Ahhh the Big Island. You’ve probably heard that Hawaii is a casual place, which is true! But, I would argue that the Big Island is the most casual of the islands. If you’re looking for a place to unwind and not see hordes of people at the beach, head to the island of Hawai’i!
There is so much to see and do here, so I’ll try to help you in your decision making by creating a list of my favorite spots. Alright, here we go!
Manta Ray Night Snorkeling:
If you can only do one excursion while visiting this island, make it the manta ray night snorkel. It is incredible! These majestic creatures weigh hundreds of pounds, but yet they are incredibly graceful swimmers.
We booked our excursion on Get Your Guide’s website. There’s a few different boat companies that offer this adventure so be sure to research a few to see which one best suits your needs. The tour company we went with was called “Hang Loose Boat Tours” and they did a great job taking care of their guests. They even let some non-swimmers accompany us on the boat to take photos/videos of the people in the water.
*This video was taken by a lady one our boat tour. I don’t know her name but thank you for passing it along to me!
Parasailing with UFO Parasail Tours:
After you finish swimming with the manta rays, strap on a harness and get up in the air! I realize you can go parasailing in many different locations in the world, but in Hawaii (in the winter months) you have the chance to see whales from the air. Yep, we did!
While airborne with UFO Parasailing Tours, my husband and I saw a mother whale and her calf! Talk about absolutely priceless. We didn’t even need to take a whale watching tour because viewing them from the air was an even better experience!
As we were heading back to shore, our boat captain started screaming and pointing towards the back of the boat. At first I was startled, but low and behold we got to witness that whale breech the surface. Because we were all so fascinated our captain graciously offered to spend more time following the pair. For an additional 20 minutes (so generous of our captain!) we watched the mom and calf surface to breathe.
Book with this tour company. They put the experience of their clients first. Click here for their website.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
I’ve heard from many people that this is one of. the most under-rated national parks in the U.S. and I think I agree with them. This park might not be as stunning as Yosemite BUT its geology and volcanic activity make it an incredible place to visit. If you’re on the Big Island, do not miss stopping here!
Best Experience: Check out the lava flowing in the picture on the right. Isn’t that incredible? Well, imagine seeing that in person. Yea, it’s incredible.
Best Hike: My favorite hike in this park was the Kīlauea Iki Crater trail. This trail takes you through a pit crater that last erupted in 1959. You will get to see dried lava up close as well as some new vegetation. It’s a stunning 3.3 mile hike of moderate difficulty. My husband and brother were able to complete the hike with two infants in carriers on their shoulders, so it is doable with young ones. However, please note that there are lots of stairs and it is rated “moderate” for a reason. Don’t expect paved trails.
**Note: the parking lot at this trailhead fills up VERY quickly. I would advise you to start your hike early in the morning to ensure you get a parking spot and to avoid the hot Hawaiian sun. Bring plenty of water and good hiking shoes.
Best Cave Experience: Thurston Lava Tube is a great short walk that will lead you through a lush forest and into a lava tube that has been around for centuries. It’s a great quick hike, but parking is extremely limited here too so arrive early or after the crowds leave in the afternoon. If you found a parking spot for the Kilauea Iki Trail, I would suggest just walking the short distance from there to the tube.
Best Drive: If you have some extra time I would recommend going for a drive down the Chain of Craters Road. This road will take you past many different craters where you can pull off and peek at their different geological features. However, the end of the road is the best part. The drive will take you on some hairpin turns that lead to the ocean. At the end you will be rewarded with a stunning view of the sea. Turn around and you’ll see the gorgeous mountains. Holei Sea Arch can be viewed at the very end of the road.
Best Place To Eat: The Rim at Volcano House. There are some great options within Volcano Village (my favs were: Thai Thai Bistro and Lava Rock Cafe) however, The Rim get’s my vote because of it’s ambiance and great food. The restaurant is within the hotel, Volcano House, and it’s situated right at the edge of a caldera crater. Right? I mean how many times do you get to eat on the edge of a crater?
Be sure to book a reservation in advance because getting a walk in table can be tricky. Click here to visit their website and make reservations. On this homepage scroll down to the “Ono” heading and click “Discover” to be directed to the reservations page.
Lapakahi State Historical Park:
Want to learn more about Hawaiian history? There are some fabulous national and state parks on the Big Island that will provide you with a comprehensive history of Hawaii’s past. If you have time to visit only one, I would recommend Lapakahi State Historical Park. This ancient Hawaiian fishing village is situated right on the coast and it’s a great place to spot whales during the winter months!
We loved seeing the restored buildings and the ocean view is just incredible. Seriously, this is the one park to go to for Hawaiian history. Check out my pictures below for a preview:
Seriously, this place is amazing. It is an absolutely stunning coffee farm located right outside of Kona. Enjoy a cup of some delicious coffee with a pristine view of the ocean.
While here, you can take a tour of the coffee farm and learn how they use a trellis system to increase the yield of their plants. There are a variety of tours for coffee connoisseurs but each tour ends in the coffee gift shop…where of course you can bring a little Hawaiian coffee home with you.
Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens (Hilo):
If you’re spending any time in Hilo this is a great place to stop. This zoo isn’t huge, but it has beautiful foliage and it’s FREE! Yep, completely free. They had a good number of animals for a smaller zoo and the benches all around the zoo are built to look like different animals.
I know you might be wondering why I’m mentioning these benches, but I promise you they are incredibly unique! Take a look at a few I photographed while walking around. Pretty neat huh? I’m telling you, go walk through this zoo –> just make sure to bring a rain jacket!
Onomea Bay Trail & Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden:
I listed these two experiences together because they are right next to each other. If you’re making your way north of Hilo to visit the Bioreserve and Garden, be sure to also head down the Onomea Bay Trail to get a great glimpse of the ocean. This trail will lead you to a protected cove with unique trees, flowers and lots of Instagram opportunities.
Akaka Falls State Park:
Ok when researching this trip, I saw Akaka Falls mentioned again and again in guidebooks. BUT what they didn’t mention was that if you park in the designated parking lot, it will cost you $5 per car and then entry per person into the park on top of that (unless you’re a Hawaii resident).
Maybe my opinion on waterfalls was tainted after seeing thousands of them in Iceland….but I’m not sure that this one was worth the money. If you’re looking for an activity to cut off your itinerary in order to save money….this would be the one to cut. It’s a pretty waterfall with a nice trail, but that’s about it.
Kanaloa Octopus Farm:
I’m guessing that seeing an octopus research facility was probably not on your itinerary of things to do while in Hawaii, but here’s why it should be!
The Kanaloa Octopus Farm provides tourists with a chance to handle and feed the octopi. Octopi are very social and playful creatures and in this research facitlity you will get to see them up close and feel their sucker covered arms for yourself! I’ve never ever heard of another place to experience something like this, so don’t let this opportunity pass you by!
Island Breeze Luau:
When searching for a luau, I wanted to make sure that we weren’t falling for a tourist trap. Doing a little research led me to the Island Breeze Luau, which takes place on King Kamehameha’s former palace grounds. I think this gives the luau more authenticity than others merely held on hotel lawns.
The luau starts at sunset and provides a beautiful taste of Polynesian Culture. The food was special and the show was even better. The night ended with a fire dancer wowing us with his tricks and left us all wishing we could stay in Hawaii forever.
Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park:
The Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park is a serene reminder of Hawaii’s past. Take an afternoon to walk through reconstructed huts and an ancient temple site. All of this history is highlighted by the dramatic seascape.
After your tour of this historic site, be sure to swing by Two Step beach (just a few steps down the road) and head for a swim. This is an incredible place to snorkel, so don’t miss your opportunity. Read more about Two Step beach below in my “Favorite Beaches” section.
Rainbow Falls:
Within the Hilo area is beautiful Rainbow Falls. It’s a quick stop with an ample parking lot and viewing area, but it’s a stop that’s not to be missed. Snap a gorgeous view of the falls and then grab some shave ice!
Waipio Valley:
Waipio Valley is a fair drive north of Hilo on the windward side of the island. Its gorgeous views invite hearty hikers to suffer through its 30% grade. If you’re up for the challenge, you can walk the 3 miles down to the valley floor but remember that 30% grade will be tough going on the way back up! If you do decide to make the trek, make sure to walk all the way across the beach for a great view of the opposite side of the valley.
Yes you can technically drive a 4 wheel drive vehicle here, but most rental car companies don’t allow. it. After doing some research, I found there is a shuttle (Waipio Valley Shuttle) that you can pay to take you down to the valley and a local horse ranch (Naalapa Stables) that will give you a neat equestrian experience without voiding your rental car agreement. **Note: I cannot personally recommend the shuttle or horse riding experience. Due to the children we were traveling with, we didn’t go any further than the overlook.
Favorite Beaches:
Alright, if you’re heading to Hawaii I’m guessing you want to spend some time at the beach! Here are a few of my favorite beaches on the Big Island and some info about each one. **Note: all beaches in Hawaii are open to the public but many of them are only accessible through a private gate. Just tell them you’re heading to the beach and they will let you through free of charge.
- Hapuna Beach State Park: This is a fantastic beach for boogie boarding! Make sure to allot some time in your day to catch that perfect wave. After that, enjoy soaking in some of the sunshine that everyone loves! There is a $5 fee to park your car and parking can be tricky to find so make your arrival plans with that in mind.
- Parent Note: As a mom of a toddler, we decided not to bring her to this beach. The waves are much rougher here than at other beaches. If you have older kids they will probably be fine, but I would caution you with the younger kiddos.
- Two Step Beach (Honaunau Bay): Hello snorkeling paradise! This beach is located very close to Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, so it’s easy to make a day trip down to the Captain Cook area and see both things! This beach has incredible coral reefs to snorkel along and a wide variety of potential marine life to spot, but don’t expect to see much sand here. It’s known as “Two Step” due to the rocky ledge that has created steps down into the water. There are no public bathrooms, snack shacks or other amenities, so plan accordingly. However, despite the lack of amenities the wide variety of marine life will keep you smiling in awe and wonder. Dolphins, turtles and fish galore!
- 49 Black Sand Beach: This is a smaller great black sand beach near many of the gold coast resorts! We happened to be staying within the Mauna Lani resort area so this beach was just down the road from our condo. The beach felt very private, had calm waters and fantastic snorkeling. Parking was limited, so again if your planning to visit, get there early.
Airbnb’s we stayed in:
We love booking Airbnb’s and had nothing but positive experiences while on the Big Island. Here are the places we stayed, but please do your own research and make sure these places will fit your family’s needs.
Waimea (Gold Coast Resort Area)
This has been my FAVORITE Airbnb ever! And trust me I’ve stayed at plenty! Yes, it’s a little pricey (we had a group of us split it) but Allyson and her were absolutely fabulous to work with. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Matt’s little cottage in the woods was superb. Just make sure to plan for the cooler temperatures that you will most likely experience there.
We only stayed here one night before heading to the airport in the morning, but its an adorable little hideaway that gives you a private jungle feel while being in the heart of Hilo’s neighborhoods. Great little spot but watch out there is a steep ladder leading to a loft which may not be suitable for everyone.
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Congrats!! You made it through my incredibly long post on what to see and do on the Big Island of Hawaii! If you’re ready to check out what Honolulu and all Oahu has to offer, click here!
Otherwise I will bid you farewell! Wherever your next adventure is going to take you, make sure to pack your backpack and baseball cap! –Mahalo!
