Daughter is flying into Honolulu this coming Wednesday and then catching a flight to Kona. I know they are going offshore fishing and visiting the black sand beach. Any other suggestions or ideas about things to see?

Snorkeling (or diving, if you're certified) with manta rays. I believe it's only one of two places in the world you can do this.

The summit of Mauna Kea for sunset. There are tour services that will take you up, and I recommend that option because the weather can change on a dime. You also have to take a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

Mantas for sure. It's in my top 5 of the coolest things I've done.

I'd also drive down to Volcano Ntl Park.

Another vote for manta rays, coolest thing I've done on any Hawaiian island. Helicopter tour of the volcano (Hilo side). Hapuna beach, lava caves, and observatory were also a lot of fun. Capt Cook monument snorkeling ( go early before tour boats start showing up). You can kayak from the water access point across the bay or hike to it. Kayaking was more enjoyable.

Agree both on snorkeling captain cook and helicopter ride over the volcanoes. Both are really cool.

We did a swim with the dolphins tour in Kona. Was pretty awesome. And what others have said, go up top to Mauna Kea, and spend the day at Hapuna Beach. Cocktails/meal at Huggos on the Rocks

Second the Volcano National park if they are into that kind of thing.

Also, if lava is flowing you can tour that from boat. Although some regulations may have changed, there was talk of that when I was there.

barnacle bob said:

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Second the Volcano National park if they are into that kind of thing.

Also, if lava is flowing you can tour that from boat. Although some regulations may have changed, there was talk of that when I was there.

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We actually did this, too, when we visited in 2018. Kilauea was in the midst of a major eruption, so the southernmost departure point for this tour was closed due to the lava. The boats were only allowed to depart from Hilo, which meant we had a MUCH longer boat ride to get to the eruption area. We had to go from Hilo all the way to the almost the southernmost tip of the island.

As a result, we had to be at the harbor in Hilo at zero dark thirty (seriously, like 2 or 3 am). The boat ride was VERY rough. We did not get sick, but there were people getting sick all around us (it was gross).

We missed seeing lava go into the ocean (which is what I really wanted to see) by maybe 12 hours or so. But we did get a spectacular view of the eruption, especially the "geysers" shooting hundreds of feet up in the sky.

This trip is actually really dangerous, and at the time we went, only a few companies had permits to do it. A couple of weeks after we got home, a "lava bomb" hit the roof of the boat of the company we used and injured 23 people (one seriously).

https://www.npr.org/2018/07/16/629613564/kilauea-lava-explosion-injures-23-tourists

I actually had a nightmare about this excursion around the time we took it (not sure if it was right before or right after). Basically, I dreamt that my son fell off the boat and into the ocean and it was full of lava. So, it kind of creeps me out that this accident happened so soon after we were on that boat. Needless to say, this isn't something I recommend to people.

You can also do helicopter tours over the lava fields when they are erupting. I heard great things about this from people we met on our trip, but I absolutely refuse to do a helicopter tour.

We love the Big Island. I'll offer some dining suggestions.

Our favorite restaurant by far is Jackie Rey's. https://www.jackiereyskona.com/
Very local and the food is awesome. Get the Seafood Trio.

Foster's Kitchen is also very good. https://www.fosterskitchen.com/ The Coconut Grove location in the main tourist center of Kailua Kona can get very busy and parking is an issue. The King's Shops location in Waikoloa is more laid back.

Kona Brewing Co. is also a good place to eat and the beer is good. https://konabrewinghawaii.com/

On the south end of the Island, Punalu'u Bake Shop is worth a stop for lunch or a snack (with the best bathrooms you will find in the area) if you are driving from Kona to the Volcanoes National Park. https://www.bakeshophawaii.com/

Near the Volcanoes NP, Kilauea Lodge and Restaurant is an upscale place for a nice dinner after a day at the park. https://www.kilauealodge.com/restaurant/

Sunset and stargazing on Mauna Kea is awesome, but as others have said, book a tour (don't try to drive).

TXTransplant said:

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barnacle bob said:

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Second the Volcano National park if they are into that kind of thing.

Also, if lava is flowing you can tour that from boat. Although some regulations may have changed, there was talk of that when I was there.

---

We actually did this, too, when we visited in 2018. Kilauea was in the midst of a major eruption, so the southernmost departure point for this tour was closed due to the lava. The boats were only allowed to depart from Hilo, which meant we had a MUCH longer boat ride to get to the eruption area. We had to go from Hilo all the way to the almost the southernmost tip of the island.

As a result, we had to be at the harbor in Hilo at zero dark thirty (seriously, like 2 or 3 am). The boat ride was VERY rough. We did not get sick, but there were people getting sick all around us (it was gross).

We missed seeing lava go into the ocean (which is what I really wanted to see) by maybe 12 hours or so. But we did get a spectacular view of the eruption, especially the "geysers" shooting hundreds of feet up in the sky.

This trip is actually really dangerous, and at the time we went, only a few companies had permits to do it. A couple of weeks after we got home, a "lava bomb" hit the roof of the boat of the company we used and injured 23 people (one seriously).

https://www.npr.org/2018/07/16/629613564/kilauea-lava-explosion-injures-23-tourists

I actually had a nightmare about this excursion around the time we took it (not sure if it was right before or right after). Basically, I dreamt that my son fell off the boat and into the ocean and it was full of lava. So, it kind of creeps me out that this accident happened so soon after we were on that boat. Needless to say, this isn't something I recommend to people.

You can also do helicopter tours over the lava fields when they are erupting. I heard great things about this from people we met on our trip, but I absolutely refuse to do a helicopter tour.

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If you ever drop your keys in the lava, they're gone.

I take it you speak from experience…?

Star gazing tour of Mauna Kea or the Sun rise tour.

If you want an all round experience of the whole island, i recommend Wasabi Tours. They have a couple different tours.

Papakolea Beach is one of four green sand beaches on the planet. On the southern tip of the island.