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5 Things Every Couple Needs To Do On The Big Island of Hawaii | #Hawaii

Green sand beach Hawaii Big Island

My husband and I recently took our first vacation without the kids since we had them. If you are keeping count that means it had been seven years before our last couples vacation. That is a long time, too long really. We went to Hawaii for only 4 days, but it was just what we needed. We needed to be a couple again, we needed to us again, and we needed to reconnect. The girls were home safe with his parents and we went to the big island of Hawaii to enjoy ourselves. We did went on adventures during the day and probably drank way too much at night. But we had no responsibilities and it was amazing. If you find yourself on the big island with your significant other, here are five things I highly recommend you check out!

Night Time Snorkel with Manta Rays

Snorkeling at night with the manta rays in Kona, Hawaii is one of the coolest things I have ever done. My husband and I were vacationing in Hawaii for our anniversary and were told it was a MUST DO by everyone we know who visited there before. And I have to say – it totally is! I look forward to doing this every time we visit Hawaii. These rays came up and swam right under us, they even bumped in to my husband a few times. There are many companies that do this event, so be sure you do it if you are visiting Hawaii!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjNTVMVg63Q/?taken-by=mamasgeeky

Drive Up Mauna Loa

Some of the best views on the island that we had was driving up the dormant volcano Mauna Loa. We drove up 9,000 feet, which was as high as you can go without 4 wheel drive, to the Observatory. Driving down was also stunning – and to be above the clouds was such an amazing experience.

blue hawaiian helicopter

Helicopter Ride Over Waterfalls & Volcanoes

I have never been in a helicopter before, but my husband has thanks to his stint in the United States Navy. He has talked about how cool it is many times, and so we have always planned to go eventually. So when we went away for our honeymoon, we decided to take the “Ring of Fire” helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and I am so glad we did! We saw erupting volcanoes hidden waterfalls from the sky and it was one of the coolest things I have ever done.

black sand beach sea turtle

Visit Colorful Beaches

Before we went to the big island, I had no idea how colorful the beaches were there. Besides the “normal” color beaches, there is a black sand beach and a green sand beach. The green sand beach was a little bit tougher to get to – we paid a local a few bucks to drive us in a four wheel truck to the beach from the southern most point in the USA, which was a huge part of the experience. Just a little ways up the highway from there is the black sand beach, where we discovered lots of nesting giant sea turtles!

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park

My husband and I always like to do something historical while we are on vacation. We love to learn about other cultures and the history of the places we visit. So the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park was a must for us! This historical park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke a kapu (one of the ancient laws) could avoid certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge or puʻuhonua. 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 puʻuhonua were home to several generations of powerful chiefs. It was pretty amazing and surreal to see and learn about. A must visit for history buffs!

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