Hawaii’s Big Island Trip Planning for Families with Teens

We spent slightly more than a week on the Big Island with kids ages 11 and 15.  The island covers more than 4,000 sq miles, and it can take a couple hours to drive from one end to the other, so we opted to split our stay between a condo in the Kohala Coast and a bed and breakfast just outside Hilo.  As a result we were able to explore the entire island with having to drive for hours each day.  Look for individual Top 10 Big Island Activity postings on what we enjoyed the most – or add a comment of your own to extend the list.

The island is divided into the dry, lava desert resort areas on the West and the more lush rainforest areas to the East.  It is home to 13 different micro-climates meaning that  you can experience heat, rain, fog, and even volcano-induced haze. When we were there the Kilauea Volcano at Hawaii Volcanos National Park was very active and causing some parts of the island to be enveloped in sulfur dioxide haze known as VOG.   Sulfur levels have since abated but the volcano still erupts. 

When planning your visit try to be flexible as weather conditions may force you to delay a snorkeling trip or postpone a helicopoter flight.  Never fear, bad weather in one location may give way to nice weather 25 miles down the road. 

When planning your trip is is best to think of the island as zones, each offering a different set of experiences: 

• Kailua-Kona to Kohala – from the busy streets of Kona to the tony resorts and condos of Kohala this area offers a wide range of acommodations and restaurants.  Kona can get crowded but the accomodations are affordable.  Kohala has more of a resort feel with condos and luxury hotels. 
• Kaeuhou/Kealakekua Bay – snorkeling, sea turtles, and historic Hawaiian sites in a less developed setting
• Northern Hamakua Coast - old Hawaii, remote and beautiful
• Hilo/Puna/Ka’u – Hilo is the industrial commerical side of the island while Puna has its own Bohemian charm.  Take a map or GPS and get ready for an adventure on the backroads outside of town. Don’t miss Lava Tree Monument
• Central Uplands – Parker Ranch and solitude
• Volcanos National Park – a place like no other – see our blog posting on Exploring the Park with Teens and Tweens for more information

Our Resources page has some helpful links.