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Hawaii is a tropical paradise that you don’t even need a passport to visit. For Americans, that is. But with tourists flooding the shores (and resorts) of Hawaii, serious cultural and ecological damage has been done to the islands. But if you travel immersively to Hawaii, you can be a part of the solution all while savoring the benefits of island life. Just follow our tips for immersive travel in Hawaii.
First, a little background.
Hawaiians aren’t too happy with Americans. I’m talking NATIVE Hawaiians not “locals” who were at one point from the mainland and decided to pick up and move to paradise. Native Hawaiians have slowly watched as their homeland has become a victim of gentrification. Of soaring home prices. Of being pushed out of the neighborhoods they grew up in. Tourism has unfortunately been a huge driver of that oppression.
This is one of the many reasons it’s exorbitantly important that we support native Hawaiians when we visit their homeland. After all, you shop local when you’re at home & support small businesses? Why wouldn’t you do the same when visiting another community.
But what exactly does “immersive travel in Hawaii” mean?
What is Immersive Travel?
Cultural travel. Experiential travel. It all translates to roughly the same thing. & in my personal opinion, it’s the best way to travel.
“Experiencing a destination through being there like a local. It means selecting a place to stay in a residential neighborhood, living like a local. It’s about the discovery process – selecting things to do, places to visit, food and drink, like a local would.”
Immersivetravel.net
I wrote an entire blog post detailing the benefits of immersive travel and why it’s important in today’s world of “easy” travel. Click the link to read more.
But how do you travel immersively in a destination that caters to all-inclusive resort-goers and time-share residents? That’s exactly what I’m here for.
What is the Least Touristy Island of Hawaii?
The three least touristy islands are Molokai, Lanai, and the Big Island. In terms, of development, they have the least. Lanai is a privately owned island that is difficult to get to so if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, I would focus on Molokai or the Big Island.
You can travel immersively on every island of Hawaii. From the bustling cities of Oahu to the verdant jungles of Maui. But choosing one of these lesser-visited islands makes it easier to get off-the-beaten-path and explore immersively.
Personally, I’ve only been to the Big Island of Hawaii (which is what I will cover in this guide). But many of these tips can apply to the Hawaiian islands in general.
Tips for Immersive Travel in Hawaii
Let’s dive right into the need-to-know tips about cultural travel in Hawaii.
1. Skip the resort and sleep local.
One of the easiest ways to support local communities is to sleep in them. You’ll be pulled out of the resort-zones and more likely to spend money in local communities.
Here are a few hotels on the big island owned by local families. Click the link to head to their websites.
Wild Ginger Inn Hotel & Hostel (Hilo, HI)
Uncle Billy’s (Kona, HI)
At the Crater’s Edge (Volcano, HI)
2. If you do stay in a resort or time-share…don’t spend your time there.
Sometimes you’ll be offered a deal too good to pass up. Like a family member offering you their time-share for example. Just be sure to eat and explore outside the resort zone. Because the money you spend there isn’t contributing to the local community at all.
3. Hire local guides.
When booking activities try to find local companies. This is relatively easy to do if you book things outside your resort. Avoid booking activities with the front desk.
4. Don’t forget to tip.
Tip those local guides too! Our deep sea fishing crew informed us that their wages hadn’t increased since 2000. Tips make up a huge part of their pay.
5. Eat local food.
As tempting as fancy resort meals can be, consider seeking out local food options instead. Here’s a list of dishes to look for while on the island.
- Loco Moco. Rice, beef patty, gravy, topped with a fried egg. Pure surfer food.
- Lau Lau. Steamed taro leaves wrapped tightly around a slab of tenderly steamed pork.
- Kalua Pig. Succulent and served all over. Often roasted whole over a fire pit.
- Malasadas. Fried Portuguese doughnuts sprinkled in sugar and filled with fresh fruit jams.
- Hawaiian Shaved Ice. Often paired with Mochi (another Japanese-influenced Hawaiian favorite) & fresh fruit juices. The ice is shaved thinly and is indulgently soft and smooth.
- Spam. In a Loco Moco, in Spam Musubi, or just as a stand-alone meat product.
- Lomi Lomi. A cold salmon and tomato salad often served as a side in traditional meals.
- Poke. Any kind of fresh fish. Ono, Ahi Ahi, Mahi Mahi, or Hapu’upu’u are common.
6. Road trip around the island and connect with nature.
Exploration is a great way to immerse yourself in the Hawaiian culture. Most of the tourist infrastructure on the Big Island is near Kona and the Northwest corner of the island. Venturing off-the-beaten-path will let you see a more authentic (and natural) side to the massive island.
If you’ve been here before you know we’re a big fan of road trips. We’ve road-tripped through Iceland, the villages of Laos, and built a campervan to explore every National Park in the United States. Road trips are a cheap way to really immerse yourself in a destination.
7. Interact with sea-life in an ethical way.
Hawaii’s vast underwater world is perhaps its biggest attraction. Although, the Big Island does have some impressive volcanoes (one even taller than Mount Everest!!) if that’s more your style.
Even if you’re not a diver (yet) the snorkeling in Hawaii is unrivaled anywhere in the United States. (Most of Florida’s reefs are sadly dead.) There are humpback whales, dolphins, manta rays, eagle rays, Moree eels, and so much more hidden beneath the surface. The Green sea turtles are commonly spotted underwater and sunning on Hawaii’s beaches.
Be sure to keep your distance from marine life in and out of the water.
Save the Reefs: Try to wear Reef Safe Sunscreen when you’re swimming in Hawaii. Be sure to buy a stronger SPF than you typically would. I use 50+ SPF when using the reef-safe creams. Also, I tried 8 different kinds of reef-safe sunscreen on my last trip abroad & my favorite BY FAR was Blue Lizard Sun Screen.
Things to do on the Big Island to Experience Immersive Travel in Hawaii
Let’s talk specifics. Here are some things to do (and eat) on the Big Island of Hawaii for more immersive travel in Hawaii.
Outdoorsy Activities on the Big Island
Immersive travel is about more than just getting to know the culture. It also has to do with getting to know the island. Hawaii is filled with beautiful natural wonders that you can explore on your own or with a local guide.
Visit Akaka Falls State Park
Near the town of Hilo, this thick jungled state park is home to the impressive Akaka falls. Plummeting 442 feet to the pool below it’s an impressive sight and an easy walk.
Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The United States has 63 recognized National Parks as of 2021. We road-tripped to all the national parks on the mainland US in 2020, so we couldn’t miss the opportunity to hit one more. The Big Island of Hawaii is strewn in black swirling lava rock. Pay a visit to this national park and you’ll understand why.
Be sure to pack your America the Beautiful Parks Pass for free entry.
Drive to the summit of Moana Kea
Sitting at over 14,000ft above sea level this behemoth of a mountain is vitally important in Hawaiian culture. Which explains why the locals were furious that a space observatory was constructed at its summit.
Moana Kea is the single best place to watch the sunset & to stargaze on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s also the tallest mountain in the entire world. If you include the portion that stretches beneath the island to the ocean floor. Taller than Mount Everest.
Hike or Drive to Waipi’o Black Sand Beach
A popular hike for locals, getting to this beach is an adventure. The paved road is angled steeply down the mountain, one lane only, and only suitable to skilled-drivers and 4×4 vehicles. I recommend hiking it rather than driving like we did. But it is possible. Even in a rental vehicle.
The beach itself is made of the softest black velvet carpet of sand. Wild white crashing waves hit the shore and jade-colored mountains paint a lovely backdrop. It’s clearly more of a local or backpacker beach, likely because of the turmoil you’ll experience getting to it.
Catch the view or hike at Pololū Beach
Even if you just stop by to take in the view, the road to Pololū viewpoint is winding and scenic. A look at the residential areas of the Big Island.
There’s also a 0.9-mile round trip hike down to the beach from here. The path is rugged but heavily trafficked because of the beautiful views along the way.
Snorkel off-shore of Mauna Loni
There are loads of stellar snorkeling spots on the Big Island of Hawaii. If you want living coral reefs, a chance to spot eagle rays, dolphins, eels, hundreds of fish species, sea turtles, and hear the songs of humpbacks in the distance all within an easy swim of shore…go to Mauna Loni.
You’ll have to park at the historical park nearby & walk-in unless you’re staying at the resort but it was my personal favorite of the off-shore island snorkeling.
Other Noteworthy Beaches on the Big Island
Obviously, beaches are a major reason many travelers find themselves bound for the islands in the first place. Here are some more favorites.
- Hapuna Beach
- Explore the rocky shoreline South of Hilo
- Papakolea Green Sand Beach
Ethical Animal Encounters on the Big Island
Snorkel in Captain Cook Bay
Captain Cook Bay is difficult to reach. You either have to hike 4-miles round trip or charter a boat to reach the lagoon via the open ocean. But for those who make the trek, it’s some of the clearest waters and best snorkeling the island has to offer.
Swim with manta rays at night
An unforgettable experience. You’ll boat out after dark and plunge into the water where you’ll hold onto a surfboard in the superman position (to ensure you don’t touch the rays) while floating on the surface of the water. In the center of the board, is a blue light that illuminates the water beneath you.
Manta rays are filter feeders who need to see the plankton in order to feed. This light draws them in because it’s the only way they can see the food in the dark water at night. The rays will swoop and glide beneath you and you’ll get up-close to them without disrupting them.
Spot wild pigs, goats, and mongoose while hiking
Hawaii has plenty of animals on land as well. While goats tend to roam the lava flows on the Western portion of the island, wild pigs rustle through the tall grass on the Eastern jungle side. Mongoose on the other hand (& feral cats) are everywhere.
Authentic Hawaiian Food on the Big Island
One of the biggest mistakes travelers make when exploring the Hawaiian Islands is they default to fancy restaurants and resort food. But Hawaiians themselves have a huge food culture and plenty of local recipes if you know where to find them. Here are just a few places serving up local food on the Big Island.
Blue Hot Malasadas Food Cart
If you see this food cart while driving on the island…stop and get a pile of those tasty Portuguese doughnuts. These are hands-down the very best on the island.
Tex Drive-In
Your go-to for Loco Moco. They have versions with Spam, fish, and Kalua pork.
L & L Hawaiian Barbeque
This is the local joint for Spam Musubi. It’s a spam-ified version of Japanese sushi and pretty much only found on the Hawaiian islands.
Hawaii is much like any other tropical beachy destination. You can get out and experience the natural wonders that the island has to offer or you can lounge around on a crowded beach within the confines of the resort. Not only will you contribute more to the local communities, but you’ll also learn more about life on the island & interact with more locals along the way. Just follow these tips for immersive travel in Hawaii.
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