Night Life on the Big Island

ENTRY BY JESSICA BURNETT, JETSETBURNETT, TEAM TBK TRAVEL SPECIALIST

Everyone goes to the Big Island for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and believe me, it is pretty fantastic, but an absolute can’t miss is the incredible night life that the Island has to offer – an epic night snorkel (or dive) with the Manta Rays! Did you know that the Kona Coast of Hawaii is considered the primary place in the world to view manta rays after sunset? Well let me tell you, there is nothing quite like being so close to these massive and majestic creatures. It is both exhilarating and sort of freaky.

There are a few different tour operators to choose from, but we really enjoyed our trip with Big Island Divers. From the time we checked in, the group operating this tour was super fun and knowledgeable.

The Mantas all go to a spot that is right off the shore to feast on plankton. They put on quite a show and at one point we had 3 Mantas swimming around us at one time. This is really a highlight of any trip to Hawaii.

If this wasn’t epic enough, the ride back to the docks was full of stargazing and the water was lit up by phytoplankton! We definitely recommend this excursion for any of our Hawaii clients!

Poke – raw fish or something more?

Entry by Jessica Burnett, JetsetBurnett, Team TBK Travel Specialist and avid foodie

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Like many other people, I am big on food on any trip. The first thing I do when planning any trip is google the best places to eat and what the specialties are. So naturally, when we were planning our 3 week Hawaii trip, the first thing I did was research Poke spots. I am a huge sushi and Poke lover so I was ready to eat! So with that, I have picked my top 3 Poke spots that we visited. It has been a month since we came back and I am still trying to figure out how to get a poke delivery fresh from Hawaii to my apartment.

Tin Roof, Maui

This may seem like a hole in the wall, located in a shopping plaza with pawn shops, etc. but I promise you it is worth it. Located right around the corner from the airport, this spot is owned by Sheldon Simeon, who was on Top Chef. For $20, you get the daily special Poke bowl. The special of the day had yellowtail, was the perfect blend of spice and was the perfect meal after a long flight to get there.

Daily Poke bowl special at Tin Roof in Maui

Huggo’s on the Rocks, Big Island

I was very excited to go to this spot as it is an outdoor restaurant with a nice view of the ocean. The poke bowl was very good and the perfect portion size. The drinks were also very good. I recommend this spot for anyone looking for some good food before heading to the docks for a night snorkel with the Manta Rays!

Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl at Huggo’s On the Rocks, Big Island

Ono Seafood, Honolulu

This spot was once on Yelps top 100 places to Eat in the US and wow was it good! A definite hole in the wall spot, we were heading back from driving to Diamondhead when I got a sudden urge for Poke and did a little yelp searching and found this spot. Very fresh and delicious.

Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl from Ono Seafood, Honolulu

Honorable Mention

Monkeypod, Maui

Ok, so I had to give credit to the Poke Tacos at Monkeypod. They were so delicious and fresh. The perfect app to share with the table. There are a few Monkeypod Kitchens around the Hawaiian islands, but we visited the one on Kaanapali Beach in Maui which is in a cool shopping area and you can walk out near the beach while you wait for your table.

The Poke Tacos were pretty amazing at Monkeypod Kitchen, Maui