Planned in Wanderjoy
Big Island Volcanoes & Stars · Mar 8–12
Big Island, Hawaii · Mar 8 – Mar 12 · 5 days · 15 stops
Getting Around 🚗 Driving: • Rent a car — the Big Island is huge (4,028 sq miles) • Saddle Road connects Kona to Hilo in ~90 minutes • Gas up before remote areas (Volcanoes NP, Waipio) • 4WD required for Mauna Kea summit road ______ Volcano Safety 🌋 Know Before You Go: • Check nps.gov/havo for eruption status and closures • Volcanic fog (vog) can irritate lungs — bring a mask if sensitive • Stay on marked trails — thin lava crust can collapse • Bring layers for Volcanoes NP — it's 4,000 ft elevation and rainy ______ Stargazing Tips 🌌 Mauna Kea: • Acclimate at the Visitor Center (9,200 ft) for 30+ minutes • No children under 13 or pregnant women at summit (altitude) • Sunset + stars combo is magical — arrive by 5pm • Bring warm jacket, hat, gloves — temps near freezing • Free star programs at Visitor Center nightly at 6pm ______ Coffee Region Guide ☕ Kona Coffee Belt: • 100% Kona coffee is grown only on this 30-mile strip • Best farms for tours: Greenwell, Mountain Thunder, Hula Daddy • \
Ali'i Drive · Holualoa · Magic Sands Beach Park
9:00 AM · Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona
Walk the oceanfront Ali'i Drive past Hulihe'e Palace and Mokuaikaua Church. Great shops and cafés along the strip.
12:00 PM · Holualoa, Kona Coffee Belt
Visit a working farm in the Holualoa coffee belt. Learn about hand-picking and sun-drying. Free tastings at most farms.
3:30 PM · Magic Sands Beach Park, Kailua-Kona
Sand literally disappears in winter swells and returns in summer. Great bodyboarding spot. Arrive early for parking.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park · Nahuku (Thurston Lava Tube) · Hawaii Volcanoes NP
8:00 AM · Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island
Stop at the Visitor Center first for eruption updates. Walk the Crater Rim Trail for jaw-dropping views into Halema'uma'u.
11:00 AM · Nahuku (Thurston Lava Tube), Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Walk through a 500-year-old lava tube surrounded by tree ferns. Short loop trail—about 20 minutes. Bring a light.
2:00 PM · Hawaii Volcanoes NP
19-mile drive descending 3,700 feet to the coast. Petroglyphs at Pu'u Loa, sea arch at road's end. Allow 2-3 hours.
Ka'u · Akaka Falls State Park · Wailuku River State Park
8:30 AM · Ka'u, Big Island
Jet-black volcanic sand beach where green sea turtles bask onshore. Keep 10 feet away from turtles—it's the law.
12:30 PM · Akaka Falls State Park, Honomu
Stunning 442-foot waterfall via an easy 0.4-mile loop through tropical rainforest. $5 parking fee. Usually misty—bring a rain layer.
3:00 PM · Wailuku River State Park, Hilo
80-foot waterfall right in Hilo town. Visit in the morning for the best rainbow in the mist. Quick stop—free admission.
Hamakua Coast · Honokaa · Mauna Kea Summit
9:00 AM · Hamakua Coast, Hawaii Belt Road
Lush scenic drive along dramatic sea cliffs. Old sugar plantation towns, botanical gardens, and hidden waterfalls.
1:00 PM · Honokaa, Big Island
Breathtaking view of the Valley of Kings—1,300 ft deep with a black sand beach. Road down requires 4WD and is extremely steep.
5:00 PM · Mauna Kea Summit, Big Island
Drive to 13,796 ft for world-class stargazing. Acclimate at the Visitor Center (9,200 ft) first. Bring warm layers—near freezing at top.
Hapuna Beach State Park · Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site · Keauhou Bay
8:30 AM · Hapuna Beach State Park, Kohala Coast
Consistently rated Hawaii's best white sand beach. Crystal-clear water, great bodysurfing. Arrive early—parking fills by 10am.
12:00 PM · Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae
Massive temple built by Kamehameha the Great in 1790-91 to unify the Hawaiian Islands. Free admission, shaded trail.
5:30 PM · Keauhou Bay, Kailua-Kona
Watch the sunset from this calm bay where manta rays feed at night. Book a manta ray night snorkel if time allows—unforgettable.
