Big Island trip report Oct/Nov 2025

Question

We just returned from a nice trip to the Big Island. I won't bore you with the day by day details, but here is a summary:)

We were caught up in an Alaska IT outage leaving SEA, so that was a bit of a mess at the airport. The lounge was hand writing peoples information, and then at the gate for people who did not have their boarding passes in their wallets or screen shots of it had to spend quite a bit of time in line.

National Car Rental was great, and when our flight was cancelled for the way home and we needed an extra day, the cost was only an additional $12.

We really debated about taking the Saddle Road as our arrival night was rainy and it was dark, but the drive was fine. Just keep an eye out for pigs/goats. We also took this route back to Captain Cook, but during the day. We saw 4 live goats, and 4 dead pigs along the way. There are quite a few signs reminding you to watch for animals.

Foodland in Hilo has a good poke bar, which was perfect for a late arrival.

Airbnb's were both excellent. One in Volcano and one in Captain Cook. We were very happy that most of our time was spent on the Hilo side and were very happy to stay in Volcano.

Mr Ed's Bakery has over 150 varieties of jam, many of which are low sugar. They encouraged us to taste as many as we wanted, and then we had them ship our order home.

Akaka Falls is a nice loop of a walk, and just a few minutes from Mr Ed's.

Rainbow Falls and Hilo Farmers Market were good. Cafe Pesto Hilo Bay had a great lunch. The shrimp salad was one of my favorite dishes of our trip!

Lavaloha Chocolate farm tour was really good! We learned a lot and our guide, Jess, was excellent.

Volcano Farmer's Market was small but very good. The Hopper's BBQ was great, but they do sell out, so don't wait until close to 6 when they close or you may be out of luck.

Punalu'u Bake Shop had great malasadas and a nice seating area outside under a couple of gazebo's.

There was a tiny outdoor market just down the road as well.

We saw 4 turtles at the black sand beach Punalu'u. We took a picnic lunch here as there are tables in the shade under the coconut trees.

Our Airbnb host in Volcano highly recommended the Fissue 8 tour, and that was a highlight of the entire trip. Kris was so personable, and to hear the story first hand of what they went through was very interesting. It was dumping rain when we were up on one of the fissures, but that did not detract from it at all.

Kaleo's in Pahoa was excellent! We shared the prime rib and the Ono, and with drinks the bill was only about $90.

The Kilauea Iki trail was a must. We took the trail that headed towards the tunnels and then down into the crater and then the steep steps back up on the other side.

We did the Ohana Ranch coffee tour, which was just the two of us. Pono was our guide and was young, but very good. We met the man that does all the planting, maintaining and picking and he was a wealth of information. The rest of the tour was more about the Hawaiian culture and the people, as we got sidetracked by that. It was no fault of Pono's, but rather us, as we were the only people. The road there was really rough, so you definitely want a vehicle with a bit of clearance.

Dinner at the Volcano House was a bit of a bust. The food was just mediocre, but the waiter was terrible. We had to ask another waitress several times for the check and she went and got him, but he still ignored us. His tip dwindled with time.

We had breakfast one morning at Ken's Pancakes because my husband wanted to try a loco moco. He enjoyed most of it, but wow that was a lot of food!

The Big Island Candies was a great place to shop for gifts.

Every evening we went over to VNP in hopes of catching the next eruption. There was not a big one, but we did see red every night.

The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is gorgeous. Tip, if you are with anyone else, stay together as there is no cell reception so if you get separated, it is hard to find each other. There were so many trees/plants that we had never seen before.

We had dinner at the Sunset Kai Lanai one evening and it was very good and the waitress was excellent. The ahi and the pork chops were perfect. Those plus a pupu and a drink each ran us about $120 before tip. I am a very light drinker, so I asked for the alcohol in mine to be cut by half and that was just right.

Our flight home was cancelled so we had an extra day. That was our only beach day, which was fine as that is not our thing. We did go to Magic Sands beach though and then a snorkeling tour. The snorkeling part was fine, but the boat ride was on a rib boat, and the driver took too many chances. We have been on quite a few rib boats, so know what is involved, but this one was too risky.

Our Airbnb host in Captain Cook was so helpful and let us store our bags there until our evening flight.

Our last dinner was at Kona Brewing and we had fish tacos and pulled pork tacos. Both were very good and the waitress was great.

We got a message that due to the government shutdown that we should allow 2.5 hours for security at Kona to fly home. We abided by that, but we lucked out and it was very short. A couple bars of soap that I purchased and were buried in my bag led to my bag being taken aside. No big deal, but I would put those in the top of my bag so it would be easier to repack everything.

Answer

We recently returned from a wonderful trip to the Big Island, and here’s a comprehensive summary of our experience, focusing on practical tips and highlights.

Arrival and logistics: Our flight from SEA was affected by an Alaska IT outage, creating some delays at the airport, but once on the island, everything ran smoothly. National Car Rental provided excellent service, and when we needed to extend our rental due to a flight cancellation, it cost only an additional $12. Driving the Saddle Road was fine even at night, though it’s important to watch for goats and pigs along the way.

Accommodations: We stayed in two Airbnbs—one in Volcano and one in Captain Cook. Both were excellent and provided great bases for exploring the Hilo side of the island. Staying in Volcano allowed us easy access to Volcanoes National Park and nearby attractions.

Food and markets:

Foodland in Hilo has a convenient poke bar, perfect for late arrivals.
Mr Ed's Bakery offers over 150 varieties of jams, including low sugar options, and allows sampling before purchase or shipping.
Hilo Farmers Market and Volcano Farmer's Market offered fresh produce, snacks, and local specialties. Hopper's BBQ is highly recommended, but they sell out early.
Ken's Pancakes is a great breakfast spot, particularly for classic Hawaiian dishes like loco moco.
Cafe Pesto Hilo Bay serves excellent lunch, with the shrimp salad being a standout dish.
Kaleo's in Pahoa offered fantastic dinner options at reasonable prices.
Sunset Kai Lanai in Volcano provided a memorable dinner with fresh ahi, pork chops, and pupus.
Kona Brewing Company is a solid choice for casual dinner with tasty tacos.

Attractions and activities:

Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls are easy, scenic stops near Hilo.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is beautiful, with an extensive variety of plants; note the lack of cell reception in some areas.
Volcanoes National Park (VNP) offered nightly views of red lava glow. The Kilauea Iki trail is a must-do hike, descending into the crater and climbing back up steep steps.
The Fissure 8 tour was a highlight, with an informative guide providing a first-hand account of volcanic activity.
Ohana Ranch Coffee tour is excellent for a small group, offering insight into Hawaiian culture and coffee farming; a vehicle with clearance is recommended due to rough roads.
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach provided turtle sightings and picnic opportunities.
Magic Sands Beach and a snorkeling tour gave us our only beach day, though the rib boat ride felt risky for our taste.
Lavaloha Chocolate Farm tour with guide Jess was informative and fun.

Additional notes:

Volcano House restaurant was disappointing for dinner—mediocre food and poor service.
Big Island Candies is a great spot for gifts and treats.
Plan ahead for airport security, particularly during government shutdowns. Kona security was faster than anticipated, though small items like bars of soap can lead to extra screening.

Overall, the trip offered a mix of natural wonders, great food, and cultural experiences. Staying on the Hilo side and in Volcano provided convenience for exploring the main attractions without feeling rushed. The blend of markets, farms, beaches, and national park adventures made for a rich and memorable Big Island experience.