I booked 3 weeks on the big island of Hawaii towards the end of the global pandemic of 2020-2021. For a ridiculously low price of a $248 RT flight, I didn’t even think twice about booking.
My first week I rented a car and toured the island. From sun up to sun down, I explored every crevice of the island. My favorite hotspots were the famous Green Sands Beach, Pololu Valley, Captain Cook’s and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
I had a cute Airbnb single room for the first 2 weeks with my own side entry and patio. It was located 1 block above the beach and my nightly routine was to walk down to the beach to soak in the spectacular sunsets Hawaii is known for. I had actually bought a cheap skateboard to tool around, but had a bad accident one night on my way to the water so I spent the next few days recovering (that’s another story). But of all places in the world to slow down and regroup, I had hit the jackpot just chillin’ on Magic Sands Beach.
My 3rd week I decided to move places only because I found a cheaper option about a block away and my former place had been booked before I could extend. No biggie. This new spot didn’t receive my reservation but found a way to make it work with my own little “shack” on the corner of the garage. It was rustic but kinda kooky and chill. Neither place had AC, but with fans and being in March with highs in the upper 70s, it never phased me. Plus the addition of a salt water pool to help with my wounds worked out beautifully. The grounds had all types of soothing areas and sayings to get lost in. There were other tenants always coming and going. I used their bike to freely explore the Kona area (central west side) daily and hit the local snorkeling hot spots to my hearts content. And I could never forget how the stars lit up the sky nightly, with no light pollution.
I love to try out local cuisine, but am not a die hard foodie so I raided the grocery store for easy meals and tons of snacks. For 21 days, I spent $185 which equates to eating for $8.80 per day which I count as a big win (as the island is known for high costs for obvious reasons). Just for my 5 times indulging at local hangouts, I shelled out over $100.
All in all, I’m blessed to have made it to this tropical paradise as I had always dreamed of saving this location for my honeymoon. What are you waiting for?
FearlessAdventures 