Hawaii Island] March on the Big Island of Hawaii: Enjoy a Comfortable Trip

March on the Big Island of Hawaii
Enjoy a comfortable trip

March is the winter season on the Big Island of Hawaii, but rainfall is much calmer than in December and January.

Although the number of tourists will increase considerably due to spring break, this will be the last time to enjoy whale watching and other activities.

Let us introduce you to the many attractions of the Big Island of Hawaii in March!

 

Hawaii Island, nicknamed the Big Island

Formed by undersea volcanic eruptions about 500,000 years ago, Hawaii Island is the youngest of the Hawaiian Islands.

Because it is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, it is nicknamed the "Big Island" by the people of Hawaii and the United States.

 

What is the Big Island of Hawaii like?

There are many things you want to do when you travel, such as visiting tourist spots and enjoying delicious food.

The Big Island of Hawaii can satisfy all of these needs.

The island is a place where people of all ages and both sexes can create the best memories, with spots related to Hawaiian culture and history, as well as power spots where you can feel the power of nature, and places where you can enjoy activities to the fullest!

 

How to get to Hawaii Island

<If you are going directly from Japan to the Big Island of Hawaii

Haneda-Kona International Airport (Hawaiian Airlines) Travel time: 7 hours 20 minutes on average from Haneda, 10 hours on average from Kona

Narita-Kona International Airport (JAL) Travel time: 7 hours 50 minutes (average), return 8 hours 45 minutes (average)

<If connecting at Honolulu Airport (Oahu)
Honolulu Airport - Kona International Airport (Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines) Hawaiian Airlines: 10 to 19 flights per day, approximately 50 minutes travel time Southwest Airlines: 4 flights per day, approximately 50 minutes travel time

Honolulu Airport - Hilo Airport Hawaiian Airlines: 7-12 flights per day (approx. 55 minutes) Southwest Airlines: 4 flights per day (approx. 1 hour)

The flight from Japan to Honolulu takes about 7 hours, with a maximum of 10 hours, allowing for 2-3 hours of transit time.

If you are traveling from Honolulu to the Big Island of Hawaii, choose either Kona International Airport or Hilo Airport, depending on your plans.

Kona International Airport is recommended for those who want to sightsee smoothly after arrival because of its proximity to tourist areas and hotels.

Hilo Airport is recommended for those who wish to visit the volcano because of its proximity to downtown and easy access to the volcano.

 

Attractions of the Big Island of Hawaii

The Big Island of Hawaii has many attractions that are different from resorts and sightseeing.

There are five points! Let's look at each of them in detail.

 

Unspoiled wilderness

The greatest attraction of the Big Island of Hawaii is its spectacular nature!

Waipio Valley, Akaka Falls, and Kilauea Volcano are the three most famous spots on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Spend a moment amidst the bare lava rock of volcanic regions, island formations formed by undersea volcanic eruptions, and life nurtured by the rich nature created by various climates, and you will be able to heal your daily fatigue and replenish your power.

 

A powerful volcano

There are five famous volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii. They are Mauna Kea, the highest at 4205 meters above sea level, Hualalai, Kohala, and Kilauea, a World Heritage Site.

While some extinct volcanoes are already inactive, Kilauea is still an active volcano and recently erupted in 2019.

The earth formations created by these volcanoes and the breath of the volcanoes that are still active today give us a sense of the powerful nature of the Big Island of Hawaii.

 

Beautiful Beaches

Hawaii is all about the tropical ocean! Many people come to Hawaii for the beautiful ocean.

The Big Island of Hawaii is of course one of the most attractive islands in the world with its beautiful beaches.

In terms of beauty, the clarity of Kamakahonu Bay is outstanding.

It is also known as the place where King Kamehameha the Great spent the last years of his life and is a sacred place.

Visitors can enjoy snorkeling in the beautiful ocean beside a temple where they can feel the history of Hawaii.

 

Shopping and dining are also recommended.

Alii Drive, the main street in the Kona district where the Kona International Airport is located, is lined with many stores recommended for tourists.

Although it does not have the image of a large tourist town, the local atmosphere is tasteful, and it is attractive to stroll around calmly.

Gourmet foods made from the rich agricultural produce of the Big Island of Hawaii are also highly recommended.

Kona is especially famous for Kona coffee and Kona beer! How about walking around with a delicious drink in your hand?

 

Let's learn about culture and history.

The Big Island of Hawaii has many sights that are important to Hawaii's history and culture.

Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park is an important place to learn about Hawaii's origins.

It is said to be where Captain Cook, the first Westerner to visit the Big Island of Hawaii, once landed.

The temple is dedicated to Lono, the god of fertility on the island of Hawaii, where agriculture is thriving, and is a spot where visitors can experience the history and culture of the island all at once.

The park also has a beautiful ocean that has been designated as a marine protected area, allowing visitors to enjoy marine activities such as snorkeling.

 

March Climate and Prices on the Big Island of Hawaii

Location	average minimum temperature	Average maximum temperature
hero	17.8°C	26.2°C
Kona (variety of Hawaiian coffee)	17.9°C	26.7°C
Mount Kilauea	17.9°C	25°C
Waimea	13.1°C	21.3°C
Mauna Kea	5°C	19°C
Oahu (Honolulu)	20°C (68°F)	27.5°C

As can be seen from the average minimum temperatures, all areas seem chilly with temperatures below 20°C.

The maximum temperature is not much different from Honolulu, but the minimum temperature is more than 2°C lower.

March is the on-season, as it coincides with graduation trips and spring break. Traveling in March is a bit more expensive.

 

What to Wear and Bring to Hawaii Island in March

Here is what to wear and what to bring for the weather on the Big Island of Hawaii in March.

 

Appropriate clothing for March

March on the Big Island of Hawaii is expected to be quite cold in the mornings and evenings.

In addition, strong winds blow along the south coast, and the temperature drops considerably, so warm clothing is essential.

A cardigan or light jumper that can be worn at any time during the day is recommended.

Also, if you want to fully enjoy the natural beauty of the Big Island of Hawaii, you should wear sneakers that are easy to walk in.

 

What to bring in March

Prepare what you need, not so different from a normal trip.

If you are worried about rain because it is the rainy season, prepare rain gear.

 

Things to do and see on the Big Island of Hawaii in March

Here are some things to enjoy and keep in mind along with March events.

 

How to enjoy

<March Hawaii Island Events
Kona Brewers Festival (Kona)
Big Island International Marathon (Hilo)
Labaman Triathlon (Waikoloa)
Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival (Waikoloa)

March is full of active events.

The Kona Brewers Festival is one of the most popular festivals, which attracts quite a crowd, including tourists.

This beer festival brings together more than 30 Hawaiian breweries!

While sampling beer, visitors can enjoy delicious Hawaiian gourmet food from local restaurants that will be open for tasting.

 

important point

Basically, you will need to rent a car to get around the island of Hawaii.

Traffic rules are very different from those in Japan, so it is necessary to confirm the rules well in advance.

Also, in areas where there are few tourists, avoid going alone to avoid being involved in crimes, and try to stay together with more than one person.

 

Recommended Activities in March

Here are five recommended activities to enjoy on the Big Island of Hawaii in March!

 

riding horse

We don't often have the opportunity to ride horses in our daily lives!

Horseback riding is a popular activity that tourists can easily try on the Big Island of Hawaii.

 

Fun & Attraction

There are several places to enjoy horseback riding on the Big Island of Hawaii, but Kahua Ranch in North Kohala and Waipio Valley are the two most popular places to ride.

Horseback riding at Kahua Ranch is a leisurely stroll through the vast pastureland and enjoy the riding itself, while the Waipio Valley course is an active walk with the horses through the forest.

Which one you choose depends on your objectives, but both allow you to enjoy the scenery of the Big Island of Hawaii along with horseback riding!

 

starry sky viewing

Because of the clean air surrounded by the great outdoors, the light of the stars shining far away can be brought to the ground.

Stargazing tours are very popular on the Big Island of Hawaii, which has such good qualities.

 

Fun & Attraction

Although people naturally live on the Big Island of Hawaii, there are restrictions on the number of streetlights that can be installed, and artificial light is scarce.

Thanks in part to this, we can see the beautiful twinkling of stars even more clearly.

There are several great spots for stargazing on the Big Island of Hawaii. The most recommended is stargazing on Mauna Kea.

Lying down and relaxing and stargazing is a romantic and memorable experience!

 

whale watching

Whale watching, available only during the winter season on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a popular activity for families.

How about a limited and valuable experience with your child?

 

Fun & Attraction

One of the attractions of the waters of the Big Island of Hawaii is the arrival of large humpback whales during the winter season.

In addition, seeing dolphins, manta rays, and other sea creatures swimming gracefully in the ocean is an emotional experience.

The sight of large whales leaping out to sea is breathtaking, even when viewed from a cruiser!

 

Lava Tour

A lava tour is an activity that allows visitors to fully enjoy the volcanoes that are synonymous with the Big Island of Hawaii.

Please note, however, that you cannot see the flowing lava at Kilauea Volcano at this time!

 

Fun & Attraction

There are several volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii, each of which offers a variety of tours that allow visitors to see the volcanoes.

One of the most popular tours is a hiking tour where visitors can enjoy watching the lava flow!

Watching the bright red lava slowly sloshing and flowing, you can feel the magnificent breath of the earth.

 

cruising

Cruising is another popular activity that allows you to feel a little richer and preserve memories at sea.

 

Fun & Attraction

Cruising is a superb activity to spend a relaxing time at sea.

Cruisers departing at sunset time will be able to watch the orange sun set over the horizon and be captivated by the reddish beauty of the ocean.

Drinking while enjoying the magnificent natural scenery to your heart's content is the ultimate experience.

 

Five recommended attractions on the Big Island of Hawaii in March

Here are five of the best places to visit in March.

 

Kilauea Volcano

There are five volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii, and Kilauea is the only one registered as a World Heritage site.

The volcano is still actively erupting, and in the past, one could see lava slowly flowing out of the volcano.

 

Recommendations

There are many ways to visit Kilauea Volcano.

The national park can be reached by rental car or tours with transportation, but there are also helicopter and boat tours of the Kilauea volcano that are varied and interesting!

The best part is that you can see the volcanic activity up close and feel the magnificence of the earth.

 

Access

<Rental Car
About 2 hours from Kona area
About 1 hour from Hilo area
<Recommended access
The shortest route to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is to rent a car at Hilo International Airport.

 

Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea is the highest mountain on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The night sky from this closest point to space is filled with a myriad of twinkling stars. Mauna Kea is one of the world's most famous astronomical observatories.

 

Recommendations

During the winter season, temperatures on Mauna Kea drop below freezing and snow sometimes falls.

However, the twinkling of the stars that the cold and clear air reveals to us is so beautiful that we are lost for words.

It is cold at night, but it is worth the effort.

 

Access

<Rental Car
About 3 hours drive from Kona International Airport
About 2.5 hours drive from Hilo International Airport
Free parking available

 

Rainbow Falls

A 10-minute drive from downtown Hilo will take you to the site of three waterfalls called Rainbow Falls.

 

Recommendations

To the east of the Big Island of Hawaii, there is a river called the Wailuku River. This river has a waterfall called Rainbow Falls.

The waterfall, with a drop of about 24 meters, is known for its beautiful rainbow when the conditions are right, and many tourists come to see this mysterious sight.

 

Access

<Rental Car
About 10 minutes drive from "Downtown" Hilo

 

Waipio Valley

Waipio Valley is a vast valley in the northern part of the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The land where King Kamehameha I once spent his childhood is called sacred and attracts many tourists.

 

Recommendations

To explore Waipio Valley, you must take a tour.

If you want to tour the vast expanse of land slowly and surely, a wagon tour is the way to go.

Horseback riding can be a hurdle for people with small children and the elderly, but horse-drawn carriages are easy to ride.

Encounters with plants and native fruits that cannot be seen in Japan and the voices of the animals that live there await you.

 

Access

<Rental Car
Approximately 2 hours drive from Kona International Airport
Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes by car from Hilo

 

Green Sand Beach

Green Sand Beach, located on the south coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, is, as its name suggests, a beautiful beach with sparkling green sand.

 

Recommendations

Hawaii Island is famous for its volcanoes, and the various effects of volcanic activity can be seen here and there.

Greensand Beach is another spot affected by the volcano.

The green glowing sand is a popular spot for tourists who want to catch a glimpse of olivine, a greenish stone that flowed out with the magma and broke up to the size of a grain of sand.

 

Access

<Rental Car
Hilo, around 2 hours drive from Kona to the parking lot.
Free parking available
4.3 km from the parking lot to the beach, accessible by foot or cab.
If you plan to go on foot, joining a tour is recommended. Cabs are relatively expensive, but consider that the roads are not paved, so it is not possible to drive a rental car onto the beach.

 

Recommended tours to enjoy in March

Here are three recommendations for tours on the Big Island of Hawaii in March.

 

Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour

This is a two-in-one tour where you can see both the beautiful sunset and starry sky of Mauna Kea!

March is still the winter season when it is still cold at the top of the mountain.

In winter, the air on Mauna Kea is much clearer and brings beautiful starlight. Be sure to visit before the temperature rises!

 

Whale Watching Cruise

When it comes to the Big Island of Hawaii in winter, you can't miss whale watching!

A whale watching cruise is a tour to look for whales at sea on a cruise ship.

If you are unable to see the whales, you can re-board the ship at a later date free of charge, so if you take the tour with a flexible schedule, you may leave with satisfying memories!

 

Waipio Valley Horseback Riding Tour

This is a full day tour from morning to evening to enjoy Waipio Valley to the fullest!

Waipio Valley is a sacred place that you cannot set foot in without taking a tour, so we encourage you to take advantage of this tour.

Explore Waipio Valley on horseback, and you will surely be lost for words at the spectacular nature.

In addition to horseback riding, visitors can also enjoy shopping at the Waimea shopping center, so they can spend the whole day without getting bored!

 

summary

Travel prices are somewhat more expensive in March because of graduation trips and spring break.

However, this is the last time to enjoy Hawaii Island during the winter season, as it is just in time to see the whales.

If you want to enjoy Hawaii Island in winter even if the price is more expensive, why don't you visit Hawaii Island in spring vacation? If you want to enjoy Hawaii Island in winter even if it is more expensive, why don't you visit Hawaii Island during spring break?