If you’re an expecting mother first of all – congratulations! Being pregnant is a whole new adventure that can be fun but also sometimes stressful to navigate. If you are considering going on a Big Island babymoon in Hawaii to relax before the little one arrives, our guide is here to help!
Having a babymoon in Hawaii offers a lot of excellent hotel options, easy-to-access attractions, beautiful tropical weather, and great food choices. On a Big Island trip, you can lay out on white sand beaches, explore jungle waterfalls, go on scenic drives, and even go snorkeling (a pregnancy-safe activity!).
We recently returned from a 6-day Hawaii babymoon trip and felt so refreshed! It was just what we needed to recharge and get ready for the little one’s arrival.
Keep reading our guide for insider tips on taking a Big Island babymoon in Hawaii!
Some of the links used in this blog may be affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission when you book through these links for which I am very thankful!
Tips For Taking a Big Island Babymoon In Hawaii:
Things To Consider For a Babymoon In Hawaii
Why Choose Hawaiian Islands For a Babymoon Vacation?
After visiting Banff National Park in spring during my first trimester, I only had one requirement for a second-trimester trip – somewhere warm and tropical.
Hawaii is a great destination to choose for a babymoon because it offers many luxury resorts, fun activities, and all the virgin Piña Coladas your digestive system can handle!
While we did consider other destinations for a babymoon (Alaska – too remote, Europe – too far, Mexico – Zika concerns), we ended up booking Hawaii because it was the easiest choice.
The flight was somewhat short, there are no Zika outbreaks on the islands and there is enough infrastructure, medical centers, and great restaurants that I felt safe traveling to Hawaii during my pregnancy.
Best Island To Visit In Hawaii For Babymoon?
For our babymoon, we chose to visit the Island of Hawai’i (also known as The Big Island). We had already visited O‘ahu and Maui on previous trips – which are also great destinations for a babymoon!
We decided to skip Kauai for this type of vacation because most attractions require hiking and a lot of physical activity which I was just not up for during the second trimester.
Psst! Be sure to check out some of our popular Maui posts here:
- 30 Best Things To Do In Maui, Hawaii For Visitors
- 25 Amazing Free & Cheap Things To Do In Maui, Hawaii
- 8 Must-Visit Road To Hana Stops In Maui, Hawaii
- 10 Amazing Places To Stay In Hana, Maui
- Visiting Black Sand Beach At Waiʻānapanapa State Park
How Long Is The Flight To Hawaii?
We live in California so we flew on a nonstop flight from LAX to the Big Island of Hawaii. The flight from LAX was 5.5 hours long which was just the right amount of time for sitting on a plane before my back starts feeling achy. By the time I was done watching a couple of movies, our plane was already landing at the Kona International Airport.
To make the flight more comfortable I brought along a travel neck pillow and detached a part of my Pharmedoc pregnancy pillow that I used to support my back during the flight. While I couldn’t bring my entire enormous pregnancy pillow on the flight (yes, I did consider checking it in), just having a small pillow helped me during flights, car rides, and sleeping at hotels at night.
If your pregnancy pillow doesn’t come with a detachable part, I recommend getting this memory foam travel pillow that you can use for your back, legs, and neck.
Check out Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow on Amazon here!
Note: Please consult with your doctor before heading on a longer trip or a flight during your pregnancy. After previous complications, I waited until everything checked out on my 20-week ultrasound to travel. Depending on if you have a high-risk pregnancy, your doctor may want you to stay closer to home.
Read Next: 30 Must-Have Travel Necessities For Your Next Adventure
Hawaii Babymoon Resorts & Hotels
On our trip to the Big Island in Hawaii, we only booked top-rated hotels and resorts. Being pregnant we did spend more on accommodations than usual because I wanted to have all the necessities – including AC, water refill stations, nearby healthy dining options, and easy-to-access parking.
While we looked at some Airbnb rentals, many didn’t come with an AC – a must-have in the summer in Hawaii. Cracking the window to let the breeze (and bugs) in while being sticky and sweaty was not on my vacation itinerary.
Here are our top choices for where to stay on the Big Island in Hawaii on a babymoon:
Royal Kona Resort
Royal Kona Resort offers everything you may need for a comfortable babymoon in Kailua-Kona. You have a variety of room types to choose from – we booked an oceanfront room that came with a private balcony.
In the morning we conveniently grabbed a breakfast at the waterfront Don’s Breezeway Lounge before heading out for the day. In the evenings you can enjoy an on-site Hawaii Luau – a must-do in Hawaii!
If you want to pamper yourself, treat yourself to a prenatal massage or a couples massage at the resort spa for some quality time with your partner.
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo – a DoubleTree by Hilton
If you’re planning to spend a few nights in Hilo, we recommend booking a stay with Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo. This luxury hotel is located in a dreamy oceanfront setting surrounded by black lava rocks and turquoise water.
There is an onsite restaurant and a lobby lounge serving food so you can satisfy your post-adventure cravings. You can relax by the pool, enjoy live music in the lobby or unwind in the lounge chairs by the water.
This hotel is located only a 45-minute drive from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This unique National Park offers plenty of easy and pregnancy-friendly activities like sightseeing, lookout points, short hikes, and scenic drives.
PACIFIC 19 Kona
PACIFIC 19 Kona is a newer boutique hotel in Kailua-Kona next to Kailua Bay. The hotel has been recently renovated featuring a posh lobby, upgraded modern rooms, and a beautiful pool area. It is also within a short walk of all the best waterfront restaurants in Kona making it an ideal location for exploring the town on foot.
On the downside, the hotel does not offer any food on the property. So if you’re feeling a sudden hunger strike after a day full of outdoor activities, you will need to seek out food options outside the hotel.
Read More: 15 Best Hotels & Resorts For a Babymoon In Hawaii
Big Island Hawaii Babymoon Itinerary
We spent 5 nights and 6 days on the Big Island in Hawaii. We wanted to explore different parts of the island so we booked a few nights in Hilo and a few nights in Kona.
Here is our suggested 6-day Hawaii babymoon itinerary for the Island of Hawai’i:
Day 1: Arrive In Kailua-Kona
When traveling during pregnancy, you’ll want to take it easy the first night. We booked a hotel in Kailua-Kona close to the Kona International Airport so we could arrive, pick up our rental car and head out to eat before crashing for the night.
Looking to rent a car for your trip to Hawaii? We recommend and personally use Discover Cars because they offer the best pricing and free cancellation up to 48 hours before your pickup!
Day 2: Explore Hilo
After a good night’s rest, you may want to start exploring the Big Island in Hawaii. We started our trip by going on a scenic drive to Hilo town on the east coast of the island.
Some of the top attractions in Hilo include:
- Kaumana Caves State Park – an easy but rocky climb down into two lava caves. Be sure to bring a headlamp to see anything inside.
- Akaka Falls State Park. This beautiful State Park is located a 30-minute drive north of Hilo town. It costs $10 to park in the visitor parking lot, plus a $5 entrance fee per person. Here you can go on an easy hike that passes a 442-foot-tall waterfall and beautiful jungle plants.
- Rainbow Falls – a gorgeous lush waterfall that you can quickly see from a viewing platform.
- Boiling Pots – another scenic viewpoint near the Rainbow Falls overlooking waterfalls and a river.
- Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. This botanical garden is situated 15 minutes north of Hilo and features over 1800 different tropical plants and species. The entrance fee for the botanical gardens is $30 for adults and $22 for kids.
- Liliʻuokalani Gardens. Liliʻuokalani Gardens is a free 30-acre waterfront park in Hilo that features Japanese-style structures, ponds, and walkways. This park is situated just a 5-minute walk from the Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo where we stayed. We came here for sunset to walk around and enjoy the scenery.
- Lavaloha Farm. Lavaloha is a chocolate farm just a 15-minute drive outside of Hilo. Coming here is a fun adventure as you get to learn more about chocolate making process in Hawaii and sample some of the sweet treats made here!
If you don’t want to drive to Hilo yourself, you can book this small group waterfalls adventure from Kailua-Kona that visits Akaka Falls State Park, Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden along with other great attractions!
Day 3: Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
If you plan to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, be sure to set aside a full day for this adventure! We also recommend booking a hotel in Hilo for a couple of night’s stay which is only a 45-minute drive from the park entrance gate.
Within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, you can stop by viewpoints of active volcanoes, hike amongst black volcanic landscapes, go on a scenic drive along the Chain of Craters Road, and walk through an underground lava tunnel.
A few of the must-see Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park attractions include:
- Kīlauea Visitor Center
- Volcano House
- Kilauea Overlook
- Steam Vents
- Nahuku – Thurston Lava Tube
- Kīlauea Iki Crater
- Devastation Trail
- Chain of Craters Road
- Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs
- Hōlei Sea Arch
We also created an interactive Google Map of all the top stops within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park that you can check out here:
Map Tip: Click on the different points of interest to get more information!
Keep in mind: Due to high amounts of sulfur dioxide gas, it is recommended that expectant mothers, infants, and young children should avoid the Sulphur Banks Trail at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. I skipped the Sulphur Banks attraction while my husband went to check it out.
Day 4: Manta Ray Snorkeling Adventure
On day 4 we ventured back to the Kailua-Kona part of the island to get ready for our snorkeling adventure with Manta Rays.
Night Manta Ray Snorkeling Tour was one of the most memorable experiences from our babymoon on the Big Island in Hawaii. Snorkeling is a pregnancy-friendly activity and the tour that we booked does allow pregnant women as long as you’re not in an advanced stage of pregnancy.
If a Manta Ray snorkeling tour sounds like too much, a whale-watching tour is a great alternative for seeing marine life in Hawaii. On this Whale Watching Tour On The Big Island, you’ll be able to observe migrating pods of humpback whales during a prime breaching season. (Note: this tour is also not recommended for advanced pregnancies).
The boat ride to the Manta Ray snorkeling site was smooth and nobody in our group got seasick. We booked the departing time just before sunset so we could enjoy a colorful sunset on the way to the Manta Ray site.
Once we arrived, we changed into our wet suit tops and floated horizontally in the water holding on to rafts with floaties under our feet for assistance. We didn’t need to do any active swimming which was perfect for me! If you do end up getting tired (or just change your mind), you can tell the crew and they will take you back to the boat at any time.
As we floated next to the rafts, the Manta Rays kept swimming up to us eating plankton in the water. It was truly a bucket list experience that you can’t do anywhere else in the world!
Day 5: Explore Beach Parks Near Kailua-Kona
If you’re looking for relaxing babymoon destinations in Hawaii, we recommend spending a day exploring beach parks on the west coast of the Big Island.
There are many beautiful beaches to visit on the Island of Hawai’i. Some of our favorites were:
- Magic Sands Beach Park. This beach park is located just a 10-minute drive south of Kailua-Kona. Here you can lounge on a white sand beach, play in the waves, snorkel amongst colorful reefs and see giant sea turtles. Tip: Be sure to bring a portable beach umbrella as there is no shade at this beach park.
- Kahalu’u Beach Park. Kahalu’u Beach Park is a popular site for snorkeling. This location does not offer snorkeling rentals so you will need to bring your own set of snorkeling gear.
- Lava Lava Beach Club. Lava Lava Beach Club is located 40 minutes north of Kailua-Kona and features a popular oceanfront restaurant. After enjoying lunch, you can walk around the property, play fun games like Cornhole and go for a swim at the adjacent ʻAnaehoʻomalu Beach.
- Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area. This long stretch of white sand beach is ideal for laying out, body surfing, and swimming in the waves. It costs $10 for parking plus a $5 entrance fee per visitor.
Day 6: Coffee Plantation Tour & Fly Back
If you’re looking for something to do on the last day before heading to the airport, I recommend going on a quick tour of a local coffee plantation.
While I switched to mostly decaf coffee during my pregnancy, it was fun taking a tour of a Kona coffee plantation and seeing how coffee is made in Hawaii! The official Kona coffee can only be grown in a small 30-mile area on the island that’s located higher in elevation.
There are several companies near Kailua-Kona that offer tours of their coffee plantations. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation. This is the location that we visited. They offer FREE coffee tours every 30 minutes which is great if you need to stay flexible with your plans. You don’t need to reserve the tour – you can just show up and join the next available tour upon arrival. They also give out free samples of freshly brewed coffee and have a gift shop where you can buy locally made Kona coffee to take back home.
- Heavenly Hawaiian. This is one of the most popular Kona coffee farms on the Big Island. The coffee tours are offered every hour from 9:15 am to 4 pm and it is recommended to make reservations ahead of time. The coffee tours at Heavenly Hawaiian are longer, more in-depth, and cost $15 per person.
- Buddha’s Cup Kona Coffee and Tea Farm. This farm offers a variety of tours from free samplings to deluxe tastings and 30-minute express tours. The tours will take you around the coffee farm in a Polaris ATV which is great for tired pregnant mamas!
What To Bring For a Babymoon In Hawaii
Planning your Hawaii babymoon and not sure what to bring? The weather in Hawaii is mostly hot and humid so pack light clothing like tops, dresses, and shorts.
These are a few of the must-have items that I packed for Hawaii:
- Snorkeling gear. Most beach parks don’t offer snorkeling rentals. I recommend buying a snorkeling set on Amazon and bringing your own for convenience.
- Mineral sunscreen. The sun in Hawaii is very hot! I applied mineral sunscreen multiple times a day to avoid getting sunburned.
- Hiking hat, polarized sunglasses, & lip balm. Along with sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and lip balm are a must to protect yourself from the beaming sun.
- Refillable water bottles. It’s important to stay hydrated during pregnancy. I refilled my REI Co-op Nalgene bottles whenever I could to keep up with my water intake.
- Maternity bathing suit. For this trip, I got a simple black one-piece maternity bathing suit that I could wear to hotel pools and beach parks.
- Maternity dresses. Aside from hiking at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, I spent most of the time wearing summery maternity dresses. They are so cute for photos and very comfortable!
- Maternity jean shorts. Maternity shorts are great for outdoorsy places and heading to the beach.
- Maternity leggings. I have been living in these maternity leggings ever since I got them! Stretchy leggings are great for flying, longer car rides, hiking in cooler weather (or just about anything).
- Hiking shoes. You’ll be doing quite a bit of walking so good hiking shoes with a strong grip are a must to prevent slipping and falling on wet surfaces. I love my Danner Trail 2650 Hiking Shoes which are lightweight, waterproof, and made with Vibram 460 outsoles for extra traction.
- Light rainjacket. It can rain quite a bit in Hawaii, especially in higher-elevation areas. Bring a light rainjacket that you can throw on in case it starts raining.
- Travel backpack. I have a travel pack that fits all my essentials, water, and camera gear. This backpack comes with adjustable straps, and plenty of pockets where I can put small items like hand sanitizer, a portable phone charger, and a medical kit.
FAQ On Planning a Hawaii Babymoon
Is Hawaii good for a babymoon?
Hawaii is the perfect location for a babymoon! Hawaii is somewhat close to the mainland US, there are plenty of luxury resorts to choose from, great weather, good food, and lots of sandy beaches to relax on. Hawaii is also Zika free so it is safe to travel to during pregnancy.
Which Hawaiian island is best for pregnancy?
The best islands to visit in Hawaii during pregnancy are Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island. All of these islands have lots of hotels, pregnancy-friendly activities, stunning beaches, and beautiful scenic drives.
What can I do in Hawaii while pregnant?
There are plenty of pregnancy-friendly things to do in Hawaii! A few of the best things to do on the Island of Hawai’i during pregnancy include:
- Snorkeling
- Going on a scenic drive
- Exploring waterfalls
- Lounging on a beach
- Spending a day at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
- Visiting a coffee or chocolate farm
- Enjoying a virgin Piña Colada
- Visiting botanical gardens
- Going for a short hike
- Getting pampered with prenatal massages at a resort spa
What month of pregnancy is best for a babymoon?
Typically, the second trimester is the best time to plan a babymoon. We traveled to Hawaii during week 22 of my pregnancy when I felt more energy again, I had no morning sickness and I was still able to participate in a lot of the activities.
We hope this guide has helped you prepare for the perfect Hawaii babymoon! The Big Island of Hawaii is a great place to unwind and enjoy a relaxing trip (especially if it will be the last vacation that you’ll be taking for a while).
Looking for more Hawaii travel inspiration? Be sure to check out some of our other popular posts below:
- 30 Top Hawaii Big Island Things To Do On a Vacation
- 15 Best Places To Stay On The Big Island Of Hawaii
- 11 Best Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tours To Book In Kona
- Hawaii Big Island Car Rental: What To Know
- 7 Best Mauna Kea Tours On The Big Island Of Hawaii
- 10 Incredible VRBOs In Kihei On Maui’s Sunny South Shore
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