8 Days on the Big Island of Hawaii

Your Big Island adventure starts the moment you land in Kona. There's no rush here, that's the whole point. After you check in and get settled, take a slow walk along Ali'i Drive, the heart of Kailua-Kona. Browse the little shops, feel the warm salt air, and let the island start to work on you. Tonight is simple by design. Grab dinner at one of my favorite local spots, watch the sun drop into the Pacific, and let yourself exhale. Tomorrow the adventures begin, tonight is just about arriving.

There is no better way to spend a day on the Big Island than out on the water, and the Body Glove cruise is one I recommend to almost every client I work with. You'll sail down the Kona Coast to Kealakekua Bay, one of the most pristine marine sanctuaries in all of Hawaii. The water here is impossibly clear, the coral is vibrant, and the fish are everywhere. Spinner dolphins love this bay and often show up to play alongside the boat. The crew is fantastic, experienced, warm, and genuinely fun to spend a day with. Whether you're a confident snorkeler or jumping in for the first time, this cruise is the kind of experience that makes everyone feel like a kid again. It's a full morning on the water, lunch on board, and a slow sail back to Kona with the sun on your face. End the evening with a relaxed dinner in Kailua-Kona, then step outside and look up -- the stars on this side of the island are stunning, and a little preview of what's coming later in the week.

Today is a full day of adventure and one of my favorite experiences on the island. The Kohala Zip and Dip takes you into the lush valleys of North Kohala where you'll zip line through the treetops with sweeping views of the coastline below, then cool off in natural freshwater pools tucked into the jungle. This is the kind of day that makes teenagers put their phones down and makes couples grab each other's hands. The guides are incredible -- knowledgeable, funny, and genuinely passionate about this land and its history. You'll learn about the ancient ahupuaa land system and the significance of this valley to Hawaiian culture while you're flying through the air and splashing into pools. Come hungry because you'll work up an appetite. Pack a light lunch or grab something in Hawi, the charming little plantation town nearby, before or after your adventure. By the time you get back to your room, you'll be happily exhausted in the best possible way.

Today you get the best of everything the Kohala Coast has to offer. Start your morning at Hapuna Beach, consistently ranked one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and my personal favorite on the island. The sand is white and wide, the water is a brilliant turquoise, and the waves are perfect for bodysurfing or just floating and forgetting what day it is. Spend the morning here -- there is no reason to rush. As the afternoon winds down, head back to freshen up because tonight is something special. The Toa Luau at Mauna Lani is not your typical tourist luau. It is a deeply authentic celebration of Hawaiian culture set in a stunning ancient fishpond. You'll witness the imu ceremony, learn traditional crafts, hear the stories behind the hula, and feast on incredible local food as the sun goes down over the water. I send nearly every client here and the response is always the same -- it was the highlight of the trip.

Today you trade the sunny Kona side for the lush, dramatic beauty of the Hamakua Coast and Hilo, and the drive alone is worth it. This is the Hawaii that most visitors never see -- towering sea cliffs, impossibly green valleys, and waterfalls around every bend. Stop along the way at some of the scenic lookouts and let yourself just stand there and take it in. When you reach Hilo, head straight to Rainbow Falls, a stunning 80-foot waterfall that on a good morning lives up to its name with a rainbow shimmering in the mist. Hilo itself is one of my favorite towns on the island -- genuine, unhurried, and full of local character. Grab lunch at one of the local spots (I have many options for you!), explore the farmers market, and wander the streets a little before heading back to the Kona side. This is a day that slows you down in the best possible way and reminds you why you came here.

There is nowhere else on Earth quite like Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and today you get to experience it fully. This is the Big Island at its most raw and humbling. Start your morning exploring the Kilauea Visitor Center to get your bearings, then make your way around the crater rim, stopping at the steam vents, the sulphur banks, and the Thurston Lava Tube, a walk through an ancient tunnel carved by flowing lava. The scale of this place is hard to wrap your head around until you are standing in it. As the afternoon light softens, the landscape takes on an entirely different mood and the glow from the crater begins to deepen. Time your evening perfectly with dinner at the Rim Restaurant, perched right at the edge of Kilauea caldera. Watching the lava glow intensify as the sky darkens over dinner is one of those moments you will talk about for years.

Today is a day of two completely different worlds and both are unforgettable. Start your morning on the sunny Kona side with a visit to a local coffee farm where you'll learn how Kona coffee goes from cherry to cup and taste some of the finest coffee grown anywhere in the world. Many farms also offer exotic fruit tastings and this is where you discover things like rambutan, starfruit, and lilikoi that you won't find at home. It's a slow, sensory, delicious morning. Then as the afternoon arrives, be picked up by an incredible tour company to ascend Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in the world measured from its base on the ocean floor. Stop at the visitor center at 9,000 feet to acclimate, watch the sunset paint the clouds below you in shades of pink and orange, then continue to the summit as the sky turns to black. Up here above the clouds with zero light pollution, the stars explode. This is one of the most incredible experiences and I never get tired of sharing it.

The perfect way to end your Big Island adventure is with a morning that feels like stepping back in time. Start in Waimea, the cool upcountry paniolo town that most visitors drive through without stopping. Don't make that mistake. Waimea has a rich and fascinating history as the heart of Hawaiian ranching culture and the wide open green pastures framed by the Kohala Mountains will surprise you. Then head to Waipio Valley lookout where one of the most dramatic views in all of Hawaii opens up before you. This sacred valley, known as the Valley of the Kings, was home to Hawaiian royalty and the view from the top is simply stunning. Then drop down into the valley on horseback, moving through taro fields, along black sand stretches, and beneath towering waterfalls with a guide who brings the history and culture of this place to life. It is an experience that is equal parts adventure and reverence. From Waipio you head back toward Kona for your flight home, carrying this all with you.