Hi all and welcome to our Anniversary Trip page! So excited for you to join us in celebrating our 10th anniversary in Hawaii! We will be there Fri/Sat 17/18 or June – Sat/Sun 25/26 June. Exact dates to be determined with the flights and time change and everything. We have not bought tickets or booked any accommodation as of yet as travel has not officially opened for Australia. Everyone is welcome to join us for all or part or any of the trip! Once we have an idea of who is coming when, I hope to work out renting a house or coordinating a resort to be able to stay together or at least near each other if people want. 🙂 We are planning to spend two days on The Island of Hawaii and 5 days on Oahu. Below is a summary of my research thus far. I have been on blogs, FB travel sites and recommendations. Listed are things I for sure want to do for sure, besides the waterfalls/ waterfall hikes are all maybes. Please let me know or comment to add things. 🙂 I can’t wait and am so happy that this trip will be possible!! Let the planning begin!!

26/12/21 UPDATE: I was going to spend Christmas break buying our flights and organizing accommodation for Hawaii, but have hit a snag. My US passport is expiring in June of 2022 so I will be getting it renewed. My passport number needs to be on my flights. So…… I really should renew my passport before I book flights. I will let you know how it goes and as soon as we booked our flights. ~Amy

Travel Requirements: You must be fully COVID vaccinated, register to go and get tested before hand. https://www.gohawaii.com/travel-requirements

Pack:

Reef safe sunscreen-not spray

rain gear always

Hiking gear- boots, hat

mosquito spray

sea sick pills

reusable silverware

Advice:

Shop/eat local

Learn some native words

Slow down

Respect the land-don’t take anything- rocks, pick flowers

Rains Nov to March

Website for authentic HI: https://www.nahha.com/

Respecting HI and traveling respectfully: https://hownottotravellikeabasicbitch.com/travel-to-hawaii/

Suggestions:~~https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/hawaii-big-island-itinerary/

https://notanomadblog.com/things-to-do-big-island-activities/

Eat/drink:

Poke bowl

“Plate lunch”- meat, rice, potato salad

Pounded fresh poi

spam

coffee-Kona

macadamia nuts

Island of Hawaii (The Big Island)

Rainbow Falls: https://www.lovebigisland.com/hilo/rainbow-falls/

Akaka Falls: https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/hawaii-big-island/regions/hilo/akaka-falls-state-park

Manta Ray Night Snorkel: Apparently a must do. https://notanomadblog.com/big-island-manta-ray-night-snorkel/ https://mantaadventures.com/tours/manta-night-snorkel/

Green Sand Beach- Papakolea Beach: 1 of 4 beaches in the world with Green sand. https://bigislandhikes.com/papakolea-green-sand-beach

South scenic Drive: Views, Southern most tip of the USA. https://www.lovebigisland.com/scenic-drives/ https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/hawaii-big-island-itinerary/

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Active volcanoes. Crater Rim drive-Puʻuloa Petroglyphs, lava tube. Chain of Craters road- 19mi through park with stops. https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/ccr_tour.htm

Oahu Island

Pearl Harbor Visitor Center: Pearl Harbor Museums and memorials. 1/2 day at least. http://pacifichistoricparks.org/phh_park_info.php

Iolani Palace: History of Hawaii royalty and the last monarchs. http://www.iolanipalace.org

The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum: Hawaii history museum and culture. https://www.bishopmuseum.org/

Polynesian Culture Center: Culture and history “living islands”. Luau and entertainment. http://www.polynesia.com

Waikiki Aquarium: http://www.waikikiaquarium.org/

Diamond Head: Hike in a inactive volcano crater. https://www.pacifichistoricparks.org/diamond-head-state-monument?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqKGvpKe88wIVYtVMAh2NaA0wEAAYASAAEgKtjvD_BwE

Manoa Falls Hike: Hike to a waterfall. https://www.hawaii.com/oahu/things-to-do/hiking/manoa-falls-trail/

Hole in the Wall Food Tour: Apparently a must do. http://www.hawaiifoodtours.com/

Dole Plantation: Pineapple maze, Dole-whip. http://pineappleexpress.com/

Hanauma Bay: Swim/snorkel beach with reefs. https://hanaumabaystatepark.com/

Kualoa Ranch: Where they filmed the Jurassic Park movies, Kong and LOST. I was looking at the total experience package- Jurassic tour, jungle tour, food tour and lunch $150. takes from 8am-3pm https://www.kualoa.com/kualoa-tours-activities/

Koko Crater Hike/Botanical Garden: http://www.honolulu.gov/cms-dpr-menu/site-dpr-sitearticles/572-koko-crater-botanical-garden.html

Please feel free to share any ideas, suggestions, questions or comments!