Best Things To Do In Big Island Hawaii

Big Island isn’t just big. It’s the size of all the other Hawaiian islands combined, with room left over for deserts, rainforests, and snowcapped peaks. So, yeah, you’re going to need a plan.

But don’t overpack it. The best days here often unfold slowly, like a lazy Sunday that somehow includes a volcano.

Watch a Volcano Do Its Thing

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is the headliner, and for good reason. Where else can you stare into a steaming crater and feel like the earth is breathing?

Walk through Nāhuku, also called Thurston Lava Tube, and imagine molten rock rushing through it like a subway for fire. It’s cool, dark, and just a little bit eerie.

Check the park at night if conditions allow. The glow from Kīlauea can turn the clouds orange, like someone left a nightlight on inside the planet.

Drive Up to Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea is tall. Measured from its underwater base, it’s actually taller than Mount Everest. That’s not a typo.

At the summit, the air is thin and the sky feels close enough to touch. Sunset here is a slow-motion painting, and stargazing afterward is like peeking behind the curtain of the universe.

Just remember: a 4WD vehicle is required for the summit. Or join a tour and let someone else worry about the brakes.

Snorkel with Manta Rays

Want a memory that feels like a dream? Book a night snorkel or dive with manta rays near Kona.

These gentle giants glide through the water like underwater kites, wings flapping in slow motion. Plankton lights bring them close, and you just float there, amazed.

No experience? No problem. Many tours are beginner-friendly and provide gear, guides, and floaty noodles.

Things To Do Big Island, Hawaiʻi

Find a Beach That Doesn’t Look Real

Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach is striking, with jet-black sand that feels like walking on crushed obsidian. Sea turtles often rest there, so give them plenty of space.

Then there’s Papakōlea Green Sand Beach, one of only a few in the world. The hike is dusty and windy, but the olive-green sand is a weird, wonderful reward.

For classic golden sand, head to Hapuna Beach. It’s wide, swimmable, and perfect for doing absolutely nothing with style.

Explore Waipio Valley and Akaka Falls

Waipio Valley looks like a postcard from a lost world. Towering cliffs, taro fields, and a black sand beach make it feel like Jurassic Park without the dinosaurs.

You can admire it from the lookout, or hike down if you’re feeling ambitious. The climb back up is no joke, so pace yourself.

Near Hilo, Akaka Falls plunges 442 feet into a lush gorge. The short loop trail smells like rain, flowers, and green everything.

Sip Kona Coffee and Wander Hilo

Kona coffee farms offer tours and tastings that feel like a warm hug in a mug. The beans are grown on volcanic slopes, which gives them a rich, smooth flavor.

In Hilo, check out the farmers market for tropical fruit you can’t pronounce. It’s colorful, cheap, and a great place to snack like a local.

BEST 7 day Big Island itinerary for 2023 (covers entire island

Then drive the Hamakua Coast, where every turn seems to reveal another waterfall or ocean view.

Go South, Young Traveler

South Point is the southernmost tip of the United States. Stand there and you’re closer to Antarctica than to Alaska. Weird, right?

Nearby, Papakōlea and the black sand beaches make the whole area feel like another planet. Bring water, sunscreen, and a sense of humor about dirt roads.

Take a Helicopter or Zipline for a Different View

If your budget allows, a helicopter tour shows you waterfalls, valleys, and lava fields from above. It’s like Google Earth, but with wind and adrenaline.

Ziplining over rainforest canopies is another rush. You’ll feel like a bird, if that bird also screamed a little.

Slow Down and Let the Island Set the Pace

The Big Island isn’t a checklist. It’s a place where you might stop for shave ice and end up talking story for an hour.

So yes, see the volcano, the manta rays, and the green sand. But also leave room for nothing.

That’s when the island really shows off.