We are coming to the big island for 8 days in October. We’re going to spend four days on the Kona side and four days on the Hilo side. We have watched so many videos that tell the 10 best things to do or 20 best things to do or whatever and they go through it so fast and they’re jumping around to different places on the island because they are going in order of their favorites that it gets overwhelming. The pace of this video was perfect for me to really see where things are in relation to each other so thank you so much for doing this slowly and with the map, it’s very very helpful.
We appreciate the feedback. We’ve watched a lot of travel videos & try to make our videos informative & the way we would want to learn about traveling to a destination. Thank you again 🙏 have a wonderful visit to Hawaii. 🌺
We vacationed in Hawaii for almost 20 years and every thing you posted was perfect and so informative. We finally retired and lived in Kea’au for 16 years and miss Hawaii every day. We now lived in Arizona and try to visit all the islands every other year. Best weather on the planet!
My beloved and i are coming to the Big Island in May. This is by far the best video we've seen for things to do. We're going to wing it around the island for 10 days. Mahalo!!
Thank you for the nice comment. In our description of the video we listed the snorkel tour w the manta rays - it was the highlight of our trip. Hope this video makes your planning a little bit easier. Thanks for the support 🙏
@scottsdaletravelchick Your very welcome. My wife is a little undecided on the manta ray snorkel but I think I'll try and talk her into it! Mahalo again and best of luck in all you and yours do.🤙
Ha Ha!!!!! Make sure you do that excursion with the Manta Ray Night Snorkeling, its incredible!!!www.viator.com/tours/Big-Island-of-Hawaii/Sunset-Manta-Ray-Snorkel/d669-8571P1?pid=P00152352&uid=U00443667&mcid=58086¤cy=USD
I live on the big island and have to say this guide is very informative. Not sure there could possibly be a better guide. Pahoa has some of the best eateries on the east side, plus Makuu Farmers Market open every sunday.
This is the most informative Big Island overview video I have seen yet. THANK YOU for providing the sites in the context of actually driving the island as one would renting a car to tour on their own. This is a huge time saver for what I typically have to research on my own in planning a day-by-day set of sites to see. Super helpful!
The Mrs. is so beautiful in your photos! Our interests are volcanos, scuba, a luau, waterfalls, plant life, local food. What island should we choose for our honeymoon?
Wow! This guide has so much information, and, makes me super motivated to visit the big island! Thanks guys and keep up the good work. I ‘bought you a coffee’ through your link!
Thank you so much for this fabulous video! You make planning for my upcoming trip so much better! It was really helpful to see what sites are close in distance.
I lived on the Big Island for 25 years- and I agree, very well done video. And true! I was wondering how long were you two there? You got a lot done!! And you seemed to get very lucky on the weather!!
Glad you enjoyed it! We were there for 7 days, certainly not long enough to enjoy the island. Our next trip to the island will be all about relaxation 🤪
@@scottsdaletravelchick East side usually more rainy. I agree closer to some sites but plenty to see and do from Hapuna area and usually much drier. So much to do on the Big Island can easily spend 2 or 3 weeks.
Thanks! This video truly lives up to its name - The Ultimate! In planning for our upcoming vacation in the Big Island, I have screened almost all travel guide videos on TH-cam. Yours leaves all others in ashes! Your content was so rich yet succinct and gave me a comprehensive idea and the big picture, and I planned our itinerary based on your presentation, which I am confident that it's as best as it could get. Also, I truly appreciated your video guide on the Volcanic National Park. I am grateful to both of you for making these fabulous videos trailblazing for the fellow travelers walking in your wake. Well done! Thank you.
Wow! Thank you Yunki for such an encouraging comment - and the nice tip contribution!! We try really hard to make great, practical travel guides which are the most useful out there! Your comments tell us we are doing our job! You really made our day, no, our entire week!! 🙏😁
Hands down the very best video on the big island, bravo! I was having a hard time deciding on going to kona or hilo or to do both, because of your super clear, detailed and informative video I was easily able to pick to stay in hilo only. Mahalo
Thanks Pierce! Really appreciate your kind words regarding our video. My husband puts in a lot of work on them. Be sure to check out our other guides on Oahu and Kaui if you’re headed there!
Absolutely loved this 🌺💟video as I haven’t been to the big island yet! I now semi-recently live on Oahu ( moved from Santa Fe, NM …. Landed in Honolulu March 1, 2024 ) I hear there are many low cost round trip flights so I know I’ll be going over to visit there sooner than soon! ( I’ve been to Kauai & Maui … use to surf in Maui on/off for years when I lived in The San Francisco Bay Area ( great cheap flights back then ) I’m so happy I found this video because I’m clueless about the big island although my gut feeling was to stay in Hilo so this confirms it!! So many amazing things to experience MAHALO ♥️🌺♥️🙏🤗🤙🤙🤙🤙
Thank you Kathly for your nice comment. Check out our top rated guides for both Oahu and Kauai islands as well. You just might find something new to you there as well!
Thanks for posting this fabulous guide to the big island! You always do incredible research & professional videos! I am excited to view each of your videos!
Planning our trip to Kona while watching this very informative video. Only thing i would have added was the amazing fishing off the big island and one of the main reasons we want to visit. So many places to explore after watching this video. Thanks for the great upload .👍
Ahhhhh you will have a great vacation. Make sure to do the Manta Ray Snorkel Excursion it was the highlight of our trip! www.viator.com/tours/Big-Island-of-Hawaii/Sunset-Manta-Ray-Snorkel/d669-8571P1?pid=P00152352&uid=U00443667&mcid=58086¤cy=USD
Hi there! Thank you this is Awsome! Question. How do I hire a boat company to take to captain Cook monument? We are staying near the airport and trying to book a snorkel time.... 🙏
Try our Viator link in the description section below the video. One link should be for Captain Cook snorkel - otherwise just type that in the search and it will come up!
Here is that link for you 😎 www.viator.com/tours/Big-Island-of-Hawaii/Afternoon-Captain-Cook-Snorkel/d669-89864P2?pid=P00152352&uid=U00443667&mcid=58086¤cy=USD
Think would help if you mentioned that Volcano National park can get very very cold. Especially if rainy and windy. Also that Maunakea is freezing . Also don’t think I heard you mention how thin the air is up there . They recommend you stop at the visitor center for an hour then proceed up to the top. Even then you’ll still feel very lightheaded. Also may I recommend you ask residents how to pronounce the names . Like kaumana , pohikin, think also you mispronounced Liliuokalani. A few others I forget which ones. I wouldn’t recommend McKenzie has bad energy there , people been murdered there
Tip- The leading cause of death of tourist visiting is DROWNING. Tourist die from drowning at a rate that is TEN times the rate of locals. It's enough that the State of Hawaii finally conducted a study on the potential reasons, you can read the report by just searching "Snorkel safety study. NOTE: While it was not proven in the study there was a strong correlation between long haul air flights (basically all travel to Hawaii other than interisland) and drowning. You might be best served by simply staying on the beach and keeping your head out of the water until a few days have passed. This video is quite good and makes some really sound recommendations. Be sure to do more research on each location though before you schedule it, especially if it involves you going into the water. Please be safe when visiting, respect the land and the ocean.
Not bad. As a 40 year resident, I could point to a few places you missed, but you probably want to keep the length of the presentation as short as possible. In future, perhaps you would consider splitting the big island into 2 videos, one for each side, and include a few more spots on the east side/Puna.. Unfortunately you murdered most of the place name pronunciations...should you ever wish to learn how to correctly pronounce Hawaiian names, look me up next time you're on-island. I could probably take you through the high points in 30 minutes, and with a little practice you'd be speaking like a local.
I'll be there next week for 16 days, most of the time in Pahoa. I feel clueless with the names, but want to learn about the islands and local culture. I know the offer wasn't to me, but I would love to take you up on gaining some local knowledge and proper pronunciations. I'll have camera gear if you want to teach a wider audience or record it for posterity.
@@matthewowen8305 The language is super straight forward. Break up the words into syllables ( usually just 2 or 3 letters ) and pronounce them phonetically just as they appear. A is an Uh sound if at the end of a word, W's are pronounced as V sound, I's are usually E sounds, Thus, Wiki-wiki is Vik-E Vik-E, Pahoa is Pa-Ho-uh, Kailua is Kai-Lu-uh, Waikoloa is Wai-Ko-Lo-uh, etc.,..there are little shirt pocket prompters you can pick up in walmart or from things-to-do-on-the-Big-Island stands. Best way to get local knowledge is to button hole a local. There are lots of interesting spots near Pahoa that require hiking, like Kaimu, Kalapana, the hot ponds on red road, Leilani estates, Vacationland tide pools . Keep an eye out for signs that say Kapu ( stay out ) pack lots of mosquito repellant and have good rain gear with you in Puna or other east side spots.. It can go from scorching hot to total deluge without much warning in some areas. Weather reports on the island are a joke. If you're gonna be based in Pahoa be ready for the most soul destroying traffic on earth when you want to go anywhere else, because there is just the one road in and out and about 100,000 commuters who live in Puna. Traffic there is brutal 24/7. Actually my advice would be to spend only as long in Puna as it takes to see the sights there and then relocate to a B&B in Hilo or Waikoloa as a base camp. The island is one half impenetrable jungle and one half desert. All the really awesome beaches and snorkeling are on the desert ( west) side, called the Gold Coast. There is a wonderful hike starting at 'A' bay and walking south, petroglyphs, pristine coastline and tide pools, turtles, beautiful empty beaches, palm oasis spots... Kailua is just a copy of upscale southern California. Yech. Make it to the top of Mauna Kea as a must-see for sunset. The Kau district ( south) is huge, unpopulated and very beautiful. South Point, another must-see, along with MacKenzie park , Kahalu'u, Kiholo, Punalu'u ,Captain Cook and Turtles cove. The Hamakua coast has many quaint points of interest, such as Laupahoehoe beach park, the railroad museum, Hakalau, Ninole, and Papa'aloa. The drive/views from the upper ( mountain ) road out of Waimea north to Hawi is epic. There is an awesome scenic drive outside Hilo, a must-see, at Pepe'ekeo, and a botanical garden. Onomea Bay is beautiful, there is a rocky beach you can hike down to, but the mosquitoes are brutal. That should get you started. If one drives steadily from sunrise to sunset it is just barely possible to circumnavigate the island without actually stopping anywhere, so best planning strategy is to break the island up into zones and spend a few days exploring each area, rather than try to cram too many sights into one day. 16 days should be just about enough time to hit most of the high points. Go slow. I'd love to be your guide but major health issues keep me locked down next to the hospital in Hilo. Aloha Nui Loa.
I forgot the coquis...tiny frogs that sing at night, an unfortunate invasive species.. A few here and there aren't too bad. But there are literally billions in Puna, in dense colonies, and the incessant din can drive some people right out of their minds. Pack some quality ear plugs just in case you are one of those people..
@@AncientEgyptArchitecture Wow Thank you so much for all the great suggestions! Maybe I will adjust my plans and stay 1/3 in or around Hilo or Waikoloa. I didn't know that about the traffic in Pahoa. I'm looking forward to getting on island time and enjoying many of the beautiful locations you mentioned. I have saved your recommendations to help guide me and I'll bring ear plugs just incase! I'm sorry to hear about your health and wish you the best. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Mahalo 🏝🌺 P.S. I like you content on here as well! (I'm a new subscriber)
@@matthewowen8305 Thanks Matthew. There are a few things I omitted through absent mindedness. One is Volcano National park. Activity comes and goes, right now there is a surface lava breakout, maybe next week it will be subsurface again. I encourage everyone to go down the chain of craters road and explore the lower boundaries along the coastline, like the famous SeaArch, the black sand beaches, the ancient Hawaiian village sites, etc.. Many things to see and it is always invigorating to walk amongst new, raw creation. However, every few years a tourist is lost from falling through a skylight or being trapped in a crevasse. Always exercise EXTREME CAUTION in the lava fields and slavishly follow Park Ranger recommendations. Just to the north of the park is the Kau desert, a popular hiking destination. Always carry plenty of water with you when in these areas. A popular topic is waterfalls; there is of course Akaka Falls ( a long hike and even then you can't get any closer than several hundred yards away, one needs a good optical zoom lens to get a good photo ) which recently started charging ADMISSION!!. Ridiculous. In Hilo, there are Rainbow falls, Eagles nest and the Boiling pots, which at least are still free to admire. But for those who have the wherewithal and the inclination there is no substitute for a helicoptor ride provided by Blue Hawaiian tours, based in Waikoloa. Expensive, yes. But there are literally dozens of truly spectacular waterfalls on the North slopes that are not only jaw dropping sights, but are simply not accessible by car or on foot. I'm just sayin'. Don't know if that fits your budget or priorities but thought I should mention it. #3 is snorkel/sunset cruises. Hawaiian Oceansports has been providing snorkeling, diving, whalewatching and sunset cruising options for decades and for those who appreciate such activities, take a back seat to no one. Whale migration season doesn't start until late November, but their morning snorkel cruises are magical, including lectures on local marine life by certified marine biologists along with snorkel instruction, and the sunset cruises are truly memorable pleasures, with fine food and actual SAILING practiced. I have been a passenger on their tours many, many times over the years. Circling back around to expenses as a general concern; the most expensive food markets on the entire island are in Waikoloa Village center, Waimea town square, and Queens shops on the Gold coast, where you will feel like you have been turned upside down and had your pockets forcibly emptied. Do your food shopping in Hilo at Sack and Save or Cost-you-less, or in Kailua, at Costco, and live out of cheap foam iced cooler chests if possible, it will save you huge amounts of cash. ( fun fact; Waikoloa Village was constructed in the 70's by Boise Cascade as a witness protection program destination, The only way to reach it was via jeep trail. Nowadays that's over but there were still some interesting characters living there in the 90's when I was a resident ) If you like fresh seafood, visit the Honokohau small boat harbor just north of Kailua for Marlin, or the Suisan fish market in Hilo for Ahi. Good stuff! Most food markets feature raw fish compilations called 'poke', and if you start eating raw Ahi you may have difficulty going back to red meat. It's like candy, but without any sugar.
Hi Dusty We are working to incorporate exactly that (travel guide cheat sheets) on our website - but it is not up and running just yet - maybe before year end. Check back then please! Glad you enjoyed the video!
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
We are coming to the big island for 8 days in October. We’re going to spend four days on the Kona side and four days on the Hilo side. We have watched so many videos that tell the 10 best things to do or 20 best things to do or whatever and they go through it so fast and they’re jumping around to different places on the island because they are going in order of their favorites that it gets overwhelming. The pace of this video was perfect for me to really see where things are in relation to each other so thank you so much for doing this slowly and with the map, it’s very very helpful.
We appreciate the feedback. We’ve watched a lot of travel videos & try to make our videos informative & the way we would want to learn about traveling to a destination. Thank you again 🙏 have a wonderful visit to Hawaii. 🌺
You'll never see enough in 8 days. Next trip, set aside 2 weeks.
NOW I REALLY WANNA MOVE TO HAWAII
We vacationed in Hawaii for almost 20 years and every thing you posted was perfect and so informative. We finally retired and lived in Kea’au for 16 years and miss Hawaii every day. We now lived in Arizona and try to visit all the islands every other year. Best weather on the planet!
My beloved and i are coming to the Big Island in May. This is by far the best video we've seen for things to do. We're going to wing it around the island for 10 days.
Mahalo!!
Thank you for the nice comment. In our description of the video we listed the snorkel tour w the manta rays - it was the highlight of our trip.
Hope this video makes your planning a little bit easier. Thanks for the support 🙏
@scottsdaletravelchick Your very welcome. My wife is a little undecided on the manta ray snorkel but I think I'll try and talk her into it! Mahalo again and best of luck in all you and yours do.🤙
Hi...we're from Florida ...we love to visit the clothing optional beaches hehe.
Ha Ha!!!!! Make sure you do that excursion with the Manta Ray Night Snorkeling, its incredible!!!www.viator.com/tours/Big-Island-of-Hawaii/Sunset-Manta-Ray-Snorkel/d669-8571P1?pid=P00152352&uid=U00443667&mcid=58086¤cy=USD
July 9th, 2024:
I will be on the Big Island for my honeymoon in just a little over a month! We can’t wait! Thanks for the great info!
Fabulous!!!!!! Have a wonderful time make sure you do the manta ray snorkel excursion it’s really so good
@@scottsdaletravelchick I booked that a couple of months ago! So we are in for that! Can’t wait!
You guys are providing so many great ideas! Thank you for this! - Fellow Phoenician :)
My sister and I plan to visit the Big Island next year. And I want to thank you for all the pro tips and the ideas😊
I’m so glad it helped! The Big Island is an amazing place!
I live on the big island and have to say this guide is very informative. Not sure there could possibly be a better guide. Pahoa has some of the best eateries on the east side, plus Makuu Farmers Market open every sunday.
Where are these best eateries in pahoa?
@@AdamC5013kaleos is good also sirius coffe IMO
@@AdamC5013Kaleos (I like the orchidland location) and the Tin Shack bakery are my faves
This is the most informative Big Island overview video I have seen yet. THANK YOU for providing the sites in the context of actually driving the island as one would renting a car to tour on their own. This is a huge time saver for what I typically have to research on my own in planning a day-by-day set of sites to see. Super helpful!
Hi Suzanne.
Thank you for such a kind comment. Really nice to receive it.
We do our best to make all our destination guides “fun and informative”.
Well done👍🏽awesome… thanks a lot
excellent . thanks,
I am on my way
Really great detailed video. Thank you so much for putting this together.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for the support we really appreciate it! We need to get to Maui next to do a travel guide.
Thank you for a valuable information
Great informative video
The Mrs. is so beautiful in your photos! Our interests are volcanos, scuba, a luau, waterfalls, plant life, local food. What island should we choose for our honeymoon?
Hawaii of course. Maui and Oahu are far too crowded and bustling for a relaxing honeymoon, not to mention horrendously expensive.
This video is super informative! Really helped with our planning, thank you!
I really like your videos. You give out good details. Thank you.
Fantastic video! I have been there once, but I'm about to go back for a few weeks and this is a huge help in getting my bearings. Mahalo!
Wow! This guide has so much information, and, makes me super motivated to visit the big island!
Thanks guys and keep up the good work.
I ‘bought you a coffee’ through your link!
Thank you so much, hope it made planning your vacation a little easier. We appreciate the support 😎
Thank you so much for this fabulous video! You make planning for my upcoming trip so much better! It was really helpful to see what sites are close in distance.
I’m really thinking about your suggestion to use both airports. Really good idea. Thx. 🤙🏼
I lived on the Big Island for 25 years- and I agree, very well done video. And true! I was wondering how long were you two there? You got a lot done!! And you seemed to get very lucky on the weather!!
Glad you enjoyed it! We were there for 7 days, certainly not long enough to enjoy the island.
Our next trip to the island will be all about relaxation 🤪
@@scottsdaletravelchick East side usually more rainy. I agree closer to some sites but plenty to see and do from Hapuna area and usually much drier. So much to do on the Big Island can easily spend 2 or 3 weeks.
Thanks!
This video truly lives up to its name - The Ultimate!
In planning for our upcoming vacation in the Big Island, I have screened almost all travel guide videos on TH-cam. Yours leaves all others in ashes!
Your content was so rich yet succinct and gave me a comprehensive idea and the big picture, and I planned our itinerary based on your presentation, which I am confident that it's as best as it could get.
Also, I truly appreciated your video guide on the Volcanic National Park. I am grateful to both of you for making these fabulous videos trailblazing for the fellow travelers walking in your wake.
Well done! Thank you.
Wow! Thank you Yunki for such an encouraging comment - and the nice tip contribution!!
We try really hard to make great, practical travel guides which are the most useful out there! Your comments tell us we are doing our job!
You really made our day, no, our entire week!! 🙏😁
Thank you for all the great info. Have a question. Where is the very first location you are droning?
This has to be the most detailed Big island video I've seen. Thank you and my God continue to bless you.
Wow, thank you! We really appreciate it 🙏 hope it helps plan out your trip to the island
Hands down the very best video on the big island, bravo! I was having a hard time deciding on going to kona or hilo or to do both, because of your super clear, detailed and informative video I was easily able to pick to stay in hilo only. Mahalo
Thanks Pierce!
Really appreciate your kind words regarding our video. My husband puts in a lot of work on them.
Be sure to check out our other guides on Oahu and Kaui if you’re headed there!
This is great information ty
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching and supporting our channel.
This is the best video! Thank you!
Hi Kathy
Thank you so much for watching, we hope it makes planning your vacation to The Big Island a little easier. Thanks for supporting us 🙏
I was crying at the sunset on Mauna Kea💕😢🥰😍
Absolutely loved this 🌺💟video as I haven’t been to the big island yet! I now semi-recently live on Oahu ( moved from Santa Fe, NM …. Landed in Honolulu March 1, 2024 ) I hear there are many low cost round trip flights so I know I’ll be going over to visit there sooner than soon! ( I’ve been to Kauai & Maui … use to surf in Maui on/off for years when I lived in The San Francisco Bay Area ( great cheap flights back then ) I’m so happy I found this video because I’m clueless about the big island although my gut feeling was to stay in Hilo so this confirms it!! So many amazing things to experience MAHALO ♥️🌺♥️🙏🤗🤙🤙🤙🤙
Thank you Kathly for your nice comment.
Check out our top rated guides for both Oahu and Kauai islands as well. You just might find something new to you there as well!
@@scottsdaletravelchickI’ll definitely do that !! Awesome and Mahalo 🌺♥️🤗
I booked a trip after watching your video. It is so helpful! Thank you !!
Make sure to book the manta ray snorkel tour. You will be talking about it for years & years 🙌
Kehena Beach on a Sunday is the best!
GREAT and informative video! Thank You!
Glad it was helpful! We appreciate the support 🙏
Thanks for posting this fabulous guide to the big island! You always do incredible research & professional videos! I am excited to view each of your videos!
Another question. Is it allowed to drone at the akaka falls? Or did you have to do it from outside? I would love to be able to do that
Thank you for your very informative video!! The Big Island is on my bucket list
Very nice and informative video, will be on island in mid July 2024, thanks for some great travel tips! Mahalo!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching be sure to do that manta ray snorkel at night. It was incredible!!!!
wow this was thorough. thanks for posting
this is an epic video. thanks
Planning our trip to Kona while watching this very informative video. Only thing i would have added was the amazing fishing off the big island and one of the main reasons we want to visit. So many places to explore after watching this video. Thanks for the great upload .👍
Thanks for all the valuable information! I’ll be there next month 🙏🏻 First time!
Ahhhhh you will have a great vacation. Make sure to do the Manta Ray Snorkel Excursion it was the highlight of our trip!
www.viator.com/tours/Big-Island-of-Hawaii/Sunset-Manta-Ray-Snorkel/d669-8571P1?pid=P00152352&uid=U00443667&mcid=58086¤cy=USD
Great, now more tourists will come here.
Without tourists economy would die for Hawaii.
@@scottsdaletravelchick Maybe the poster wasn't being sarcastic.
Really enjoyed the information of this video. Thanks
Well done video. I enjoyed. Just wondering though…are all of Andrew’s maps in the public domain?
I’m a little confused. It says no trespassing at the lava tube north of the airport.
Is it possible to see the "sun" sets at the visitor center mauna kea? Or is it blocked by the cinder cones?
What’s the best month to see the Mantarays
thanks for this
Hi there! Thank you this is Awsome! Question. How do I hire a boat company to take to captain Cook monument? We are staying near the airport and trying to book a snorkel time.... 🙏
Try our Viator link in the description section below the video. One link should be for Captain Cook snorkel - otherwise just type that in the search and it will come up!
Here is that link for you 😎 www.viator.com/tours/Big-Island-of-Hawaii/Afternoon-Captain-Cook-Snorkel/d669-89864P2?pid=P00152352&uid=U00443667&mcid=58086¤cy=USD
Think would help if you mentioned that Volcano National park can get very very cold. Especially if rainy and windy. Also that Maunakea is freezing . Also don’t think I heard you mention how thin the air is up there . They recommend you stop at the visitor center for an hour then proceed up to the top. Even then you’ll still feel very lightheaded. Also may I recommend you ask residents how to pronounce the names . Like kaumana , pohikin, think also you mispronounced Liliuokalani. A few others I forget which ones. I wouldn’t recommend McKenzie has bad energy there , people been murdered there
Is Kehena Beach still a tricky climb down?
not bad. but you missed the best spots in puna district. but they are not well known except to us locals.
WOW BEST HAWAII VIDEO EVER
Brah, you are just killing those Hawaiian names!
You must be a local 🤣
Food at Hupuna?
I live on BI, there aren’t any good flights to Hilo at this time. Wrong info
Dang the Big Island is expensive now. All these fees for the parks and attractions.
mahalo!!
The caption doesn't show the correct words and spelling. It would help greatly if there are subtitles. God bless you Maranatha
Tip- The leading cause of death of tourist visiting is DROWNING. Tourist die from drowning at a rate that is TEN times the rate of locals. It's enough that the State of Hawaii finally conducted a study on the potential reasons, you can read the report by just searching "Snorkel safety study. NOTE: While it was not proven in the study there was a strong correlation between long haul air flights (basically all travel to Hawaii other than interisland) and drowning. You might be best served by simply staying on the beach and keeping your head out of the water until a few days have passed.
This video is quite good and makes some really sound recommendations. Be sure to do more research on each location though before you schedule it, especially if it involves you going into the water. Please be safe when visiting, respect the land and the ocean.
Hi, why does the Travel Chick have a male voice?
Ha!!!!! My husband does our destination guides & I do the hotel reviews. We work as a team for our channel
Not bad. As a 40 year resident, I could point to a few places you missed, but you probably want to keep the length of the presentation as short as possible. In future, perhaps you would consider splitting the big island into 2 videos, one for each side, and include a few more spots on the east side/Puna..
Unfortunately you murdered most of the place name pronunciations...should you ever wish to learn how to correctly pronounce Hawaiian names, look me up next time you're on-island. I could probably take you through the high points in 30 minutes, and with a little practice you'd be speaking like a local.
I'll be there next week for 16 days, most of the time in Pahoa. I feel clueless with the names, but want to learn about the islands and local culture. I know the offer wasn't to me, but I would love to take you up on gaining some local knowledge and proper pronunciations. I'll have camera gear if you want to teach a wider audience or record it for posterity.
@@matthewowen8305 The language is super straight forward. Break up the words into syllables ( usually just 2 or 3 letters ) and pronounce them phonetically just as they appear. A is an Uh sound if at the end of a word, W's are pronounced as V sound, I's are usually E sounds, Thus, Wiki-wiki is Vik-E Vik-E, Pahoa is Pa-Ho-uh, Kailua is Kai-Lu-uh, Waikoloa is Wai-Ko-Lo-uh, etc.,..there are little shirt pocket prompters you can pick up in walmart or from things-to-do-on-the-Big-Island stands. Best way to get local knowledge is to button hole a local.
There are lots of interesting spots near Pahoa that require hiking, like Kaimu, Kalapana, the hot ponds on red road, Leilani estates, Vacationland tide pools . Keep an eye out for signs that say Kapu ( stay out ) pack lots of mosquito repellant and have good rain gear with you in Puna or other east side spots.. It can go from scorching hot to total deluge without much warning in some areas. Weather reports on the island are a joke.
If you're gonna be based in Pahoa be ready for the most soul destroying traffic on earth when you want to go anywhere else, because there is just the one road in and out and about 100,000 commuters who live in Puna. Traffic there is brutal 24/7. Actually my advice would be to spend only as long in Puna as it takes to see the sights there and then relocate to a B&B in Hilo or Waikoloa as a base camp.
The island is one half impenetrable jungle and one half desert. All the really awesome beaches and snorkeling are on the desert ( west) side, called the Gold Coast. There is a wonderful hike starting at 'A' bay and walking south, petroglyphs, pristine coastline and tide pools, turtles, beautiful empty beaches, palm oasis spots...
Kailua is just a copy of upscale southern California. Yech.
Make it to the top of Mauna Kea as a must-see for sunset.
The Kau district ( south) is huge, unpopulated and very beautiful. South Point, another must-see, along with MacKenzie park , Kahalu'u, Kiholo, Punalu'u ,Captain Cook and Turtles cove.
The Hamakua coast has many quaint points of interest, such as Laupahoehoe beach park, the railroad museum, Hakalau, Ninole, and Papa'aloa. The drive/views from the upper ( mountain ) road out of Waimea north to Hawi is epic.
There is an awesome scenic drive outside Hilo, a must-see, at Pepe'ekeo, and a botanical garden. Onomea Bay is beautiful, there is a rocky beach you can hike down to, but the mosquitoes are brutal.
That should get you started. If one drives steadily from sunrise to sunset it is just barely possible to circumnavigate the island without actually stopping anywhere, so best planning strategy is to break the island up into zones and spend a few days exploring each area, rather than try to cram too many sights into one day. 16 days should be just about enough time to hit most of the high points. Go slow.
I'd love to be your guide but major health issues keep me locked down next to the hospital in Hilo. Aloha Nui Loa.
I forgot the coquis...tiny frogs that sing at night, an unfortunate invasive species.. A few here and there aren't too bad. But there are literally billions in Puna, in dense colonies, and the incessant din can drive some people right out of their minds. Pack some quality ear plugs just in case you are one of those people..
@@AncientEgyptArchitecture Wow Thank you so much for all the great suggestions! Maybe I will adjust my plans and stay 1/3 in or around Hilo or Waikoloa. I didn't know that about the traffic in Pahoa. I'm looking forward to getting on island time and enjoying many of the beautiful locations you mentioned. I have saved your recommendations to help guide me and I'll bring ear plugs just incase!
I'm sorry to hear about your health and wish you the best. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Mahalo 🏝🌺
P.S. I like you content on here as well! (I'm a new subscriber)
@@matthewowen8305 Thanks Matthew. There are a few things I omitted through absent mindedness. One is Volcano National park. Activity comes and goes, right now there is a surface lava breakout, maybe next week it will be subsurface again. I encourage everyone to go down the chain of craters road and explore the lower boundaries along the coastline, like the famous SeaArch, the black sand beaches, the ancient Hawaiian village sites, etc.. Many things to see and it is always invigorating to walk amongst new, raw creation. However, every few years a tourist is lost from falling through a skylight or being trapped in a crevasse. Always exercise EXTREME CAUTION in the lava fields and slavishly follow Park Ranger recommendations. Just to the north of the park is the Kau desert, a popular hiking destination. Always carry plenty of water with you when in these areas.
A popular topic is waterfalls; there is of course Akaka Falls ( a long hike and even then you can't get any closer than several hundred yards away, one needs a good optical zoom lens to get a good photo ) which recently started charging ADMISSION!!. Ridiculous. In Hilo, there are Rainbow falls, Eagles nest and the Boiling pots, which at least are still free to admire. But for those who have the wherewithal and the inclination there is no substitute for a helicoptor ride provided by Blue Hawaiian tours, based in Waikoloa. Expensive, yes. But there are literally dozens of truly spectacular waterfalls on the North slopes that are not only jaw dropping sights, but are simply not accessible by car or on foot. I'm just sayin'. Don't know if that fits your budget or priorities but thought I should mention it.
#3 is snorkel/sunset cruises. Hawaiian Oceansports has been providing snorkeling, diving, whalewatching and sunset cruising options for decades and for those who appreciate such activities, take a back seat to no one. Whale migration season doesn't start until late November, but their morning snorkel cruises are magical, including lectures on local marine life by certified marine biologists along with snorkel instruction, and the sunset cruises are truly memorable pleasures, with fine food and actual SAILING practiced. I have been a passenger on their tours many, many times over the years.
Circling back around to expenses as a general concern; the most expensive food markets on the entire island are in Waikoloa Village center, Waimea town square, and Queens shops on the Gold coast, where you will feel like you have been turned upside down and had your pockets forcibly emptied. Do your food shopping in Hilo at Sack and Save or Cost-you-less, or in Kailua, at Costco, and live out of cheap foam iced cooler chests if possible, it will save you huge amounts of cash.
( fun fact; Waikoloa Village was constructed in the 70's by Boise Cascade as a witness protection program destination, The only way to reach it was via jeep trail. Nowadays that's over but there were still some interesting characters living there in the 90's when I was a resident )
If you like fresh seafood, visit the Honokohau small boat harbor just north of Kailua for Marlin, or the Suisan fish market in Hilo for Ahi. Good stuff! Most food markets feature raw fish compilations called 'poke', and if you start eating raw Ahi you may have difficulty going back to red meat. It's like candy, but without any sugar.
Please make a teeny tiny attempt to pronounce the names.
Hawaiian is easier to read and pronounce than English even if you don't know what it says.
Glad you liked the video (I think).
Hello, very informative would you happen to have an itinerary in written form ? Thx
Hi Dusty
We are working to incorporate exactly that (travel guide cheat sheets) on our website - but it is not up and running just yet - maybe before year end. Check back then please!
Glad you enjoyed the video!
I would love to live on the big island of Hawaii if they didn’t tax pensions and wasn’t expensive to live there.