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You are here: Home / Travel / USA / Hawaii / Big Island Hawaii with Kids

Big Island Hawaii with Kids

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September 27, 2016 By Jennifer Lambert 30 Comments

We visited the Big Island of Hawaii for Elizabeth’s 9th birthday in October 2009. I was pregnant with Alex at the time.

We stayed in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

It’s a quick and cheap hop over from the island of Oahu on Hawaiian Airlines. We lived in Honolulu for three glorious years.

We included FUN activities for the whole family – parents and little kids (we had a toddler and preschooler) and our older daughter.

The Big Island of Hawaii with Kids

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy

We hiked Ź»Akaka Falls State Park. It’s a circular hike through a jungle. It was super sticky in the rainforest. The waterfall view was so worth it!

We visited the small but lovely Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens to see Namaste, the white tiger, who has since passed away. They have a lovely monarch butterfly sanctuary.

namaste-the-white-tiger

The gardens were beautiful.

panaewa-rainforest-zoo-and-gardens

We toured the lovely Japanese-inspired LiliŹ»uokalani Park and Gardens.

lili%ca%bbuokalani-park-and-gardens-pagoda-bridge
bridge-in-lili%ca%bbuokalani-park-and-gardens

We should have worn swimsuits to play in Rainbow Falls (Waiānuenue). The water is calm with a little sandy bank and there’s always a rainbow to be seen!

rainbow-falls-family-photo
rainbow-falls

The black sand at PunaluŹ»u Beach was lovely for pictures in white dresses.

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girls-at-punalu%ca%bbu-beach
punalu%ca%bbu-beach-couple-photo
honu-at-punalu%ca%bbu-beach
pregnancy-photo-at-punalu%ca%bbu-beach

The best kid beach we found was Kahalu`u Beach Park. Great little sandy beach area and tidepools for exploring. Perfect to view the sunset.

tidepools-at-kahaluu-beach-park
kahaluu-beach-park-sunset

Visiting PuŹ»uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park was like traveling back in time.pu%ca%bbuhonua-o-honaunau-national-historical-park

PuŹ»uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park preserves the site where Hawaiians who broke kapu (one of the ancient laws) could avoid death by fleeing to this place of refuge or puŹ»uhonua. The offender would be absolved by a priest and freed to leave. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle. The grounds just outside the Great Wall that encloses the puŹ»uhonua were home to several generations of powerful chiefs.

 

The 420-acre site was originally established in 1955 as City of Refuge National Historical Park, but was renamed on November 10, 1978. It includes the puŹ»uhonua and a complex of archeological sites including: temple platforms, royal fishponds, sledding tracks, and some coastal village sites. The Hale o Keawe temple and several thatched structures have been reconstructed.

The park contains a reconstruction of the Hale O Keawe heiau, which was originally built by Kona chief Kanuha in honor of his father, King KeaweʻīkekahialiŹ»iokamoku. After the death of KeaweʻīkekahialiŹ»iokamoku, his bones were entombed within the heiau. The nobility (ali’i) of Kona continued to be buried until the abolition of the kapu system. The last person buried here was a son of Kamehameha I in 1818.

pu%ca%bbuhonua-o-honaunau-national-historical-park-tiki

We were disappointed in the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory. No tours, just looking through the window and there’s a gift shop with samples.

mauna-loa-factory

We wasted a drive to the South Point to snap a photo of the plaque. It looked like a desert and only a portable potty.

south-point-hawaii
south-point

But don’t miss a trip to the Punalu’u Bake Shop!

punaluu-bake-shop

We only viewed the Captain Cook Monument across Kealakekua Bay.

captain-cook-monument

Although there are theories that Spanish or Dutch sailors might have stopped here much earlier, the first documented European to arrive was Captain James Cook. He and his crews on the Resolution and Discovery sighted Kealakekua Bay on the morning of January 17, 1779. He estimated several thousand people lived in the two villages. On January 28, he performed the first Christian service on the islands, for the funeral of a crew member who had died.

Cook had entered the bay during Makahiki. This was a traditionally peaceful time of year, so he and his men were welcomed and given food. Cook and his crew stayed for several weeks, returning to sea shortly after the end of the festival. After suffering damage during a storm, the ships returned two weeks later, on February 14. This time relations were not as smooth.

After the theft of one of Resolution’s small boats by a local native Hawaiian, Cook attempted to lure Hawaiian chief KalaniŹ»ÅpuŹ»u aboard to hold as hostage until the boat was returned. A skirmish ensued during which Cook was killed, near the spot where he had first set foot on the island.

The monument can be accessed by a 1-hour hike from the road or by crossing the bay by boat.

Where we ate:

I cannot express how much we loved eating at Merriman’s. They also have locations on Maui and Kauai!

Ken’s House of Pancakes is great for breakfast or brunch. We took Liz for her birthday breakfast.

Hilo Fish Company is a lovely restaurant for seafood.

We did not enjoy touristy and commercialized Kona, but we stopped at Kona Brewing Company for my husband to try their beer. Since I was pregnant, I didn’t get any!

The Big Island of Hawaii has so much to offer everyone – history, lovely gardens, great food, and natural wonders.

Education Resources:

  • Homeschooling in Hawaii
  • Volcanoes National ParkĀ Junior RangerĀ Program
  • Volcanoes National Park TeacherĀ Curriculum Materials
  • Hawaiian Unit Study from Adventures in Mommydom
  • Hawaii State Study Notebooking Pages fromĀ The Notebooking Nook
  • State Study Pages Bundle from NotebookingPages
  • Volcano Unit Study from Stacy Sews and Schools
  • Volcanoes Lapbook and Unit Study from Homeschool Share
  • Volcanoes Mini Study from DIY Homeschooler
  • Volcanoes Unit Study AND Hawaii Unit StudyĀ from Homeschool Helper Online
  • Winterpromise Free Volcano Study
  • Hawaii Activities from Rose Garden Homeschool
  • Hawaii State Pack from Enchanted Homeschooling Mom
  • The Island Below the Star Literature Unit Study from Homeschool Share
  • Hawaii Unit Study from Craft Knife
  • Hawaii Printables from EdHelper
  • Enchanted Learning Hawaii Printables
  • DLTK Hawaiian Activities and Printables
  • Education.com Hawaii Resources
  • Hawaiian Activities from ChildFun
  • A to Z Kids Stuff Hawaii Facts and Fun


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Filed Under: Hawaii Tagged With: familytravel, Hawaii, travel

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Comments

  1. Cristina says

    April 24, 2017 at 11:06 am

    Your pictures are amazing! I bet you had an amazing time! Thanks for sharing with us.

    Reply
  2. Swapna says

    April 24, 2017 at 1:04 pm

    I’m loving your travel pictures! And congratulations on your pregnancy, you look beautiful!

    #practicalmondays

    Reply
  3. Hatton says

    April 24, 2017 at 1:34 pm

    Wow – beautiful photos! What a fun trip for your family!

    Reply
  4. Jaime Wiebel says

    April 26, 2017 at 9:03 am

    What a beautiful place to travel. I loved the Big Island and would have loved to have been there longer. What a great tour you gave us here. Thanks for sharing with us a Sitting Among Friends. Have a great week!

    Reply
  5. Donna Reidland says

    April 27, 2017 at 12:01 pm

    This looks like it was a great family adventure. I always love your photos, too!

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      May 2, 2017 at 2:06 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  6. Horace Williams Jr says

    April 27, 2017 at 2:05 pm

    The pictures here are amazing Jennifer! Thank you for giving us a glimpse of the beautiful state of Hawaii. I hope you have a fantastic weekend and may God bless you and yours.

    Reply
  7. Michele Morin says

    April 27, 2017 at 3:55 pm

    Gorgeous! And those Polynesian names are a great over-the-top phonics challenge.

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      May 2, 2017 at 2:06 pm

      We still giggle over the GPS machine trying to pronounce them!

      Reply
  8. Kristi Wheeler says

    April 27, 2017 at 6:37 pm

    What an amazing trip! I just love the photo of all of you in white! Visiting from Thursday Favorite Things!

    Reply
  9. Annie says

    April 28, 2017 at 8:36 am

    What a wonderful trip!!! We just got home from a (way too short) 4 night family vacation to Punta Cana and now I am dying to get to Hawaii — especially after seeing these pictures!

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      May 2, 2017 at 2:05 pm

      Punta Cana sounds fun too :)

      Reply
  10. danielle says

    April 28, 2017 at 2:49 pm

    That vacation looks lovely! I also love the photos at the black sand beach!

    Reply
  11. Charlie | MississippiMom says

    April 28, 2017 at 8:59 pm

    Looks like a wonderful place to visit as a family! So glad you enjoyed it!

    Reply
  12. Lyli @lylidunbar.com says

    April 28, 2017 at 9:33 pm

    Beautiful trip! Loved seeing you and your girls in the matching white dresses. Beauties :)

    Reply
  13. Ashley Berger says

    April 29, 2017 at 9:26 pm

    Great pictures and tips! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty!

    Reply
  14. Crystal says

    May 1, 2017 at 4:37 pm

    Looks like the trip of a lifetime, and what a beautiful family you have!

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      May 2, 2017 at 2:05 pm

      Thanks so much! We were so happy to be able to go!

      Reply
  15. Leanna says

    May 1, 2017 at 8:13 pm

    So far the Hawaiian Island are the nicest place I have been. Hubs was resistent to go to the big island and I really want to. I will pin and share with him. Its looks beautiful as does your family Jennifer

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      May 2, 2017 at 2:04 pm

      We really loved it.

      Reply
  16. Ruth says

    May 1, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    Nice pictures! I especially like the sunset and the one with your beautiful girls with their joyous smiles, all in white on the beach!
    Interesting history facts, too. :)

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      May 2, 2017 at 2:04 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  17. Debbie Kitterman says

    May 2, 2017 at 8:10 am

    What beautiful pictures and such fun family memories. I am not sure how you managed travel when you were pregnant – I never wanted to travel much many moons ago when I was with child was – but I do love all the beautiful family pictures you have and she was with you on the trip too. So cool

    I was speaking at a retreat this past weekend and I am just now working on getting to my comments from last weeks #TuneInThursday Thank you so much for linking up each week.

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      May 2, 2017 at 2:04 pm

      There were a few uncomfortable moments…but mostly it went well!

      Reply
      • Debbie Kitterman says

        May 3, 2017 at 1:58 am

        that is most definitely good :)

        Reply
  18. Amber Harrop says

    May 2, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    I would love to go to Hawaii one day it looks fabulous and your tips are great Jennifer.

    Reply
  19. Tina at Mommynificent says

    May 3, 2017 at 5:43 am

    Looks like so much fun! Thanks for linking up at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
    Tina

    Reply
  20. Mother of 3 says

    May 8, 2017 at 2:29 am

    So fun! I have always wanted to visit Hawaii (any of the islands!). Thanks for sharing with us at Love to Learn; Pinned.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park says:
    September 29, 2016 at 6:41 am

    […] visited the Big Island of Hawaii for Elizabeth’s 9th birthday in October 2009. I was pregnant with Alex at the […]

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  2. Motivational Monday Blogger Linkup #127 - A Fresh Start on a Budget says:
    May 1, 2017 at 3:27 am

    […] The Big Island of Hawaii with KidsĀ from Jennifer LambertĀ  […]

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