There are better ways to start a new year than watching a volcano spit orange lava into an ominous sky. But I can't think of many. We kicked off 2025 on the Big Island of Hawaii, staying in a tiny home Airbnb tucked into a lychee farm, and honestly, it felt like the perfect send-off before life changed completely in March when the baby arrives.
Tiny Home on a Lychee Farm
The Airbnb was exactly what we needed — small, simple, and surrounded by lychee trees. The kind of place where you wake up to the sound of nothing but birds and wind rustling through the fruit. It's the type of spot that makes you wonder why you ever thought you needed more space. We unpacked, the kids ran around outside, and we breathed in that humid, tropical air that only Hawaii does right.
We landed tired, and ready to crash. So we did. Quick nap to reset, and then we were up and moving again. We had plans that night, and nothing was going to stop us.
Driving Up to the Volcano at Night
The drive up to Kilauea after sunset was surreal. The sky started shifting — not the kind of sunset colors you expect, but something darker, more ominous. Orange. Glowing. Like the island itself was breathing fire into the atmosphere. The closer we got, the more the air felt charged. We could feel it before we even saw it.
And then we saw it.
The volcano was erupting. Not the slow, lazy kind of lava flow you see in documentaries. This was active. Violent. Beautiful. Orange lava shot high into the air, illuminating the night sky in pulses. We stood there, mesmerized, watching the earth do what it does — create, destroy, and remind us how small we are in the face of it all. The kids were wide-eyed. We were too.
The Shocka Guide Saves the Day (Again)
We've sung the praises of the Shocka travel guide before, but seriously — if you're heading to the Big Island, get it. It steered us through the northeast side of the island with precision, showing us exactly what to stop for and what to skip. No wasted time, just the good stuff. Hidden beaches, local food spots, scenic viewpoints we never would have found on our own. The guide is worth every penny.
Kona Coffee, Great Food, and Hilo Bay
The days were filled with the things that make Hawaii unforgettable. We stopped at a Kona coffee farm and tasted the real deal — smooth, rich, nothing like what you get at a chain back home. The food was incredible. Fresh poke, shrimp plates, local fruit that tasted like it was picked five minutes before we ate it. This is what you come to Hawaii for.
We spent an afternoon swimming at Hilo Bay. The water was clear, the waves were gentle, and the kids were in heaven. There's something about Hawaiian water that just feels different — warmer, softer, like it's welcoming you in. We floated, splashed, and soaked up every second of it.
One Last Adventure Before the Baby
This trip had a different weight to it. Not heavy, just... significant. We knew this was our last big adventure before baby number three arrives in March. The next few months are going to be chaos — the good kind, but chaos nonetheless. So we made this trip count. We pushed ourselves to see more, do more, soak it all in while we still could.
And standing there in front of that volcano, watching the earth literally create itself in front of us, it felt like the perfect metaphor. New beginnings. Change. Fire and creation. That's what 2025 is going to be for us.
We left the Big Island tired, full of great food, and with memories we'll be talking about for years. The volcano gave us a show. Hawaii gave us peace. And we gave ourselves one last hurrah before the beautiful chaos begins.
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