Island Hopping Adventures: Manta Rays by Moonlight, Lava Trails, and a Summit Sunrise

One incredible gift of living in the Hawaiian islands is that island hopping can offer you whole new adventures and terrains to explore.  Though each island has its own unique flavor and could take a lifetime to get to know intimately, a long weekend on one of Kauai’s neighboring islands creates the beautiful opportunity to change your surroundings and feel that sense of being somewhere entirely different.  Recently, we took the opportunity to hop over to the Big Island and experience some of its magnificent scenery and nature on an extended weekend and it did not disappoint.

We landed in Kona with just enough time to grab our bags, hop in the rental, and hustle to the harbor for our first adventure—no time to waste when the manta rays are waiting. That night, we pushed off into the ocean aboard a traditional double-hull canoe, gliding across the water as the sun dipped behind the horizon.

As the sky darkened, we slipped into the ocean, holding onto floating light boards that lit up the water below. Within minutes, the first manta appeared—massive and elegant, looping through the glow with slow, sweeping movements. More followed, turning underwater somersaults right beneath us. It was quiet, other than a few muffled gasps and the sound of the sea. Peaceful, surreal, and an unforgettable way to kick off the trip.

The next morning started slow—in the best way. We wandered into a cozy café in Kona for some of the smoothest local coffee we’ve ever had. The Big Island doesn’t mess around with its beans. The café had that perfect small-town vibe, with locals catching up over mugs and the smell of fresh pastries in the air. Over the weekend, we found more gems like it—each spot with its own twist, whether it was ocean views, house-made syrups, or banana bread still warm from the oven.

Midway through the trip, we drove south to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The terrain changed fast—lush forests gave way to black rock and steam. We hiked across the Kīlauea Iki crater, walking where a lava lake once boiled. The scale of it all was hard to wrap our heads around. Jagged lava fields stretched in every direction, and occasional bursts of steam reminded us that this island is still very much alive.

Our final adventure was the most epic of all: sunrise from the summit of Mauna Kea. We’d been warned—a four-wheel-drive vehicle is non-negotiable, and they weren’t kidding. The road gets steep and rugged fast, climbing thousands of feet through stark, otherworldly terrain. As we reached the summit in the early hours, we bundled up and watched the world wake up from nearly 14,000 feet above sea level. The clouds stretched out below us like an ocean, and the sky turned every shade of pink and gold. It was silent, freezing, and completely breathtaking.

By the time we headed back down, it felt like we’d squeezed a month’s worth of memories into a long weekend. Manta rays under the stars, lava hikes through ancient craters, coffee that ruined all other coffee forever, and a sunrise above the clouds. The Big Island gave us a little bit of everything—and we already can’t wait to go back.

written by Kauila Sagum