A South Pacific Journey. Big Island Hawaii. Hilo to Kailua-Kona area

 
31st March 2025

Exploring Hilo and the journey to the west coast

We spent a slow, relaxing morning wandering around the peninsula in Hilo. 

The Japanese gardens were peaceful and beautifully kept, 

Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii 

The road framed by enormous banyan trees was a historic site

The dramatic rocky beaches were absolutely gorgeous. 

From there, we took a short drive to Rainbow Falls, where the lush vegetation and misty cascades made for a perfect photo stop.

Continuing along the main road, we made our way to the Waipi‘o Valley Lookout. Sadly, access to the valley floor was restricted, but the view from above was still breathtaking—lush, green cliffs plunging into the ocean. 

We had a casual picnic lunch of sushi purchased earlier from the Safeway supermarket, which hit the spot with that view.

Our route took us next through Waimea, a charming cowboy town with a totally different feel from the tropical coast.

From there, we crossed over to the stark, arid west side of the island and passed through Kailua-Kona en route to our next accommodation: Hawaii Getaway.
First impressions were...interesting. From the outside, it looked like a dilapidated shed—but inside, it was a different story. The place was gorgeous: clean, cozy, and surprisingly stylish.

After settling in, we took a short drive down to Keauhou Bay. 

The Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa is located there, and since I had almost booked a room there, I wandered in for a look. After seeing it in person, I was really glad I hadn’t. Our choice felt much more authentic and relaxed.

The Big Island continues to amaze me. The variety of landscapes—from rainforests and waterfalls to volcanic craters and dry lava fields—is unlike anything I’ve seen before. 

And just when we thought we'd left the volcanic action behind, I checked the live webcam (I've been watching it for ages from the UK), and—of course—Kīlauea had started erupting again just after we left Hilo! 🙄