We were supposed to be going to Kauaʻi.
We had been looking forward to the Nā Pali Coast, snorkeling, and exploring the island together. Then a storm changed our plans. Our disappointment was small compared to what the people living there were dealing with. Excursions were being canceled, businesses were losing bookings, and local families had much more important things to worry about than someone’s vacation.
We were grateful to the people who reached out and helped us work through our reservations while dealing with the storm themselves. With less than two days to decide what to do, we changed islands. What followed was a scramble to book places to stay, find a rental car, and figure out an entirely different trip. Somehow, that change became one of the best vacations we have ever taken.
Planning a Big Island Trip in Less Than Two Days
There is something a little ridiculous about trying to learn an entire island while booking a trip there at the same time. Where should we stay? How far apart is everything? Which excursions still have openings? We were looking at maps and trying to make everything fit, with a hotel reservation here and an Airbnb there.
Would we want to plan every vacation like this? Definitely not. But this time, the planning became part of the adventure. We went from wondering whether our trip would happen to getting excited about a place we hadn’t planned on visiting at all.
What We Loved About the Big Island
The Big Island has a feeling that is hard to explain until you experience it. Some stretches are green and lush. Others are covered in dark lava rock, with almost nothing growing across them. Then the road turns and suddenly you are looking at bright blue water crashing against a black coastline.
That contrast was one of my favorite things about the trip. Around Kīlauea, the island feels rugged and mysterious. Below the ocean’s surface, there is a completely different world filled with coral and marine life. Being able to spend time in both places made this trip feel like the perfect fit for us.
Snorkeling With Manta Rays at Night
If I had to pick one experience that stood out most, it would be the nighttime manta ray snorkel. Floating in the dark ocean is already an experience. Then a manta ray comes into the light below you, opens its mouth, and rolls through the water while feeding on plankton. Watching them barrel roll right underneath us was unbelievable.
They looked huge from that close, but the way they moved was so smooth. I could have stayed there watching them all night. Somehow, the manta rays weren’t the only memorable part. We also saw dolphins nearby and sharks moving through the water behind the action. Knowing they were around while we floated at the surface definitely added some nerves.
It was exciting and a little intimidating, and it is something we will be talking about for a long time. If you are interested in a manta ray night tour, this was easily one of our favorite experiences of the trip.
Boat Days and Exploring Below the Surface
Our daytime snorkeling adventures were another highlight. We went from sliding into the ocean and jumping off boats to floating above reefs, watching whatever appeared below us. We saw sea turtles, eels, and so many different fish, including triggerfish and pufferfish. Every time we put our faces back in the water, there was something else to notice.
I loved that the boat trips gave us time to have fun without feeling like we needed to rush to the next stop. Sometimes the best part was just floating there, watching the reef and seeing what came out from between the rocks. Those were the moments when it really felt like we were on vacation.
ʻAkaka Falls and Rainbow Falls
Away from the ocean, we visited ʻAkaka Falls and Rainbow Falls. Both showed us just how lush the Big Island can be. ʻAkaka Falls was incredible to see dropping through the rainforest, while Rainbow Falls had its own beautiful setting, spilling over the rocky overhang below.
After spending time along the lava-covered coast, all that greenery and rushing water felt like another side of the island entirely. Even the paths through the tropical plants were worth slowing down for. It was easy to keep finding something else to photograph.
Coastlines That Made Us Stop
Driving around the island was an experience on its own. We kept finding views that made us want to pull over and take another picture. Some of the steep green coastlines reminded us of what had originally drawn us to Kauaʻi. We still want to experience the Nā Pali Coast someday, but the Big Island gave us plenty of moments where we just stood there taking in the view.
Green Sand and Black Sand Beaches
We also visited a green sand beach and a black sand beach. Seeing those different shorelines on the same trip was another reminder of how unusual this island is. The green sand beach, tucked into a cove with turquoise water, was unlike any beach we had visited before.
The black sand beach had a completely different feel. After so much time picturing Hawaiʻi as green mountains and blue water, seeing these darker volcanic shorelines made the island even more interesting. I loved how much the scenery changed as we explored.
A Different Side of Hawaiʻi at Volcanoes National Park
The area around Volcano felt like a different trip entirely. The cooler air, rain, and thick greenery gave it a quieter atmosphere. After our ocean adventures, it was a change of pace we really enjoyed. Then we entered Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and the landscape opened into huge stretches of volcanic rock.
Seeing Halemaʻumaʻu and the plume rising from the crater was incredible. There is something about standing near a volcano that makes you feel very small. The landscape looks powerful because it is, and seeing it in person made that much more real.
One of my favorite experiences was walking across the crater landscape. Being surrounded by dark rock, with green slopes rising around it, felt completely different from our other hikes. It was hard to believe we were on the same island where we had just been swimming above coral reefs.
Following the Lava Landscape to the Ocean
Driving Chain of Craters Road toward the coast was another part of the park we loved. The lava fields seemed to stretch forever. Looking across them, you could follow the landscape downhill and imagine how dramatically flowing lava had changed this part of the island.
Eventually, the road brought us back to the ocean and Hōlei Sea Arch. At the time, it was another amazing place to stop and take in the coastline. We didn’t know how soon that view would change. We later learned that the arch had collapsed. Knowing we had seen it shortly before it disappeared made our visit feel even more meaningful.
The National Park Service reported that the arch was still standing on September 23, 2026, and had collapsed by the night of September 27. The exact moment is unknown. It is sad to think we won’t see it standing there again. I’m grateful we got to experience it and have those pictures to remember it by.
More Big Island Hikes and Activities to Look Into
If you are building your own itinerary, these are a few places to research alongside a snorkeling trip and a manta ray night tour. There is enough here that you can choose the activities that fit your trip instead of trying to fit everything into one visit.
- Kīlauea Iki Trail: A hike from rainforest into a volcanic crater landscape.
- Nāhuku, also called Thurston Lava Tube: A walk through a lava tube surrounded by rainforest.
- ʻAkaka Falls and Rainbow Falls: Waterfall stops to consider while exploring the Hilo side of the island.
- Pololū Valley Lookout: An overlook with green cliffs and dramatic coastal views in North Kohala.
- Chain of Craters Road: A scenic drive through volcanic landscapes toward the ocean.
Check current trail access and park alerts before heading out. Storms and volcanic activity can change what is open.
A Trip We’ll Never Forget
We went into this vacation thinking we knew where we were going and what we wanted to do. Then almost everything changed. We still hope to visit Kauaʻi someday, but I’m grateful we had the opportunity to change our plans and experience the Big Island together.
The manta rays alone would have made this trip memorable. Add our days in the water and the volcanic landscapes, and it became one of my favorite places in the world. We wouldn’t choose a last-minute scramble for every vacation, but this one gave us memories we wouldn’t trade. We will absolutely be back.
