to take one home—they were so cute!

swimming with the dolphins at Hilton Waikoloa Village

We ended our trip with one last breathtaking Hawaiian sunset. Truly spectacular!