Adventure Travel; "Into the Pacific"

Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, a free and fun destination, has been our go to site for hours of play and viewing the variety of animals. If just visiting the Big Island or living here with children, this zoo is perfect for a relaxing daytime outing. This site is the only tropical rainforest zoo in the entire United States and is located just four miles outside of Hilo! Although Pana'ewa is smaller in size than some, there are approximately 80 species of both tropical and endangered species, including the regal tigers (Siracha and Tzatziki), different species of monkeys, lemurs and other mammals, as well as numerous tropical birds, amphibians and reptiles. The Nene, the endangered Hawaii state bird, inhabits the zoo with other animal nomads such as peacocks, wild chickens and geese, which roam freely among visitors and animals alike. The playground in front of the pavilion and picnic area, offers a shaded seating area for parents to watch their keiki play safely. The...

Kalopa State Recreation Area Campground  During this month's camping trip, we not only traveled to Hapuna Beach and resided at the cabins, but to Kalopa State Park as well. As Hapuna Beach cabins are very popular, they are often booked and are hard to reserve for more than one night at a time. Therefore, another nice option, is to reserve at Kalopa State Recreation Area, as it is only a thirty minute drive up the hill past Waimea and has both cabins and campsites available. During this trip, we stayed at the camping shelters, a remote area with covered, aluminum roof camping spots and a pavilion with a grilling area, bathroom and even a shower. Although the water is very cold, a nice cold shower is a welcome ending to a hot day in the sun at Hapuna Beach! The kids enjoy camping immensely and for families looking for a reasonable and several day excursion to Hapuna Beach, this is a welcome option. Take a day at the cabins at Hapuna Beach, then for a nice c...

Every couple of months, we travel over to the Kona side and enjoy a beautiful, white sand oasis, known as Hapuna Beach Recreation Area. For visitors such as ourselves, seeking the entirely outdoor experience, we rent a cabin, nestled amongst several other cabins at the top of the hill. For thirty dollars local Kamaiina, or fifty dollars for non residents, one is treated to a rustic, cabin feel, each with a breathtaking ocean view! An air mattress is our main staple on this adventure, as the floors are concrete. However rustic, each cabin is clean, has a gorgeous view, showers and restrooms with your individual code, a main eating and recreation center, a full size stainless refrigerator, microwave, stove, pots, pans, countertops and dish detergent!  During the daytime hours, we spend the entire time at the white sand beach. The waves are the largest attraction for us, as well as other locals and visitors from around the world. As the hours and sun increase, one can escape to ...