As the plane dipped closer to the deep black lava that flows into the beautiful aqua blue ocean, my excitement reached its peak. Stepping off the plane, breathing in the sweet scent of Hawaii — a mix of tropical flowers and fruit, and the ocean breeze — I felt ready for an adventure. I had a jam-packed vacation planned, filled with activities to explore the Big Island. From shallow reefs to deep waters, tropical rainforests to the summit of an active volcano, I was ready to experience it all.

I settled in at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, located in the Waikoloa Beach Resort about 20 miles north of Kona. My oceanfront room provided spectacular views and a wonderful natural soundtrack, and the hotel proved to be an adventure in itself. Situated on the Kohala Coast, the Hilton Waikoloa Village property spans 62 acres and has plenty of restaurants and activities to keep guests entertained. On site, the hotel offers nine dining locations, shopping, a seaside putting course, an expansive tennis complex, Camp Menehune for kids, the Legends of the Pacific Luau, and so much more. The large Kona pool features a waterfall, water-slide, and sand-bottom kids pool, while the Kohala River pool has flowing rivers and slides. Adults can escape to the quiet Ocean Tower Pool for a relaxing haven. Trams and boats pass back and forth from one end of the property to another, making it easy to get around. (www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com)

Hilton Waikoloa’s top attraction is Dolphin Quest, the only dolphin encounter that’s part of a hotel property in Hawaii. Guests can get to know the members of the organization’s dolphin family up-close and personal as they feed, swim with, and touch them. Programs include an experience for toddlers all the way up to becoming “Trainer for a Day.” I was exhilarated to get in the water with such amazing creatures and loved every minute as they performed tricks and played with our group. I was surprised to feel how firm and smooth the skin of our dolphin friend Nimbus was, and I was even allowed to give him a kiss. Dolphin Quest is led by a team of marine mammal experts who not only study and take care of the pod, but also teach guests about these intelligent creatures and the importance of preserving the world’s oceans.

Wanting to continue my exploration of the Hawaiian waters, I discovered that a great and convenient spot to snorkel is the hotel’s ocean-fed lagoon, which offers a chance to swim with tropical fish and green sea turtles. It’s also a great place to try kayaking, water biking, and my personal favorite, stand-up paddle boarding. During my stay, a friendly instructor taught me the basics and had me paddling around the lagoon in no time. After some practice, he led a group out to try our newfound skills in the open ocean. It was a great time, burning calves and all, and I managed to only fall off once.

Next up: ziplining. At Big Island Eco Adventures, our personable guides strapped my group into our gear and loaded us into an all-terrain truck. After an entertaining and wild off-road ride, we were surrounded by a lush and serene tropical forest. With a quick lesson on how to take off, steer, and land, we started off on a baby zipline. From there, each line became more challenging and exhilarating — longer, higher, faster. Flying over waterfalls and the jungle canopy, bonding with other zipliners over the thrill, and enjoying the spectacular views of the distant coastline made it an unforgettable experience. A must on any return trip, I’m looking forward to the addition of the “extreme” zipline course currently in the works.

A snorkeling boat trip with Ocean Sports became really exciting when we came upon a playful mother humpback whale and her baby. The captain cut the engine to keep the whales safe and to give us a chance to observe them. It was incredible to be only 25 yards from such powerful creatures as they spouted and breeched, and then finally plunged into the water, showing us a final glimpse of their tails. On the horizon I could see more whales breeching and spouting, a common sight from December to April when they come to breed and enjoy the warm waters.

With so many activities, my body demanded that I take time to relax. I spent an afternoon at the Kohala Spa to experience the 80-minute Signature Naupaka White Flower Ritual, a combo of compressions with a warm pestle of local herbs and a full-body massage with white lotus essential oil. Calming scents and experienced hands removed my stress, especially in my shoulders and back. A dip in the Jacuzzi in a private outdoor garden topped it off and left me feeling completely rejuvenated.

Great meals at the Hilton Waikaloa helped keep up my energy for the entire trip. A morning must, the extensive breakfast buffet includes build-your-own omelets, myriad fresh fruit, Hawaiian pastries, and more. For lunch I enjoyed Lagoon Grill’s famed lobster burger and the family-friendly fare by the pool at Orchid Marketplace. The hotel provides plentiful options for dinner, such as Kirin Chinese, Imari Japanese Cuisine, and Kamuela Provision Company (KPC). Incorporating the freshest local ingredients, KPC serves steak and seafood on a lanai overlooking the Pacific. Though difficult to choose one, my favorite dish was the KPC Limu Poke — ahi with Maui onion, Kona sea salt, kukui nut, and avocado. For the recipe, click here.

My final adventure was a trek across the island to view the world’s most active volcano Kilauea, a hotspot that has been continually erupting since 1983. I had been to see the caldera on past trips, but never at twilight. Our guide from Hawaii Forest & Trail proved an extremely knowledgeable resource, not only about the volcano, but the rest of the island as well. The drive took us through many of the 11 climate zones present on the Big Island, and we stopped at Kaumana Caves to hike into the depths of a lava tube. We also learned the difference between ’a’ā and pāhoehoe (the two types of Hawaiian lava); the first has a smooth, ropy texture, the latter is much more jagged. When we reached the summit, we toured the national park and ended at the visitor center as the sun was setting. I stood at the lookout point, watching the crater glow a fiery orange as the darkness settled in around me, and bathed in the wonder that the Earth’s churning molten core was so near the surface, just over a mile away. It was a truly amazing sight, and a difficult spot to leave. But before descending the mountain, I left a lei as a gift to the volcano goddess Pele, hoping that she’ll allow me to return to the Big Island someday for another wonderful adventure.   RINA VAN ORDEN