I felt like I had stepped into a Hawaiian nature documentary, swimming at night in Kauna’oa Bay alongside six fellow snorkelers. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, where I was staying, quietly overlooked from the shadows. Suddenly, our guide, decked out in a wetsuit, flipped on a beam of light that transformed the black water around us into a glowing sea of plankton. In an instant, the dark shapes of manta rays emerged from the depths—huge, graceful and completely indifferent to my personal space. I gasped as the first one swooped by. Its enormous form soared an inch from my face as it somersaulted backwards to expose its white belly. Its mouth, opened wide to filter plankton-rich water, looked like the massive grill of a ’55 Cadillac Eldorado. The ray glided past with a whoosh, and the only sound was my own breath, which I managed to control after a few more encounters. Despite the initial shock, it was an extraordinary and unique experience—one of many that await travelers who visit the paradise that is Hawai’i, aka the Big Island. 

Hike Kohala Forest Preserve and PololŪ Valley

Hawai’i’s natural beauty is breathtaking: stunning cliffs, frequent running lava, double rainbows and postcard-worthy waterfalls are all commonplace. A favorite day hike is in the Kohala Forest Preserve starting at Pololu Valley Lookout. Hike from the lookout down to Pololu’s secluded beach to watch the sapphire blue water crash against the lava rocks.  Or drive along the cliff-lined coast and view its vistas from this and other easy-to-reach lookout points like the Waipi’o Valley Lookout.


Lapakahi State Historical Park features an ancient Hawaiian fishing village with traditional hale (houses), lava stone walls and a rugged coastline

Explore Ancient Hawaii

Polynesians arriving in sailing canoes were the first humans to settle the Hawaiian Islands about 1,000 years ago. The remains of their ancient culture are well-preserved in places like Lapakahi State Historical Park, a 600-year-old Hawaiian fishing village, Pu’uhonua o Hõnaunau National Historic Park, a native Hawaiian royal village and Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site, an ancient temple. Many of the island’s sacred areas reside on the Ala Kahakai Trail aka the King’s Trail, a 175-mile trail corridor, still hikeable in stretches.

Swim with Manta Rays 


The Big Island is one of the few places in the world where manta rays can be seen feeding on plankton at night, offering a unique snorkeling experience

Snorkeling with manta rays at night is an unforgettable experience. There are many snorkeling tours that take you by boat to the sites where the mantas may congregate, but this often results in more snorkelers and fewer rays. Instead, we joined Manta Ray Advocates, which offers exclusive, animal-friendly adventures in an area boats don’t visit. mantarayadvocates.com

Snorkel Kealakekua Bay at the Captain Cook Monument


Kealakekua Bay is known for its schools of Yellow Tangs and a vibrant coral reef.

On the lush and tropical South Kona coast is Kealakekua Bay, the site of an ancient temple and one of Hawai’i’s most significant historical turning points—Captain James Cook first landed here in 1779. It is also the island’s largest sheltered bay and home to a spectacular coral reef, making it one of the state’s best snorkeling spots. Reach the site via a long, somewhat grueling hike, or join a Dolphin Discoveries snorkeling tour that will deliver you by boat. dolphindiscoveries.com

Visit the Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden

Wandering paths and bridges weave through Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden’s lush landscape near Hilo

Near Hilo, the Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden is a 40-acre natural garden of tropical plants with trails, streams, waterfalls, an aviary, an orchid garden and ocean vistas. A self-guided tour on well-maintained trails takes about 90 minutes. Wear good shoes, the trails can be slippery. (The east side of the island, aka “wet side,” receives far more rain than the Kona and Kohala Coasts, aka “dry side”.) htbg.com

Tour Kona Joe Coffee Plantation

Kona Joe’s coffee beans grow on trellises above the Kona Coast

The Big Island is coffee country. The beans grown by Joe Alban at Kona Joe Coffee Plantation are especially unique. Inspired by his brother, who owns California’s Alban Vineyard, Joe grows his coffee beans on trellises like grapes, on gentle slopes overlooking the picturesque Kona Coast. Sip on a cup and soak in the views or take a guided tour of Joe’s Plantation and roast your own coffee to take home if you’d like. konajoe.com

Visit The Hawai’i Volcano National Park

Two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, make up Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its vast 323,431 acres include many opportunities for sightseeing and exploration, but an afternoon drive down Chain of Craters Road to the Holei Sea Arch provides the best overview. Stretching 18 miles and descending from 4,000 ft. elevation to sea level, this scenic drive along the East Rift Zone is home to craters of varying shapes and sizes, lava flows, petroglyphs and, often, active lava. nps.gov/havo/index.htm

Stroll the Farmers’ Markets in Waimea

Hawai’i is an agricultural wonderland, so the Big Island farmers markets, six of which are on the Kona side of the island, are the perfect spots for finding local produce and handmade goods. bigislandguide.com/quick-guide-big-island-farmers-markets

Take a Helicopter Tour 

Hawai’i boasts eight of the 13 climate zones found in the world, including an area of polar climate—Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, two island volcanoes tall enough to have snow in winter. Admire the Big Island’s topography from a helicopter with views of volcanoes, oceanfront cliffs, cascading waterfalls, rugged coastline and lush valleys, many of which aren’t accessible any other way.  bluehawaiian.com/en/bigisland  

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Brad Mee
Brad Mee is the Editor-in-Chief of Utah Style & Design Magazine.