This Big Island of Hawai’i is BIG! While visiting, you might feel overwhelmed by all the things to see and do. As a backpacker, you’re also probably watching your budget. No worries friend, we’ve got your back! Here’s our top 10 list of FREE things to see and do on the Big Island of Hawai’i.

This holiday season, support Big Island business! Last year we wrote about Kona-based small businesses in our post Shop Kona. This year, we want to shine a light on some awesome small businesses island wide. Even if you aren’t spending the holidays in Hawai’i, you can still shop online at many of these companies! Read on to learn where to find made in Hawai’i gifts from the Big Island.

Halema’uma’u crater is the legendary home of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess. Located at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, Halema’uma’u is famous for its lake of molten lava. The lava lake appears and disappears like a magic trick, wowing spectators and scientists for at least the last 200 years. The last four years, (2018 - 2021) have seen historic activity in the crater. Most recently, on September 29th, 2021, Pele returned to Halema’uma’u, filling the crater with lava once again.

Great news, friends! As of October 15th, travelers to Hawaii can forgo the 14 quarantine with the State’s new pre-travel testing program for COVID-19. Read on to learn more about how the testing program works, what to expect while on island, plus safety measures we are taking at My Hawaii Hostel to protect our guests.

Sipping a cold drink as you watch the sun slip into the Pacific Ocean is the perfect way to end the day in Kona! Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for the green flash. The following spots are some of our favorites to catch a Kona sunset while enjoying some cocktails, eats, and a lively social scene. Looking to save money and DIY your own sunset experience? We’ve got some pointers for that too. Read on for where to go for cocktails with a sunset view in Kona.

Craving some live music while visiting Kona? Here are a few of our favorite venues for live music and dancing in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. From classy jazz joints to Hawaiian, contemporary, and open mics, Kona has some good stuff to offer music lovers…you just need to know where to look!

As a traveler to Hawai’i one of the things you’ll notice right away is the profusion of Hawaiian words around you, from street and place names to daily speech by locals. Sometimes, the words you overhear in conversation aren’t in fact Hawaiian, but ‘Pidgin’, a mixture of Hawaiian and English that’s evolved overtime in the local culture. While most locals don’t expect visitors to know or use Hawaiian words, knowing some common Hawaiian words can enrich your experience as a traveler and even help you navigate better! Here’s a few helpful Hawaiian words for travelers.

In search of a more “off the beaten path” spot to spend the day? Kīholo Bay is a gem in North Kona. Beautiful black sand beaches, iridescent blue lagoons, slumbering sea turtles, and a freshwater pool. Read on to learn more about visiting Kīholo Bay.