Things to Do in Island of Hawai'i
Plan your days in Island of Hawai'i, your way
Split your stay: a few nights in Kailua-Kona for sun and swimmable beaches, a few in Hilo for waterfalls and rain.
Give one full day to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — the crater overlook and the lava tube cover the essentials without overcommitting.
Snorkel one calm morning at Kahalu'u Beach Park, where the turtles do half the work of impressing you.
Eat like the island: a loco moco breakfast, poke from a fish market counter for lunch, and shave ice whenever the afternoon gets hot.
Drive the Hamakua Coast one day, stopping at Akaka Falls and a roadside fruit stand that sells whatever ripened that morning.
Watch one sunset from the Kona seawall with a poke bowl, and one sunrise from wherever your lodging happens to face east.
Wander downtown Hilo's bayfront — the farmers market, the old storefronts, the gardens — with no plan past lunch.
If you're up for it, the manta ray night snorkel is the single splurge most people call their favorite hour of the trip.
Leave a day unscheduled; the island is good at filling those on its own.
You'll come home with a balanced album: lava, waterfalls, turtles, and at least one meal you still think about.
Top attractions and places to eat in Island of Hawai'i
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
A world-famous national park home to active volcanoes Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, with lava landscapes, craters, and volcanic trails. A premier destination for nature and geology.
park · 4.7 rating · $30
ʻAkaka Falls State Park
A state park featuring the dramatic 442-foot ʻAkaka Falls, reached via a short paved loop trail through lush rainforest. A popular scenic stop north of Hilo.
park · 4.5 rating · $5
Mauna Kea Summit
At 13,796 feet, this peak offers incredible views of lava, desert, the valley and Mauna Loa.
mountain · 4.7 rating
Rainbow Falls
Easily accessible waterfall on the Big Island near Hilo.
waterfall · 4.2 rating
Dolphin Quest Hawaii
An interactive marine program at a resort where visitors can meet and swim with dolphins. Travelers come for a hands-on encounter with marine animals.
aquarium · 4.6 rating
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
A large white-sand beach with clear water popular for swimming, bodyboarding, and sunbathing. Travelers come for one of the island's best beach days.
attraction · 4.7 rating
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
A national historical park preserving a former place of refuge and royal grounds, featuring reconstructed temples, wooden ki'i statues, and coastal landscapes. Travelers visit to experience ancient Hawaiian culture and history.
park · 4.6 rating · $20
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
The island's southernmost point, known for its distinctive green-tinted sand.
beach · 4.4 rating
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
Accessible black sand beach between Pahala and Naalehu, popular en route to Volcanoes National Park.
park · 4.5 rating
Kīlauea Iki Trail
Moderate 4-mile hike descending into an old volcanic crater.
trail · 4.8 rating · $30
Manini'owali Beach
A favorite beach in Kona known for clear water.
beach · 4.7 rating
Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm
Farm tour featuring close interaction with resident seahorses at different life stages.
aquarium · 4.5 rating
The Vanillerie
Farm tour to see, smell, taste, and feel vanilla growing on the vine in shade house oases near Kona.
experience · 4.9 rating
Waipiʻo Valley Lookout
A clifftop overlook offering sweeping views of the lush, historically significant Waipiʻo Valley and its coastline on the Hamakua Coast. Travelers come for the dramatic panorama of the valley, taro fields, and ocean cliffs.
attraction · 4.6 rating
Heavenly Hawaiian Kona Coffee Farm Tours & Konalani Coffee Bar
Scenic, hands-on working coffee farm experience above the Kona coastline.
experience · 4.9 rating