The Big Island of Hawaii is not only the largest of all the Hawaiian Islands, but it’s also the youngest and features the most diverse landscapes. The Big Island is truly unlike any of the other islands; it offers everything from traditional island activities like snorkeling, beaches, and cultural sites to crazy red hot lava views and out of this world stargazing.
With so much to do on the Big Island, planning your itinerary can be overwhelming as you try to figure out how to pack an entire island worth of adventures into a week-long vacation. To make your trip planning a little bit easier, I’ve highlighted what I think are the absolute can’t miss spots on the Big Island.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
A visit to the Big Island is not complete without a trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. (Which technically means my Big Island visit is not complete as the park has been closed for the last 6 weeks due to the recent eruptions. Guess I have to come back! 😉 ) You can hike through Volcanoes National Park on your own or go with a guided tour. If you do decide to venture out on your own, just be sure to stop at the Visitors Centre first where there are helpful park rangers to point you towards the best vantage points and inform you of any closures. One hike that I’m super bummed we weren’t able to do is through the Indiana Jones style lava tube to the devastation trail where lava has shaped everything as far as the eye can see.
Puuhonua o Honaunau Historical Park
This 180-acre national historic park is considered the sacred royal grounds that provided refuge to defeated warriors in times of battle. This is a great place to immerse yourself in Hawaiian history and learn about the ancient kapu system that governed Hawaii.
Manta Ray Night Dive
There is a reason that this dive is ranked as one of the top scuba dives in the entire world – it is absolutely magical. You can do the manta ray night dive in Kona as a scuba diver or as a snorkeler. Scuba divers will dive down and sit on the bottom of the ocean floor, while snorkelers will float on the surface while hanging on to a surfboard. I highly recommend opting for the dive option if you are a certified diver. I found the mantas got way closer to the divers at the bottom than they did to those at the top. Either way, you’ll be in for a spectacular twilight show.
Mauna Kea Summit
End your day in true Big Island fashion with the most incredible stargazing party you’ll ever experience. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world, sitting 13,800 feet above sea level. There are no clearer skies than the skies above Mauna Kea; you’ll spend the evening in awe of stars, planets, and the galaxy. The drive to the top of the summit is rather dangerous so it’s highly recommended to book with a licensed tour operator so that they can safely transport you to and from the summit. If you’re not up to making the trip all the way to the top, you can drive to the Visitors Centre which sits at 9000 feet above sea level to get some more information and enjoy unique views of Hawaii from above the clouds.
Papakolea Beach (Green Sand Beach)
There are only four green sand beaches in the entire world and one of them can be found right here, on the Big Island of Hawaii. This beach is really off the beaten path, but worth the trek! If you’re driving, you’ll need a rental car with 4×4. If you don’t have one, you can hitch a ride with a local for a small fee or make the 2-mile hike on foot. The beach is carved into the side of a cinder cone that erupted over 50, 000 years ago and the result is a breathtaking cove with sparkling green sand.
Helicopter Tour
The absolute best way to take in all of the Big Island’s diverse landscapes is by air. Whether you want to get the best views of the lava flows or a peek at hidden waterfalls, a helicopter tour is truly the best way to uncover all the best secrets of the Big Island. There are so many different tour companies that you can go with, but I highly recommend Paradise Helicopters in Hilo. We took a 45-minute “doors off” helicopter tour with them and absolutely loved it. If there is anything to splurge on while you’re on the big island, this is it.
Waipio Valley
Arguably one of the most beautiful places on the island, Waipio Valley is a hikers dream. Most people park their car at the lookout point and walk down the steep valley to explore below. It’s a short hike to the majestic waterfall, which you can also hike right to the bottom of if you’re interested in a longer hike. Regardless of if you just take in the valley from the top of the lookout point or trek all the way down to the bottom of the falls, you’ll be lost in the magic of this stunning site.
Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
This stunning black sand beach is one of the best places to find sea turtles in their natural habitat. If the surf allows it, you can hop in the water to snorkel with them, or if you’re lucky you may just see a few giant green sea turtles sunbathing right on the shore. Though this is one of a few different black sand beaches on the island, I think this one is “bucket list” worthy thanks to our beautiful sea turtle friends and the fact that this beach is typically a bit less crowded.
