Year-Round Outdoor Fitness: 5 Big Island Activities That Will Help You Stay Active

As winter quickly approaches on the mainland, I see more and more friends of mine ditching their regular exercise routines for curling on the couch wrapped in blankets and filling their belly with heavy, comforting foods. Who wants to get out and do anything, let alone exercise, when temperatures drop and snow starts to fall? I know I wouldn’t! Watching the temperatures drop across the country keeps me telling myself, “lucky we live Hawaii.”

Center of Disease Control recommends that adults need at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardio activity per week. Two or more of these days of exercise should also incorporate muscle strengthening exercises.

Luckily, here on the Big Island, there are tons of fun, outdoor adventures island-wide that will not only keep anyone visiting warm, but will also continue to allow them to reap the health benefits from staying active. As an added bonus, one cannot travel very far without finding some sort of fuel to keep their bodies going. I’m talking mango, avocado, papaya, pineapple, breadfruit, bananas, guava, coconut…growing right here at just an arm’s length away!

Activities to Try at Least Once

Here are some of my favorite things to make a point to do at least once a year (besides the normal days running on the beach and swimming with the dolphins – what I like to call a day at the office):

1) Hike down to and snorkel or paddle board at historic Captain Cook Monument.

Paddle boarding – much harder than it looks!

Flippah’s on, ready to go!

2) Snorkel, or just swim, at Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park (also know as “Place of Refuge” or “Two Step”).

Crystal clear waters; perfect for spotting sea turtles and dolphins!

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park

3) Golf at Mauna Kea Golf Course – because I’ve never played golf at a place more beautiful.

4) Papakōlea Beach (Green Sand Beach) – there aren’t many other green sand beaches in the world.

5) Take a day trip to hike over at Kilauea Iki, or Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Want to Know More?

This is just a short list to give you an idea of what I’m getting into to stay active. Next time you are on island, or planning a trip to visit, let’s get in touch because I’d love to share more!