Plan Your Family Vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii with this Travel Guide

The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest of all the Hawaiian Islands. This is why so many people choose the island for their Hawaiian family vacation. If you happen to know this Hawaiian Island is perfect for your family, or you are simply starting with this island, you must know a few things before planning your family adventures! I happen to love the Big Island of Hawaii. Therefore, I wanted to share some tips that will make your time there better than you could ever imagine!

History on the Big Island of Hawaii

According to one of the many legends, the Big Island of Hawaii was discovered by Hawai’iloa, who was a Polynesian navigator. Another legend shares this island used to be the realm of Hawaiki and was where people went in their afterlife. However, the truth is this island was discovered by explorers from the Marquesas Islands. Those Polynesian explorers brought their cultures and traditions over to this island, and you can still experience them today.

The oldest section of the Big Island is the North Kohala Peninsula. This area is only just starting to see signs of being developed. Therefore, if you want to see the most history during your vacation, I recommend spending a little time here.

Weather in Hawaii

You may be shocked to discover that there are really only two seasons on the Big Island of Hawaii! Then again, you might not be, because you know the weather in Hawaii is always amazing!

Summer in Hawaii

Summer in Hawaii is considered the months of May through October. These months are quite dry. The temperatures average around 85 to 90 degrees during the day.

Winter in Hawaii

The temperatures do not drop much during the winter months in Hawaii. The months of November through April have temperatures between 79 and 83 degrees. The only major difference you will see weather-wise during these months is there will be much more rain. Some areas of the island get more rain than others, and the sun is almost always shining somewhere. Therefore, if you simply switch your plans a little for the day, you can avoid the rain altogether!

Best Time to Vacation in Hawaii

There really isn’t a “best” time to vacation in Hawaii. However, if you want to avoid the rain, I recommend visiting during the summer months. The middle of June through the end of August is considered the peak season, as is the middle of December through the middle of March. If you want to avoid an influx of people and higher prices, you may want to avoid those times.

Since this is your family vacation, you may want to choose to visit when there is the most daylight, so you can accomplish everything on your must-do list. The days in June have two and a half more hours of daylight than the days in December. I recommend keeping this in mind if you know your family will be active from sun up to sun-down.

What to Pack for a Family Vacation in Hawaii

Clothing items for warm weather is a must when packing for a family vacation in Hawaii. However, you must also be prepared for the rain with a raincoat or an umbrella. And if you know, you will be going up to the mountainous regions, a warm jacket and even gloves and a hat will be helpful. After all, there can be snow up in the mountains, and it gets cold as you reach those higher elevations.

Places to Stay While on a Hawaiian Vacation with Family

You may not have as many unique accommodation options when you take a family vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii. However, you can still choose from an Airbnb, hotel, resort, and a select few bed and breakfasts. While every family has their own personal needs for vacations, I have discovered the resorts in Hawaii usually offer the best value and amenities. We can discuss your family’s personal vacation accommodation requirements, so we can determine the best accommodations for your Hawaiian vacation.

Foods You Must Try While on Vacation in Hawaii

Soft, sandy beaches, warm ocean water, and thrilling adventures are always the main reasons why people vacation in Hawaii. However, it may be the local foods that make you want to return to this gorgeous island in the future!

A few of the local foods you must try while on vacation in Hawaii include:

• Poke – This popular Hawaiian dish is often made with diced raw ahi tuna and served with rice and multiple sauces. There are many different variations though, so you can often find it made with other types of raw fish.
• Acai Bowls – The warmer days of the year are perfect for acai bowls. But honestly, you can eat these fruity bowls whenever you would like! These smoothie bowls are made with acai berries, granola, other types of fruit, and numerous toppings. You can basically build the acai bowl of your dreams!
• Loco Moco – Loco moco is a bowl of rice topped with a burger and gravy.
• Malasadas – The must-try donut in Hawaii is the Malasadas. This fried treat does not look like a traditional donut with a hole in the middle. Instead, it has either a doughy center or is filled with delightful ingredients like coconut. Malasadas are served warm and coated with granulated sugar.
• Kona Coffee – Okay, so Kona coffee is not a food, but it is a must-try drink when you are vacationing in Hawaii. The coffee beans for Kona coffee are only grown in the Kona region of the Big Island. For the best experience, make sure you are getting 100% Kona coffee. The blends are only required to have 10% Kona coffee in them. Kona coffee is expensive, but it is worth the money from the very first sip!
• Furikake Chicken – Fried chicken is always delicious. On the Big Island of Hawaii, you must try the fried chicken that is coated with furikake seasoning. This seasoning is made with dried seaweed, bonito flakes, and sesame seeds.
• Spam Musubi – One of the most popular snacks in Hawaii is Spam Musubi. In fact, the locals in Hawaii eat the most Spam in the world! To make this delicious snack, a slice of Spam is placed on top of a block of rice before being wrapped with Nori.
• Shave Ice – If nothing else on this list of must-try foods in Hawaii sounds appealing, the shave ice will be something your family will love to eat! Fluffy, shaved ice is placed in a bowl, and you get to cover it with a fruity syrup of your choice. This is the perfect treat on a nice hot day in Hawaii!

Activities to Embrace While on Vacation in Hawaii

As a family, you will all enjoy doing a little manta ray diving over near Kona. And as the day turns into night, you can all venture over to Mauna Kea for some of the best stargazing views in the world. But those aren’t the only activities the Big Island is known for. I also recommend considering adding the following activities to your Hawaii family vacation itinerary:

• ATV Riding
• Wandering Through the Rainforests
• Hiking
• Golfing
• Horseback Riding
• Soaking in a Hot Spring
• Surfing
• Whale Watching
• Ziplining over the Jungles, Rainforests, and Ravines

Top Places to See While on Vacation in Hawaii

Hawaii may be an island, but that doesn’t mean you will find yourself lacking in things to do during your vacation. Instead, you will find yourself in agony. Mainly because you won’t be able to fit everything on your must-do list in your itinerary! While you will have your own preferences, I guarantee you won’t want to leave these three top places off your list.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

There are two active volcanoes within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. However, Kilauea is a must-see volcano. It stands at four thousand feet tall, and while it hasn’t been erupting in recent months, it is a volcano that bears watching. If you are lucky, you may capture a glimpse of lava flow during your visit. And if you don’t get to see lava, at least you can see the volcano up close as you hike the nearby trails. Plus, you can venture to the summit of Mauna Kea for the views or do a little stargazing.

Akaka Falls State Park

If your family loves waterfalls and you want to check two off your list quickly, I recommend heading over to Akaka Falls State Park. The trail leading to the waterfalls is flat and paved, making it easy to navigate by even the smallest children. Plus, the trail is not long, and you can easily walk it in 30 minutes or less. While the views from the trail are amazing, the highlight will be when you arrive at Kahuna Falls and then Akaka Falls.

Hilo Farmers Market

When you are hungry, thirsty, and in the mood for a little shopping, you must venture over to the Hilo Farmers Market. This farmer’s market is open daily. It is the best place to grab a bite to eat while shopping at the same time. If you are looking for the most variety, I recommend visiting on a Wednesday or Saturday. This is when most vendors are there. This is when you will find some of the most unique items like jaboticaba fruit and bongo drums. It is also best to use caution when making purchases because, as with everywhere else, you will have some fake local items being offered as local souvenirs.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Family Vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii

There are always going to be tips you must know before traveling to any destination around the world. My top tips for getting the most out of your family vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii include:

• Choose Your Accommodations Wisely – Together, we will find the perfect accommodations for your family. After all, there is no point in you staying at a resort far away from the beach if you plan on spending 75% of your time surfing and playing in the sand!
• Rental Cars are a Must – You may not choose to rent on a car on most family vacations you take, but you must when you are visiting the Big Island of Hawaii. If you don’t, you will find yourself without any options for getting to the destinations you want to see the most.
• Island Hop Wisely – If you only have a week on the Big Island, you probably won’t want to spend a couple of days island hopping. So, if you want to see more than one island during this family vacation, I recommend planning your Hawaiian vacation for at least two weeks.
• Plan a Luau Towards the End of Your Trip – The time change can be really daunting for some families, which is why you should plan to attend a luau towards the end of your trip. Since the luaus end really late, you may not be ready to stay up that long towards the beginning of your trip.
• Purchase Reef Safe Sunscreen – Skip packing the sunscreen in your suitcase and purchase the reef-safe version when you arrive. The coral reefs and marine life will thank you!
• Always Check the Weather Before Heading Out for the Day – When you check the weather in the morning, you can avoid mishaps like hiking in the rain and so much more. Most Hawaiian itineraries can have their days or times swapped if you do happen to encounter a rainstorm during your visit.

This travel guide should have you understand everything you need to know to have a fabulous family vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii! And if you have any questions, I can share the answers with you, as I am booking your Hawaiian vacation for you!

Are you ready to plan your family vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii?

If you are more than ready to have some fun on this Hawaiian Island with your family, I would love to invite you to click here to schedule a planning session with me. You will then be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

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