Hawaii Travel Guide

Tis’ the season for Holiday traveling! It’s a family tradition to escape the dropping temp and head to Hawaii for Thanksgiving. Having been more times than I can even count (super lucky, I know), I am thrilled to bring you my Hawaiian travel guide!! Trying to keep this concise I’ll just give you a few highlights and “do’s and dont’s” of the Big Island…..mainly where to stay and where to drink — because that’s CLEARLY the most important to this girl!  😉 

STAY HERE: The Fairmont Orchid

Unlike a few of its neighbors with a more old-time Hawaii vibe, The Orchid has a more contemporary “nice hotel” feel to it (maybe that’s because it used to be a Ritz!😁) Very peaceful with tons of palm trees and waterfalls aligning every hotel pathway, a beautifully calm lagoon for a beach and very central location to all the other hotels, restaurants and happenings on the Big Island. (Hint: scroll the images 👆!)

1. DO get an oceanside or waterfall hut massage but DON’T forget to ask for Tammy (she’s seriously the best! 🙌)
2. DON’T forget get a Myers’s float on the top of your Piña Colada (or to stock up on your own sneaky booze to stiffen the weak hotel drinks 🍹) 
3. DO snorkel! No driving necessary, the hotel beach is calm watered and full of fish and turtles! 🐢 🐠
4. DO go on a helicopter ride around the island (the take off is 5 minutes from the Orchid! 🚁)
5. DON’T drive to all the way back to Kona for Da Poke Shack after 4pm because chances are they’ve sold out of tuna for the day (devastating 😩🐟)

DRINK HERE: LAVA LAVA BEACH CLUB

This is my family’s favorite spot! Recently opened a few years ago, Lava Lava finally gave the Big Island a restaurant with live music RIGHT on the beach! Dive into their delicious cocktails and fresh fish all while watching a surely gorgeous sunset.

1. DO order your drink in a souvenir cup (and get a double if they allow it, I’m not an alcoholic just the drinks can run sweet 😁).
2. DON’T go on a night without live music! (Soooo much better) and DON’T forget to make a reservation here, place gets busy.
3. DO play corn hole! (but DON’T do it empty handed 😆)

**Side note: Definitelyyyyy get your dancing shoes on and hit up the Blue Dragon  (another fam fav) on a weekend night for their live band playing alllll the classics.🎶 💃 Being a local spot, this bar/restaurant gives you a real taste of this island’s “nightlife” (farrrr from the nightlife we have here haha but still a GRAND time and great people watching😜). 

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Colors (left to right) // Pantone 284C / Pantone 5445C / Pantone 7496C / Pantone 7570C / Pantone 4975C //