The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the most unique places in the United States. Even though it only takes an hour and a half to drive across the island between the two major cities, Hilo and Kona, there couldn’t be more of a difference between them. Hilo is where you will find majestic waterfalls, the volcano and a ton of other outdoor activities but also lots of rain. Kona is filled with more sunny days, beaches and water activities. We started our journey by flying into Kona International Airport and picked up our rental car at Alamo.
After our flight, we dropped off our bags at the Airbnb we were staying at just two minutes from downtown Kona and had dinner at a local favorite spot, Hugo’s on the Rocks. It’s a casual waterfront restaurant that has live entertainment each night. They offer traditional Hawaiian cuisine like Poké Bowls as well as fish, burgers, tacos, salads and more.
Waipi’o Valley and Submarine Tour
If you are suffering from jet lag on your first full day in Kona and wake up at the crack of dawn like we did, you will be happy to know Island Lava Java opens at 6:30 a.m. for breakfast.