Scientists love to remind us that the Big Island gets bigger every day. You’ll see the glowing bubble and splat of lava that proves their point. But the wonderful paradox of this fierce volcanic dot in the Pacific is how lush greenery and rich human history coexist. From our hotel home bases, we’ll go deep into remote valleys where farmers cultivate taro and experience the surprising sweep of “cowboy country.” Our walks take us into vivid botanical gardens…to a skyscraper-high waterfall…and into a sacred refuge where islanders could escape the wrath of a king. The locavore food scene is really exciting here, and you’ll have chances to eat in some of the many great restaurants and cafés. There’s also great shopping in Hilo Town and time to relax on the beach or by the pool. From the heights of Volcanoes National Park all the way down into the clear blue waters where you can snorkel with sea turtles, we’ll offer you in-depth insights to help you appreciate all the miracles of life on the Big Island.

DAYS 1-3 - VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
We stay in Volcanoes National Park (3 nights) as our base for exploring the fantastic waterfalls, volcanoes and lava formations of the island. We’ll take an up-close look at volcanic forces as we enter the Thurston Lava Tube. We’ll also pay a visit to a state-of-the-art planetarium where we explore the connections between Hawaiian cultural traditions and astronomy.

DAYS 4-7 - HAPUNA / KONA
We make our way across the island to Kohala Coast (3 nights), where we get a taste for the laidback Hawaiian culture with visits to the farmer’s market and shops. We’ll enjoy a Hawaiian cowboy cookout at a working sheep and cattle ranch in this landscape that varies drastically from our visits earlier in the week. We’ll walk through coffee fields at one of the island’s finest plantations followed by a tasting of the legendary Kona brew. To wrap up our time on the Big Island, we’ll board a catamaran and hit the water for a day of sun and snorkeling.