14 Best Things to Do on the Big Island, Hawaii

Big Island is predictably the greatest of the Hawaiian islands, and thanks to its dimension and unbelievable variety of landscapes it affords the finest of each Hawaiian island multi function. As the locals put it, you may stroll in the snow and swim in the sea on the identical day!

The island is dwelling to lively volcanoes, nationwide parks infused with historical past and mysticism, and seashores straight out of paradise. There are 5 volcanoes on the island: Mauna Loa, Kilauea, Kohala, Mauna Kea, and Hualalai.

But even then, there are extra issues to do on the Big Island than exploring nationwide parks and sky-high volcanoes. There are shorelines of each coloration adorned in black sand, inexperienced sand, white sand, and salt and pepper sand (a mixture of black and white).

Relax, hike, swim with manta rays, escape into tropical botanical gardens and enjoyment of Hawaii’s laid-back tradition and slowed-down tempo of life.

14. Papakolea Green Sand Beach

This spectacular seaside is one in all simply two inexperienced sand seashores in the United States. The seaside is inside the Mauna Loa volcano cinder, which is 49,000 years outdated!

The volcano is roofed in olivines, a inexperienced crystal, that make the seaside look inexperienced – therefore its title. Pass your hand by means of the sand and type by means of the bits of black lava, white shell, and inexperienced olivines. You gained’t have seen sand prefer it earlier than.

You can swim, however be careful as a result of the waves can get a bit tough! There aren’t any outlets or amenities close by, so carry every little thing you want and luxuriate in a day on this one-of-a-kind seaside.

13. Liliuokalani Gardens

The Liliuokalani Gardens might be discovered alongside Banyan Drive in downtown Hilo. The backyard’s historical past started when the final monarch of Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani, donated the land for it to be was a public park.

It’s now the largest Edo-style decorative backyard outdoors of Japan, and it serves as a tribute to the Japanese immigrants who helped form Big Island’s agricultural sector way back to 1868.

Come and stroll round this extremely cute backyard the place you may stroll over little Japanese-style bridges above slow-moving streams and chill out to the sound of close by birds chirping away.

12. Holualoa Village

The village sits on the western coast of Big Island, alongside the slope of the Hualalai volcano. Don’t fear – the volcano has been dormant for a very long time!

Holualoa is called the island’s epicenter for espresso, farming, and artwork. Because the city is alongside the Kona Coffee Belt it’s the good place to domesticate a few of Hawaii’s finest espresso.

Don’t go away with out exploring an area espresso farm on Mount Hualalai, like Mauka Meadows. Coffee farming started in Holualoa way back to 1828. Other prime sights embody Magic Sands Beach and the Glyph Art Gallery.

11. Anaehoomalu Beach

The Anaehoomalu Beach alongside the west shore of Big Island is understood by locals as A-Bay for brief. If it’s an impressive day on the seaside that you just’re searching for – you’ve discovered it.

Come and laze on the glowing white-sand beneath a coconut palm and soak in the tropical solar. Catch a glimpse of the mountain vistas in the distance earlier than leaping into the cool, clear sea.

The seaside boasts an offshore reef that has made it very talked-about for snorkeling and scuba diving. You also can windsurf and surf when the climate is true!

10. Kealakekua Bay

There’s a Captain Cook monument in Kealakekua Bay that commemorates his place of loss of life in 1779, the identical yr that European explorers first arrived on the island alongside this very bay!

Kealakekua is one in all the world’s finest snorkeling and kayaking spots thanks to the clear turquoise water that’s dwelling to colourful tropical fish, and the spectacular views of the rocky cliffs round the bay accompany your kayaking journey out at sea.

Kealakekua is the largest pure bay on the island, and it’s a well-liked mountain climbing spot too.

9. Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

The Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park is taken into account sacred to native Hawaiians, and is intricately tied to their native historical past. In historical Hawaii, the folks had been ruled by legal guidelines often called kapu.

If a kapu was damaged, the penalty was loss of life. But there was one salvation for criminals – reaching Pu’uhonua.

The park’s bay is guarded by towering and spooky picket Ki’i statues and a mystical temple is inside its bounds, the Hale o Keawe temple. Come and join with Hawaii’s previous and traditions at this enchanting nationwide park.

8. Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Along the japanese shore of the island there may be an awe-inspiring seaside with a very distinctive function, darkish black sand. The seaside’s sand is, in reality, tiny items of lava!

Punalu’u seaside will get very popular due to its black sand, which attracts inexperienced turtles who come onto shore to relaxation and warmth up! They’re an endangered species, so don’t miss the likelihood to see one up shut.

It’s not the finest seaside for swimming and snorkeling as a result of the climate might be fairly tough. But it’s an ideal place to come and spot uncommon wildlife and stroll alongside the seaside.

7. Mauna Kea Summit

This monumental mountain is the tallest in Hawaii! Technically, it’s additionally the tallest in the world. The Mauna Kea Volcano, if measured from the sea flooring, stands at 33,476 toes! However, most of it’s underwater, and the 13,796 toes which can be above water can’t compete with Mount Everest.

You can drive up to the Mauna Kea Observatory on the summit, hike round the summit, or go on a late-night stargazing journey. There are a lot of methods to discover Mauna Kea.

Come take a few of your finest vacation pictures from the prime, and luxuriate in a breath of contemporary air and a while in nature. Occasionally the summit will get snow in the winter.

6. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is the good place to come and disconnect out of your worries and get in contact with nature once more. Walk up to gushing waterfalls and conceal in the shade of leafy palms.

Stand beneath historical bushes, enjoyment of the smells and colours of the tropical flowers rising in the botanical backyard, and escape the busyness of day by day life.

Take a tour with an area information if you need to discover out all about the backyard’s rarest and most treasured fauna. Keep a glance out for wildlife alongside the approach.

5. Hilo Farmers Market

This native market runs on Wednesday and Saturday and is a superb likelihood for you to chat to locals, soak in the ambiance, and purchase the finest native produce.

Over 200 native farmers and craftsmen attend the market, so that you gained’t be caught for alternative. Come and style the ripest and freshest tropical fruits, lots of which you gained’t have heard of earlier than, and purchase souvenirs to take again dwelling.

Make certain you attempt native merchandise you may’t get again dwelling, like juicy star fruits, candy dragon fruits, and rambutan.

4. Swim with Manta Rays

Manta rays are elegant and serene marine animals which can be gentle-natured and breathtakingly lovely. Imagine wanting down and seeing one gliding by means of the water beneath you?

You can head to the Kohala Coast and swim with the rays at this seaside that sits alongside the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The resort floods the reef with mild every night time, attracting plankton and in flip manta rays. Conveniently, you may e-book your scuba diving or snorkeling tour straight by means of the resort.

Alternatively, the Kona coast is a well-liked place to swim with manta rays beneath the starry sky. You can go on a ship tour that may take you and a small group of others out to sea at night time and shine its strobe lights to carry the rays in. Then bounce in and swim alongside them!

3. Waipi’o Valley

The Waipi’o Valley was as soon as the dwelling of kings and populous kingdoms. Now, the land is usually used to develop taro, one in all Hawaii’s staple meals. The taro fields stretch out for miles in each path.

The valley was named after the Waipi’o River which snakes its approach by means of the valley and down to the sea.

There are overflowing waterfalls inside the valley that you might as soon as entry by mountain climbing into the valley. Sadly, the Waipi’o Valley is now closed, however you may go to the Waipi’o Valley lookout and soak in the finest vistas of this spectacular piece of Big Island!

2. Akaka Falls State Park

Whether you’re a nature fanatic, a eager hiker, or a pictures fanatic – it is a vacation spot you may’t skip on Big Island. The park is lower than half an hour’s drive away from Hilo making it the good day journey from city.

The Akaka Falls State Park is dwelling to two spectacular waterfalls, the Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls. You’re going to be in awe if you see Akaka Falls, a 442-foot waterfall – the tallest on the island!

There’s a paved path that takes you previous the two units of waterfalls and up to a viewpoint that has spectacular vistas of Akaka (carry your digital camera)! The route is paved and fewer than half a mile lengthy, however it’s steep at factors.

1. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

This mystic and sacred park on Big Island has not one, however two lively volcanoes – the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. It’s not usually you may stand up shut to historical volcanoes, and these are a few of the most spectacular in the world.

The Kilauea volcano is taken into account one in all the most lively volcanoes on the planet, and it has been erupting on and off since 2018. No doubt the goddess Pele has one thing to do with it.

Come and hike by means of volcanic craters and singed rainforests, and awe at the barren and cracked earth beneath your toes – you’re strolling on lava!

Map of Things to Do on the Big Island, Hawaii