Big Island of Hawaii-- Day(s) 10, 11, & 12

Our final "real" day of vacation we wanted to check out a few waterfalls on the other side of the island near Hilo. I think we were all dreading that 2+ hour drive. But I am a sucker for a beautiful waterfall!

Our first stop was rainbow falls:







If you time it just right the cave behind the waterfall will fill with a rainbow too but we were a bit early; which actually turned out to be a good thing since the skies clouded up right as we were leaving!

From there we headed to the boiling pots just 1.5 miles up the road; even knowing that the waters weren't high enough to look like they were boiling we thought it might be worth a stop anyway. It seemed like both islands we visited were very dry compared to what they usually are. 



From there we went to Akaka Falls. I honestly don't think this "park" was worth the $30+ it cost us since it was a paved loop (with lots of stairs) that took about 30 minutes to complete. There were no picnic tables or anything else there. I mean the fall is crazy high-- 400+ feet (twice the height of Niagara falls) but still... 




another banyan tree!

we saw these neat purple rubbery-feeling ferns on both islands











From there we decided to drive to a nearby hiking trail we wanted to check out but we missed the trailhead and pulled into a parking lot of a botanical garden. We gave the boys the option to hike or tour the garden and they unanimously picked the garden so we did that instead. I thought it would be a lot like the one we toured on Maui but this was completely different! 











We could see and hear the beach from most of the garden



our picnic lunch view







































































We ate at the Sunset Kai Lanai on the way back to the condo.

beautiful views but it was windy


In the evening the boys all went out for some shaved ice (weirdly this was the only place on both islands that called it shaved ice instead of shave ice) & we caught a hula show in the middle of the shopping plaza.




Days 11-12 (December 28th & 29th) were spent flying home. Yes, it's a lengthy process to get back home. No planes leave Hawaii for the mainland until the afternoon which had us scheduled to land in California late in the evening. 

We ate breakfast at Papa Konas then hung out at the condo until it was time to head to the airport around 11; which was our check out time anyway.  



Island style French toast with macadamia and coconut and island made bread. 


We waited around until 2 for our flight to board.


The Kona airport on the big island is an open air set up with little huts 



We landed in LAX at 10 pm and had to nearly run through the airport to make it to our next flight. But we did! ...And it was delayed a few minutes anyway. We left LAX by 11 pm (California time) and landed in Chicago at 5 am (Chicago time).  Each time we landed I had to resync my watch to get the correct time to show up. We were crossing so many time zones! 

By this time we were all SO TIRED! We had a nearly 2 hour layover so some of us grabbed breakfast and then we boarded one last flight at 7 am to head to Hartford where we landed at 10:30 our time and then had a 90 minute drive home. It felt so good to get home at noon and take a really hot shower and just relax. I tried really hard not to nap so I would adjust to the time change quicker.  It was a fabulous trip but that ride home was brutal. I can't remember the last time I was that tired and that uncomfortable for so long... they really don't make planes like they used to. 

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Comments

  1. Kim CarberryJanuary 24, 2025 at 6:06 AM

    The waterfalls really are beautiful! What amazing views!
    It sounds like such a long trip home but the trip made it worth it, I'm sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 24, 2025 at 9:42 AM

      I wasn't so sure while we were actually travel but once we had been home for a day or two I absolutely thought the long trip home was well worth all the fun we had and all we got to see.

      Delete
  2. CatJanuary 24, 2025 at 6:08 AM

    I love seeing all the picture of the waterfall, plants, and animals!
    I've never made it to Hawaii myself, just the thought of such a long flight put me off, but it sure looks beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 24, 2025 at 9:43 AM

      Aw, thank you. The long flights were daunting but well worth all we got to see. I am so glad my husband suggesting staying longer than our standard 6 nights though.

      Delete
  3. HollyJanuary 24, 2025 at 6:32 AM

    It gets more and more beautiful with your posts every day- looks so lush!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 24, 2025 at 9:48 AM

      Aw, thank you! This was a really wet/lush area and so fun to explore. While it was so neat seeing all the lava fields I much prefer plants, flowers, & greenery.

      Delete
  4. Maria RineerJanuary 24, 2025 at 6:35 AM

    The botanical garden looks like paradise! And to be able to hear the ocean from it? The waterfalls were really amazing as well. The trip back sounds brutal but I'm sure it was worth it!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 24, 2025 at 9:50 AM

      I loved getting to hear the ocean from inside the garden. It was so relaxing! The travel there and back did feel pretty brutal but I definitely think it was worth it.

      Delete
  5. BethanyJanuary 24, 2025 at 6:56 AM

    So beautiful! And I bet the pictures are not nearly as amazing as it is in person despite how gorgeous they are!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 24, 2025 at 9:53 AM

      Yes! I did feel that way. The picture are almost a let down but only because I know what it looked like in person.

      Delete
  6. Andrea NineJanuary 24, 2025 at 7:50 AM

    Those waterfalls are gorgeous and I still cannot get over the foliage! So beautiful. I’m so sorry the trip back was tough, believe me I’ve been in those situations. Maybe you’ve said it and I missed it but I am curious which island was your favorite? We are definitely going to be planning a trip over there in the next couple years And I will save your posts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM

      Our favorite of the two was Maui; there was just more to do there. We thought it was prettier and more populated so there was a wide range of restaurants, shops, etc. That said we are so glad we got to see the Big Island since it definitely had more climate diversity and a whole different look to it.

      Delete
  7. Dara @ Not In JerseyJanuary 24, 2025 at 8:36 AM

    I remember the Rainbow Falls! The botanical garden pictures are so cool, especially that lizard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 24, 2025 at 9:57 AM

      We had so much fun spotting all those little lizards.. I love that one that Evan managed to snap with the lizard looking right out of the greenery at the camera.

      Delete
  8. Amy JohnsonJanuary 24, 2025 at 9:10 AM

    Those waterfalls and that botanical garden are amazing. What a trip!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anne FraserJanuary 24, 2025 at 10:16 AM

    I love your photos but I am glad I did not have to walk up all those steps.

    ReplyDelete

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