Top Things To Do On The Big Island, Hawaii: Complete Travel Guide
What makes the Big Island of Hawaii stand out from the other Hawaiian islands? We wondered this as well, but were not disappointed by the colorful beaches (white, black, and green), wildlife (dolphins, fish, manta rays), and the natural diversity of the environment (volcanic rock, waterfalls, lush forests, mountains, beaches). Here is everything you need for your Big Island stay.
Where To Stay
Hawaii, Hawaii is nicknamed “The Big Island” because it is the largest of the Hawaiian islands. It would take about 8 hours to drive around the entire island! Because of this it is helpful to plan out your activities beforehand and group them by location.
When referring to the island, it is generally split into two parts: the “Kona” side and the “Hilo” side. The Kona side is located near the main airport and is home to the white sand beaches and sunnier weather. The Hilo side has more rain and is filled with lush forests and waterfalls. Read about things to do in Hilo in our Hilo Travel Guide.
Many places like Akaka Falls or Volcanoes National Park are a few hour drive from Kona. When considering where to stay, consider what activities you want to do and how much driving you are willing to do. You can even stay a few nights in Kona and a few nights in Hilo so you can enjoy full days in the areas instead of driving back and forth.
Top Things To Do On The Big Island
Go On A Night Time Snorkel or Scuba Manta Ray Tour
This is quite literally a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience because this is a learned behavior of the Manta Rays near the Big Island and only the Big Island! Night Snorkel or Scuba with Manta Rays averaging 6 feet wide (which really is huge when they are so close to you!). The Rays have learned that light attracts Plankton (one of their primary food sources) and will come up within inches of you with their mouths wide open! You may even see more than one Manta Ray! No worries though – it is very safe and the Manta Rays never actually touch you (and you are told not to touch them), but even if they did, they are harmless to you. Their tails do not have stingers, have very small teeth, are made of cartilage (not bone), and, although they can grow to be very large, they only eat very very small sea organisms such as Plankton due to their small throat size.
You can only see the rays like this if you take a tour, but it was definitely worth the money. You will go near sunset or after dark, and the tour boat will take you to the location. There will likely be more than one group there, and likely there could be snorkelers and scuba divers there at the same time. The water is pretty warm year round, and wet suits are usually provided. Bring a towel and maybe some motion sickness medication!
Price: Variable – around $100 typically
Visit Volcanoes National Park
The Hawaiian islands were created by volcanoes and are even made up of volcanoes! According to the USGS there are 4 active volcanoes on the Island of Hawaii. If you pick the right time to visit (meaning during an active eruption) you can see actual lava flows on the Big Island! You can check for updates and information about seeing lava here.
We were not there during an active eruption, but we still really enjoyed our time at the National Park walking through lava tubes, hiking, and seeing the steam vents. You could spend anywhere from a few hours to a full day depending on which hikes you choose.
Price:
$30.00 per private non-commercial vehicle (capacity 15 or less) – 7 days
$15.00 per pedestrian or bicycle – 7 days
$25.00 per motorcycle – 7 days
$55.00 Hawai‘i Tri-park Annual Pass
Snorkel Pae’a or Two Step Beach at Honaunau Bay
Pae’a beach is more commonly known as “Two Step” beach due to the natural two stepping ledges at the snorkeling entry point on the lava rock. Honaunau Bay, where Two Step is located, is a calm area with great snorkeling! Enjoy the beautiful corals, colorful fish, and even see some dolphins while you are there!
There isn’t much of a beach, but is more just lava rock that you are able to sit on. While there isn’t much to do at this beach beyond scuba diving or snorkeling, it was fun to look for tide pools among the lava rock.
How To See Dolphins at Two Step Beach in Honaunau Bay?
You have the highest chance of seeing dolphins swimming in the bay in the morning! We were there from 7-8 and saw over 20 dolphins (including baby dolphins) all swimming together! Remember to keep your distance and just enjoy watching these beautiful creatures play while listening to their sounds.
Visit the City of Refuge or Pu’uhonua O Honaunau
Located across the bay from Two Step is the City of Refuge National Park. This is a location with interesting historical and cultural significance. In ancient times those who were seeking asylum, such as defeated warriors and fugitives, could find refuge and forgiveness. Also in the national park is where many chiefs lived.
Check out this self-guided walking tour or audio tour that is about a half mile long, put out by the National Park Service. There are also some cultural activities that are sometimes hosted in the park and a two-mile hike to an abandoned Hawaiian village in addition to the sites in the park.
Price:
- $20.00 per private non-commercial vehicle (capacity 15 or less) – 7 days
- $10.00 per pedestrian or bicycle – 7 days
- $15.00 per motorcycle – 7 days
- $35.00 Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau NHP Annual Pass
- $55.00 Hawai‘i Tri-park Annual Pass
The park entrance fee includes the parking fee.
Visit Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls
Located on the Hilo side of the island, Akaka falls is one of the most popular waterfalls on the Big Island. Named after a previous Hawaiian chief, the Akaka waterfall is 442 feet tall! Kahuna Falls is found on the same hike and is about 300 feet tall, but is less visible due to trees.
Get to the falls by navigating to the Akaka Falls State Park and parking at the parking lot or down the street and walking in. There are two ways to get to the falls – the shorter in and out (go left) or the full loop (go right). The full loop is paved and only about a half mile. The Kahuna falls viewpoint is located along the loop!
Price: $5 per car or $1 per person (if you park outside the park)
Visit The Black Sand Beach or Pahu’u Beach (and see sea turtles!)
Visit this beautiful palm-lined black sand beach. We found the sand was pretty fine and nice to lay on (though it does get hot quickly!). This is a nice area to swim and relax. There are also some picnic tables for use!
An added bonus… SEA TURTLES! We saw 3 sea turtles relaxing along the rocks near the beach. We put on some snorkel gear and saw a few more swimming in the area! The low visibility and lack of fish varieties didn’t make this a great snorkel location (unless your sole purpose is just to turtle watch).
Price: Free
Visit The Southern Most Point in the United States – “South Point”
We visited South Point at sunset and enjoyed walking along the coastline taking in the views. Among enjoying the views and snapping a picture, this is also a popular cliff jumping location fitted with ladders to climb back up!
Price: Free
Snorkel at Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay
Captain Cook Monument is reportedly the site where first westerner, British explorer Captain James Cook, landed on the island of Hawaii and is also the location of some of the best snorkeling on the Big Island. Kealakekua Bay, where Captain Cook Monument is located, is a State Historic Park and includes a Marine Life Conservation District (which explains the wonderful snorkeling).
Price: Free to hike, more for a kayak or boat tour
There are 3 main ways to get to the monument:
1. Hiking To Captain Cook – Ka’Awaloa Trailhead
This trail is rated “hard” and is only recommended for experienced hikers. It is a 4 mile with over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. We heard from others there that the trail was pretty overgrown and had little shade so it was hot. Plan on about 45 minutes each way.
2. Kayaking to Captain Cook
Several places offer kayaking tours to the monument for snorkeling. It takes about 20 minutes to kayak to the monument. The bay is usually quite calm and sometimes you can even see dolphins swimming nearby!
If you want to go yourself on a “vessel” such as a kayak or a paddleboard you have to request a Ka’awoloa Vessel Landing Permit from Hawaii (hawaiistateparks.org). Reportedly only 10 permits are granted for private parties per day and must be hand signed.
3. Take a Boat Tour
There are many boat tours of varying sizes that will take you to Kealakekua Bay to snorkel. Most tours provide equipment which is a great option if you don’t own or don’t want to pack your own gear! Tours range from a few hours to a half day.
Waipi’o Valley
At the very least, the Waipi’o Valley Lookout is worth the visit! This valley is surrounded by huge cliffs, has a black sand beach, lush natural surroundings, waterfalls, and taro fields. The views are breathtaking! Hiking down the road to the valley… also breathtaking.
Most car rental places will specify in their contracts that you are not able to drive your rental car down to the Waipi’o Valley due to the challenging, very steep road. You should not even attempt it without 4 wheel drive.
Your other options are to walk/hike or to take a tour. The walk down to the valley is very steep and strenuous and takes a very long time (especially on the way up if you take breaks).
Once down in the valley you can go to the beautiful black sand beach, see wild horses, and see several waterfalls. In the valley the tallest waterfall in Hawaii, Hi’ilaawe Falls. It is over 1,200 feet tall!
Tours range from shuttles down and back to horseback riding in the valley and waterfall tours.
Price: Free or more if you take a shuttle or tour
When To Visit Hawaii, Hawaii
The Big Island has generally temperate weather and has many things to do and experience in any season!
Keep in mind that the Hilo side of the island is always a few degrees cooler and gets MUCH more rain than the Kona side of the island. There are also some areas of higher elevation on the island that are also typically cooler such as Mauna Kea summit and the volcano.
Hurricane season is June through November. Though hurricanes aren’t very common here it is wise to keep an eye on the weather forecast and note you might see some more rain storms through that time.
Visiting during winter (November – March)
PROS: The winter months usually are least busy on the island so you can get better pricing for hotels and less crowded attractions. The Humpback Whales migrate from Alaska around January – March so travel during the winter months would provide you the opportunity to go whale watching.
CONS: During the winter the weather is a bit cooler and there is significantly more rainfall. Note that there is an increase in crowds around the holidays.
Visiting During Summer (June – August)
These are some of the more crowded months to visit as many families travel to the area for summer break.
PROS: Warmer temperatures, tourist events and actives in full swing.
CONS: more busy, higher rates due to it being peak tourist months.
Visiting During A Shoulder Season (April – May, September – October)
PROS: Tourism isn’t at its highest so rates are generally lower for hotels and other travel, but the weather is still typically warm. A good number of local events and festivals tend to take place in the spring.
CONS: Can have some increased precipitation and the weather isn’t quite as warm as the summer months.
How To Get Around The Big Island
Due to how large the island is and the distance between sites, we recommend getting a rental car. The roads are very well paved and somewhat easy to navigate, especially with the use of GPS.
Local Food and Restaurants of the Big Island
Shaka Tacoz
A great local eat in Kona with delicious tacos, burritos, quesadilla’s and more! Enjoy food to go, indoor, or outside with a view of the coast!
Pro Tip: Get the pork tacos and try their special Hot Mango Chili Sauce if you like some spice
L&L Barbeque
A local chain that can be found throughout the island. This is a great quick, cheap eat if you are craving some local foods with the mac salad and sticky rice sides.
Pro Tip: Try the BBQ Mixed Plate
Punalu’u Bake Shop
Stop here on your way to the Punalu’u Black Sand Beach! They have a large variety of baked goods, meal options, souvenirs, ice cream, and pastries. Definitely worth the wait in the often long lines.
Pro Tip: Try the Malasada’s
Ippy’s Hawaiian BBQ
This is located on the Hilo side of the island in Waimea. We stopped here after visiting the Waipi’o Valley and thought that their Hawaiian BBQ was some of the best we had tried. Very cute location with a good amount of seating.
Pro Tip: Try the Kalua Pork plate.
Kenchi Restaurant
Located in Hilo, Kenchi is a Japanese restaurant that we liked so much we went twice! When we were there they were only doing takeout, which we then took and ate in the Japanese Gardens in Hilo.
Pro Tip: Order the Katsu Chicken
