π Big Island (Hawai'i)
4 nights β Jan 6β10 β 78β83Β°F (26β28Β°C)
The Big Island delivers raw volcanic power and lush tropical beauty in equal measure. Base yourself on the sunny Kohala Coast for easy access to Kona coffee country, Volcanoes National Park, and the summit of Mauna Kea. January's clear skies make this the perfect time for stargazing and helicopter flights over active lava flows.
π Daily Itinerary
Day 1 β Arrival & Sunset
Wednesday, January 6
Afternoon
Arrive at Kona International Airport (KOA). Pick up rental car and drive 30 min north to Kohala Coast.
Late Afternoon
Check into Hilton Waikoloa Village. Explore the 62-acre resort β take the tram or boat between towers.
Sunset
Walk to Anaeho'omalu Bay (A-Bay) for a stunning sunset. Free parking at the public lot.
Dinner
Lava Lava Beach Club β toes in the sand, live music, fresh poke. ($80β100 for two)
Day 2 β Coffee Country & CanoeHouse
Thursday, January 7
Morning
Drive to Kealakekua (45 min). Greenwell Farms coffee tour β free, 45 min, taste award-winning Kona coffee.
Late Morning
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park ($20/vehicle). Sacred grounds, carved tikis, sea turtles on the rocks.
Lunch
The Coffee Shack β cliffside views, homemade pie, excellent sandwiches. ($40 for two)
Afternoon
Return to hotel for pool time and rest before dinner.
Dinner β¨
CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani β splurge dinner. Pacific Rim cuisine, oceanfront sunset seating. ($250β350 for two, reserve well ahead)
Day 3 β Volcanoes National Park
Friday, January 8
Early Morning
Depart by 7 AM for Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (2-hour drive). Entry: $30/vehicle, valid 7 days.
Morning
KΔ«lauea Visitor Center, then drive Crater Rim Drive. Stop at KΔ«lauea Overlook, Jaggar Museum viewpoint, and steam vents.
Mid-Morning
Walk through NΔhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) β 500-year-old tunnel through solidified lava. Easy 20-min loop.
Lunch
Volcano House restaurant β the only dining inside the park, perched on the caldera rim. ($50 for two)
Afternoon
Drive Chain of Craters Road (19 miles one-way to the coast). Stop at Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs and HΕlei Sea Arch.
Evening
Return to hotel (2-hour drive). Light dinner at the resort or Queens' MarketPlace.
Day 4 β Helicopter, Garden & Stars
Saturday, January 9
Morning
Helicopter tour over active volcanic landscape. ~1.5 hours, $350β500pp. Book Blue Hawaiian or Paradise Helicopters.
Afternoon
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (Onomea Bay, 45 min north). 2,000+ species along a stunning ocean valley trail. $25pp.
Late Afternoon
Return to hotel, early dinner, and prep warm layers for Mauna Kea.
Evening
Mauna Kea Summit & Stars tour. Sunset at 9,000 ft, then stargazing with telescopes. $259β315pp. Dress warmly β 40Β°F at altitude.
Day 5 β Depart to Maui
Sunday, January 10
Morning
Leisurely morning β pool, breakfast at resort, or walk A-Bay one last time.
Midday
Return rental car at KOA. Fly to Kahului (OGG) β 45-min flight via Hawaiian Airlines or Southwest.
Afternoon
Pick up Maui rental car. Drive 45 min to Ka'anapali. Check into Hilton Vacation Club.
Dinner
Hula Grill Ka'anapali β beachfront dining at Whaler's Village. ($100β130 for two)
ποΈ Attractions
Mauna Kea Summit & Stargazing
β β β β β 4.8 (3,500+)The world's premier stargazing site β 13,796 ft above the Pacific. Tours include sunset viewing and telescope observation of planets, nebulae, and the Milky Way.
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
β β β β β 4.8 (12,000+)Two active volcanoes β KΔ«lauea and Mauna Loa. Walk through lava tubes, peer into steaming calderas, and drive to where lava once met the sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
β β β β β 4.6 (2,800+)A lush valley garden with 2,000+ tropical plant species cascading down to the ocean. Waterfalls, lily ponds, and exotic flowers around every turn. Photography paradise.
Greenwell Farms Coffee Tour
β β β β β 4.7 (1,900+)Family-owned since 1850. Walk through coffee orchards, learn the bean-to-cup process, and taste multiple Kona coffee varieties. Gift shop has excellent prices on fresh roasted beans.
Pu'uhonua o HΕnaunau National Historical Park
β β β β β 4.7 (4,200+)Ancient Hawaiian "place of refuge" β sacred grounds with carved ki'i (tikis), a reconstructed temple, and pristine tidal pools. Sea turtles often rest on the rocks. Deeply spiritual and beautifully preserved.
Helicopter Tour (Blue Hawaiian / Paradise)
β β β β β 4.8 (2,100+)Fly over active volcanic terrain, hidden waterfalls, lush valleys, and the Kohala Coast. Circle route gives perspectives impossible from the ground. Best on clear mornings.
π¨ Hotels
Hilton Waikoloa Village
$300β400/night
β β β β β 4.3 (8,500+)62-acre oceanfront mega-resort. Internal tram and boat systems connect three towers. Multiple pools including a 175-ft waterslide, lagoon with tropical fish, and dolphin encounters. Walking paths through gardens and waterways.
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
$280β350/night
β β β β β 4.4 (3,200+)Directly on A-Bay beach. More intimate than the Hilton, excellent sunset views. Newly renovated rooms, infinity pool overlooking the ocean. Walking distance to both shopping centers.
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
$450β700/night (luxury alternative)
β β β β β 4.7 (2,400+)Home of CanoeHouse restaurant. Boutique luxury with ancient fishponds, petroglyph trails, and pristine white sand beach. Worth considering if CanoeHouse dinner inspires a splurge stay.
π½οΈ Restaurants
CanoeHouse β¨ Splurge Dinner
β β β β β 4.7 (680+)Pacific Rim β’ Oceanfront β’ Sunset seating
$250β350 for two (with wine)
Consistently ranked among Hawaii's top restaurants. Fresh local fish, wagyu beef, and creative island-Asian fusion. Romantic open-air setting directly over the water. Reserve 1β2 months ahead for a sunset table.
Brown's Beach House β Fairmont Orchid
β β β β β 4.6 (920+)Hawaiian Contemporary β’ Beachfront
$150β220 for two
Toes-in-the-sand fine dining. Fresh seafood with Hawaiian and Asian influences. Torch-lit setting right on the beach. A worthy alternative to CanoeHouse.
Lava Lava Beach Club
β β β β β 4.5 (2,800+)Hawaiian β’ Seafood β’ Beach bar
$80β100 for two
Casual beachfront dining right on A-Bay. Live music, great poke, fish tacos, and mai tais with your feet in the sand. Arrive before sunset for the best experience.
Merriman's β Waimea
β β β β β 4.6 (1,500+)Farm-to-table Hawaiian Regional β’ Fine dining
$120β180 for two
Peter Merriman pioneered Hawaii Regional Cuisine. 90% locally sourced β Big Island grass-fed beef, fresh-caught fish, Waimea strawberries. The original restaurant (30 min from Kohala). Reserve ahead.
The Coffee Shack
β β β β β 4.5 (1,200+)Breakfast & Lunch β’ Bakery β’ Coffee
$30β40 for two
Perched on a cliff overlooking Kealakekua Bay. Homemade bread, fresh pies, excellent sandwiches, and of course β proper Kona coffee. Cash only for tips. Pair with Greenwell Farms and Pu'uhonua o Honaunau.
π Opera & Events
The Big Island's performing arts scene is intimate compared to the mainland, but Kahilu Theatre in Waimea (30 min from Kohala Coast) hosts concerts and cultural events year-round.
Kahilu Theatre β Waimea
β β β β β 4.5 (180+)Check kahilutheatre.org for January 2027 programming. Past January events include Hawaiian slack-key guitar concerts, hula performances, and visiting chamber ensembles.
Palace Theater β Hilo
β β β β β 4.4 (95+)Historic 1925 theater in Hilo (1.5 hr from Kohala). Films, live music, and community theater. Check hilopalace.com for schedule.
πΈ Wine & Cocktail Bars
Manta Ray Bar β Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
β β β β β 4.5 (320+)Craft cocktails, wine, oceanfront
$30β50 for two (drinks)
Watch manta rays glide beneath spotlights while sipping tropical cocktails. The hotel illuminates the water nightly β rays arrive around 8 PM. Arrive early for a railing seat.
Mai Grille β Kings' Shops Waikoloa
β β β β β 4.3 (450+)Tiki cocktails, pupu platters, live music
$25β45 for two (drinks + appetizers)
Walkable from Hilton Waikoloa. Tiki-inspired cocktails with fresh tropical fruit. Live Hawaiian music most evenings. Good happy hour 3β5 PM.
Waikoloa Beach Sunset Bar
β β β β β 4.2 (280+)Sunset cocktails, Hawaiian beer, wine
$20β40 for two (drinks)
At the Marriott, right on A-Bay. Perfect for a pre-dinner sunset drink. Local craft beers and mai tais with ocean views.
ποΈ Small Shops & Museums
Lyman Museum & Mission House β Hilo
β β β β β 4.4 (220+)Hawaii's oldest wood-frame house (1839) with exhibits on Hawaiian natural history, geology, and cultural heritage. Combine with Volcanoes NP day if passing through Hilo.
Kings' Shops & Queens' MarketPlace β Waikoloa
β β β β β 4.3 (600+)Walking distance from Hilton. Open-air shopping with local art galleries, Kona coffee shops, Hawaiian jewelry, aloha wear, and macadamia nut vendors. Free hula shows Tuesdays and Fridays at Kings' Shops.
π Running Routes & Hiking
A-Bay (Anaeho'omalu Bay) Beach Run
Flat, scenic run along the golden sand and shoreline of A-Bay. Watch for sea turtles and the sunrise over Mauna Kea. The hard-packed sand near the water is ideal for running. Out-and-back along the crescent bay β extend by continuing on the King's Trail (ancient lava rock path) heading north.
King's Trail (Ala Kahakai) β Kohala Coast
Historic coastal trail following ancient Hawaiian footpaths through lava fields along the Kohala Coast. Links several resort areas and fishponds. Unique landscape β black lava rock with ocean views and petroglyphs along the way. Can be hot and exposed β start early and bring water.
KΔ«lauea Iki Trail (Volcanoes NP)
A unique hiking experience β descend into a solidified lava lake inside a volcanic crater. The trail loops through lush rainforest, then crosses the hardened lava floor with steam vents rising around you. Moderate difficulty with a steep descent/ascent. Not a running trail β a proper hike.
Further Reading
Destination Guides & Resources
- Lonely Planet β Big Island β Comprehensive travel guide with practical tips
- AllTrails β Hawaii β Trail maps, reviews, and GPS navigation for all hikes
- Hawaii Guide β Big Island β Detailed local guides, updated regularly
- Go Hawaii (Official Tourism) β Official Hawaii tourism board
π Transport
Key Distances from Hilton Waikoloa Village
| KOA Airport | 25 min (20 mi) |
| Greenwell Farms / Kealakekua | 45 min (35 mi) |
| Pu'uhonua o Honaunau | 55 min (40 mi) |
| Volcanoes National Park | 2 hr (95 mi) |
| Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden | 50 min (45 mi) |
| Merriman's Waimea | 25 min (18 mi) |
| Mauna Kea Visitor Station | 1 hr (40 mi) |
Car Tips
Pick up and drop off at KOA airport (Jan 6β10, 4 days). Mid-size SUV recommended for Volcanoes NP comfort. No 4WD needed β Mauna Kea tour provides transport above the visitor station.