Big Island Now poll results: What Big Island experience did voters choose to give or get on Valentine’s Day?

It’s always an experience when you take your sweetheart out for date night and we’re sure many of you did just that this year on Valentine’s Day.

While top gift choices this year to celebrate the lovers’ holiday were classics such as candy and chocolate, greeting cards, flowers, clothing and gift cards, according to the National Retail Foundation, more people are turning to giving the gift of making memories.

“While shoppers may be spending the most on jewelry, overall, the most popular gifts are the classics — candy and greeting cards,” said Prosper Insights & Analytics Executive Vice President of Strategy Phil Rist. “We’re also seeing continued interest in gifts of experience, with about one-third of consumers planning to give a gift of experience this year.”

So we asked readers last week if they could choose what kind of experience to give or get for Valentine’s Day what they would want.

Here are the results:

• Other: 42 (19%).
• We are totally going to the beach for a sunset picnic: 39 (18%).
• Let’s go whale watching!: 30 (14%).
• We’re definitely the outdoorsy type. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park for the win: 22 (10%).
• We love the ocean, so a diving or snorkeling trip/tour would be the bomb: 18 (8%).
• My sweetheart and I both have a sweet tooth, so it’s a chocolate farm tour all the way: 17 (7%).
• It would be awesome to head to the summit of Mauna Kea: 18 (8%).
• A Hawaiian lūʻau sounds like a spectacular plan: 15 (7%).
• Who needs to dine when you can enjoy wine on a vineyard tour?: 8 (3%).
• Getting a little scared just brings you closer together, so how about a ghost tour?: 5 (2%).

Total votes: 214.

Despite the other category getting the most votes with 42, or 19%, no one commented about what other options they would like to give or receive.

The only comment the poll received was from Panchos Tacos on Facebook. The food truck had a special Valentine’s Day Cupid Shuffle on Feb. 13 to accompany its mini Taco Tuesday market experience in Pāhoa.

If you missed out and still want to treat your sweetie to some Mexican delights, the food truck is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 15-2942 Pāhoa Village Road, Thursdays at HouseMart Ben Franklin Crafts in Hilo and Fridays at Kai Store, located at 2010 Kīlauea Ave. in Hilo.