5 Things to Do on Your Last Day on the Big Island
It’s your last day on the Big Island, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end first thing in the morning. Depending on when you fly out, there’s often time to fit in one more experience or a few easy things to do before heading to the airport.
These are some of my go-to ideas for spending your last day near the Kona airport without feeling rushed or wasting perfectly good Hawaii time.
1. Short Tours to Take
If you have an afternoon or evening flight, a short tour can be a nice way to end your trip.
These tours run in the morning and are short enough that you can enjoy them without watching the clock.
Kona Sea Salt Farm
First Tour Time: 9am
Tour Length: 1hr
The Kona Sea Salt Farm tour is surprisingly interesting as they show you how sea salt is harvested right from the ocean and then sundried before processing.
Of course there’s lots of salty samples and a deep ocean foot spa upgrade option.
Whale Watching Tour
During whale season (Dec-Mar), humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian waters to breed and give birth. I never get tired of seeing them breach and slap their tails up close on a boat tour!
This whale tour is only 1.5hrs long.
The Vanillerie
First Tour Time: 10am
Tour Length: 1hr
The Vanillerie tour walks you through a working vanilla shade house where you’ll see vanilla growing on the vine, learn how the orchid is cultivated, sample vanilla ice cream, and shop for vanilla-infused food and body products.
Kona Glass Bottom Boat
First Tour Time: 9am
Tour Length: 50min
Kona Glass Bottom Boat Tour lets you look down into Kona’s clear waters and spot fish and coral without ever getting wet.
It’s family-friendly so all ages can experience the ocean safely.
Coffee Farm Tour
Tour Length: 30min-1hr
A Kona coffee farm tour gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how Hawaii’s most famous crop is grown, processed, and brewed.
Mountain Thunder Coffee Farm is the closest to the airport but if you have time, Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee Farm has been my favorite tour.
Kona Abalone Farm
photo credit: Brenda Young
First Tour Time: 10:30am
Tour Length: 1hr
The Kona Abalone Farm tour takes you through a working abalone farm where you’ll learn how abalone is sustainably raised and harvested with opportunities to touch the abalone and other sea life.
Afterwards you can enjoy abalone and seaweed samples.
Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm
First Tour Time: 10am
Tour Length: 1hr
Take a guided tour through an oceanfront seahorse hatchery and farm where you’ll see thousands of seahorses from around the world and at every stage of life. The exciting end is holding a seahorse with your fingers!
2. Beaches With Showers
If you’re skipping the beach on your last day because you’re worried about getting sandy before your flight, don’t be.
These beaches have outdoor showers and restrooms so you can rinse off, change clothes, and head to the airport feeling normal again:
- Kua Bay Beach
- Magic Sands Beach
- ‘Anaeho’omalu Beach (A-Bay)
- Kahalu’u Beach Park
- Wawaloli Beach Park
- Pine Trees Surfing Beach
If you plan on using shampoo, be sure to use a biodegradable soap like this one.
⚠️ Don’t forget to pack a plastic bag for your wet clothes. Once you get home, just dump the bag straight into the washer machine.
3. Last Minute Souvenir Shopping
Forgot to grab something to bring home? Or want one last reminder of your trip that isn’t a mug or magnet?
These spots make it easy to squeeze in souvenir shopping before heading to the airport:
- Aliʻi Drive – a waterfront stretch of small shops in Kona selling locally made gifts and jewelry that’s easy to wander
- Queen’s Marketplace / Kings’ Shops – bustling open-air shopping centers in Waikoloa where there’s a good mix of local Hawaiian boutiques and national name brand stores.
- Farmers Markets – if you want handmade and edible souvenirs like soap, handbags, jewelry, coffee, macadamia nuts, or honey, see which farmers markets are open on your last day.
4. Take an Easy Hike
Dreading your flight and sitting for 6+ hours? Take a short, non-strenuous hike so you can feel like you’re resting in your plane seat and not getting restless.
Makaula ‘O’oma Trail (3.8 miles rt; ~800ft elevation gain) – a figure-8 loop through a cloud forest that begins with a gentle downhill, stays mostly flat through the middle, and finishes with a gradual uphill.
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park (4 miles; 100ft elevation gain) – a network of trails about 1 mile each over lava fields past a petroglyph park, ancient fishponds, a heiau, and a white sand beach with almost guaranteed green sea turtle sightings.
Maka’eo Walking Path at Old Airport (0.75 miles rt; 22ft elevation gain) – an easy, paved trail that loops past garden plots filled with flowers, plants, and trees, quirky art displays, and plenty of feral cats.
Puakō Petroglyph Park (~1.5 miles rt; 90ft elevation gain) – short hike through a kiawe forest and lava field that ends at a petroglyph field with over 3,000 carvings.
Pu’u Kuili (~0.5 miles rt; 342ft elevation gain) – a brisk walk up a cinder cone for a 360 degree view above Kua Bay Beach.
5. Enjoy Your Resort
Just because you’ve checked out of your room doesn’t mean you have to leave the property.
Many resorts still welcome you to enjoy morning activities, relax by the pool, or grab one last meal on-site before heading out.
💁♀️ When you check out, ask if they can extend your parking time. I’ve had resorts do this at no extra charge.
Some also offer late checkout or half-day room options, which can be worth it if you want a proper shower and a chance to freshen up before your flight.
Still unsure how to plan your last day?
Book a private consult with me to go over options that work for you!
ℹ️ Get more info here!
Last Day Logistics & Tips
What to Do with Your Luggage?
While you can leave your luggage in the car, break-ins do happen. If you’d rather not worry about it while you’re out and about, here are a couple of better options:
- Ask your hotel front desk if they will store your luggage for you
- Pay a small fee to businesses participating in Bounce, a daily luggage storage service
What to Do With Unwanted Beach Toys & Leftover Food?
If you bought beach gear like chairs, boogie boards, or snorkel sets and don’t want to take them home, you don’t have to throw them away. There are a few easy ways to pass them along without sending usable items to the landfill.
You pass them along to the next island visitors in these Facebook Groups:
- Big Island Recommendations – Pass It On
- Pass It On – Beach Gear And More – in Hawaii – For All Islands
Or, Donate them to secondhand stores:
- Habitat for Humanity
- Goodwill
Leftover unopened food, toilet paper, paper towels, or cleaning products don’t need to go to waste. The Food Basket (behind Costco) will gladly take them, and KTA has donation bins as well.
Where to Fill Up With Gas Before Dropping Off Car Rental?
The closest gas station to the Kona International Airport is Texaco on Kahalihilihi St, but this is going to be one of the most expensive places to fill up.
Costco (membership required) or Safeway in Kona will have the cheapest prices and are close enough to the airport to fill the tank.
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