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Top 10 Things to Do on the Big Island of Hawaii

I’m heading to Hawaii in a few hours (for both personal and professional reasons). I’ll be staying at the Starwood Hotel courtesy of Hawaii Vacations! Expect to see quite a few Hawaiian photos and videos over the coming days. I’m not quite sure what I’ll be doing, really – other than attending a tweetup being held for me. I’ll primarily be on Oahu.

I’ve discovered that Traci is an amazing publicist (and I’m grateful she had the time in her busy schedule to accommodate my needs). If you were looking for someone with massive attention to detail, I’ve never worked with a better publicist in all my twelve years as an entrepreneur. No joke. She’s one of Hawaii’s treasures (and works well remotely, too).

So, community member Elliott Jacobson submitted this top list of things to do while I’m in Hawaii this week – specifically, on the Big Island (which I may or may not be on). I thought they’d be nice to share with you, too:

  1. Hike Waipi’o Valley
  2. Swim at Kua bay (White sand, turquoise water. Very generic Hawaiian beach)
  3. Kailua-Kona. Go on the FairWinds boat tour to Kealakekua bay. You won’t regret it.
  4. Take a stroll on Ali’i Drive in Kailua-Kona (With all the OTHER tourists)
  5. Go to Hilo (Gray skies, rainy all the time. Someone from Washington should feel right at home)
  6. Vist the Volcanoes National Park. Lots of stuff to do there; huge park.
  7. Drive around the island with frequent pit stops at the weirdest looking minimarts.
  8. Drive up to the summit of Mauna Kea (Thats where all the sweet space observatories are. Good fun)
  9. Hike up Kaloko
  10. Go to Ka Lae Point, the Southernmost point of the USA

Am I missing anything? Oh, yes – and here’s Traci singing and strumming on one of Hawaii’s beaches:

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9 Comments

I believe that Ka Lae Point, the Southernmost point of the USA on the west coast of America, where as The actual southernmost point in the continental is Ballast Key, Florida.

Go to the green sand and black sand beaches

Nice list. I spent New Years s in Kona once and it was great. I lived in Maui for about 4 months before that and I must say Maui is my favorite.

Jonathan Greenlee

July 31st, 2009
at 8:41am

On the Kona side, you should go see Po’o Honua a Honaunau. The King Kameamea hotel has native Hawaiian artifacts on display in the halls – stop by while you are in Kailua-Kona.

A word of warning if you fly into the Kona side airport. The Big Island is very volcanic. First timers are often shocked by the barren lavabed landscape out by the airport. Be assured that once you get south on the island where people actually live things will be lush green and tropical overgrowth.

Do the beaches in Kona (Hapuna is good), head over saddle road to Volcano Nat. Park and do some hiking. You’ll get a nice view of how diverse the island is – hot dry beaches/lush green rainforests.

(I moved to Seattle from there 2 years ago)

ten things to do on Oahu

1) Take the Circle Island Bug trip (four hours!)
2) Have dinner at the Chinese place behind the K-Mart in Kailua
3) Swim to the Flat Rock Island in Kailua Bay
4) Have fresh pineapple at the Dole Pineapple plant
5) Drive into Punchbowl Crater and see the National Cemetary
6) Take Da Bus to Hotel Street, for lunch silly!
7) Eat at the two story Burger King in Kailua
8) Go to the Arizona Memorial
9) Drive out to Schofield Barracks.
10) Take Da Bus over the Poli so you can see the waterfalls coming out of the sides of the mountains!

Things that would be hard to now:

1) Drive by the submarines named after cities in Pearl Harbor
2) Raise flags over the Arizona

I hope you have an awesome time there!

The Helicopter Tour for the Volcano is the best

Get shave ice!

Hike Akaka Falls

Hang out with the nice folks at the Mele ‘Ohana Kani Ka Pila (jam session) on Wednesday nights.

Have fun!

Try the boat tour to see the lava flow into the water. You get really close and the views are incredible. That plus scuba diving and the black / green sands.

What Do You Think?