Hawaii - big island - with teens

[Anonymous]

We’re going to the big island in late May with two teen boys. We’re staying at the Fairmont Orchid

Please recommend your favorite activities and food.

[Anonymous]

Night snorkel with the manta rays. One of the top experiences I've had ever, not just in Hawaii.

We thought driving out to the observatory for an astronomy program was very worth it and I'll do it again when we go back, but it's a very long drive and it's cold as heck up there.

[Anonymous]

I haven't been since I was a kid but I loved glass bottom boats, orchid farms, and Polynesian dance shows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Night snorkel with the manta rays. One of the top experiences I've had ever, not just in Hawaii.

We thought driving out to the observatory for an astronomy program was very worth it and I'll do it again when we go back, but it's a very long drive and it's cold as heck up there.

+1 on manta ray night swimming. Buddah's Coffee farm was pretty neat - coffee and a farm tour. We also rented a private catamaran and sailed one day.

[Anonymous]

Here's my post. You can let me know if you have any specific Qs:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1176359.page

[Anonymous]

If a strong swimmer, swimming off Captain Cook.

[Anonymous]

One of my favorite hotels ever OP.

Sunset is amazing.

Vanilla Farm tour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Night snorkel with the manta rays. One of the top experiences I've had ever, not just in Hawaii.

We thought driving out to the observatory for an astronomy program was very worth it and I'll do it again when we go back, but it's a very long drive and it's cold as heck up there.

Is that safe, do they sting?

[Anonymous]

My tween loved the manta rays and it was a lifetime highlight for her (I was uncomfortably cold, myself).

Book two nights at the Volcano Inn inside the national park so that you can stay there all day / see volcanic activity at night if there is any.

Snorkeling off various beaches in Kona, and also in the lagoon at Hilton Waikaloa (day pass). The paid snorkeling trip to Captain Cook unfortunately had cloudy water the last two times we've been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Night snorkel with the manta rays. One of the top experiences I've had ever, not just in Hawaii.

We thought driving out to the observatory for an astronomy program was very worth it and I'll do it again when we go back, but it's a very long drive and it's cold as heck up there.

Is that safe, do they sting?

DP, they cannot sting. The tour puts you in a short wetsuit and has you hang onto a light bar that the rays come to because it attracts plankton. There is no free swimming with the snorkel (vs scuba) and no touching the animals of course. You just hang there while they swim by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Night snorkel with the manta rays. One of the top experiences I've had ever, not just in Hawaii.

We thought driving out to the observatory for an astronomy program was very worth it and I'll do it again when we go back, but it's a very long drive and it's cold as heck up there.

Is that safe, do they sting?

They don't sting. These are manta rays -- very gentle. You are thinking of stingrays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My tween loved the manta rays and it was a lifetime highlight for her (I was uncomfortably cold, myself).

Book two nights at the Volcano Inn inside the national park so that you can stay there all day / see volcanic activity at night if there is any.

Snorkeling off various beaches in Kona, and also in the lagoon at Hilton Waikaloa (day pass). The paid snorkeling trip to Captain Cook unfortunately had cloudy water the last two times we've been.

We did this. Very worth it.

[Anonymous]

If you can get a night tour to the mountain to look at stars, it’s really worth it. You also could just drive there without a tour but it was very dark on the roads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Night snorkel with the manta rays. One of the top experiences I've had ever, not just in Hawaii.

We thought driving out to the observatory for an astronomy program was very worth it and I'll do it again when we go back, but it's a very long drive and it's cold as heck up there.

Is that safe, do they sting?

DP, they cannot sting. The tour puts you in a short wetsuit and has you hang onto a light bar that the rays come to because it attracts plankton. There is no free swimming with the snorkel (vs scuba) and no touching the animals of course. You just hang there while they swim by.

When I did it we didn't hang on anything and we did swim. They put a light down on the ocean floor, which was maybe 20' or so down, maybe a bit farther down, a short swim from the boat, and the rays came to the light. We were in wetsuits with snorkel gear floating on the surface of the water in a circle looking down. The rays would glide from the ocean floor up to the surface, brushing against us -- it was wild and wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Puako Petroglyphs are near the Orchid, you can walk over or drive or take the shuttle. Ask desk staff for directions.
There is a hike from the parking lot at Holoholokai Beach Park to the glyphs. Wear good shoes like sneakers not slippers because there are rocks and thorns.
They are wonderful. Take water.
https://bigislandhikes.com/puako-petroglyph-district