Kristin for Be My Travel Muse on transformative experiences on the Big Island. First on the list is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Travel with us in luxury in a Mercedes Van for a transformative experience on one of our three volcano tours.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Four of the active volcanoes in Hawaiʻi are on the Big Island, where Pele’s power is still evident and unpredictable. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is the perfect place to feel connected to Mother Nature and go on hikes all around the park. If you get a clear night, you can watch the sunset turn into an epic star-gazing opportunity.
Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs
To get the most out of Hawaiʻi, explore the cultural significance of each island.
On the southeast coast of the Big Island, a centuries-old cultural site sits within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs make up Hawaiʻi’s largest field of petroglyphs, consisting of more than 23,000 etchings in the hardened lava that also make it the biggest concentration of rock art in all of the Hawaiʻian Islands. The petroglyphs are believed to have recorded events that took place, geographical trails and movement around the island. Pu’u Loa can be interpreted to mean “hill of long life,” and legend has it that important rituals were once conducted here in order to ensure long life for a newborn child. This site is a sacred and irreplaceable piece of Hawaiʻian history. Simply marvel in the hundreds of years of history and find some peace out in the open.
Oasis Reset & Renew Retreat
This six-day retreat in Hilo combines elements like yoga, sound healing, herbal medicine, massage and breathwork to create a rejuvenating and healing experience. The retreat provides three organic, vegetarian, whole-food-focused meals each day to help reset your health and nourish the body. Other activities include island excursions, hiking, self-worth workshops and more. You even get to spend the six days “glamping” in cool pyramid-shaped lodgings. Read more about this experience here!
Stay in an Eco-Lodge in Volcano
The town of Volcano is just 10 minutes from Volcanoes National Park, yet thanks to the way it’s situated and its elevation, it’s less likely to experience lava flow than much of the rest of the island; plus, it’s high enough that there are fewer mosquitoes around. The best part, however, is the abundance of off the grid, solar-powered and rain catchment-serviced eco-lodges and treehouses available there. It’s my favorite place in Hawaiʻi (original name for “the Big Island”) to stay and close to my favorite coast.
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park
Twenty miles south of Kailua-Kona, the Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park protects a site which holds significant historical and cultural importance for Native Hawaiʻians (the word, “puuhonua” translates to, “place of refuge”). Visitors can see a 965-foot-long stone wall which was built over 400 years ago; nearby is a mausoleum that once housed the bones of 23 Hawaiʻian chiefs, which are believed to have given the site significant spiritual power, or “mana”. Though the bones were removed in the 19th century, the site still has a strong energy and is sacred to the Hawaiʻian people. Visit the area to feel the powerful energy for yourself.
Hawaiʻi Island Retreat
On the North Kohala Coast, 50 acres of gardens, groves and valleys await you at Hawaiʻi Island Retreat, a green boutique hotel. Not only does the eco-friendly property provide beautiful lodgings and organic cuisine, but also countless spa and yoga packages for guests to choose from in customizing their stays. Packages like “Yoga in Hawaiʻi,” “Signature Spa Vacation” and “Return to Self,” are just a few of the options. On the property, guests will find an ocean-view yoga studio, an infinity pool, open-air dining, and suites, yurts, and bungalows. Alongside yoga and massage, Hawaiʻi Island Retreat offers wellness classes ranging from chakra meditation and visualization to tai chi, hula and hypnotherapy. This could be just what you need to have a perfectly restorative experience in Hawaiʻi.
Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site
In the late 1700s, the Hawaiʻian King Kamehameha the Great set out to build a temple (or “heiau”) on the northwestern coast of the Big Island. Puukohola hill became the location of this infamous temple, one which was to be dedicated to the gods in order to help Kamehameha unite the Hawaiʻian Islands. When he later accomplished this, he brought an end to centuries of warfare and established a peaceful Hawaiʻian kingdom. Kamehameha’s men laid the stones for the temple by hand, so the temple’s ability to stand for more than 200 years is simply remarkable, but more important is its role as a sacred place of worship for Native Hawaiʻians.
Kalani Retreat
Kalani is an educational permaculture retreat center which was established in 1975 to “connect participants with a richer sense of body-mind-spirit through communion with nature and to inspire all participants to become aloha ambassadors supportive of healthful, sustainable gardening and community living.” The property hosts group and individual retreats which focus on “blissful growth experiences” like healing bodywork, yoga, nature immersion, fresh local cuisine and other unique activities like hula, weaving and plant healing. The holistic, comprehensive approach to wellbeing at Kalani would make a fantastic experience for anyone seeking spirituality or transformation on the Big Island.
Swim with Wild Dolphins, and/or Night Manta Ray & Black Water Dive
I went with SunLight on Water to swim with wild dolphins on the Kona coast, which was life-changing, as swimming with beautiful oceanic creatures often is for me. The company also offers a unique experience out to swim with manta rays. The late-night manta ray & black water dive duo offers close encounters with the massive rays as well as a front-row seat to the massive nightly ocean migration (called diurnal vertical migration) where countless deep-sea creatures swim up from the bottom of the ocean to feed at the surface. These are creatures that most people will never see, but the Big Island’s unique topography allows for easy access. Seeing such unique creatures up close — ones which few people will ever get the opportunity to witness — is awe-inspiring.
While a chilled-out beach vacation is always on the docket for island visits, the Big Island of Hawaiʻi offers so much more. The sheer size, the wildness of it and the abundance of nature and activities offer the kind of adventure travel opportunities that few places can. I hope this post gets you started on a fantastic Hawaiʻian adventure.
