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Aloha, travelers!

There’s never really a bad time to visit the Big Island, but traveling during one of the island’s slower periods comes with some advantages that are easy to overlook. September, late October, and April through May are often quieter times to visit, making them worth considering if your travel dates are flexible.

Fewer crowds, potentially lower vacation rental rates, easier reservations, and more freedom to explore can make an already memorable Hawaiʻi vacation even more rewarding. You can enjoy many of the same beaches, trails, restaurants, and adventures while spending less time waiting and more time enjoying the island.

Make Your Vacation Budget Go Further

One of the biggest benefits of traveling during a slower period is value.

Accommodation rates can be more affordable outside of major holidays, school breaks, and other high-demand dates. Depending on availability and the length of your stay, you may also find opportunities to save on extended stays. That difference can really add up! Instead of putting most of your budget toward accommodations, you may have more to spend on snorkeling excursions, a sunset cruise, a memorable dinner, a guided adventure, or even an extra night or two.

Those extra nights can make a difference. The Big Island is enormous, with dramatically different landscapes from Kona to Hilo and from South Kona to North Kohala. More time means less rushing from one attraction to another.

Enjoy Quieter Beaches

The Big Island has some spectacular beaches, and visiting during a slower period can make them even more enjoyable.

Popular spots such as Hāpuna Beach, Kua Bay, and Makalawena can feel considerably more relaxed when fewer visitors are competing for parking and space along the shoreline.

A quieter beach day gives you room to slow down, stay for sunset, spend another hour snorkeling, or pack a lunch and make an afternoon of it.

Explore the Hiking Trails

If you’d rather explore on foot, the Big Island offers an incredible variety of trails.

You can cross ancient lava fields, walk through lush rainforest, descend toward dramatic coastlines, or explore the volcanic landscapes around Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Pololū Valley and the trails around Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau offer completely different scenery and experiences.

Visiting when fewer people are on the trails can make these outings especially peaceful. You may find yourself with long stretches of quiet where you can take in the landscape at your own pace.

Look Beyond the Usual Tourist Stops

The Big Island rewards travelers who leave some room for discovery.

Spend an afternoon exploring Hawi and Kapaʻau in North Kohala, where you’ll find local shops, galleries, and restaurants. Visit Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site to learn about Hawaiian history, or head toward Waimea and experience the island’s paniolo — Hawaiian cowboy — country.

You can also explore the Kona Coffee Belt by visiting a local farm and learning how coffee is grown, processed, and roasted.

When evening arrives, look up. Away from the brighter coastal areas, Hawaiʻi Island offers remarkable opportunities for stargazing when conditions are right.

These smaller experiences can make a trip feel personal rather than predictable.

Leave Room for Spontaneity

Peak travel periods often require careful planning. Popular restaurants fill up, tours reach capacity, and highly sought-after activities can have limited availability.

During quieter periods, you may have more flexibility to decide what you want to do once you’re here.

Maybe you planned a beach day but discover a hiking trail you’d rather explore. Perhaps someone recommends a restaurant you’ve never heard of. Or maybe you simply want to spend the afternoon driving the coast without a strict itinerary.

That flexibility is one of the underrated benefits of visiting during the off-peak season.

Stay Longer. Experience More.

An off-peak vacation isn’t simply about finding a cheaper place to stay. It’s about getting more from the money and time you invest in your trip.

Potentially lower accommodation rates can leave more room in your budget for experiences, while less congestion and fewer scheduling pressures can make the entire vacation more relaxed.

Plan Your Big Island Escape

If you’re flexible with your travel dates, consider visiting during September, late October, or April through May. You may find that traveling during these slower periods allows you to stay longer, spend smarter, and experience more. Explore the vacation homes available through Big Island Stays and find your home base for your next Hawaiʻi adventure.

Browse our vacation rentals and start planning your Big Island getaway at bigislandstays.com.

Your Hawaiʻi vacation doesn’t have to wait for the busy season.

Planning a Big Island getaway for Thanksgiving weekend? Looking for something fun and different to do while you’re here? Whether you’re an experienced golfer or someone who only occasionally picks up a club, late November offers a great opportunity to get outside. Enjoy the beautiful Kohala Coast, and meet some of the people who make Hawaiʻi Island such a special place.

On Saturday, November 28, 2026, the Hawaiʻi Team Community Impact Golf Tournament will take place at Mauna Lani Golf Course. The tournament is more than a day on the course—it is a platform for philanthropy and collective giving, uniting the community around causes that create real, lasting change.

You don’t have to be a serious golfer to join in. The scramble format makes this a relaxed and social way to enjoy a round, making it especially welcoming for casual and beginner golfers. You’ll play as a team, enjoy the course, and take part in a day focused on fun and community rather than competition.

This year’s event benefits Autism Moms of Kona and Full Life Hawaiʻi, two organizations providing programs ranging from early intervention and family support to employment opportunities, independent living skills, recreation, and community integration.

Golfers can register individually or as a foursome. Early-bird pricing is $225 per golfer or $700 per foursome, with standard pricing at $250 per golfer or $800 per foursome. Registration includes green fees, a golf cart, lunch, tournament contests, an awards reception, and a swag bag.

Visiting the Big Island over Thanksgiving? Turn your vacation into more than a getaway. Enjoy a beautiful round of golf, connect with the local community, and support two organizations making a difference right here on Hawaiʻi Island.

Make a trip of it! Stay along the Kohala Coast, enjoy the beaches, restaurants, golf courses, and attractions that make this part of the island so special—and make the Community Impact Golf Tournament part of your Thanksgiving weekend. Browse Big Island Stays’ vacation homes and book your November getaway directly at bigislandstays.com.

Looking for a Big Island vacation that combines beautiful beaches, incredible dining, shopping, and a relaxed island atmosphere? Mauna Lani is hard to beat. Located along the sunny Kohala Coast, this beloved resort community offers everything you need for an unforgettable Hawaii getaway—without feeling like you have to choose between relaxation and adventure.

One of Mauna Lani’s many highlights is the Mauna Lani Beach Club. Tucked along a protected cove, the Beach Club offers calm, clear water that is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying a relaxing day by the ocean. After a morning in the water, grab lunch or a refreshing drink nearby and settle into the slower pace of island life.

Mauna Lani also makes it easy to enjoy plenty of shopping, dining, and everyday conveniences without leaving the area. The open-air Shops at Mauna Lani features boutiques, island-inspired clothing, coffee, restaurants, and Foodland Farms, making it easy to pick up everything from fresh poke and local treats to groceries for your vacation rental.

For golf enthusiasts, Mauna Lani is home to two exceptional 18-hole courses, each offering a completely different experience. The North Course winds through ancient lava fields, creating a dramatic and challenging setting unlike almost anywhere else in Hawaii. The rugged lava landscape, natural surroundings, and strategic layout make every round memorable. The South Course offers a more open coastal experience, with sweeping ocean views and beautiful fairways that showcase the Kohala Coast. Whether you’re looking for a challenging round or simply want to play golf surrounded by some of Hawaii’s most spectacular scenery, Mauna Lani delivers.For those eager to explore beyond the resort, Mauna Lani’s convenient location makes it an excellent base for discovering the rest of the Big Island.

Finally, staying in one of the complexes within the Mauna Lani community comes with plenty of perks. A fully stocked condo offers extra space to relax, a kitchen for preparing meals and snacks, laundry facilities, convenient parking, and all the comforts of home—making it easy to enjoy Hawaii at your own pace.

Ready to make Mauna Lani your next island escape? Explore our vacation rentals and save when you book directly with us at bigislandstays.com.

There’s much more to Hawaiʻi Island than beautiful beaches, dramatic volcanoes, and unforgettable sunsets. The island is also home to an incredible variety of wildlife, from ancient sea turtles and playful dolphins to majestic humpback whales and rare native birds.

One of the best parts of exploring the Big Island is that many wildlife encounters happen naturally. You don’t necessarily need to visit a zoo or wildlife park. A drive along the coast, a morning snorkeling adventure, or a hike through the island’s forests can put you surprisingly close to some of Hawaiʻi’s most fascinating animals.

Here are some of the best places to look for wildlife during your visit.

🐢 Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles — Honu

The Hawaiian green sea turtle, or honu, is one of the island’s most iconic residents. These gentle animals can frequently be seen resting on beaches, basking on rocks, or swimming through shallow coastal waters. Some of the best places to look for honu include Kahaluʻu Beach Park near Kailua-Kona, Hōnaunau Bay, and Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach on the southern coast. Punaluʻu is particularly famous for turtles resting along the shoreline. Remember to keep a respectful distance and never touch or feed them.

🐋 Humpback Whales — Koholā

If your trip takes place during whale season, be sure to spend some time watching the ocean. Humpback whales typically visit Hawaiʻi’s waters during the winter months, generally from late November through early May. The Kohala Coast, Kawaihae, and the waters around Hilo Bay can provide opportunities to spot these enormous visitors. Look for the telltale blow of a whale, followed by a tail or, if you’re lucky, a spectacular breach. For an even closer experience, consider booking a whale-watching excursion during the season.

🐬 Spinner Dolphins — Naiʻa

Hawaiʻi Island’s Kona Coast is also home to pods of spinner dolphins, known for their incredible leaps and spins above the water. Kealakekua Bay is one of the island’s best-known areas for dolphin encounters. Early-morning boat tours and snorkeling excursions can provide opportunities to see dolphins traveling through the bay and surrounding waters. While it can be tempting to get close, responsible wildlife viewing means allowing dolphins to choose the distance and direction of the encounter.

🌊 Manta Rays — Kona Coast

Few Big Island wildlife experiences compare to seeing manta rays glide through the water at night. The waters off Kona and Keauhou are internationally known for nighttime manta encounters. These enormous, graceful animals gather in areas where plankton becomes concentrated, creating an incredible feeding spectacle. Guests often watch from boats or specially arranged viewing areas as manta rays effortlessly swim beneath them. Despite their impressive size, manta rays are gentle creatures and pose little threat to swimmers when encountered responsibly.

🪿 Nēnē — Hawaiʻi’s State Bird

The nēnē, or Hawaiian goose, is Hawaiʻi’s official state bird and one of the island’s most special native species. Nēnē can be found in a variety of environments, including volcanic landscapes, grasslands, and higher-elevation areas. Visitors exploring Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and other upland areas may have an opportunity to see them. If you spot one, slow down and give it plenty of room. Nēnē sometimes wander onto roads, so drivers should be especially cautious.

🦇 Hawaiian Hoary Bat — ʻŌpeʻapeʻa

Hawaiʻi Island is also home to one of its more elusive creatures: the Hawaiian hoary bat, known as ʻŌpeʻapeʻa. It is Hawaiʻi’s only native land mammal and can sometimes be seen flying around forests, agricultural areas, and rural landscapes around dusk. Because the bat is nocturnal and relatively elusive, sightings aren’t guaranteed—but keeping an eye on the sky around sunset may pay off.

🐦 Native Forest Birds

For visitors willing to travel into the island’s higher elevations, Hawaiʻi Island offers opportunities to see some of Hawaiʻi’s rare native forest birds. Areas around Mauna Kea, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, and other protected upland forests can provide habitat for native species such as the ʻapapane and ʻamakihi. Some areas require special access or reservations, so check ahead before visiting.

🌺 Explore Responsibly

Wildlife encounters are one of the great pleasures of visiting Hawaiʻi Island, but protecting these animals is everyone’s responsibility. When observing wildlife, maintain a safe distance, never feed or touch animals, and avoid chasing or surrounding them. Stay on designated trails and follow posted regulations, particularly in protected areas. Most importantly, bring your camera—but leave the wildlife exactly where you found it. From snorkeling with tropical fish in Kona to spotting a sea turtle on a black-sand beach, watching whales along the Kohala Coast, or searching for native birds in the mountains, Hawaiʻi Island offers an incredible variety of wildlife experiences.

Best Regards
– The Big Island Stays Team

Aloha, travelers!

Have a Big Island vacation planned for late August, September, or October? Keep those bags packed! While tropical storms and hurricanes may be a natural part of life in the Pacific, significant impacts to Hawaiʻi are relatively uncommon. For most visitors, these months offer exactly what they came to Hawaii for—beautiful beaches, warm ocean water, sunny days, outdoor adventures, and plenty of aloha. And even when a tropical system does pass through the islands, its effects can vary greatly from one side of Hawaiʻi Island to another.

Hurricane Lala was a good reminder of that. In mid-August, Lala strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane as it approached Hawaiʻi Island, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, flooding, and power outages. The storm passed just south of the Big Island without making direct landfall, but some communities—particularly in southern and eastern areas—experienced significant impacts.

Here on the Kohala Coast and in the Kona area, things are already getting back to normal. Roads and businesses are reopening, power has been restored across much of the island, and visitors can once again enjoy many of the experiences that make the Big Island such a special destination. The areas that experienced the greatest damage are concentrated in other parts of the island, and recovery efforts continue there.

If you’re traveling to Hawaii between late August and October, there’s no reason to automatically cancel your plans. The Big Island is a large island with dramatically different microclimates, and a weather system affecting one area doesn’t necessarily mean your entire vacation will be disrupted. The sunny, leeward Kohala Coast and Kona side are known for their generally drier conditions, while the island’s mountains and windward areas create very different weather patterns.

Of course, it’s always smart to keep an eye on the forecast as your travel dates approach. If a tropical system develops, follow local guidance and be flexible with outdoor activities. But don’t let the possibility of tropical weather keep you from enjoying your Hawaii vacation.

Your Big Island vacation is still on! If you’re planning a trip to Kona, the Kohala Coast, or anywhere else on Hawaiʻi Island, we’d love to have you here. Explore our collection of Big Island vacation rentals and book your stay directly with Big Island Stays at bigislandstays.com.

Come for the beaches, stay for the aloha—and don’t let a little uncertainty about the weather keep you from experiencing the Big Island.

Thinking about traveling to Hawaii during Ironman? Whether you’re competing, supporting a racer, traveling with family, or simply looking for an unforgettable time to visit the Big Island, Ironman week offers a truly unique way to experience Kona.

Kona takes on a completely different feel during race week. Athletes from around the world arrive alongside their families, friends, and supporters, creating an energy you won’t experience at any other time of year. You can watch some of the world’s best endurance athletes compete, cheer along the course, explore Kona between events, and experience the excitement throughout town. Even if you’re not racing, being part of the crowd is a great way to feel connected to the event.

One of the biggest challenges of visiting during Ironman is finding accommodations. Hotels and vacation rentals can fill quickly. Finding availability that works for your group, and provides the sleeping arrangements you need, can become especially difficult as race day approaches. If you’re traveling with a support crew, family, friends, or another racer, having enough space to comfortably sleep and unwind is important. A private vacation rental can provide a convenient home base where you can prepare meals, relax, and recharge between all the activities.

If you have not yet booked your stay in Kona, we have great news! Big Island Stays still has properties available for the Ironman timeframe. We offer a variety of vacation homes that can accommodate couples, families, and groups, giving you more options for finding the right fit for your stay.

Whether you’re here to race, cheer, or experience Kona during one of its most exciting weeks of the year, don’t wait to secure your accommodations.

Explore our available vacation rentals and book directly at bigislandstays.com

Planning a Big Island getaway for 2026 and beyond? There’s more to booking a vacation rental than finding the right view, the perfect beach, or the best price. Where and how you book your stay can make a big difference in your overall experience.

With so many ways to reserve a vacation rental, it can be difficult to know which option offers the best combination of value, support, and peace of mind. Here’s a look at the three most common ways travelers book short-term vacation rentals in Hawaii.

 

Option 1: The Big Online Travel Sites

Platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com are familiar to most travelers, and there’s no denying the convenience. You can browse hundreds of properties, compare prices, read reviews, and book everything in one place.

The tradeoff is that convenience can come with additional fees. Service and booking fees can increase the final cost of your reservation, sometimes significantly. And while these platforms provide customer support, you’re generally communicating through a large, centralized system rather than with a team that knows the property — or the island — firsthand.

If something unexpected happens during your stay, having someone local who knows the home and can respond quickly can make all the difference.

 

Option 2: Booking Directly With an Individual Owner

Another option is booking directly with a homeowner who manages their own vacation rental.

This can provide a more personal experience, but it also varies from property to property. Some owners are highly responsive and know their homes and communities extremely well. Others may manage their rental from off-island or only be available during certain hours.

The biggest consideration is what happens if you need help during your stay. When there’s only one person behind the booking, there may not be a larger team available to step in when something unexpected comes up.

 

Option 3: Booking Directly With a Local Property Management Company

For many travelers, direct booking with an established local property management company offers a balance between the convenience of a professional operation and the personal attention of a local team. You’d be booking from a local vacation rental management company with a portfolio of professionally managed properties throughout the island. From the moment you book until the moment you head home, there’s a team behind your reservation, your property, and your stay.

 

Why Consider Booking Direct?

 

Your Hawaii Vacation Starts With How You Book

Choosing a vacation rental isn’t just about finding a beautiful home. It’s about knowing who is behind the reservation and who you’ll be able to turn to if you need help.

When you book directly with Big Island Stays, you get more than a place to sleep. You get a local team, professionally managed vacation homes, and people who are here to help make your Big Island experience a great one.

To make booking direct even more desirable, we are now offering 10% off your stay!

Use promo code DIRECTSTAY to receive 10% off any booking made between now and January 1, 2027.

Skip the extra guesswork, save 10%, and start your Hawaii vacation with confidence.

Explore our collection of Big Island vacation rentals and book directly at BigIslandStays.com.

Mahalo, and we’ll see you on the island!

Let’s be honest — every Hawaiian island is gorgeous. But if you’re trying to pick just one, the Big Island makes it kind of unfair for the others.

Oʻahu gives you a city. Maui gives you a resort. Kauaʻi gives you a garden. The Big Island? It gives you all of it — a snow-capped summit, an active volcano, a rainforest, a desert, and a coral reef, sometimes in the same afternoon. You don’t have to choose a vibe before you book. You just show up and let the island surprise you.

It’s also the only island still being made. Kīlauea has spent decades quietly adding new land along the coast, and you can actually walk across lava flows that didn’t exist a generation ago. It’s one thing to read about how these islands were formed — it’s another to watch it happening in real time.

Size-wise, it’s bigger than every other Hawaiian island combined, but with way fewer crowds than Oʻahu or Maui. That means beaches and trails here still feel like your own little discovery instead of a spot you’re sharing with a tour bus.

Drive two hours and the whole landscape changes: black lava desert near Kona, rolling green pastures around Waimea, waterfalls near Hilo, and alpine tundra way up on Mauna Kea — whose summit sits above 40% of the atmosphere, making it one of the best stargazing spots anywhere on Earth.

Throw in Kona coffee farms, manta ray night dives, and a laid-back pace that rewards wandering, and you’ve got an island that’s less “checklist vacation” and more “why would I go anywhere else.”

Ready to see it for yourself? Plan your trip at bigislandstays.com

Ask anyone who lives here and you’ll hear the same thing: fall is when the Kona Coast is at its best. The summer rush eases, Aliʻi Drive settles into a slower rhythm, and the ocean stays warm and glassy long after the mainland has traded shorts for sweaters. Mornings are made for coffee on the lanai and a quiet snorkel before the crowds arrive. Evenings belong to those long, golden Kona sunsets that seem to last forever.

It’s also, quietly, the smartest time to come. Rates soften, calendars open up, and the whole coast feels a little more like it belongs to you. Manta rays still glide through Keauhou Bay after dark. The reef fish at Kahaluʻu are as vivid as ever. And you can actually get a table at your favorite spot in town.

To make it easy, we’ve hand-picked four of our favorite Kona stays for the season — and we’re taking 10% off each one this fall when you book with code GETAWAY.

Kona Makai 3305 — A top-floor, two-bedroom retreat with ocean views from both lanais, just up the road from Kailua Pier. Sleeps six, with a pool, hot tub, oceanfront sunning deck, and tennis courts on site. Room to spread out for a family or two couples.

Aliʻi Villas 229 — A beautifully upgraded, two-bedroom oceanfront villa with shoreline access and one of the best kitchens on Aliʻi Drive. Five minutes from downtown Kailua-Kona and steps from the water — perfect for couples or a small family who like to be close to the action.

Aliʻi Villas 236 — Ocean views from both bedrooms, a big, breezy lanai built for morning coffee, and natural trade-wind cooling right on the Ironman course. Single-level and easy, five minutes from town. A laid-back base for beach days and coastal walks.

Keauhou Punahele C103 — A top-floor two-bedroom with year-round ocean and sunset views, brand-new AC, and a lanai with a BBQ overlooking the green. Minutes from Keauhou Bay’s manta dives and Kahaluʻu’s snorkeling. Sunset lovers and water people, this one’s for you.

Fall dates are already filling up. Pick your favorite, use code GETAWAY for 10% off, and we’ll see you on the Kona Coast.

Aloha, angler! There’s something special about the water here in Kona — calm, clear, and generous with what it offers. Thanks to a steep drop-off just offshore, you can be trolling for marlin in 100 fathoms within minutes of leaving the harbor. Below you’ll find our top-rated charter picks, favorite shore spots, and what to know before you try spearfishing.

Book a Charter

If you want the classic big-game experience — reels screaming, a mate hollering “fish on,” and a real shot at something enormous on the end of your line — a charter is the way to go. Here are three of the best-reviewed crews in Kona:

Reel Escapes Hawaii – A guest favorite for private trips, with visitors regularly landing blue marlin, ono, and mahi mahi alongside a hands-on crew that preps your catch dockside.

High Noon Sportfishing – Captain Dee Bradford has run these waters since 1990, earning a decade of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence and top ratings on Yelp. A simple flat rate books the whole boat, no license needed, and you keep what you catch.

Konadice Sportfishing – Year-round trips targeting blue and striped marlin, ahi, ono, and giant trevally, with a crew known for sharing decades of local knowledge with every group.

Tip: Half-day trips (4–5 hours) are common and often plenty of time to hook something, since the fishing grounds are so close to shore.

Best Shore Fishing Spots

No boat? No problem at all. Some of our favorite Kona fishing memories didn’t happen offshore — they happened standing on a lava rock ledge at sunrise with a rod and a thermos of coffee. Shore fishing here is relaxed, low-cost, and still puts you within reach of some genuinely exciting catches. Here are a few spots worth trying:

Early mornings and late afternoons tend to be the sweet spot, when the light is soft and the fish are more active near shore. Just remember that as a visitor, you’ll need a non-resident saltwater fishing license, which is quick and inexpensive to grab online through the state’s DAR site before you head out.

Spearfishing in Kona

If you’re the type who likes to be right in the water with your catch rather than reeling it in from above, spearfishing might be the most memorable thing you do all trip. Kona is considered one of the best spearfishing destinations in the entire Pacific, thanks to warm, clear water and healthy reef life close to shore. Visitors are welcome to dive under the exact same rules as residents, so there’s no special permit standing between you and your first dive:

However you choose to spend your time on the water — trolling for marlin, casting from the rocks at sunrise, or diving down for your own dinner — we hope Kona gives you a story worth telling when you get home. Tight lines and see you on the water!

– Big Island Stays team

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