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.
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.
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.
The lei is an iconic symbol of Hawai’i. A lei is given and worn for all kinds of occasions and celebrations throughout the year in Hawai’i, from birthdays to graduations and weddings. Visitors arriving on island are often greeted with a lei. May Day, or May 1st, is Lei Day in Hawai’i. Read on to learn more about different Hawaiian lei (with lots of photos!), where to buy lei in Kona, DIY tips for making your own lei, plus inspiring lei makers to follow on social media for your daily flower fix.
Let’s face it: Hawai’i isn’t exactly known as a veg-friendly destination. (Hello kalua pork, laulaus, and deep-fried chicken katsu plate lunch!) Plant-based folk visiting Hawai’i can sometimes find themselves in a real pickle (pun intended) when it comes to finding quality veg-friendly fare when hunger strikes. But fear not! We’ve done the footwork for you friends...because we carrot about you! (Last one, sorry.) Here’s our list of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Kona, Hawai’i.
Mauna Kea is a sacred place. In Hawaiian culture, it is considered to be the realm of Akua (Gods). Translated from Hawaiian, “Mauna Kea” literally means "White Mountain" but it is also known as "Mauna a WAKEA". Mauna a WAKEA is the first-born mountain son of WAKEA and Papa, the progenitors of the Hawaiian islands and people. At 33,000 ft., Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world if measured from the sea floor. The mountain is a beloved destination by locals and visitors alike for star gazing, stunning sunrises and sunsets, and the rare “Hawaiian Snow Day” in the winter months.
“Big Bertha”, “Baby Huey”, “Elvis”, and “Calamity Jane” are just a few of the names given to the 300+ manta rays that call Kona’s waters home. Massive vegetarian ballerinas of the sea, Manta Rays, or ‘Hahalua’, feed on plankton at night, offering up a spectacular underwater show. Related to sharks, these “gentle giants” are toothless and friendly. Read on to learn more about Kona’s magical manta rays, where to see them, and our favorite manta tours in Kona.
Small business is what makes our Kona community great! This holiday season, we wanted to take the time to highlight some of our favorite locally-owned shops and brands that have awesome gifts. From chic boutiques, online brands, charming bookshops, markets, and gifts you can eat - here’s our guide for where to shop local and shop small in Kona Hawaii. Not on Big Island currently? No worries! Many of these companies sell their goods online, too - so you can support small business in Hawaii wherever you are.
One of our favorite parts of traveling is the food. Forget about the snazzy tourist traps with overpriced, mediocre renditions of your hometown fare. It’s time to duck into that side alley and eat where the locals eat. Here’s our guide to the best places to eat in Kona and get a belly-full of Hawaii’s eclectic local food culture.
White sand, grey sand, black sand, and green sand...the Big Island has some of the most incredible beaches in Hawaii! Beaches recently reopened on the island after being closed for two months due to the COVID-19 quarantine. We couldn’t be more stoked! This good news inspired us to share some of our favorite beaches on the Big Island, from Kona to Hilo, and Ka’u to Kohala, to the island’s newest beach - formed by the 2018 volcanic eruption. Holy smokes, the Big Island is pretty cool!
Traveling light is a fine art, especially as a backpacker or hostel traveler. You want to find that fine line between feeling prepared for epic adventure and “why the heck did I bring all this crap!?!”. If you love to travel, you’ve probably learned some hard lessons when it comes to packing. [Insert personal packing fail here.] We get it. To make your life easier, we’ve compiled a list of essentials for hostel travel in Hawaii for backpackers, by backpackers. We’ve also included some notes on Hawaii’s weather, choosing luggage, and packing hacks - plus what not to bring to Hawaii - just in case you were wondering. Read on for the inside scoop.
Hawaii is a romantic place, even for Humpback Whales. Every winter, these amazing creatures migrate thousands of miles south from Alaska to warm island waters to breed and calve. Male Humpbacks pull out all the stops to woo their female counterparts - singing impressive, otherworldly songs beneath the waves. Their giant hearts, weighing in at over 400 pounds, might have something to do with it.
Are you craving some Hawaiian history and culture? Then you’re going to love this island! The Big Island is a fascinating place with many gems of living history. From beautiful Hulihe’e Palace to the Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Petroglyph preserves, and ancient battle sites, there are many opportunities to get outside the typical tourist narrative and take a deep dive into the real story. Here is a list of some of the most significant Hawaiian historic and cultural sites around the Big Island.
