25 Best Things To Do On the Big Island Hawaii (2025)
Are you planning a trip to the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii? If so, this article’s for you.
The Big Island is not only the biggest Hawaiian island, but it has one of the most diverse landscapes. Whether you want to go snorkeling, see volcanoes, or chase waterfalls, it has something to offer everyone.
To help you plan an unforgettable trip, this article will cover all of the must-see places, must-try restaurants, and everything you won’t want to miss on the Big Island.
Here are 25 of the best things to do on the Big Island Hawaii.
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Relax On Hapuna Beach
Hapuna Beach is a picturesque beach in Kona with a long stretch of powdery white sand, and clear turquoise waters. It’s the perfect place to go sunbathing, have a picnic, or go boogie boarding.
This is by far my favorite beach on the island, and the entrance fee ($10/vehicle + $5/person) is definitely worth it if you love the beach.
Try Tropical Fruit At A Farmers Market
No trip to Hawaii would be complete without trying tropical fruit at a farmer’s market. There’s a large farmer’s market in Kona that operates from Wed-Sat, as well as some great farmer’s markets in Hilo and Waimea.
Kona’s farmers market is located along Ali’i drive in downtown, and a great place to shop for souvenirs, and try everything from passionfruit to mangosteen. If you’re traveling to the other cities, it’s worth checking out their individual farmers markets as well.
Tour A Kona Coffee Farm
If you’re a coffee fan, stop by a Kona coffee farm to see how one of the world’s most loved coffee is produced!
There are a variety of coffee farms in Kona that offer free tours. I visited Greenwell farms for their free tour (daily 9am-3pm), where we got to walk through their farm, sample peppercorn off of a tree, and sample coffee at the end!
For a full list of options, check out our article on the best Kona coffee tours.
Snorkel at Kealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay is a picturesque bay in south Kona, and arguably the best place to go snorkeling on the island. This bay acts as a resting site for spinner dolphins, and has crystal clear waters, bright coral reefs, and an abundance of tropical fish.
It’s also home to the Captain Cook Monument, which marks the sight where Captain Cook was killed in 1779. If you want to go snorkeling here, you can either hike the Captain Cook Monument trail, or go on a snorkeling tour.
It’s a strenuous 3.7 mile hike down to the bay and back, that took me around 1.5 hours to hike. Unless you’re looking for a good workout, I highly recommend going on a snorkeling tour. For more details, check out our guide to snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay!
Visit Hilo’s Rainforest Zoo
Hilo is a lush rainforest town on the eastern side of the Big Island that has a laid back vibe, and many free attractions.
One of my favorite places to visit here is the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo, a charming little zoo with botanical gardens, and everything from white tigers to spider monkeys.
It’s completely free to visit, and it has a gift shop where you can leave a donation to support their conservation efforts.
Stroll Around The Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve
The Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve is a must-see site tucked along the scenic Hamakua coast. It’s a 40 acre botanical garden with gorgeous tropical plants, waterfalls, and hiking trails that lead out to the coast.
I spent around an hour roaming around the gardens, and it’s a definite must stop if you’re doing a road trip from Kona to Hilo.
Watch The Sunset From The Mauna Kea Summit
For the undoubtedly best sunset view on the island, drive to the Mauna Kea Summit. Mauna Kea is the Big Island’s tallest volcano, with the summit being at an elevation of 13,803 feet!
To watch the sunset, you can either drive to the visitor center (9,200 feet), or go on a tour to the top of the summit. The visitor center is accessible with any car, and has a small little trail you can hike for an incredible sunset view!
If you want to drive beyond the visitor center, most rental car companies don’t allow it, so it’s best to go on an observatory tour.
Hike At Volcanoes National Park
The Volcanoes National Park is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes (Kīlauea and Mauna Loa), and one of the most unique places to visit on the island. The park spans over 350,000 acres, and has excellent hiking trails where you can see volcanic craters, steam vents, and more.
You only need a day to see the park’s main highlights, and it has a small town (Volcano Village) with hotels and restaurants right outside of the park.
Walk Through A Lava Tube
Thanks to ancient volcanic eruptions, the Big Island has a few fascinating lava tubes that you can explore. In Volcanoes National Park, you can walk through the Thurston Lava Tube, a 600 ft long lava tube that’s easily accessible by a short hike.
If you’re staying in Hilo, you can check out the Kaumana Caves. This is a lesser known, 2 mile long lava tube located off of the side of the road that’s free to visit. However, it’s pitch black inside of the cave so you’ll need to wear headlamps, or bring good flashlights to explore it!
Stroll Historic Downtown Kona
To shop and dine, head to downtown Kona. This is a beautiful area along Ali’i drive that’s lined with restaurants, bars, gift shops, and historic buildings like the Hulihee Palace. If you want to enjoy mai tais by the ocean or stroll and shop for souvenirs, this is the place to go.
Hike To Akaka Falls
Akaka Falls is a spectacular 442 tall waterfall nestled in the rainforest along the scenic Hamakua coast. It’s a short 0.4 mile hike to get to the viewing platform, and it’ll make you feel like you’ve been transported to Costa Rica.
This is a definite must visit if you’re doing a road trip across the island or are staying in Hilo.
Visit Rainbow Falls Hilo
Rainbow Falls is a charming 80 ft tall waterfall in Hilo that gets its name for the rainbow that forms from the mist underneath the falls.
It’s completely free to visit, and if you climb up the set of stairs to the left of the parking lot, you’ll get to see these huge ancient banyan trees.
It makes for amazing photos, and if you want to see the rainbow, try to arrive early in the morning.
Go Night Time Manta Ray Snorkeling
One of the most unique experiences to have on the Big Island is night time snorkeling with manta rays.
Manta rays are a giant ray that can span up to 20 feet wide, and unlike stingrays, they’re harmless to humans. They inhabit the waters of Kona, and at night, you can go on a snorkeling tour to get within inches of these gentle giants!
Enjoy Views From Waipio Lookout
The Waipio Lookout is a breathtaking viewpoint of the lush Waipio Valley, located only a half hour outside of Waimea. It’s free to visit, and one of the most picture postcard areas to take photos on the island.
Go Swimming In Waterfalls
Go swimming in a waterfall tucked in the rainforest at the Umauma Experience or Kulaniapia Falls. The Umauma Experience is a tour operator located along the Hamakua coast (~1 hour from Kona) that offers everything from waterfall swims to zipline, and ATV tours.
Kulaniapia Falls is a waterfall in Hilo (~2 hr from Kona) that you can swim in with a reservation. If you don’t want to worry about transportation, you can join a group tour from Kona to visit multiple waterfalls in Kohala as well!
Visit Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
The Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park is an oceanfront park in south Kona, with a visitor center, and a variety of interesting ancient structures.
This park once operated as a spiritual sanctuary for ancient Hawaiians that broke the law, and it’s one of the best places to learn about Hawaiian culture.
Tip: Download the NPS app to do a self-guided tour of the park, and locate the different structures as you walk around!
Go On A Sunset Cruise
For the most picturesque Hawaiian sunset, go on a sunset cruise along the Kohala coast. You’ll get to sip cocktails, enjoy sunset views, and potentially spot a dolphin or whale.
In Kohala, you’ll be facing west, and have an unobstructed view of the sun dipping below the horizon!
Spot Sea Turtles At Kaloko-Honokohau Park
If you love Hawaiian history and sea turtles, head to Kaloko-Honokohau Park. This is a historic park with a petroglyph trail that leads out to a beach, with ancient fishing ponds, and a traditional canoe hale.
There’s dozens of green sea turtles around the fishing ponds, at one of highest concentrations in all of the island! You can avoid the hike by parking at the Honokōhau Marina, and then it’s a short 5 minute walk to access the beach area.
Visit Punaluu Black Sand Beach
No trip to the Big Island would be complete without visiting the famous Punaluu Beach. This is a gorgeous black sand beach, made of true basalt from molten lava reacting with the cool ocean waters!
It’s completely free to visit, and is less than a 20 minute drive from the Volcanoes National Park entrance.
Try Malasadas From Punaluu Bakery
If you love sweets, stop at Punalu’u Bakery to try their famous malasadas, a fluffy fried yeast donut filled with everything from guava to chocolate.
They’re the southernmost bakery of the United States, and they have a little gift shop where you can shop for souvenirs on the way over to Volcanoes National Park.
Stroll Around Liliʻuokalani Gardens and Hilo Bay
The Liliʻuokalani Gardens is a beautiful Japanese garden park tucked along Hilo Bay, with arched bridges, ponds, and banyan trees.
This was my favorite place to go for a morning walk in Hilo, and it’s within walking distance to cafes and restaurants in downtown.
Have A Picnic At Coconut Island Hilo
Coconut Island is a tiny island in Hilo Bay that you can reach by crossing over a small bridge. It has picnic areas, small sandy beaches, and a tower where you can see local kids jump off into the water.
This is the perfect place to go for a peaceful picnic, and it’s right next to the Liliʻuokalani Gardens.
Swim At A Hilo Beach Park
Hilo has many excellent beach parks, where you can swim and snorkel away from the crowds. There’s beach parks dotted along the coast, but my two favorites are Carlsmith Beach Park and Richardson Ocean Park.
Carlsmith is a crystal clear lagoon with gentle waters for snorkeling, and Richardson Ocean Park is a black sand beach with tide pools for exploring. All of Hilo’s beach parks are within a 15 minute drive of another, and they have easy free parking.
Go Camping At Spencer Beach Park In Kona
If you love camping or want to save money on vacation, go camping at Spencer Beach Park. This is a nice beach park in Kohala with picnic areas, showers, campgrounds, and a gentle beach for swimming.
I camped here overnight when I was a kid, and it’s one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had in Hawaii!
It’s also located right down the street from a historic park (Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site), where you can do a short hike to an ancient temple site built by King Kamehameha and his soldiers.
Try Mochi From Two Ladies Kitchen Hilo
Two Ladies Kitchen is a small Japanese confectionery shop in Hilo that makes fresh handmade mochi, from fruit to brownie and pie crust filled!
They’re incredibly popular so you can expect lines out of the door when you visit, but it’s an absolute must-try if you have a sweet tooth!
Summary
The Big Island is such an amazing vacation destination, and it offers fun activities for all ages. With such a diverse landscape, you can see volcanoes, waterfalls, black sand beaches, and more if you’re down for a road trip.
For more ideas on what to do during your trip, check out our ultimate 5 day Big Island itinerary!
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