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The big island of Hawaii is a must on a family vacation getaway.If you have contemplated a Hawaii vacation, then I recommend two things first: Visit the big island and learn a little about the history of the place. Many families overlook the big island for more well known places like Maui or Oahu. Don't make that mistake! Tourism has really taken off in the 50th State, and as a result, people are learning that the cost of a family vacation getaway is getting higher and higher.
This is not necessarily the case on the Big Island , however. Since the big tourist traps are mostly on Maui and Oahu, you will find that eating out and general expenses while visiting the big island, are going to be easier on the pocket book. That being said, a family of 4 can still expect to pay around $30-40 for a sit down lunch. The key to saving money on your eating expenses are to look for roadside vendors and local restaurants. You can buy fruit from stands on the roads and sample tree ripened treats that make a healthy and enjoyable snack/meal during mid-day.
When you visit the big island on your Hawaii vacation, you will either fly into Kona on the western side, or Hilo (a 2 and a quarter hour drive away) on the eastern side. If you plan to see the sun as much as possible and experience blue skies, I recommend flying into Kona, instead of Hilo. Most people don't know that Hilo is the wettest city in the USA at an average of 70 inches of rain a year. Chances are, you will encounter rain on your visit to Hilo, however, this is not a discouragement. By all means, Hilo is a must visit, you should just ease yourself into it so that your Hawaii vacation doesn't start out getting you soaked! When you visit the big island on your hawaii vacation, you must plan at least 3-5 days to see and do all the exciting things that are available for you. You can visit Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, sample some Kona coffee, drive up to Mauna Kea, the highest point in Hawaii at 13,796 ft. and check out
snorkeling by Captain Cook's monument, spending time in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (costs $10 to get in per car), driving up to the Keck observatory on Mauna Kea (fantastic views of the island), stopping at the Thurston Lava tube where you can see engravings of names that are dated back to the early 1900's (don't try writing your name!), and then finally spending some time in the historic town of Hilo, before you catch a flight out. If you plan to stay longer and see more of the details; you might want to spend a day with your family in Hawaii Volcano National Park. In all likelihood, if you stay until dusk, you can take a walk out to the most recent lava flow and experience the creation of an island. Adults and kids alike, can come away with a sense of awe in knowing that they witnessed the formation of an island, not to mention the awesome visual display you get when lava runs into the ocean!
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