Hello from Hilo, Hawai’i! Hilo is known for it’s amazing waterfalls, it’s tropical rain forest, and for it’s erupting volcano! Trenton and I landed on the south side of the Big Island and it turns out that my aunt and uncle were vacationing there at the same time, so I got to spend some time with my cousins. 🙂
Once we landed, we got our car and headed over to my Aunt Kathy’s hotel for dinner. They were staying at the Double Tree Hilton right on the water and it was sooo gorgeous!! We had dinner at the hotel restaurant and the views were incredible! The coast in Hilo is so unique because it’s made of lava rock, so we watched the water crash against the shore line and it looked so intense! For dinner, I had this really good tuna fish with pineapple on top and wow it was delicious- I had no idea tuna fish grew in salt water I always thought it was like a lake water fish but this definitely didn’t taste like the tuna fish I eat out of a can. lol.
Anyways, so after dinner we went to Volcano to check into our Airbnb, and I just couldn’t sleep because I was so excited to be in Hawaii! (and cause of jet lag). So the next morning I went for a run then we met up with my family at Rainbow Falls (the first waterfall pics). It was super pretty and we went on this little hiking trail to get to the top of the falls, and you can see us as little specks in the picture! My cousin’s Gabriella and Michael have zero fear of heights! They were just leading the way over the little tide pools above the falls and had no problem chilling on rocks at the egde of the cliff. #yolo.
Gabriella has always been my little buddy, I even had her as junior bridesmaid in my wedding! In years past we used to always go to the beach for a week every summer and we always had blast! One time when I was a teenager and she was like 5, we walked like 25 blocks to the promenade and 25 blocks back to our beach house and she had blisters all over her feet and I felt so bad and I had no phone to call for a ride to pick us up and no money to buy us drinks (what was I thinking?!) but she didn’t complain one bit the whole time even though she definitely had the right to- haha. And since then she’s always been my little buddy even though she’s not so little anymore!
After exploring Rainbow Falls we went to Akaka Falls! Akaka Falls is 442 feet tall- over twice the height of Niagara Falls! The entire park is so lush and green and beautiful, and there’s all sorts of flowers, fruit, and mini waterfalls to gawk at as you walk down to the main falls. I’m so glad my Aunt Kathy took us there because that wasn’t originally on my itinerary but it was so worth it!
We then went to downtown Hilo for lunch and got some burgers (yes, I ate a cheeseburger, Hawaii is known for their burgers so I had to have at least one while I was there!) and then we said our goodbyes and Trenton and I left to go to our next excursion.
I will be posting a full itinerary of everything we did on our Big Island trip, so stay tuned! But for now, check out the article I wrote for Thought Catalog called 10 Reasons You Need to Drop Everything and Visit the Island of Hawi’i This Summer. That’s the article I was sent to Hawaii to write!
Have you ever seen a waterfall? Have you ever been to Hawaii? If so, which island? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
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Wow!! This was such an awesome post. I would love to go to Hawaii, and if I ever do, waterfall hopping will be a must! Thanks for the wanderlust today!!
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Thanks for reading, Kaila!
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Wowiee I love these photos, it looks like you had an amazing time!! X
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Thanks it was awesome!
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Wow i also want to go there, looks amazing 🙂
❤
loewenherzvegan.wordpress.com
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Thanks it was so beautiful!
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Amazing place!! I will go to Hawaii one day too!! Beautiful pics! ❤️❤️
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Aw thanks Nicolle, put it on your bucket list!
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Great post! Josh and I went to Hawai’i exactly this week last year for our 10 year anniversary! It was a cruise that included most of the major islands (including Hilo & Kona). I couldn’t believe Hawai’i was as gorgeous as it was AND it’s one of OUR STATES! We had the time of our life. I can’t wait to go back. Thanks for the post!
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I remember seeing your pictures from your cruise to Hawaii last year! You guys always go on the coolest vacations! I’d love to go back one day and do the cruise so I could see more of the other islands! Thanks for reading Courtney!!
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Crazy beautiful scenery! I’ve never been to Hawaii, but I’d love to someday (:
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Yes- put it on your bucket list!
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Never been to Hawaii and I have always wanted to go there someday. But at least I know a little better from your post, thanks for sharing! Xx
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Thanks for reading Chia!
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Beautiful pictures! Looks like so much fun!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
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Thanks Jennifer, it was awesome!
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Awesome post. Love to go this place. Full of adventures,fun and joy.
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Yes- so much adventure! Put it on your bucket list!
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Ofcourse…it’s already added when I see your post😁
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Gorgeous! I’ve never been to Big Island, only Oahu. Hawaii is just so incredibly stunning!
Sounds like a wonderful trip!
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Ooo I want to go to Oahu next, it looked so beautiful from the airplane as we landed in Honolulu for a stop over. Thanks for reading!
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It really is beautiful! I guess all of the Hawaiian islands are stunning, haha. I’ve always wanted to visit Maui too!
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What a gorgeous place!! Thanks for sharing, looking forward to your big post 🙂
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Thanks Dani!!
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Wow! Loving that waterfall 🙂
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Thanks Christy!
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Looks like a beautiful place, think my overwhelming urge to jump at the top of that waterfall would get me into trouble though 😉
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Haha yea it’s much bigger in person so you might die!!
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That looks so pretty!! I really want to go there someday!
http://www.amyemarieblog.com
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Put it on your bucket list, Amye!
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This looks amazing!! Keep the Hawaii pictures coming.
https://kerielaine.com
Keri Elaine
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Thanks for reading Keri!
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This looked like an amazing time! I would love to travel to Hawaii!
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Thanks Courtney, it was awesome! Put it on your bucket list!
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Did you try hula dance? 🙂
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Oh Absolutely 🙂 It’s harder than it looks!!
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Wonderful pictures! Looks like you had the time of your life! Thanks for sharing.
Isn’t That Charming.
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Thanks girl!
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This looks absolutely stunning, Courtney!! What a super fun experience!
xxoo
Mary
http://www.BelleOnTrend.com
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Thanks Mary, it was so fun!
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It looks so pretty!! I’d love to go there someday!! Also your hair looks so pretty too in the photos 😊 xx
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Thanks Amelia, it’s my lazy day hair style haha! The humidity was strong in Hilo!
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It’s okay I really like it!! Yeah I bet it was 😊 xx
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This place looks wonderful omg! love it!
xx Ele | http://elewithlove.it/
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Thanks Ele!
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Great! An amazing post.
I write. I would love your feedback on my blog do check it out https://iamgayatriblog.wordpress.com
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Thanks Gayatri, I will check it out!
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Beautiful photos, Courtney. I want to go to Hawaii since I have been teased by the gorgeous photos of it I come across all the time! So many places to see…xx
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Yes, there is so much to see in Hawaii! It’s such a beautiful place to visit!
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Hey, Courtney! I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award! xxx
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Thanks girl, I will check it out! xx
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You’re welcome! Hope you like it! xxx
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gorgeous scenery!
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Agreed!!
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That waterfall is just gorgeous! What a view
Kate || KATE KOUTURES
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Thanks Kate, it was incredible!
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YESSS, ahi tuna is sooo good and canned tuna just does not compare.
Beautiful photos – I love love love Hilo and miss it so super much. Looks like you had so much fun!
xoxo,
Krista
http://reroutelifestyle.com
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Thanks Krista! Ahi tuna is sooo delicious! Thanks for reading- Hilo was my favorite part of the island!
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Hawaii sounds and looks amazing in the same time! In Romania we have a lot of cascades but Bigar cascade is very known in the world, not because it’s big, just because it’s very interesting.
https://medeeaslife.wordpress.com/
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Oh how interesting I will have to check that out!
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This place seems like a dream! And your pictures are stunning! ❤
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k how pretty are these pics?!?!? need to be there asap
xoxo
http://www.emmycoletti.com
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Wow, that’s awesome that you were sent to Hawaii just to write that article! I also read in your “About Me” that you’ve got a book being published?! Wow! Can’t wait til it comes out! Congrats on everything! (I’ve just found your blog today so I know I’m probably late to all of your news.) Your life seems like a dream.
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What a dream. Hawaii is my happy place and it’s been much too long since my last visit- Even longer since I made it out to Rainbow Falls. Your photos bring back such great memories… Thanks for sharing!
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Beautiful Waterfalls and pretty pictures.
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Thank you!
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Beautiful photos ! I just love Hawaii. I was recently there and saw some beautiful waterfalls in Kauai. I didn’t get a chance to go to Hilo, I really need to add it to my bucket list 🙂
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Oh wow I bet that was incredible! I didn’t see Kuaui but maybe next time ☺️
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What a gorgeous place! I would love to visit Hawaii! Such a fun post to read. 🙂
http://www.lifeofardor.com
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Thanks it was fun to experience:)
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Girl, your post made me wanna leave it all and book a ticket to Hawaii, those waterfalls are amazing and if you can treat yourself to a nice burger after the hike, I am sold! Thanks for visiting my little virtual corner, lovely and have a great week!
Saida | She talks Glam
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Thanks for visiting Sadie! Waterfall hopping is so fun. Have a great week!
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Waterfalls are my favorite! I have never been to Hawaii (YET) but I’ve seen some waterfalls in Costa Rica and Iceland. Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your pictures!
Kim
Simply Lovebirds
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Man Hawaii looks amazing 😍 great post😊
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Wow! SO cool! 👌😲
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Thanks!
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Incredible photos, Courtney! This must’ve been an awesome trip.
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Thanks Joss it was!
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I definitely need to try this when I go back to Hawaii! Awesome post Courtney 😀
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Yes you should!
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Wow! That waterfall looks absolutely beautiful.
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Aw thanks it was!
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Looks like you had lots of fun. This is great. Love Hawaii. I have beautiful memories from my last trip, too long ago I am afraid. On my way to see the other article! -Dominique
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Hawaii is amazing! I’ve been to the exact spot you are and it is truly magical!
X
Samantha
http://www.thenewyorkblonde.com
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Ah that’s so cool! It’s such a beautiful place!
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