Top Big Island Experiences
The Lava Show
Watch as fiery red lava pours, steaming, into the ocean; stare in awe at nighttime lava fireworks; and hike across the floor of a crater at Volcanoes National Park.
Green Sand Beach
It's a hike, but this is the only place in the world to see green sand. And it happens to be surrounded by turquoise waters and dramatic cliffs.
Exploring Waipi'o Valley
Whichever way you choose to get there -- on horseback, in a 4WD, or on foot -- you'll discover that the "Valley of the Kings" is full of sky high waterfalls, lush green cliffs, and a mystical quality that can't quite be described or rivaled.
A Window on the Universe
Teams of astronomers from all over the world come to Mauna Kea for the clearest skies and best conditions anywhere. Head up the mountain in the late afternoon for the prettiest sunset on this island and the best stargazing on this planet.
Play at a Perfect Beach
Whether you follow the paved roads to Hapuna, Kauna'oa (also known as Mauna Kea), or Kua Bay, or brave the rocky routes to Makalawena, you'll find that the Big Island is full of postcard-perfect beaches.
A Swim Through Coral Gardens
Diving or snorkeling in the crystal clear waters off the coast is like being let loose in your very own ocean-sized aquarium. Bright yellow, purple, and rose-colored coral creates surreal kingdoms ruled by octopi, turtles, rays, dolphins, and fish in every color of the rainbow.
Stunning Waterfalls
Watch rainbows forming in the mist then take a refreshing dip in the cold, deep pools fed by the powerful waterfalls spilling over the dramatic cliffs of the Hamakua Coast.
Snooze with a Sea Turtle
Hang out at Punalu'u Beach, where sea turtles surf the waves and nap on the black sands.
A Healing Lomi Lomi Massage
Beginning with a chant, the lomi lomi technique uses a combination of arms, elbows, hands, and breath to impart the overall sense of well-being associated with this ancient healing tradition.
A Kona Coffee Farm Tour
Spend an hour discovering why it is that Kona coffee commands those high prices. Watch as "cherries" become beans, enjoy the smoky coffee smell of the roasting process, then indulge in the freshest cup of coffee you'll ever have. Did we mention that it's all free?
Whale the Day Away
From December to May, you can sit on any beach on the west side of the island and watch the humpback whale migration. The sight of their backs, glistening as they move through the water, or the occasional perfect fluke cutting through the surface, is a matchless experience.
-
Big Island. Exploring the surface of the world's most active volcano -- from the moonscape craters at the summit to the red lava flows on the coast -- is the ultimate eco-tour. more ›
-
Big Island. Waterfalls frame the landscape, the valley has become one of the most isolated places in the state. more ›
-
Maui. The humpback whales' attraction to Maui is legendary. More than half the Pacific's humpback population winters in Hawai'i, especially in the waters around the Valley Isle, where mothers can be seen just a few hundred feet offshore training their young calves in the fine points of whale etiquette. more ›
-
Big Island. Tired of the same old gold, white, or black sand beach? Then how about a green sand beach? The dry barren landscape is totally surreal. more ›
-
Big Island. This is a beautiful and easily accessible black sand beach. more ›
-
Big Island. The oldest food festival in Hawai'i brings together a variety of events over a ten-day period, but our favorite is the coffee recipe cooking contest. Coffee chili is one of the best things you've never tasted. Early Nov. www.konacoffeefest.com. more ›
-
Big Island. Makalawena is a long white crescent, dotted with little coves and surrounded by dunes and trees. The sand is powdery fine, the water is perfect, and the place is deserted. If it weren't so hard to get to, this would be the unanimous choice for best beach on the island. You either have to rent a boat and anchor there, walk 20 minutes over a rough coastal trail over lava rock terrain, or take a brutal four-wheel-drive jaunt over the lava. There's a freshwater pond that beats hosing off at one of those water-spigot showers at the marked public beaches. more ›
-
Big Island. Mauna Ke'a is the antithesis of the typical island experience. more ›
-
Maui. The Sanctuary Education Center is beside a restored ancient Hawaiian fishpond, in prime humpback-viewing territory. more ›