Surf and Turf: Swimming, Snorkeling, and Easy Hiking on Hawaii Island

Day 1: Please arrive at the Kailua-Kona international airport by early afternoon on the first day of the trip. You will be driven to our accommodations above Kona, Hawaii where you can relax and recover from traveling. The first meal served at the guesthouse is dinner. After dinner we will have our short orientation meeting.

Day 2: After an island breakfast, we head to a local dive shop where we can rent snorkel gear (bring your own if you have it). With gear in hand, we will explore easy snorkeling opportunities in Kona. If we are lucky, we will see a honu (green sea turtle) swimming in the shallows chewing on limu (seaweed). We will return home for lunch and freshen up from snorkeling.

Day 3: Today we visit a coffee plantation on the side of Hualalai Volcano and do some general exploring of the Kona area. Be prepared for rain as we will be in a rain forest. We will return home for a light dinner and then head for our manta ray night snorkel. Think plankton and manta ballet!

Day 4: Today, we will graduate to deeper water snorkeling and head for Two-Step beach near Pu’uhonua O Honaunau (City of Refuge). We will start with a hike along the 2-mile 1871 Trail, also known as the Two Horse Trail (trail improvements allowed two horses to pass one another). This ancient trail has a wealth of archaeological remains, including structures, temples, and even an ancient ramp that provides access to the cliffs of Keanae’e. After we hike and eat our sack lunches, we will cool down in gorgeous blue water at Two-Step. Dolphins may be sleeping nearby, so be careful not to disturb them. We will return home for showers and dinner.

Day 5: Today brings us to our exciting boat trip to beautiful Kealakekua Bay and a fabulous snorkeling experience in the waters near the Captain James Cook Monument. The area is famous not only for its history, but for its beautiful reefs that offer an underwater paradise and amazing snorkeling opportunities.

Day 6: An early start will take us to another favorite local beach, Ho’okena, about 35 miles south of Kona beaches. We will bring lunch and eat at the picnic tables. Showers are warm, so we can clean off before the next adventure. After our snorkel, we will head for the South Kona Fruit Stand and sample some of their smoothies and Kona coffee.

Day 7: We begin today early with a service project day. We join The Nature Conservancy for a tour and volunteer work at Kiholo Fishponds (some of the largest fishponds on Hawaii). Much of this bay was once a Hawaiian fishpond built in 1820 by King Kamehameha I. Its boundaries were 2 miles long and its rock walls were 6 feet tall and 20 feet wide. In 1859, a lava flow from the Mauna Loa volcano reached Kiholo Bay and destroyed the southern portion of the ancient fishpond and created the beautiful lagoon we see today. Our experience will include a beach walk, possible snorkel, and visit to the turtles that sun themselves on lava rocks. After a shared potluck lunch, we will head to a local nearby snorkel beach.

Day 8: Sadly, this is our last full day together. We will head north to the most popular beach on the island, Hapuna. If you don’t feel like swimming, sunning, or snorkeling, we will hike along a historic trail toward the Mauna Kea Hotel. After we get our fill of snorkeling and hiking, we will spend our last evening together at a celebration dinner (price included) in Kona.

Day 9: This last day we will breakfast together, then you will be transported to the airport.

Snorkel sites and hikes are subject to change depending on conditions. Being flexible and on “island time” will make this an amazing outing.

Getting There

Air travel to and from Kona Airport will be your responsibility. The group will be picked up at the airport on day one and transported to our accommodations. After breakfast on day eight the group will be transported back to Kona Airport.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying in beautiful accommodations above Kona with gorgeous ocean views. They are fully equipped with laundry and bathrooms. There are two main sleeping areas for participants, each with 5-6 beds (single and king beds are available). Bed linens and towels are provided.

We plan to “eat local” as much as possible. Participants should come prepared to experience the eclectic cuisine of the Hawaiian Islands that reflect the original Polynesian peoples who migrated here. As is typical of Sierra Club outings we will take turns in helping to prepare the meals as well as clean up afterward. This trip can provide omnivore, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.

Trip Difficulty

Our day hikes will be generally short with little elevation gain, but all trails can sometimes be slippery either due to wet or sandy conditions. In addition, we will sometimes be walking on lava rock. Walking shoes with good support and traction are required. Keep in mind that due to humidity, heat, and trail surfaces, a 2-mile hike in Hawaii would be equivalent to a 4-mile hike at home.

Equipment and Clothing

Dress on the Hawaiian Islands is casual at all times, so pack lightly. A couple of swimsuits, cover-up, waking shorts, flip flops (in Hawaiian, they're slippers) and comfortable clothing are essential. (A full pack list will be sent upon your approval to participate on the trip.) A small daypack to carry snacks and a water supply to the beach and on our hikes is recommended. 

References

• https://sierraclubhawaii.org/
• https://content.sierraclub.org/grassrootsnetwork/teams/sierra-club-hawaii
• http://content.sierraclub.org/outings/critical-bird-habitat-restoration-mauna-kea-big-island-hawaii 

Conservation

The real purpose of Sierra Club Outings, which began in 1901, is to follow John Muir’s example of bringing more people into the fold of protecting the earth’s ecology. Muir wrote, “If people could be got into the woods, even for once, to hear the trees speak for themselves, all difficulties in the way of forest preservation would vanish.”

This trip will focus on environmental issues that pertain to Hawaii Island in hopes that this will increase participants’ awareness as well as translate into action they can take back home.

On several evenings we will discuss Sierra Club history, public lands background, the challenges they face, and what the Sierra Club is doing to protect them.

“How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! To behold this alone is worth the pains of any excursion a thousand times over." – John Muir

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.