A curious whale shark coming right up to you during a dive is a pretty convincing reason to fall in love with a place. Our eight-year-old daughter needed a little more convincing.
She was scared at first, understandably. We reassured her that this enormous visitor was a filter feeder, interested in tiny food like plankton. Once she relaxed, she was able to enjoy the encounter with us. To this day, it’s our favorite diving memory—and one of many reasons the Big Island has such a hold on us.
John and I had each been visiting the Hawaiian Islands for decades, and we’ve been exploring them together since 2017. We love all the islands, so deciding where to put down roots wasn’t easy. We spent seven years looking at places up and down the Big Island before we finally found Kanaloa at Kona. Seven years sounds like a long time, but we wanted a place that fit the way we actually enjoy life.
We love clear water and diving, we’re always up for an adventure, and we appreciate a beautiful, comfortable place to come home to. We also don’t need a stuffy atmosphere or resort prices to feel like we’re on vacation. The Big Island, and eventually Kanaloa, gave us the combination we’d been looking for.
The ocean keeps giving us reasons to come back
That whale shark wasn’t our only memorable visitor. We’ve done a nighttime manta ray dive, encountered dolphins and octopuses, and been on a boat while whales breached beside us. There’s something about seeing all of that for yourself that stays with you long after the trip ends.
The clear water and diving are a huge part of the appeal for us, but so is the anticipation. You never quite know what you’ll see when you head out on the water. We certainly don’t expect every dive or boat trip to come with a whale shark or a breaching whale, which makes those encounters all the more special.
And the adventures don’t stop at the shoreline. From the north of the island to the south, and across to Hilo, there’s always magic to be seen. We love Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots on the Hilo side, and the chance to spend a day exploring a completely different landscape. Between the coastlines, volcanic terrain, and places we still want to visit, we’ve never felt short of reasons to return.
Seven years of looking, and then we found Kanaloa
When we came across Kanaloa while looking at properties, we fell in love. It’s within walking distance of Aliʻi Drive, but it feels private and secluded. The grounds are well cared for, the amenities are there, and the atmosphere lets us relax.
“Resort amenities without resort vibes” is how we like to describe it. We love nice things; we just want to enjoy them somewhere we feel at home.
At Lanai by the Sea, that starts with the view over Heʻeia Bay and the ocean. Coffee on the lanai is our favorite way to begin the day, and from there, the plans can be as ambitious—or as easy—as we feel like making them.
Our perfect easy day? Head to Magic Sands Beach for white sand and fish tacos, come home to clean up, then settle in by the pool to watch the waves. During whale season, seeing whales breach adds a little extra excitement. It’s a day we’d happily repeat, even with a whole island of adventures waiting for us.
There’s more to fall in love with than the scenery
One thing we’d encourage our guests to do is spend some time learning about Hawaiian history, culture, and values. It adds another dimension to the places you’re visiting and helps you appreciate them more deeply.
I’ve enjoyed Chief of War on Apple TV, a historical drama that brings Hawaiian history into the conversation. I’d recommend it as a starting point for getting curious, then continuing to learn from Hawaiian voices and the places you visit.
After all these years, that’s what we love about the Big Island: we can return to a favorite beach, have an experience we never expected, or discover something that changes how we see the place. And now we have a home base that makes us just as happy to stay in as to head out.
It took us seven years to find it. We’re excited to share it with you.
Explore our Big Island local guide, or take a look around Lanai by the Sea and picture your own kind of island day.
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