Hawaii Vacation Recap: Big Island

After our amazing first week on Oahu, Stephen and I next took a short hop over to the Big Island, where we celebrated his sister's wedding and enjoyed another couple days at the beautiful Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on the Kohala Coast. We then also headed down to Kona and explored Hilo on the wet side of the island. Hey, when you're traveling all the way out to Hawaii from the East Coast, you might as well make the most of it, right?

The view from our room, which we got at a great rate thanks to the block discount for the wedding. What an all-around incredible resort! 

Pre-ceremony photos with the couple and my fellow bridesmaids.

Posing with Stephen for a quick picture before the start of the wedding. 

Heading down the aisle.

My gorgeous bouquet, perfectly designed to symbolize a Hawaiian sunset.

The bride and groom sharing their first dance in the moonlight. 

A sea turtle resting peacefully on a black sand beach. We also saw several others up close while swimming in the bay at the resort.

 Coffee roasting demonstration at the Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation. I don't typically drink coffee, but the blends we sampled there were delicious! 

During our daytrip to Hilo, we got a great glimpse of the cruise ship we sailed on for our honeymoon three years ago. 

The Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens in Hilo is home to white Bengal tiger Namaste', along with many beautiful peacocks that enjoy roaming freely. 

Rainbow Falls in Hilo, one of our final stops before flying home.

A cool and colorful statue at the airport in Hilo. Have you figured out yet that I'm a huge lover of sea turtles? 

 All in all, it was a truly fabulous trip, and I can't wait to go back again for the next one!