How to combine two islands into a week-long Hawaii vacation
Rob and Chris Taylor share why their trip to the Big Island and Kauai is one they're already planning to repeat.
In our Where To series, we tag along as eight fascinating travel influencers jaunt from coast to coast in search of the best meals, experiences, and more, all inspired by our Travelers’ Choice Awards. Browse all of the itineraries on our Where To hub.
Rob and Chris Taylor (@2traveldads) are known for their family-friendly, educational itineraries that focus on sustainability and cultural awareness. In October, they took a rare dads-only trip to Hawaii’s Big Island and Kauai. Spoiler: They’re already itching to return with their two sons.
Day one: Get settled on the Island of Hawai'i
After a long flight from the mainland to Kona International Airport, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is the perfect place to stretch your legs. Pop into the visitor center to learn about the Travelers’ Choice Award–winning park’s historical significance as a former fishing village, then check out the nearby lava rock tidepools, a prime habitat for green sea turtles.
For dinner, Travelers’ Choice Award winner Kona Brewing Company Pub & Brewery offers expansive outdoor seating and a “liquid aloha” in the form of craft beer on tap. Try the Crispy Boys IPA off the Backyard Batch menu. It’s got a hint of pineapple but isn’t as hoppy as you might expect from a West Coast IPA. When it’s time to turn in, the Club Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort, another Travelers’ Choice Award winner, has apartment-style accommodations in a beautiful garden setting.
Day two: Beach hop
Wake up with a strong cup of locally grown Kona coffee at Waimea Coffee Shop. Then, grab some picnic supplies at local grocer Foodland (the macaroni salad is a must) and snorkel gear from Longs Drugs. Your first stop should be Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best winner Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, where a lava-rock bottom makes for exceptionally clear water. Keep an eye out for humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, an electric blue and yellow triggerfish that’s also the state fish of Hawaii.
Roughly 30 minutes south, break for two more wildlife spotting opportunities: Travelers’ Choice Award–winning Kiholo Bay Beach boasts black sand and wild goats, while lesser-known Kukio Beach promises more sea turtles. Back closer to the hotel, Kahalu'u Beach Park (another Travelers’ Choice Award winner) is akin to Shark’s Cove on Oahu with its large lava jetty that creates calm waters and plenty of tidepools. A sandy beach area and barbecue pits make it a popular local hangout and a great spot to bust out that picnic lunch.
In the afternoon, take the winding road up to Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, a Travelers’ Choice Award winner. There, among the cloud forest, you can get up close with the Kona coffee process and learn about every stage, from harvesting to roasting. Afterward, dig into fresh poké bowls and Lomi Lomi salmon from Travelers’ Choice Award–winning Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill.
Day three: Road trip along the Mamalahoa Highway to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Don’t leave Kailua-Kona before having breakfast at Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar. Highlights include a Hawaiian-style eggs benedict and the Loco Moco—two sunny-side-up eggs over a beef patty with gravy and rice. Once full, it’s time to fill up the gas tank and hit the road.
The Mamalahoa Highway is a scenic route to the east side of the island that takes about three hours without stopping. But you’re going to want to stop to soak up places like Ka’u Coffee Mill and the Travelers’ Choice Award–winning Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, a sacred place of refuge for the Kānaka Maoli people that includes temples and kiʻi, carved statues that represent Hawaiian gods and ancestors.
At the end of your journey, Travelers’ Choice Award–winning Hawaii Volcanoes National Park awaits. The active Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes continue to transform the park’s landscape, making no two visits alike. Find out what’s open and safe to explore along the Crater Rim Drive by talking to rangers at the Kīlauea Visitor Center, then map out your game plan over a late lunch at The Rim, a Travelers’ Choice Award winner that serves upscale Hawaiian offerings and views of the steaming Halema’uma’u Crater. Before leaving the park, be sure to see the Sulphur Banks and Nahuku-Thurston Lava Tube.
Check in to the SCP Hilo Hotel. With a focus on sustainability and community, you can expect amenities like water bottle refill stations, a market with plant-forward snacks and drinks, and workshops that highlight different aspects of Hawaiian culture (lei making, anyone?) at the Travelers’ Choice Award winner. Rooms feature local art and furniture made from koa wood. A good dinner is not far: Just walk across the street to Ponds.
Day four: Experience Hilo
Travelers’ Choice Award winner Hawaiian Style Cafe doesn’t mess around when it comes to pancakes. Try the decadent cinnamon roll pancake or opt for haupia pancakes, made with coconut cream. Either will provide ample fuel for your morning jaunt through Akaka Falls State Park, also a Travelers’ Choice Award winner. Traverse a paved path, surrounded by tropical rainforest, wild ginger, and orchids, to reach the park’s namesake 442-foot waterfall. Next up? The Liliʻuokalani Gardens, a Travelers’ Choice Award–winning public park that uses land donated by Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hawaii’s last reigning monarch. Different cultural influences can be felt throughout, from the Indian banyan trees lining the entrance to the Japanese tea house, pagodas, and koi ponds.
Arrive hungry at Ola Brew. If you can’t decide on a type of bao bun, order them all and wash it down with a locally brewed dragon fruit or pineapple cider. Then, it’s back to the hotel to change into your swimsuit and check out one of the guest paddleboards. You can put in directly across the street and spend the afternoon exploring the little coves along Reeds Bay.
For your last night on the Big Island, treat yourself to Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill inside a turn-of-the-century building once home to the Bank of Hilo (peep the old vault turned wine cellar). You can’t go wrong with the coconut panko-crusted ono or liliquoi (passionfruit) cheesecake at this Travelers’ Choice Award winner.
Day five: Fly to Kauai
Sleep in a bit, then have a leisurely breakfast at the Coconut Grill next door to the hotel. The breakfast flatbread and omelets both receive high marks, but you’re going to want to be strategic and save room for samples at the Hilo Farmers Market.
The Travelers’ Choice Award–winning market is home to more than 200 vendors—including farmers, artisans, and food trucks—and a great place to try everything from local honey to ice shave. Peruse the produce section to discover new-to-you varieties like the apple banana, a slightly tangy hybrid. The tropical flowers section is also a must-see.
When it’s time, head to the airport and catch your two-hour flight to Lihue, Kauai. Drop your bags at the colorful, beachfront Kauai Shores Hotel, a Travelers’ Choice Award winner, then make the short drive to Hukilau Lanai for dinner (another Travelers’ Choice favorite). Start off with one of the creative appetizers—like purple sweet potato ravioli or the lobster and goat cheese wontons with macadamia nuts and guava plum sauce—and end with the “Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory” warm cake. If you still have the energy, enjoy a nightcap at the hotel’s Lava Lava Beach Club. Most nights, there’s live music until 9 p.m.
Day six: Explore the North Shore
Java Kai has it all: acai bowls, nitro cold brew, and lots of gluten-free options. Post up at one of the Travelers’ Choice Award winner’s picnic tables or take your meal to-go—you’ve got a busy day ahead.
Secure a permit in advance for Ha’ena State Park. Then, choose between two options: Relax on Ke'e Beach, a filming location for the 1958 film South Pacific, or hike eight miles along the Kalalau Trail—a strenuous, often muddy trail—to Hanakāpī‘ai Beach. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you can hack it, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views of the entire trip.
Afterward, squeeze in a visit to Limahuli Garden and Preserve to learn about terraced farming techniques and endangered plant species, or do some snorkeling at the Travelers’ Choice Award–winning Tunnels Beach, followed by lunch at Hanalei Poke. On the way back to the hotel, Kilauea Lighthouse is another Travelers’ Choice Award–winning spot that requires advanced reservations but is worth the trouble for the bird (and whale) watching. Round out the action-packed day with a low-key dinner of beer and kalua pork nachos at Kauai Island Brewing Company, a Travelers’ Choice Award winner.
Day seven: Take a helicopter ride
On your last full day in Hawaii, pick up some Portuguese donuts at Travelers’ Choice Award-winner Passion Bakery Cafe on your way to the airport. You’re not going home just yet. Instead, hop aboard the Doors Off Air Kauai Helicopter Tour for an hour-long, adrenaline-fueled aerial tour of the island. Take in the views as your pilot points out filming locations for movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurassic Park. Fly over the North Shore where you hiked the day before and through a dormant volcanic crater flanked by waterfalls.
Back on solid ground, spend the rest of the morning hiking along the rim of Waimea Canyon, a Travelers’ Choice Award winner often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Then, head to the Hanapepe outpost of Paco’s Tacos, a Travelers’ Choice Award winner that offers Baja-style street tacos. Wander around Old Koloa Town and pick up any last-minute souvenirs before ending the day with a truly memorable meal at Tidepools, a Travelers’ Choice favorite. Each table is tucked away, surrounded by koi ponds, and perfectly positioned so you can enjoy one last sunset over the ocean.
Rob's picks:
Favorite time of day: We found that a lot of people like to sleep in, so early mornings were the best because it was still very quiet and we felt like we were getting a head start.
Most hospitable hotel: The staff at Hotel SCP is really friendly to both visitors and locals. They serve as a great example of a brand coming in and integrating with the community in a respectful way. We loved the eco-conscious elements and how they organize things like tree planting and trash pickup.
Touristy thing that's worth braving the crowds for: It’s absolutely worth doing Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park at night. It’s busiest right after sunset but stick around for incredible stargazing and the ability to see the lava bubbling in the dark.
Experience that nudged you to overcome a fear: I’ve done a helicopter tour before but having no doors was a whole other level of intensity. My husband loved it, but once was enough for me.
Biggest surprise: Among locals, there are such different schools of thought on whether or not anybody from the mainland should even be visiting or living in Hawaii. As a tourist, it’s important to be as low-impact and respectful as possible.
