My husband and I were married 17 years ago in Maui. In 2019, we made our first trip back to Hawaii and fell in love with the Big Island. While we would love to return to Maui and visit the other islands, we always return to Ocean Tower, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club in Waikoloa.

 

Ocean Tower is one-of-a-kind. As part of Hilton Waikoloa Village’s 62-acre resort complex, this property includes access to some of the best restaurants, scenic views and an epic pool and lagoon — our favorite amenity.

Our typical trip is a six-night stay so we have time to settle in, relax and sightsee around the Big Island.

Check out my itinerary for a perfect stay, whether you're traveling solo or with extended family.

Day 1

We typically arrive in the afternoon after a 30-minute drive from Kona Airport. We check in, freshen up and put on our swimsuits to scout out the pools and beach.

Then we head to Lava Lava Beach Club, one of our favorite beachfront restaurants, for a long-awaited coconut mai tai, sizzling shrimp and the best haupia cake — think white cake with layers of coconut cream — which always reminds me of our wedding cake.

After dinner, we sit on the shore and watch the sunset. It’s like life stops at that moment.

 

Day 2

We use this day to sleep in. However, we’re usually too excited to waste time, so we get up to see the sunrise. Our first stop is Waikoloa Coffee, near the main lobby. The Hawaiian latte and fresh acai bowl are must-haves.

Insider tip: The earlier you go down for coffee, the shorter the line is.

The rest of our day includes relaxing by the pool and swimming in the lagoon. We eat lunch at Lagoon Grill, watch the dolphins and drink cocktails from the pool bar. It’s the perfect day.

We have a low-key dinner at the Kona Tap Room, enjoying an early night before a busy day of traveling.

Day 3

This is the day we plan our off-site travel.

We wake up early and explore some of the Big Island’s other attractions, like Akaka Falls, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, the Hilo Farmers Market and Punaluʻu black sand beach.

This is ambitious, try to make it back in time for the Legends of Hawaii Luau. This event starts at 5 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. It’s nice to arrive at the resort and not have to deal with dinner plans. It’s a fun show for first-timers, but it is a bit on the long side, about three hours.

 

Day 4

We always break up travel days with relaxing days. Swim at the resort and check out the public beaches like Hapuna Beach, only a 17-minute drive from Hilton Waikoloa Village. It’s a great place to mingle with locals and boogie board. In the past, we’ve bought a cooler at the Island Gourmet Markets in Queens’ Market Place.

We usually end the day with a sunset meal at Nui Italian. Their stone-fired pizzas and views are unbeatable.

Day 5

This is another travel day. One option is to book a helicopter ride. We took a tour with Blue Hawaii Helicopters and saw a combination of volcanoes and waterfalls. Amazing.

Another idea is a Captain Cook snorkeling cruise or a night manta ray tour out of Kona.

If you’re in Kona, try Black Rock Pizza. We went twice during our last vacation. Once, the restaurant was so packed that we took the pizza to go and devoured it in the parking lot. It’s that good.

 

Day 6

The last day in paradise is always bittersweet. We usually take the time to soak up one more sunrise and Hawaiian latte before hitting up the pool and lagoon.

It’s our tradition to visit Tropics Ale House on our last day. It’s a hidden gem that offers happy hour from 2 to 5 p.m. and a ton of different food options to satisfy each of my kids. It’s quick, cheap and easy.

After that, we head to Lava Lava Beach Club for one more sunset cocktail. Soak up the last moments of heaven on Earth before packing up.

Day 7

We grab our last coffee and stock up on chocolate-covered macadamia nuts before heading back to the airport.

Insider tip: It took 17 years of marriage and many vacations to realize that traveling back on a Saturday rather than Sunday gives our family a break before starting a new work week.

Read “Adventure Awaits You On The Big Island Of Hawaii With Hilton Grand Vacations” for another Member’s review of Ocean Tower.