Island of Hawai'i
Big Island Hawaii
Active volcano. Manta rays at midnight. Black sand beaches and 7 nights with women who actually show up.
Feb 21 – Feb 28, 2027 · $2,300 per person · $500 deposit today · waitlist only
- Dates
- Feb 21 – Feb 28, 2027
- Cost
- $2,300 per person
- Group size
- 10 women
- Due today
- $500 deposit
Trip brief
What this trip actually is
GGH is heading to the Big Island: February 21–28, 2027. 10 spots. A $500 deposit holds yours.
You get a better-planned trip than the big operators offer, a more intimate group, your own private bed, and it's led by someone who knows your name — for $600 to $1,600 less than comparable guided trips. The only thing you handle yourself is your flight. Everything else is covered.
All paces welcome. We stick together. Nobody gets left behind. That's not a tagline, it's just how GGH works.
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1 · Sun Feb 21
Arrive. Exhale. Hawaii begins.
Fly in from SLC, pick up rental SUVs at Kona Airport, check into the Airbnb. Afternoon is yours — sunset at Hapuna Beach, groceries, welcome dinner at the house. The trip starts easy.
Day 2 · Mon Feb 22 · Flagship day
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Descend into Kīlauea Iki crater (active steam vents, frozen lava lakes), scenery that doesn't look real. Then Chain of Craters Road and Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach, where sea turtles sun themselves right on shore. The Big Island doesn't ease you in.
Day 3 · Tue Feb 23 · Waterfall day
Four waterfalls, one epic day
Sunrise at Rainbow Falls, where the mist throws actual rainbows across the water. Two minutes away, the Boiling Pots churn through volcanic rock pools most tourists skip. We drive the Pepe‘ekeo Scenic Coastal Route north to Umauma Falls, a triple-tiered 200-foot cascade with a swimmable pool at the base (bring your swimsuit). After a plate lunch in Honomu we finish at ‘Akaka Falls, a 422-foot plunge into a gorge wrapped in bamboo, wild orchids and tree ferns. The Hilo Farmers Market wraps the afternoon before we drive back to Kona loaded with local snacks.
Day 4 · Wed Feb 24 · Best night of the trip
Mauna Kea + Two Step snorkel + manta ray night snorkel
Sunrise views from 9,200 ft at the Mauna Kea Visitor Center, above the clouds. Afternoon snorkeling at Two Step's crystal-clear marine sanctuary. Then the highlight of the entire trip: boarding a boat at sunset and watching massive manta rays glide inches below you in the dark Pacific. One of the top wildlife encounters on earth.
Day 5 · Thu Feb 25
Pololū Valley + Kealakekua Bay + coffee farm
Pololū Valley overlook on the dramatic north coast. Then south to Kealakekua Bay for world-class snorkeling at the Captain Cook Monument, home to spinner dolphins and incredible reef. End with a Kona coffee farm tour, because you've earned it.
Day 6 · Fri Feb 26
Free day — beach, SUP, or nothing at all
Built-in flex day. Hapuna Beach (one of the best white-sand beaches in the US), optional stand-up paddleboard, a coastal walk, or sitting with a coffee watching the ocean. You've been hiking volcanoes all week. Group sunset hike and dinner out to close it.
Day 7 · Sat Feb 27
Hidden beaches + farewell dinner
Makalawena Beach, reached by a lava field hike that keeps the crowds away. Afternoon in Kona town. Farewell dinner together at a local restaurant. Someone will cry. It's fine.
Day 8 · Sun Feb 28
Fly home
Check out, return cars, fly KOA → SLC. You'll spend the flight planning when you can come back.
Photos
What's covered
What your $2,300 covers
Included
- 7 nights in a private Airbnb home / hotel — your own bed
- All group transportation (2 rental SUVs)
- Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park entry
- Manta Ray Night Snorkel tour
- House groceries for breakfasts, snacks + some dinners
- Gas for all group driving
- Mel's full trip leadership + pre-trip logistics
Not included — you handle these
- Flights — SLC → KOA, est. $500–700 round trip. Delta nonstop. Book early.
- Personal spending — shopping, coffee, extras
- Optional add-ons — kayak rentals, Mauna Kea summit tour, etc.
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Personal hiking gear
All-in with flights: approx. $2,900–$3,100. Still $600–$1,600 less than comparable guided trips.
Fitness level
What to expect
This trip is for women comfortable hiking 3–5 miles on moderate terrain. The Kīlauea Iki crater hike is the most demanding day (4 miles, 400 ft elevation change). Everything else ranges from easy beach walks to scenic drives. You don't need trail experience — just enjoy being outside and not mind a little sweat.
All paces welcome. We stick together. Nobody gets left behind.
Good to know
- Trail level
- intermediate
- Chapter
- Utah
- Daily distance
- 4 mi
- Elevation
- 400 ft gain
- Meeting point
- Kona International Airport (KOA) — you book your own flight, we handle everything else
- Trip lead
- Lex Bengston
Know before you go: you book your own flight into KOA · shared Airbnb with private beds and shared common areas · the manta snorkel is on a boat in the ocean at night · February in Kona runs 75–82°F on the coast and cooler at elevation · a signed waiver is required before participating.
Cost
What you pay, and when
Deposit at booking
$500
Paid by card now — this is what holds your place.
Final payment
$1,800
Due by November 1, 2026. Your trip lead sends a reminder.
Total per person
$2,300
Flights and personal spending aren't included.
Cancellation policy
Deposits are refundable (minus a $50 processing fee) through June 1, 2026. After June 1, deposits are non-refundable. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Questions
Your questions, answered
You don't need to know anyone. Just show up.
GGH trips have a way of turning strangers into people you're texting about the next one. $500 deposits are open now — 10 spots, no exceptions.