Adventures for Families: High Adrenaline Hawaii

I recently vacationed on the Big Island of Hawaii with my family which includes two teens. We had not been there since they were very young, so this time we got to experience some more active adventures.

This island has a large variety of unique activities, so if you are looking for more to do than just lay on the beach or by the pool, it could be the perfect destination for you. Check out some of the fun things we did:

Stargazing at Mauna Kea

While looking through telescopes is not a high energy activity, getting to the top of the volcano does take some effort. The Visitor Information Center is at 9200 ft, and at nightfall temperatures drop into the 50’s or below. So we packed long pants, hats, gloves, and sweatshirts along with our bathing suits. If you have a “true” 4WD drive vehicle you can drive to the 14000 ft summit on a steep gravel road (check safety guidelines first).

Setting up the telescopes

Here you have one of the clearest night sky views on the planet, we could easily see the Milky Way with the naked eye. We also saw Jupiter, Mars and Saturn through telescopes, and watched deep space images on video monitors.

The Milky Way seen from Mauna Kea

Zodiac Raft Trip to Kealakekua Bay

Inacessible by car, Kealakekua Bay is one of the most protected harbors on the island and has exceptionally clear water. It is also the site of the Captain Cook Monument, the only foreign-owned land in the United States. The crew will fill you in on the whole story. You can also book catamaran trips and kayak trips, but if you like speed and watching dolphins surf next to you, the zodiac boat is the way to go.

Chasing a fish off a volcano

Exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

There is a lot to see here, and I generally recommend my clients spend a night or two at the summit. (I review the pros and cons with my clients as we design their itinerary.)

Checking out a steam vent with a GoPro

Walk through a lava tube

We powered through a full day trip from our resort, and were still able to drive the entire length of Chain of Craters Road, have dinner, then go back to see the glow in the caldera after dark.

Kilauea by day and night

What’s exciting right now is a new lava flow which started right before our arrival. It does require advance planning as views are only accessible from a parking area about 45 minutes outside the park entrance, and you must hike a few miles along an emergency road.

Note: Lava conditions can change in hours, so visitors need to read the current updates on the NPS website, and talk to rangers before heading out on any hikes.

Lava arches at the end of the road

Night Snorkel With Manta Rays

This was not only the highlight of our trip, but could very well be one of the most amazing wildlife encounters we will have in our lifetime. Because of the particular tour we booked, we had at least a dozen huge manta rays (3-10 ft. wing span) swimming within inches of us. Yes, it was scary at first, but it didn’t take long to relax, realize we were safe, and enjoy the experience. You can see a video my son took with his GoPro here.

This isn't a spaceship, it's the underside of a manta ray!

And More Snorkeling!
The Big Island is known for some of the best snorkeling in Hawaii and we were not disappointed. This is one of our favorite activities (we call ourselves "snorkel snobs"), so we chose a resort that had good snorkeling on site and several good beaches nearby, including one with black sand. There were also lots of turtles at our resort, so it was not unusual to see them in and out of the water.