Trekking across Kilauea’s active volcano. View historical lava flows from 1881 through the most recent flow in 2018.

Punalu’u Beach’s dark black sands are the result of many volcanic eruptions over the Big Island’s long history. It was formed as hot lava flowed into ocean, exploding and washing ashore.

This beach is home to endangered Hawksbill Turtles as well as Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. They love to sunbathe in the black sand.

Punalu’u can be used for walking, swimming, snorkeling, and camping, provided you have a permit.

This beach snorkeling tour allows you to swim in a lagoon filled with colorful fish and sea turtles.

The waters of Kealakekua Bay are crystal clear and full of colorful fishes and coral reefs. This is also where Captain James Cook was killed during a battle with Native Hawaiians.

This bay is a great place to snorkel on the Big Island. While most people book snorkeling trips by boat, those who are more adventurous can rent a kayak to explore the area on their own.

Mauna Kea Volcano is Hawaii’s tallest mountain, at 13,796 feet (4205 meters). However, the majority of the volcano’s lava is underwater. Mauna Kea rises to 33,476 feet (10.204 meters) from the seafloor.

The Mauna Kea Observatory is a group of 13 space telescopes that are high-powered and located at the summit of this dormant volcano. Popular activities include driving up to the observatory at sunset, as well as stargazing trips late into the night. A few short hikes can be made around the summit of the volcano. The summit can be snowcovered in winter.

With a professional astronomer, observe the deep sky from a large aperture telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea.

The artist-friendly town Holualoa is located on the western side, in the middle of the Big Island, along the fertile slopes above Kailua Kona.

Holualoa is a small town with lots of charm. It has a two-lane street lined with coffee shops, art galleries and friendly locals. After our many adventures, it was the perfect spot to relax.

There are many beautiful beaches on Hawaii’s islands, but the one that stands out is Papakolea, a green sand beach located on the South West coast.

The Mauna Loa volcano’s 49,000-year-old cinder cone contains billions upon billions of green crystals, called olivines. These are what give the beach its name.

Papakolea can be difficult to find as it is not on the main road. It takes approximately two hours to hike the 5-mile distance. Be sure to bring plenty of water. You won’t find any shade from the sun.

A few miles off Kona’s coast, a group of manta Rays measuring 20 feet (6 meters) in length glide through the water looking for plankton. You can even jump into the water to watch them feed at night.

There are too many activities to choose from, so it is difficult to decide what to do on the Big Island. We prefer to limit our activities to a maximum of one day and make sure they count. Take the time to enjoy the moment, and not worry about the next item.

It can be difficult to choose just a few activities, so we’ve compiled a list of highlights that will help you get started. Some of these activities are only available on the Big Island (i.e. Some of these are not possible on other Hawaiian islands. See also our guide to Oahu activities. However, others can be enjoyed on other islands in a different setting.

You can pitch your tent outdoors at many campsites or beach parks located around the Big Island. You should plan ahead as most campsites must be booked in advance. Learn more about Camping on Big Island.

Farm tours are an excellent way to connect with the land, and to see our exotic farms and animals. You can learn about and taste our local coffee, honey, chocolate, macadamia nuts, honey, vanilla, honey, and other products. You can also find information for animal lovers, such as: A seahorse farm and a petting Zoo are some of the options available to animal lovers.

One of the most treasured gems on the Big Island is the farmers markets. You can find them all over the island. With a little planning, you can visit one to have breakfast, lunch, or souvenir shopping during your island tour.

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, by far, is the most popular tourist spot on the Big Island. You can walk over lava fields that have been recently formed, enjoy rain- and fern forest experiences that will make you feel like your in Jurassic Park, or see the glow of lava over the Halemaumau Crater at night.

To see the glow from the halema’uma’u crater at Jaggar Mnuseum at night, you can visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park during the day.

Kona is located in the Big Island, which is the state’s golf capital. The island is home to some of the most renowned names in course design. They have created championship golf courses that will bring you back to the green again and again.
Many of the Big Island’s amazing wonders are hidden behind impassable obstacles, which make them difficult to see from the air. You can think of hidden waterfalls or fresh lava flows. Or how about the lava lakes found in the Puu Oo and Halemaumau craters Kilauea volcanoes?

A helicopter is a great way to see the spectacular cliffs along the Kohala coast. Image credit: Paradise Helicopters

There are many great hiking trails on the Big Island, including through lush rainforests and to remote beaches. Do you want to hike through a crater filled with lava 50 years ago? It is possible!

A number of ranches in Waimea allow you to tour their (often large) ranges as part of a guided tour. These tours offer spectacular views of the coast and peaks. You can also make it out of the range to explore other parts of the island like Waipio Valley.
On the east coast of Big Island, there are many hot springs and hot ponds. These hot springs are easily accessible, and are a great addition to any itinerary, especially if you’re staying longer than seven days on the Big Island.

Sometimes, a small detour from your destination can reveal a completely new side to the Big Island. These scenic drives show you some of the most beautiful spots on the Big Island, which you might have missed if your journey was too fast.

After 23 miles, the scenic chain of craters road through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reaches its end at lava flows. These flows covered the road in multiple eruptions between 1986-96.

You can enjoy Hawaii’s underwater paradise by diving. Scuba divers around the world love the underwater world of all Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii is known for its tropical waters and diverse marine life. Snorkeling is a great way to discover this amazing underwater world.

Hawaii is a great place to observe the stars. There are many options for stargazing, including a nighttime picnic or a photo session on Maunakea’s slopes at midnight. Or you can go on an adventure to the Mauna Kea summit to see the world-class telescopes. Learn more about Stargazing in Hawaii.

A stargazing tour can be a great option for those who want to visit Maunakea to view the sunset and stargaze, but don’t want to take the dangerous road or deal with the logistics of organizing a 4×4. We recommend the following tour, which is a great option because it has knowledgeable interpretive guides who respect local customs.

Stargazing from sea level to Maunakea’s summit at nearly 14,000 feet, you will see the beauty and unparalleled clarity of the Hawaiian night skies. The tour allows you to see the sunset with some of the best telescopes in the world. It then takes you to a private star show at 9000 feet using an 11-inch Celestron telescope.

Stand-up paddle surfing (SUP), or in Hawaiian, Hoehee nalu is a new sport that has a Hawaiian heritage. Both Kona and Hilo offer SUP lessons and rentals.

Anyone can swim with the dolphins at the Big Island. It is an unforgettable experience that will last a lifetime. Don’t forget your waterproof camera. Learn more about swimming with dolphins in the Big Island.

The manta snorkeling boats attach lights to the bottoms of flotation devices. This attracts plankton which the mantas eat. These gentle giants will slide beneath you. This activity was not for me as I had scuba dived with mantas rays before, but I can tell you that it is an amazing and humbling experience to see one in person. Book it here.

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