Hawaii's Big Island is the island for wellness in Hawaii, as it's also known as the healing island, whether you want to visit a traditional Hawaiian healer, connect with your dormant spirituality, or visit a spa for a much-needed massage. Wellness Travel Hawaii specializes in arranging such packages, and many accommodations offer excellent spas with outdoor treatment rooms, such as the aforementioned Four Seasons, and the Fairmont Orchid.
5. Outdoor activities
Surfing, cycling, hiking are all popular recreational activities in The Big Island. The mild climate and rugged terrain make it a hikers' paradise, with hundreds of miles of trail across the island ranging from easy walks that are a few miles long to challenging twenty-mile stretches. Surfing, a quintessentially Hawaiian sport, is an activity many locals and visitors enjoy. Ask someone local where to catch the best waves and to rent equipment. Cycling is another fun activity for beginner and pro alike whether you like street cycling or mountain biking (there's even an Ironman Triathlon held on the island each year.) Hawaii Cycling Club, an organization of cyclists on The Big Island, is a font of info at hawaiicyclingclub.com.
6. Souvenir shopping
While looking for tchotchke souvenirs anywhere else is a slightly hokey pursuit at best, in Hawaii it's positively cute. Be sure to grab a few bags of Kona coffee and macadamia nuts at the very least. The intrepid souvenir hunter will want to visit the city of Hilo, and scoop up gorgeous upscale Hawaiian shirts and dresses from Sig Zane on Kamehameha Avenue, the main drag for boutique shopping. Hana Hou, also on Kamehameha Avenue, is a favourite for women looking for unique skirts made of vintage fabric, modern t-shirts, jewelry, nostalgic prints and books, and the requisite Hawaiian dresses and skirts.
7. Hotel hopping
There's no reason to esconce yourself in just one hotel if you're staying a week or longer. If you're renting a car (rates tend to be reasonable), the island is small enough that you can stay on different parts of the island and experience the different microclimates Big Island has to offer. For instance, I stayed at the ultraluxe Four Seasons, and the Fairmont Orchid, both resorts that enjoy sunny, dry climates, then at Palms Cliff House, a B&B overlooking waves crashing on the cliffs where you'll experience a more humid, tropical climate, only a few hours drive away. Aloha!
Read more:
7 reasons to visit Oahu, Hawaii
Tips for women traveling solo
7 tips for taking kids on a plane
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