A lot of people dream of vacationing in beautiful Hawai‘i. It’s a popular honeymoon—and bucket list—destination! Made even more popular in recent years due to being the birthplace and preferred vacation destination for President Barack Obama and his family, Hawai‘i caters to everyone.
You don’t have to be a VIP like President Obama to feel like one in Hawai‘i. All you need is a few nights at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Hawai‘i’s first luxury resort, each of the guestrooms at Mauna Kea has a large, comfortably furnished lanai (balcony) that offers unrivaled views of the ocean or the resort’s world-class oceanfront golf course. Guests are also provided a robe and slippers for their comfort, and L’Occitane bath amenities!
You’ll find similar accommodations at the Hilo Hawai‘ian Hotel where you can dine overlooking the Pacific Ocean on your way to see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or the Hilton Waikoloa Village where you can enjoy a specialty massage at the Kohala Spa. There’s also the Four Seasons Resort Hualälai with two-story bungalow accommodations and open air living spaces. Lastly the Mauna Lani Resort and Bungalows which sits on a beautiful stretch of a private shoreline on the sunny Kohala Coast with private lanais. You’ll feel and be treated like royalty at any of these lodging options.
While the natural beauty of Hawai‘i feeds your soul, you’ll also need to feed your belly. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of wonderful dining experiences to be had on ‘The Big Island.” If you’re just looking for a casual bite to eat, swing by the Lava Lava Beach Club or Ultimate Burger, for easy, brasserie-style dining. But what if you have special dietary preferences and want a few vegan, gluten-free options? Not a problem at Under The Bodhi Tree Restaurant owned by Abraham Go, Keani Go, and Stephen Rouelle. There you can indulge in gluten-free banana French toast, a fruit plate, organic tea, and egg whites with spinach like we did. And that’s just for breakfast. What’s a vacation experience without great memories about what you ate? Nearly every one of the island’s dining establishments prepare locally sourced seafood and farm-to-table produce from Hawai‘i’s rich, fertile farms.
You can take your Hawai‘ian dining experience up a notch with creative regional cuisine and hand-crafted drinks at Copper Bar inside the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, with steak and signature appetizers at the Hualälai Grille inside the Four Seasons Resort Hualälai, and with Hawai‘ian seafood specialties at KPC Restaurant inside Hilton Waikoloa Village. With two shopping locations on the island, Tommy Bahamas is a perfect option after shopping all day, sunset views and warm island breezes.
When you’re ready to get off the beach, you’ll find that Hawai‘i offers a variety of tropical and cultural things to do. You can take a helicopter tour with Paradise Helicopters over the volcanoes or go zip lining over lush tropical forest with Kohala Zipline. Want to stay a little more grounded? Take a guided foot tour through Hawai‘i’s forests and have an evening volcano tour exploring. There’s even a historical dinner cruise with Body Glove Hawaii where the origin story of the Hawai‘ian islands comes to life through food and performances.
There’s a reason Hawai’i is such a sought-after getaway. When it comes to natural beauty, the variety of recreation, delicious food and vivid culture, few other places compare. Aloha!
