The Island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, is the largest of all the Hawaiian islands and boasts a rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and breathtaking natural wonders. This island has something unique and unforgettable to offer every type of traveler. You can find cascading waterfalls, black sand beaches, active volcanoes and lush rainforests. You can also hike into the mountains and explore ancient Hawaiian temples. The Big Island has any outdoor wonder you might want in a setting that will leave you speechless.

This guide will help you plan an unforgettable adventure filled with stunning natural landscapes, delicious local cuisine, and fascinating historical sites. The Big Island is the perfect place for a family vacation, a couple’s get-away or a trip with friends. Start planning your trip today, and get ready to make big memories on this Big Island!

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BIG ISLAND TRAVEL GUIDE

Kona

Town of Kona

Sunset at dinner at Papa Kona

Mokuaikaua Church in Kona

Kona is located on the West coast of the island and is a popular destination for tourists who want to experience the laid-back lifestyle of Hawaii. It’s known for its fabulous sunny weather, spectacular beaches, and coffee plantations. Here are a few fun things to do in this relaxing town.

Swim with Manta Rays

Swimming with manta rays is one of the most popular things to do on the Big Island. You can snorkel or dive and get up close with the massive fish and watch them swim, flip, dance– all the ways they move about.

Snorkel at Kealakekua Bay

Kealakekua Bay is a marine sanctuary that’s home to colorful coral reefs and a variety of marine life. You can take a guided snorkeling tour to explore the bay and see dolphins, sea turtles, and tropical fish. 

Walk the Kailua Pier

Walk on the Kailua Pier, a historic landmark in Kona. It’s the starting point for the Ironman Triathlon and a popular spot for fishing and swimming. You can also take a sunset cruise from the pier. Our whale-watching cruise left from there.

Stroll through the town

Walk around the cute little town and shop, relax by Kamakahonu Beach, paddle board, visit the Kona Farmer’s Market and Hulihe‘e Palace, or grab a meal, a coffee, a shave ice or a mai tai.

Hilo

Town of Hilo

Hilo at sunset

Akaka Falls

Hilo, on the East coast of the island, is known for its lush rainforests, waterfalls, and botanical gardens. The town is a popular destination for tourists who want to hike and experience the natural beauty of Hawaii. Here are some of the top things to do around Hilo: 

Akaka Falls 

Akaka Falls is a 422-foot waterfall that’s located in a lush rainforest just outside of Hilo. The hike to the falls is less than a mile and takes you through a rainforest filled with bamboo, orchids, and hibiscus flowers. You’ll also pass by a smaller waterfall, Kahuna Falls. You can take a guided tour of the falls to learn about the history of the area and the plants and animals that call the rainforest home, or you can just hike and view it.

Rainbow Falls 

Rainbow Falls is a stunning waterfall that’s located just a few miles from downtown Hilo. The waterfall gets its name from the rainbow that often appears in the mist. 

Liliuokalani Gardens 

Liliuokalani Gardens is a beautiful Japanese-style garden that’s located in Hilo. The garden is home to koi ponds, pagodas, and walking paths. 

Volcanoes National Park

End of the Chain of Craters Road

Thurston Lava Tube

The erupting Kilauea Volcano

Volcanoes National Park is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in geological wonders. The park is home to two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The park was established in 1916 and covers an area of over 500 square miles. 

See an Active Eruption

Be sure to see an active eruption if there is one when you visit. They are sometimes more impressive than other times, but don’t miss a chance to see it if you can. You can see the eruption when we visited in the photo above.

Thurston Lava Tube

Go through the Thurston Lava Tube, a natural tunnel formed by lava flow. You can take a short hike through the tube, which is filled with fascinating geological formations and offers an up-close look at the power of volcanic activity.

Chain of Crater Road 

Don’t miss the Chain of Craters Road! It will be a drive like none you’ve ever seen. It will take you through several different landscapes, including lava fields, forests, and coastal cliffs. Along the way, you can see a variety of volcanic features, including steam vents, craters, and lava flows. It was one of the coolest things I’ve seen.

Mauna Loa

Take in the stunning views from Mauna Loa. This massive shield volcano is one of the largest in the world. You can hike to its summit to take in panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. 

Puuloa Petroglyphs

See the impressive Puuloa petroglyphs. These ancient rock carvings were created by native Hawaiians over 500 years ago and offer a glimpse into their rich history and culture.

Hike the Kilauea Iki Trail

The Kīlauea Iki Trail is just over four miles long and can be completed in a few hours. This trail offers a unique opportunity to experience the power and beauty of volcanic activity up close. The trail will take you through lush rainforest, past steam vents, and across the floor of a once-active crater. The trail offers stunning views of the park’s unique landscape.

Hapuna Beach

Waikoloa Beach

It’s hard to top Hawaiian beaches, and the Big Island of Hawaii is home to some of the most beautiful in the world. Here are a few.

Hapuna Beach

One of the most popular beaches on the island is Hapuna Beach, which boasts crystal clear waters and pristine white sand. Visitors to Hapuna Beach can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and other water activities. It was a beautiful, peaceful place for an afternoon of relaxation.

Papakolea Beach

Another unique beach on the Big Island is Papakolea Beach, also known as Green Sand Beach. This beach gets its name from the green sand that is mixed in with the sand on the beach. The beach is located near the southern tip of the island and requires a hike to reach, but it’s definitely worth it for the stunning views and unique experience.

Punaluu Beach

Punaluu Beach is a black sand beach that’s located on the Southeast coast of the Big Island. The beach is home to sea turtles, and you can often see them basking on the sand.

Waikoloa Beach

Waikoloa Beach is another popular spot known for its calm waters and abundance of marine life. You can spot sea turtles and other marine animals while snorkeling or swimming in the warm waters. We saw a huge sea turtle just lying on the beach.

Have dinner right next door at Lava Lave Beach Club. It was one of our favorite meals!

Kua Bay Beach

Kua Bay is another beautiful beach with turquoise waters and soft white sand. It’s a great spot for swimming and sunbathing, as well as watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.  

As all the Hawaiian islands do, the Big Island offers a variety of water activities and tours. Here are some of the most popular.

Whale Watching

During the winter months, humpback whales migrate to the waters around the Big Island. You can take a whale-watching tour to see these magnificent creatures up close. We went on a day that whales were out! We saw quite a lot! It was difficult to get good photos, but we saw many.

Snorkel and Scuba Dive

The Big Island is home to some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving spots in the world. You can explore coral reefs, caves, and underwater lava formations. 

Sunset Cruises 

Watching the sunset over the ocean in Hawaii is a magical experience. You can take a sunset cruise to see the colors of the sky change as the sun sets over the horizon. 

More Things To Do

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park is a sacred site that was once a place of refuge for ancient Hawaiians. See the Royal Grounds located at the heart of the park. They include the Hale o Keawe heiau, a sacred temple that was once the home of the bones of Hawaiian chiefs. The Great Wall is a massive stone wall that surrounds the park. It was built in the 16th century to protect the royal grounds. This park is among some of the most beautiful scenery we encountered.

Tour a Coffee Farm

Kona is famous for its coffee plantations, and a tour of one is a fun activity even if you’re not a big coffee-drinker. You’ll learn about the coffee-making process and get to sample some of the best coffee in the world. We had a fun tour at the Heavenly Hawaiian Farm, pictured above, and I recommend it!

The Painted Church

The Painted Church

St Benedict Catholic Church, also known as The Painted Church, is located on the Southwest part of the island and is something that you really should see. It’s so unique and so pretty! It is known for its colorful murals and paintings. You can take a guided tour of the church to learn about its history and the meaning behind the murals and paintings. It is an active church, so you can attend a service if you wish. Walk around the church too. It is surrounded by a beautiful garden filled with tropical plants and flowers.

Local Cuisine

Dinner at Lava Lava Beach Club

A stop for mai tais in Kona

The Big Island of Hawaii has some of the most delicious and unique foods in the world. The island is known for its diverse and flavorful cuisine that blends the traditions of the native Hawaiian culture with other influences such as Japanese, Chinese, and Portuguese. 

One of the most popular dishes on the island is poke, a raw fish salad that is typically served as an appetizer. Other local favorites include laulau, a dish made with pork or fish wrapped in taro leaves and steamed, and loco moco, a hearty meal usually served at breakfast consisting of rice, beef patty, fried egg, and gravy. There’s also malasadas, a type of Portuguese donut that has become a staple dessert on the island.

Some of our favorite restaurants on the island were Kalikali Cuisine, where we had brunch a couple of times, and dinner at Papa Kona, both in Kona. We also liked Lava Lava Beach Club in the Waikoloa Village, and the pizza we had at Pesto Cafe in Hilo was very good. And if you’re going through Waimea stop for breakfast at Hawaiian Style Cafe. We, of course, had our share of mai tais, and the pina coladas were good too!

A few other popular places to try are Da Poke Shack, the Kona Brewing Company for beer, and the Hilo Farmers Market.

Where to Stay

Kona

The Big Island is, well, big. So it takes longer to get around. Think about the island in terms of the West side and the East side. The West side has more attractions, beaches, and historical and cultural sights. The East Side is more “green” with rainforests, hiking trails, and waterfalls, and, of course, there’s the Volcanoes National Park.

If you want to try to see some of everything I think the it would be a good idea to divide your trip into two parts and stay in the Kona area for half of the trip and in the Hilo area for half of the trip. There are more accommodations in Kona, but you can still find places to stay around Hilo if you’d like.

We were lucky enough to stay at a friend’s guest house on the West side which was an unbelievable place! The perfect apartment with an incredible deck overlooking the Pacific! 

If you’re planning to visit Volcanoes National Park for a few day you might want to stay at The Volcano House which is located inside the park. It offers stunning views of the Kilauea Caldera and has a restaurant that serves local cuisine.

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Transportation

You will need to rent a car in order to get around the island.  If you book a rental car well in advance you can usually find a reasonable price. Pay attention to prices for parking at hotels and choose wisely as they can sometimes double the cost of having a car.

Currency

The national currency in the United States is the US Dollar ($).  Click here to get the daily conversion.