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_{Enjoying beautiful Waipi’o Valley, one of many Hawaii beautiful corners –}

There are many reasons for people wanting to go to Hawaii. These islands are popular for their magnificent splendid views, tropical paradise, exotic flora & flora, exquisite culture, volcanic traces, and the list goes on. We specifically went to Hawaii since this place has been one of our dream places to go to, the place that is promoted to offer you a paradise on earth. 

Impression

So how was it? We spent our time only on the big island of Hawaii, which is truly a paradise on earth. This place is blessed with all the seasons that earth can have, except arctic tundra. Yes, you read right. Since Hawaii also consists of active volcanoes, the peak of Mauna Kea mountain also snows. And if you want to see the desert part of Hawaii, do check the southern part of the big island.

But in general, this land is just so lush and rich in biodiversity. Plants seem to be growing healthy and way bigger in size and variation in comparison to what I usually see in Germany. 

_{A view from our accommodation, where various trees grow just like that}

_{Check out the size of this Monstera! In Germany they are mostly half as big}

_{This is the species of Hibiscus, the national flower of Hawai’i, official ones would be ones in yellow}

And the animals? They are everywhere as well. They are easily to be found as near as around our accommodation. We shared our room for example with colorful geckos, which is good since they eat all the mosquitos 😀 

_{The hardworking gecko}

_{The toad that doesn’t seem to be bothered with my camera right on his face, note that he is bigger than the size of my palm closed}

_{Mr./Ms. African Snail which is also large in size}

How about the nature? Here are some impressions of the nature. 

_{Sunset in Paradise Cliffs}

_{Boiling Pots Waterfalls}

_{Clear sea water from Richardson Beach Park}

Where to stay? 

We chose to stay on the big island of Hawaii since our goal is to explore its nature, specifically the volcano national park. And since Hawaii is expensive, we chose to stay in an AirBnB, which enabled us to cook, wash our clothes, and park our car freely. Just a picture on how expensive Hawaii is, I will give you a comparison. One filled bun in Toronto’s bakery costs around 3 CAD, which on a big island’s bakery is approx. 5.5 USD. Grocery shopping is pricey, but it is the best that you can do since eating out will cost you more.  

So, in terms of where to stay, we chose to stay at Hawaiian Acres. The place is green, has nature in its surroundings, well maintained and hosted by a lovely family. 

_{Snuggling with Shiloh, one of the lovely canines on the accommodation}

_{Meet Twitchy, the sweet cat that slept with us in our room} 

How much? 45 EUR per night. 

Which area to stay? First thing, Hawaii consists of islands. So, you need to pick your island of choice first. We wanted to see the volcano. Therefore, we chose to stay on the big island. However, the big island received its name since it is huge. It is bigger than the other island, in that it has two airports, Kailua-Kona Airport & Hilo Airport. If you decide to visit the big island and beaches are your goal, you should stay on the Kailua-Kona side of the island. But, if you want to hike more or visit the mountain, do stay at Hilo. 

_{Mauna Kea Mountain from a far}

What should I pack for Hawaii?

Summer clothing – Hawaii is hot during the day

Long sleeves clothes – But then it is chilly during the night 

Rainy days gear – Depends on you, but I packed my rain jacket, gore tex shoes, umbrella 

Sun protection gear – Sunglasses, sunscreen, sunhat

Footwear – Comfort walking shoes & trekking sandals 

Insect repellent – Mosquitos are everywhere

Bathing suit & drybag – For swimming and putting your wet bathing clothes afterwards, and depends on your acc. usually beach towels and snorkeling stuff are normally provided 

Essentials – Working sim card, powerbank, headlamp, because they could literally save your life

Do I need a car for a vacation in Hawaii? 

Unfortunately, you do. This is the easiest and the most convenient way to travel the island. Hawaii does not offer public transportation that departs that often. Their Hele-On buses are free, but they only operates roughly twice a day from a small number of stops.  

_{Our rental car on the big island, a healthy Nissan Altima}

When and where should I book my car? The best to do it imho is online before arriving, so you will be independent directly on your arrival. We booked our car from one of the suggested internet booking portals from our Google search. It then directed us to Thrifty rental car company. 

How much? 25 EUR a day. 

How long was our stay? We chose to stay longer here, which is about 3 weeks. But I do generally think you can also explore the big island for 10 days. Read here to check it out!

Note – All the references are based on personal experiences & not legal advice. Prices are from October 2024 & after tax.