Top 10 Things to Do on The Big Island of Hawaii
Welcome to Hawaii’s Big Island!
Luau at Wiakola Beach Resort.
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Know Before You Go: What to Know Before Planning Your Trip to the Big Island
Before planning your trip to the Big Island here are 10 things to know about Planning a Big Island Vacation. From renting a car to purchasing flights, choosing a luau, and checking volcano activity, find out everything you need to know before setting foot on the Big Island of Hawaii.
You’ll also want to think about the best time to visit Hawaii. When is that? Well, it all depends on what you want to do and what your budget is. Hawaii is generally more crowded in the summer, over the winter holidays, and during spring break, so expect to pay more during those times. Activities like whale watching are better during the winter months. The good news is that Hawaii has excellent weather pretty much year-round, so you’re sure to find an excellent time to visit that works for you and your schedule.
Want to get in the mood for your big Hawaii trip? Here are 15 books set in Hawaii to inspire your travels and increase your knowledge of the islands.
Where to Stay on The Big Island of Hawaii
For me, the best area to stay on the Big Island is the west side, in the Kailua-Kona area. You may also opt to stay on the Hilo (or volcano) side to the east. Hilo tends to be more affordable and has more local character, but it also gets more rain and has far fewer beaches than the Kona side. That said, there are some great Hilo hotels.
When I visit the Hawaiian Islands I spend a great deal of my time snorkeling, so I always opt to stay near the best beach. Travelers who are more interested in rainforests, waterfalls, and hiking will find the Hilo side more alluring. Whether you pick Hilo or Kona, I would recommend renting a car and exploring the opposite side of the island. The Kona side is covered in large volcanic rock resembling the surface of some otherworldly planet. The Hilo side is filled with lush, green rainforest. Both are well worth seeing.
When I last visited the Big Island of Hawaii it was the summer of 2018 and the Kilauea volcano was actively spewing lava and belching hazardous gases in the greater Hilo area. That also helped push the needle towards our staying on the Kona side. Because of the volcanic activity, my list leans more toward things to do in Kona.
Kilauea Volcano, Volcano National Park, Big Island of Hawaii 2018
We opted to stay at The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, which has since been completely redone and re-opened as The Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection. The Mauna Lani offers a full array of accessible room types and suites. They also offer braille or raised signage, accessible bathrooms in common areas, wheelchair-accessible paths of travel, wheelchair-accessible parking, and assistive listening devices.
Our room was spacious and well-appointed. The property has recently been updated but from the photos, it appears they’ve done an amazing job. The hotel is approximately forty minutes from the airport and is set in a perfect location for snorkeling and sea turtle viewing.
Top 10 Big Island Things to Do
Enjoy a tropical drink (or 2)
Poolside drinks at the Waikola Beach Resort.
Unless you’ve flown in from another Hawaiian Island, you probably had a long flight and can use a rest. If you’re staying at a resort on the Big Island of Hawaii you probably won’t make it past check-in without someone offering you a delicious, fruity beverage. I swear on my life, fruit just tastes better in Hawaii. And no matter where you are, fruit always tastes better in alcohol.
For amazing tropical drinks and a delicious burger, I recommend the Lava Lava Beach Club.
If alcohol isn’t your thing, you can always enjoy a delicious cup of Kona coffee, grown from a nearby Kona coffee farm. It’s a delicious boost of energy to propel you into your Hawaiian adventures.
2. Swim with Turtles
If you want to see a green turtle, Hawaii is the place. Hawaii’s beaches are frequently visited by Hawaiin Green Sea Turtles. Adult turtles can grow 3-4 feet in length and weigh as much as 300-400 pounds. It is important to note that Green Sea Turtles or Honu, as they’re called in Hawaii, are an endangered species. It is illegal to touch them or come within ten feet. So, feel free to appreciate them and admire them, but please do so from a safe distance.
Summer is the best time of year for sea turtle spotting. While I’ve listed some of the best turtle beach viewing in Hawaii below, it’s worth noting that sea turtle sightings are abundant in summer and you may not need to venture away from your resort to spot them. I spotted several on the Mauna Lani beachfront. I even snorkeled with sea turtles right in front of our hotel. (Of course, while keeping my ten-foot distance.)
To swim with turtles on The Big Island you have a few options.
State Hwy 160 Hōnaunau, HI 96726 phone: (808) 328-2326
Old Pualo Road Waimea, HI 95743
71-1890 Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 phone: (808) 961-9540
786702 All’i Dr Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 phone: (808) 961-8311
Ninole Loop Rd Naalehu, HI 96772 phone: (808) 961-8311
*** A few quick words on doing anything beach related on the Kona side…***
The black sand beaches in Kona is no joke. The Kona side of the island is filled with lava rock. This rock stretches all the way to the beach and feels like sharp shards of glass under your feet. I found it completely unbearable to walk on. The best and safest option for walking on the beach is water shoes. While they’re easily found in local surf shops, be prepared for a hefty markup. It’s best to come prepared and pack your own.
3. Visit Akaka Falls State Park
Big Island waterfall hikes can be found on the Hilo side of the island. In fact, it’s one of the top things to do in Hilo. The biggest and best of these waterfalls is Akaka Falls, a 422ft tall waterfall located in Akaka Falls Park. Many describe it as one of the most beautiful places on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s an approximately two hours drive from Kona. But fear not, this is a drive-through Hawaii, not a drive down the 405 at rush hour. Everything is gorgeous and your time in the car will fly right by.
To get up close to the two Hilo, Hawaii waterfalls you have a couple of options. There is a paved route that makes a loop around the park. It’s not an incredibly difficult walk, but it does have stairs and it is NOT wheelchair accessible. But the hike is not the only way to view waterfalls on the Big Island.
To view Akaka Falls without the hiking loop covered in stairs, take the path to the left at the first junction. An excellent view of the waterfall is just a short distance away.
I was able to leave my cane in the car and make the walk along the loop fairly easily with the use of the handrails. But please exercise caution and go slowly as the pathways can be wet and slippery.
Akaka Falls Park is currently closed due to COVID-19, but with many sites opening back up for tourism on August 1, 2020, I recommend checking the Hawaii State Parks Website for updates. The entrance fee is $5 per car.
4. Snorkeling
One of the top things to do in Hawaii, snorkeling is a fun and relaxing activity. There are many excellent beaches for snorkeling on Hawaii’s Big Island. For the best snorkeling in Kona, head to Bay State Historical Park, Magic Sands Beach, or Mauna Lani Beach. Mauna Lani is one of the best snorkeling spots on Hawaii’s Big Island. For visitors with mobility issues, Big Island snorkeling tours and other water activities are possible through Anelakai Adventures. They’re the best on the island and really go above and beyond to provide a customized experience. Anelakai even supplies specialty equipment so visitors with quadriplegia can snorkel with Manta Rays. They have years of experience and they’re caring, knowledgeable, and willing to work with anyone no matter what their age or mobility to make traditionally inaccessible activities like the ray night snorkel accessible.
If you have physical disabilities please contact them directly at (808) 987-0377 so they can make sure to arrange proper staff and equipment to ensure your experience is safe and enjoyable.
Body Glove Cruises also offers an Eco-Friendly Wheelchair-Accessible Snorkeling Experience with BBQ departing from Kona.
Snorkeling Kona Hawaii.
5. Enjoy a drive around the Big Island
Some people enjoy spending half their trip on the Kona side, and half on the Hilo side. For me, the two-hour drive between the two wasn’t too prohibitive and the beautiful ocean views up the Kona coast and through the lava landscapes made for a fun drive. We rented a car for two days of our stay so we could get out and do some exploring. The rest of the time it was easy enough to use rideshare, though during the pandemic you may need to book a rideshare a few hours ahead of your intended travel, particularly if you are looking to take a trip to a more secluded area like Papakōlea aka green sand beach or Mauna Kea.
The one thing you’ll notice missing from my top 10 list is taking a Big Island lava boat tour around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, Kilauea was actively erupting at the time of our visit and while lava boat tours were running, we opted not to take one for safety reasons. The day after we left a boat was struck by a lava bomb, injuring 23 people on board. So, it looks like we made the right call. Maybe we’ll give it a go on our next trip to the Big Island if the volcano is a little more sleepy.
6. Buy some roadside fresh fruit
Did you know fruit isn’t just an ingredient adult beverages? It’s true! And pineapple never tastes better than when it’s picked fresh and sliced up to go on the side of the road. Be sure to load up on your vitamin C and support the local economy.
Fresh pineapple and coconut purchased just outside Akaka Falls.
7. Visit the goats
If you’re looking for unique things to do on the Big Island, this is for you. There are tons of wild goats roaming around the volcanic fields of Puako. But goats didn’t appear on the Hawaiian Islands until 1778 when they were brought in by Captain Cook and Captain Vancouver as gifts. When will people learn? Live animals make terrible gifts!!! The goats soon did what goats do and had their sexy goat honeymoons all over the island. Soon Hawaii was lousy with feral goats. These goats are responsible for the extinction of many native plants. The extinction of native plants lead to the extinction of native wildlife, and by the 1970s Hawaii Volcano National Park had about 15,000 wild goats living within park limits. They began efforts to control the number of animals in order to protect indigenous species. Today there are less than 100 goats living within the park.
There are still a small number of wild goats living on the Kona side of the island. Be extra careful if you’re driving as goats aren’t afraid to dart out into traffic.
8. Fly a Drone
I love drone footage. If you’re looking to fly your drone, Hawaii can’t be beat. There is nothing more beautiful than a sweeping shot of waves crashing against the majestic lava cliffs of Hawaii.
If you’re new to flying, please make sure you read up on drone regulations. You want to be far enough away from airports, powerlines, military bases, and other illegal or dangerous areas. Also, don’t be a dick. Flying above people’s property or animals is rude and can scare the hell out of the animals. Make sure you maintain proper altitude and distance.
Now roll that beautiful drone footage!
9. Go to a luau
Yes, there are better places to see authentic Polynesian dance. Yes, there are nicer places to eat. Yes, luaus are filled with tourists. But a Big Island luau is something you need to experience at least once in your life. It’s a boozy, decadent buffet, filled with drum beats and dance. Once in a while, we all need to give in to a good touristy activity.
We went to the Sunset Luau, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort, and Spa. The property is wheelchair accessible and there are clear pathways to the Marriot Waikoloa luau. It’s not as large as some of the big resort luaus, which puts you closer to the stage and better able to enjoy the show. They feature a wide variety of Polynesian dance, fire dancing, an imu ceremony, and a large selection of contemporary and Hawaiin fare with an open bar. It is a luau, so the food choices obviously skew more meat-heavy, but there was a nice selection of salads, vegetables, pasta, and desserts.
The Kona Marriott luau takes about three hours and the sunset backdrop makes for a beautiful setting.
I also recommend the Big Island Voyagers of the Pacific Luau with Buffet.
Dancers perform traditional Polynesian dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, and more at the Sunset Luau, Waikoloa Beach Marriott.
Fire dancing at the Sunset Luau, Waikoloa Beach Marriott
10. Enjoy a beautiful Hawaiian sunset
It’s one of the best things to do on the Big Island for free. It’s romantic. It’s 1,000 times better than the sunset you have back home. Make sure you enjoy it before you have to leave the Big Island beaches and return to your boring life on the mainland. Photographs really don’t do it justice.
Sunset, Big Island off the coast of Kona, Hawaii.
