Big Island of Hawaii attractions

More things to do in the area

Showing 16-45 of 68 attractions in Big Island of Hawaii

#16

Honokohau Harbor

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Just beyond Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park and Honokohau Beach rests Honokohau Harbor, a bustling 262-slip marina with restaurants, outfitters, restrooms, and more. Most visitors will come here for scuba and snorkeling adventures—or for their chance to reel in that trophy catch. From here, 1,000-pound marlin and billfish troll the waters, alongside dolphins, whales, and the world’s largest rays.

17 Tours and Activities

#17

Chain of Craters Road

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One of the most scenic roads on the Big Island, the Chain of Craters Road stretches for 19 miles (31 kilometers) from the summit of Kilauea Volcano to sea level, a change in elevation of 3,700 feet (1,128 meters). The drive offers stunning vistas across changing landscapes, access to different volcanic features, and other interesting sites.

17 Tours and Activities

#18

Waipio Valley

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Forming a deep natural amphitheater that’s washed by the sea and waterfalls, the Waipio Valley, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a natural wonderland marked by rain forests and hiking trails. Cliffs thousands of feet high plunge to the valley floor, where a curved black-sand beach meets the sea.

4 Tours and Activities

#19

Hamakua Coast

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Curvy, cozy, and impossibly green, the Hamakua Coast is a verdant time portal on the Big Island’s northeastern side. Often referred to as the “Hamakua Heritage Corridor,” this 50-mile (80-kilometer stretch of two-lane road passes through small, historic towns and offers beautiful scenery around every hairpin turn.

9 Tours and Activities

#20

Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200)

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Hawaii’s Saddle Road traverses the width of the Big Island along the valley between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The road used to be rough and unpaved in spots, but is now entirely paved and not to be missed since it cuts through some of Hawaii’s most rugged and remote scenery. Saddle Road also provides access to the Mauna Kea Visitor Station.

12 Tours and Activities

#21

Kohala

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Like a large thumb jutting into the sea, the Kohala district occupies the northwestern tip of the sprawling Big Island of Hawaii. Formed by a 5,400-foot (1,645-meter) volcano, the area is dominated by lush valleys, laid-back plantation towns, verdant pastures, ancient Hawaiian religious sites, and the modern beach resorts of South Kohala.

5 Tours and Activities

#22

Mauna Loa

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Mauna Loa’s status as the largest active volcano in the world doesn’t stop travelers from flocking to the rugged mountain—in fact, it attracts them. With its last eruption occurring in 1984, the volcano is known for non-explosive activity, making it an inviting and worry-free destination to explore on scenic drives or backcountry trails.

9 Tours and Activities

#23

Kohala Coast

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Tracing the northernmost portion of the Big Island of Hawaii, the Kohala Coast boasts Hawaii’s most desirable characteristics, from white-sand beaches lined with resorts to lush mountains bursting with wildlife and waterfalls. Go beyond nature to explore the island’s culture and history at restored temples and ancient villages.

7 Tours and Activities

#24

Puʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

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Step into Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park and be surrounded by royal gardens, wooden statues, and temples that once offered a place of refuge for Hawaiians who broke sacred laws. The site that once provided a lifesaving sanctuary for lawbreakers is now a national park recognized for its cultural significance and natural beauty.

15 Tours and Activities

#25

Honaunau Bay

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Honaunau Bay, locally known as Two-Step Beach, is one of the Big Island’s best snorkeling spots. The shallow, calm water makes it a perfect spot for kids and beginner snorkelers, and free divers favor the bay’s deeper areas. The sandy bay’s bright tropical fish and occasional sea turtle or dolphin sightings make it well worth braving the crowds.

15 Tours and Activities

#26

Parker Ranch

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Before the cowboys of the American West, there were the Hawaiian cowboys,paniolos, of the Big Island. With over 17,000 head of cattle spread across the rolling country between Kohala and Mauna Kea, Parker Ranch is not only the largest active cattle ranch in Hawaii, but one of the biggest and most historic ranches in the United States.

2 Tours and Activities

#27

Kilauea Iki Crater

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Kilauea Iki crater is one of the most visited spots in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and its most popular hike cuts across the floor of the crater—a walk into the heart of an active volcano. Though today the crater looks tame from above, steam vents still rise from areas with moisture, and the otherworldly terrain of the crater floor is unique among others in the Hawaiian chain.

10 Tours and Activities

#28

Onomea Bay

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Onomea Bay lines the Big Island’s lush Hamakua Coast, north of Hilo. A short 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) scenic drive along the Old Mamalahoa Highway—home to the verdant Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden—is an excellent way to see it. Two short hiking trails, which venture into the jungle and along the coast, offer views of the sparkling waters.

8 Tours and Activities

#29

Kaumana Caves State Park

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Located just outside of Hilo, the Kaumana Caves are part of a 25-mile (40-kilometer) lava tube that formed in 1881 from lava flow from Mauna Loa. Easily accessible, the Kaumana Caves State Park is a great alternative for those looking for a more adventurous, and less crowded, experience than the Thurston Lava Tubes.

11 Tours and Activities

#30

St. Benedict's Painted Church

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Situated on a hill overlooking Kealakekua Bay, St. Benedict’s Painted Church is a small yet beautiful church known for its lavishly painted interior. An active Roman Catholic parish, the church welcomes visitors and is also listed on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.

8 Tours and Activities

#31

Hawi

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Once the bustling hub of North Kohala's now obsolete sugar industry, Hawi is a cozy small town best known as the turnaround point for the bicycle portion of the Kona Ironman World Championship held annually in October. Today, Hawi is home to an array of art galleries, cafes, and organic markets, and is a popular foodie destination on Hawaii’s Big Island.

9 Tours and Activities

#32

Coconut Island (Mokuola)

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Mokuola, or Coconut Island, is just offshore from the Big Island’s Lili‘uokalani Gardens and connected by a wide footbridge. Easy access and calm waters make it one of the Hilo’s most convenient and popular beaches. It’s great for swimming and sea turtle watching, and the picnic tables and grassy areas often host barbecues and local events.

6 Tours and Activities

#33

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

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The Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park combines recreation with a restored display of Hawaiian history set on the Big Island’s dramatic Kona Coast. Visit the park to meander through the ancient settlement where thatched-hut hale (houses) sit on the shore, explore the area’s trails, or relax at the white sand Honokohau Beach.

7 Tours and Activities

#34

Hulihee Palace

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Located in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, Hulihee Palace once served as the vacation home of Hawaiian royalty in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the two-story lava rock and stucco home houses a museum of Hawaiian artifacts downstairs while showcasing original furniture and details upstairs.

8 Tours and Activities

#35

Kapaau

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Kapaau is a small village on the northern tip of Hawaii’s Big Island, famous for being the birthplace of King Kamehameha. The town’s main draw is the original King Kamehameha statue that stands in front of the visitor center. Built in Florence in 1880, the statue was lost during a shipwreck off the coast of the Falkland Islands and was miraculously recovered 32 years later.

7 Tours and Activities

#36

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

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Along the Big Island’s lush Hamakua Coast, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a nonprofit, rain forest nature preserve promoting education and ecology. The beautifully maintained living museum hosts thousands of native Hawaiian and international plant species, plus a variety of wildlife including birds, crabs, mongooses, and geckos.

8 Tours and Activities

#37

Anaeho'omalu Bay

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This popular stretch of Kohala Coast beach, commonly called A-Bay, offers beachgoers a little bit of everything needed for a fun day, with good facilities and plenty of water sports. Palms trees add to the picturesque setting, framing sunset views in the evening and providing shade in the heat of the day.

3 Tours and Activities

#38

Kona (Kailua Bay) Cruise Port

Kailua Bay Cruise Port is situated on the west side of Hawaii’s Big Island in the Kona district, and travelers shuttle to land via the Kailua Pier, located just a stone’s-throw from Kailua Village. The port serves as the ideal jumping-off point from which to explore the Big Island's major attractions, including volcanoes, waterfalls, and sandy beaches.

#39

Hilo Farmers Market

Operating for 30+ years, the Hilo Farmers Market is considered by some to be among the best in the US. More than 200 farmers and vendors sell everything from locally grown produce and fresh-caught seafood to handmade cosmetics, original artwork, and coffee. Even just lunch and a shave ice from the myriad food stalls are worth the trip.

8 Tours and Activities

#40

Hilo Cruise Port

If you're on a cruise through the Hawaiian islands and have a stop on the big island, you may find yourself at the Hilo Cruise Port in Kuhio Bay, just east of downtown. If you book a shore excursion to Hilo, expect to be met by a tour representative or shuttle.

#41

Naha Stone

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Resting somewhat unobtrusively on the front lawn of the Hilo Public Library, the Naha Stone commemorates an integral part of Hawaii’s history. Legend has it that this 7,000-pound volcanic rock predicted the rule of King Kamehameha I—he who could move the rock would rule Hawaii, and the 14-year-old did just that. Years later, true to prophecy, he would go on to unite the Hawaiian islands.

5 Tours and Activities

#42

Wailuku River State Park

Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pots, and Pe’epe’e Falls draw many visitors to Wailuku River State Park. On sunny mornings you can see rainbows glimmering in the mist of the 80-foot (24-meter) Rainbow Falls. When the Wailuku River is high, continue past Rainbow Falls to marvel at the Boiling Pots bubbling below Pe’epe’e Falls.

4 Tours and Activities

#43

Original King Kamehameha Statue

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Though several statues of Hawaii’s most famous king dot these tropical islands, the original King Kamehameha I statue—which depicts the island-uniting nobleman in a golden helmet and robes wielding a spear—stands in the small town of Kapaau, not far from his royal birthplace. It is on the north shore of the Big Island, on the North Kohala Civic Center lawn.

5 Tours and Activities

#44

Akatsuka Orchid Gardens

Enjoy a rush of color and fragrance as you enter Hawaii the Big Island’s Akatsuka Orchid Gardens. Brimming with flowers, exhibits, and hands-on activities, the immersive experience is as meticulously curated as the orchids themselves. See more than 500 orchids, learn the growing process, dine in the greenhouse, and plant an orchid to take home.

1 Tour and Activity

#45

Kona Coffee Living History Farm

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The only living history coffee farm in the U.S., this popular Kona spot details the very real lives of coffee pioneers in the 1920s. Today’s living history farm is set on the grounds of the historic D. Uchida Coffee Farm. Throughout this self-guided experience, you’ll roam among the coffee trees, watch homemakers mill and dry coffee, and learn the tricks of the coffee trade.

3 Tours and Activities