From active volcanoes and massive waterfalls to rainforest hikes and black sand beaches, your Hawaii family vacation will be full of adventure, with memories made together in paradise. Whether you stay at our Volcano vacation rental for a few nights or a week (there’s so much to see and do!), these outings will surely be memorable for your kids, and everyone in the family will love exploring the beauty of the Big Island.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
It’s one thing for your kids to read about volcanoes in their science lessons at school, but nothing compares to peering over the edge of the crater of Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano. And there’s no more convenient location near the volcanic action than our Airbnb in Volcano, as our family-friendly accommodations are only four miles from the sprawling park’s main attractions. Take the kids for a tour at the visitor center, where they can meet park rangers, look at maps, and get acquainted with the natural wonders around them. Visit the Volcanoes National Park website for current lava flow.
You may luck out and see lava churning in the caldera, a truly unforgettable experience. But even if lava isn’t currently visible, the volcanic steam vents are easily accessible, and it’s like a real-life science experiment, where your kids can see and feel the heat of the volcano-adjacent steam rising through cracks near the trail. They will also love the underground adventure through the Nahuku Thurston lava tube, which extends over 600 feet through hollowed-out earth and is unlike anywhere else in the park.
Before you visit, have your kids do the online virtual tour of the national park – they will learn about Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes; the geology of Kilauea’s crater; and how past eruptions shaped the land around Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
Umauma Experience
Take a one-hour day trip north from Volcano Village to Hakalua for an afternoon of exhilarating fun on the out-of-this-world zip lines which go around and over the majestic Umauma Falls. Far from your average theme park rides, their nine zip lines, stretching over 2 miles total, extend over the flowing water and through the lush rainforest. Children aged four and up with a minimum weight of 35 lbs can ride the zip lines, and guides assure safety while showing respect for Hawaiian nature and heritage. There’s no more exciting way to see the gorgeous Big Island landscape than from high above, riding a dual zip line with your kids and everyone having an absolute blast!
On the way back to Volcano, stop in Hilo for Cafe Pesto’s world-famous pizza (it’s no exaggeration, as they were on the Food Channel in 2021). If your kids want a simple cheese and marinara pie, they’ve got you covered, and the whole family will find something to love on their classic Italian and Hawaiian-inspired menu.
Rainbow Falls
The Big Island is a land of waterfalls, each as stunning as the next, and if you’ve promised your kids that they’ll get to see one of them up close, Rainbow Falls is your best bet. While some other waterfalls on this side of the Big Island are taller (Akaka Falls is over 400 feet), they are also more secluded and harder to reach. Rainbow Falls, on the other hand, is right in the middle of Hilo, easily accessible for even the youngest kids.
Visit the Hilo Farmers Market beforehand, where your kids can pick from the most delicious assortment of mangoes, guavas, and pineapples. Get some fresh poke bowls for everyone and have a family picnic near the waterfall, where you may even see a rainbow perched above the 80-foot waterfall during the late morning hours.
Volcano Art Center
An institution in Volcano Village for nearly 50 years, we are lucky to have one of the art center’s two outposts right down the road from 5th St Ohana. In addition to ongoing art shows and exhibitions, entertaining for kids and adults alike, their weeklong Liko A’e summer camp (from June 12-16) is a unique opportunity for your children to learn about Hawaiian culture while creating music, ceramics, paintings, and textile art with renowned teachers. Camp admission is $50 off through May 19th, and scholarships are available.
Every Monday at 9:30 am, the art center offers tours through their Niaulani rainforest property, which extends over four acres, with 200-year-old koa and ohia lehua trees. Your kids will learn about the importance of conservation, especially in a place like Hawaii, where native habitats come under pressure from invasive plant species. They’ll also see rare and endemic birds like the apapane honeycreeper and the Nene goose. Before you tour the forest, read the Art Center’s informative trail companion as a family and brush up on the area’s incredible history.
Punalu’u Beach and Punalu’u Bake Shop
When you tell your kids about a black sand beach with sea turtles lounging on the shore, it sounds so mystical that they may not believe you. But it’s a real place, only 30 miles south of Volcano at Punalu’u Beach. The black volcano-formed sand is unlike any other beach, and the “honu” green sea turtles have made it their sanctuary. Nowhere else on the planet can your kids see these magnificent creatures – they are native to Hawaii, grow to over four feet in length, and symbolize good luck in Hawaiian folklore. It’s also a family-friendly beach, with restroom facilities and a lifeguard often on duty.
After a beach play day that your family will remember forever, stop for tasty snacks at the nearby Punalu’u Bake Shop – famously the country’s southernmost bakery. Your kids will love trying authentic Hawaiian sweet bread (the apple cinnamon is a favorite) and Portuguese-style malasada donuts. Satisfy your sweet tooth and round it out with a selection of salads and sandwiches before enjoying the scenic drive back to Volcano.
Stay with us and escape to the Big Island with the whole family!
