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 vast volcanic landscape centered on Kīlauea, with crater overlooks, lava tubes, rainforest trails, and the Chain of Craters Road; the listed fee is the seven-day private-vehicle pass.
park · 4.7 rating · $30
ʻAkaka Falls State Park
A short paved rainforest loop to the 442-foot ʻAkaka Falls; the listed nonresident fee is per person, with separate nonresident parking.
park · 4.5 rating · $5
Mauna Kea Summit
Hawaiʻi’s highest summit, renowned for high-altitude sunsets and astronomy; check road, weather, vehicle, and cultural-access guidance before going.
mountain · 4.7 rating · Free
Rainbow Falls
An easily reached Hilo waterfall where morning light can create rainbows in the mist above the Wailuku River.
waterfall · 4.2 rating · Free
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
One of the island’s best-known white-sand beaches, popular for swimming and sunsets when ocean conditions are calm.
attraction · 4.7 rating · $5
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
A deeply significant Hawaiian place of refuge with reconstructed temples, kiʻi, royal grounds, and a coastal trail; the listed fee is the seven-day private-vehicle pass.
park · 4.6 rating · $20
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
A remote olivine-sand cove reached by a hot, exposed coastal hike; carry water and avoid unauthorized vehicle rides.
beach · 4.4 rating · Free
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
A striking black-sand cove where Hawaiian green sea turtles often rest; admire wildlife from the required respectful distance.
park · 4.5 rating · Free
Kīlauea Iki Trail
A signature crater hike descending through rainforest onto the solidified 1959 lava lake; admission is included with the national-park pass.
trail · 4.8 rating · $30
Manini'owali Beach
A favorite beach in Kona known for clear water.
beach · 4.7 rating · Free
Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm
An educational Kona aquaculture tour with seahorses, sea dragons, tide pools, and a supervised seahorse encounter; advance booking is recommended.
aquarium · 4.5 rating · $79
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 · $27
Waipiʻo Valley Lookout
A dramatic overlook across a sacred, steep-walled valley and black-sand shoreline; valley-road access is restricted, so use lawful tours or the lookout.
attraction · 4.6 rating · Free
Heavenly Hawaiian Kona Coffee Farm Tours & Konalani Coffee Bar
Scenic, hands-on working coffee farm experience above the Kona coastline.
experience · 4.9 rating · $27
Merriman's Big Island
An acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant in Waimea founded by a pioneer of Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine. A destination for locally sourced fine dining featuring island produce and seafood.
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