On your next trip to the Big Island, we want you to feel like a true Hawaii local by knowing all of these Big Island local favorites and hidden gems. The Big Island is full of magic — from exploring the famous Kilauea Volcano to riding ATVs through Aloha Adventure Farms‘ forest trees in Holualoa, there is so much to do! We promise to highlight activities that you may not know about as a first-timer on the Big Island of Hawaii:
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Take an adventure with a Big Island ATV Tour or Polynesian Wood Carving Tour
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Experience a Kona Coffee Tour
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Enjoy a day of snorkeling, shopping, restaurants, and hiking
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Enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner buffet and dancing
For starters, the journey to Holualoa will take you back in time as you arrive at Aloha Adventure Farms. Aloha Adventure Farms offers two cultural tours that will make all of your Hawaii dreams come true. The Big Island ATV Tour is a two-hour tour where you ride through the local forestry trees and plants of Hawaii. The minimum age required to ride an ATV is 16 years old, however, if someone in your group is younger than that or there is someone who does not want to ride the ATV but still wants to participate in the tour, one of our tour guides will ride a UTV behind the tour at no extra cost. If you don’t know what a UTV is, it is similar to a Jeep as it has no windows. Your tour includes four stops at four different islands in Polynesia: Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, & Hawaii. At each island, you will learn about a traditional activity of some sort and on others, you will learn how to cut open tropical fruits (you will even get to taste them!).
The Polynesian Wood Carving Tour takes about an hour and a half. There, you will learn from a fourth-generation Master Carver direct from Tonga how to carve your very own Tiki! Your tour guide, Mani, will travel through time as he teaches, guides, and shares his talent with you! The wood provided for this tour is locally grown on the island, which makes the Tiki you would create the most perfect souvenir for you to take back home. The minimum age required to go on this tour is 8 years old.
*Bonus: Use code HAWAIISTATE for 15% off on either a Polynesian ATV Tour or a Carving Tour through our website.
Not sure if you have heard, but some of the best coffee in the world is right here, in Kona. Grown in the rich, volcanic soil in Mauna Loa, Kona Coffee is said to thrive in that elevation, geographical setting, etc, which makes it known as “The Best Coffee in the World”. If you and your family would like to experience seeing a coffee plantation in Kona, there are several places that offer tours. One of our favorites is actually located here, in Holualoa. The Holualoa Kona Coffee Company is focused on cultivating the most natural coffee by taking care of the health of their trees, themselves, and our planet.
One of the many hidden gems that have become an easy family favorite on the island is Waimea. Located on the north side of the Big Island, Waimea is known for horseback riding, cowboys, and scenic views, however, more activities include:
- Lei Making Classes
- Farmers Markets
- Restaurants
- Stargazing
- Snorkeling
- Surfing
- Golfing
- Hiking
The excursions listed are just a portion of what you can do here! So whether your family is looking for a relaxing or active adventure, Waimea would be a great place to visit.
The last must-do with families that we will suggest is having dinner at Paniolo BBQ Dinner, located on the Hilo side of the Big Island. In their own words, Paniolo BBQ “is designed to promote agro-tourism and agricultural awareness of Hawaii’s farm and ranching communities”. Upon arrival, you will be served a generous and delicious BBQ dinner buffet. As you are enjoying your meal, you will be entertained by a sing-along around a campfire, roping, horseshoes, s’mores, and line dancing to name a few. One of our favorite parts is learning the history and origins of the farm’s particular agricultural method.
We hope that these suggestions were helpful to you as you plan your next vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii. After living here for a while, we wanted to share with you our Big Island local favorite activities to do as a family and where we proudly take loved ones when they come to visit. Aloha Adventure Farms lives for creating life-long, unforgettable memories. We strive for this on each tour our customers take and are confident that our visitors feel like they got their money’s worth. No matter which tour you take, you will receive the same rich Hawaiian cultural experience and Big Island adventure.
Aloha & Mahalo!
