HAWAII BLOG FEBRUARY 5th, 2026 - HAWAII BIG ISLAND

 

2/5/26– A restful night with a comfy bed and the place stayed nice and cool. What more can you ask for? With the time difference we get up around 8am but still feeling groggy. It takes a few hours before we are ready to leave and luckily it’s to a place we both are very excited about.

Takes only ten minutes to Kahalu’u Beach Park for snorkeling. According to what we read, this is one of the better places to go to for clear water and to see plenty of fish. Parking is $12 at the venue, but luckily we find street parking for free right across the street. Already a win.

We grab our beach chairs and snorkel gear (courtesy of our AirBnb host) and prepare to find shade on the black sand beach when we notice they have a covered area with tables. Forget the chairs as this looks much more inviting and secure.

We take a few photos and toss the nerf around (who knew she could throw) before putting our masks on and head for the water. We’re a bit nervous about the tide at first as not many people are actually in the water, but after talking with the lifeguard it sounds like it will be decent, albeit a strong current every now and then.

Putting our fins on in the water is a bit of a challenge as the tide changes directions, almost sending me to the rocks, but it’s not long before we’re swimming along with a nice 78 degree water temp. Immediately we see fish swimming around but it’s not until we get further out into the depths that we encounter schools of all colors whizzing through the current and feeding on the reef. 

It’s a fun time but after awhile our muscles feel the pull and we head to shore. We were hoping to see a sea turtle today but it’s not to be. We did see a dude... on a surfboard... while sitting in a chair. All that was missing was a cooler of beer.

Feeling hungry, we stop at our AirBnb to change clothes and head back to the airport for our new rental agreement (grabbing some hamburgers along the way). We ended up having two reservations for our rental car (one for a day and the other for the remaining). Why you ask, well let me tell you… cost. To rent a car for the entire trip would cost double than to have two separate reservations for the same amount of time. Didn’t make sense before and still doesn’t now but that’s what we did.

Afterwards, we stop to see the historic town of Kona. Not much here but a few shops lining the strip, but it’s something to do for about an hour with free parking.

Now it’s time to once again go back to our hotel for a few hours to rest up for our night adventure. Shortly before 6pm we drive to Dolphin Discoveries to check-in, grab some gear and then head over to Keauhou Bay. It’s a bit nerve racking trying to find the place with a time limit but we catch our boat in time to night snorkel with manta rays. You heard me right.

We are taken out into the open water, drop from the edge of the boat and grab onto a floating pontoon. A blue light illuminates us as we all look below for a sighting, all the while holding on for dear life as the waves rock us.

It takes five minutes or so but soon a manta ray swoops underneath. Not long after another joins and literally swims right up to me, bony mouth open and all. I thought it was about to attack so I just kept filming. I mean, might as well document while I can. What an epic show they put on and a complete must do for anyone given the chance.

After about thirty minutes, we climb back into the boat just as my stomach starts to feel queasy (most likely from all the waves). Luckily I don't feel sick but the nausea does last until we get back to our AirBnb.