Secrets and Not-So-Secrets of the Big Island of Hawaii

Not so long ago we spent a week on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was a trip I had won for participating in a educational travel webinar. Not bad for an hour of your time, right? It was my second visit and Ryan's first. I knew, having been to this island before, that it would be an activity packed trip. This island is very different than the commercialized island of Oahu. Hawaii feel more like small town and old customs. You are not going to focus on shopping, high end meals or glitzy night clubs here. The focus is on daytime activities like snorkeling, surfing, hiking, and sightseeing. I will post of my must-do's for when you visit this island that will help you get the most out of a visit to this island:

• Car rental - I say some sort of 4-wheel vehicle is very helpful if you want to go to some of the more remote parts of the island. Not to mention it's just easier to get around in something like a Jeep and t you don't feel as bad getting it dirty with beach sand or mud. We really appreciated our Jeep when we drove to the southern most point of the US at Southpoint. What an awesome place to visit with tons of scenery, different weather, and history.
• A condo or mini-suite hotel with fridge is very helpful to help you with meal time. Eating in Hawaii can be more expensive than you are used to and being able to fix a few of your own meals is great, but we loved the fact that we could pack picnics to take with us during the day since we never knew where we would end out, but we always had a great lunch with us. We made sure to bring a collapsable lunch tote to keep our food cold.
• For groceries, there is a Sack and Save in town as well as a Longs Drugs for liquor. These are the best places for the best prices. And don't miss the farmers market in Kailua Kona (right in the middle of town) Wednesdays through Sundays. You can get all sorts of fruits, crafts, and baked goods. We bought many exotic fruits and tried them all. Our favorite was the rambutan which is like a lychee and they look quite interesting with a spiky skin, but the fruit inside is quite tender and sweet.
• Bring your own snorkel gear. It's much easier than renting it for a week and you know exactly what type of equipment you will have. We kept it in the car all the time because you never knew when you'd be at a great spot and would want to snorkel.
• Keep a map of the island in your car. We relied on the map to navigate the island and come across interesting archaeological and historical sites. We also used it to help with some shortcuts.
• Plan an entire day or more for Kilauea volcano. We hiked the caldera and it was amazing. The hike took about 3 hours and make sure you take plenty of water and good walking shoes.
• When you see signs for coffee and/or mac nut tasting - pull over! You will get to taste wonderful coffee and mac nuts so fresh. You can tour coffee plantations and learn about the history of coffee on the island. And it's free!
• These are just a few tips for this island, but my biggest tip is EXPLORE! Go off the beaten track and you will experience wonderful sights and activities and people. A good guide book and map will help you but also listen to the locals, they also have excellent ideas of how to enhance your vacation.