Day 1:
We arrived at Kona International Airport from Los Angeles early afternoon. After picking up our rental car, we drove to our hotel for the first night, Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. After checking in, we went wandering along the hotel grounds.
The water being very cold for January, we spent a couple of hours by the hotel pool instead.
We used our welcome drink vouchers from check-in at the pool bar and took it to our room to enjoy the view from our patio.
After enjoying the drinks we left the hotel for dinner. After walking along Alii Drive, we ended up in Kona Canoe Club, located in Kona Inn Shopping Village. I had the sandwich (tuna with sliced avocado on top of grilled rye bread) while Karen had the chicken tacos.
Day 2:
We made an early start as we were going to drive across the island from Kona to Hilo side.
Our first stop was Kaumana Caves. When we arrived early around 9:30 AM, the parking lot opposite to the caves was empty and there was not a single soul in sight.
This was the first time we have ever entered a lava cave so that was quite thrilling. It was quite dark but we came prepared with headlamps as well as flashlights. Still you have to walk very carefully in the cave.
After spending an hour in the Kaumana Caves, we drove to Rainbow Falls.
After spending about 30 minutes at Rainbow falls, we drove next towards Akaka Falls State Park. We took the Pepe’ekeo Scenic Drive along the way.
After we reached Akaka Falls State Park, we parked at the parking lot and paid for parking + entrance fee ($20). Its a .4 mile trail loop that is fairly easy to walk.
On the way back to the hotel from the Falls we stopped by Honomu Goat Dairy Farm. Karen wanted to pet some goats and so we did :). We also picked up 2 different types of goat cheese to have with our lunch and let me tell you, they were delicious!!
After we reached Hilo, we swung by the farmers market. It was already wrapping up by the time we reached there.
Next we checked into the hotel and had our lunch followed by a short nap. In the evening we walked along the ocean at the hotel property and later had dinner at the hotel.
After dinner, on the spur of the moment we decided to drive to Volcanoes National Park to check out the volcanic action. We had met quite a few tourists along the way who were raving about the volcano being active and we decided to check it out rather than wait for next day when we were staying by the park. The drive from our hotel to Volcanoes national park was only 30 miles. After reaching the park we parked at the parking lot and walked towards one of the viewing areas in the dark.
While leaving the parking lot we saw some other folks driving in a different direction and we followed them to a different parking lot for a different viewpoint. This was much better than the previous viewpoint.
After spending an hour enjoying the awesome lava flow we drove back to the hotel.
Day 3:
We left the hotel and drove back to the Hawaii Volcanoes National park. After parking in the main parking lot we walked to another viewpoint.
Next we got back in the car and drove the Chain of Craters road all the way to the ocean.
The chain of craters road ends by the ocean in a parking lot. From there its a 3 minute walk to see the Holei Sea Arch, a lava formation when it cools down after hitting the ocean.
Next we returned back on the Chain of Craters Road, all the way to the entrance of the park. We stopped by some more volcanic craters on the way back.
Our last stop was at Thurston Lava Tube.
Next to Thurston Lava Tube is the trail around Kilauea Iki Crater.
By this time it was getting late and dark so we left for the hotel.