January 6-16, 2026 with Becky & Claude
We stayed the first five nights on the Kona Side (West/Leeward) of the island at lovely Hale Hualālai Bed & Breakfast.
Anaehoomalu Bay Beach (A-Bay)
Puako/Malama Petroglyph Trail
Holoholokai Beach Park
Dinner at Kona Brewing. Lovely ambiance but Marc started getting sick later that evening. Was it the fish tacos or a virus or ? The rest of us didn't get sick....
Carta Coffee Farm tour
Highly recommended Randy's Huli Chicken and Ribs lived up to the hype!
Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill for dinner. Good food and good music.
Mauna Kea Luau (at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel just north of Waikōloa)
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
Huggo's On the Rocks
Heading to the other side of island
Pololū Valley Lookout
Laupahoehoe Beach Park
We stayed the second five nights on the Hilo (East/Windward) side of the island at Island Goode's. It was a lovely place to stay but I failed to take any photos except one of the Sleep Number bed's remote controller. I took this photo to remind us of the time we spent endlessly trying to adjust our bed's firmness, completely baffled as to why nothing was happening. The mystery was finally solved when our neighbor knocked on the door—our remote signals had somehow crossed, meaning every button we pressed was controlling their bed instead.
Our first full day on this side of the island coincided with the volcano erupting at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park so we got ourselves over there as soon as we could to make sure we would catch the spectacle.
Thurston Lava Tube
Honomu
My beautiful breakfast at The Hive in Honomu
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Papaikou
'Akaka Falls
Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo
Dinner at Hilo Bay Cafe
Rainbow Falls
Boiling Pots
Back to the Kona side and the airport to head home
