Things to do in Big Island
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Big Island
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best all round window in late spring, dry Kona weather, calm snorkelling water and shoulder season rates.
Best all round window in early autumn with the warmest ocean in September, but October brings Ironman week to Kona.
Whale season December to April peaking January to March, also big surf and the rainiest Hilo months.
Often the rainiest Hilo weeks, plan east side days around mornings.
What's on
- Merrie Monarch Festival Easter week, 28 March to 3 April in 2027
The world's premier hula competition in Hilo, tickets requested by mail months ahead.
- IRONMAN World Championship October
The original Ironman in Kailua-Kona, spectating is free and the town and prices fill for the week.
- Kona Coffee Cultural Festival About 10 days in November
Farm tours, cupping competitions and food across Kona at harvest time, running since 1970.
- Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament Late summer
Five days of big game fishing pageantry at the Kona pier, running since 1959.
- Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival February
A beloved local scale festival anchoring a north side day in Waimea.
- Kamehameha Day 11 June
Celebrated in North Kohala by the King Kamehameha statue, anchoring a north side day.
Best things to do in Big Island
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
The essential full day for Kilauea summit, steam vents, lava tube and crater trails with closures checked at the visitor center.
Kīlauea Iki Trail
The park's best hike loops through forest and across the still warm 1959 lava lake floor past the vent.
Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube)
A short walk through a lava tube set in native rainforest near the Kilauea summit.
Chain of Craters Road
Nineteen miles of old flows to Holei Sea Arch and Puuloa petroglyphs showing how new land is made.
Manta Ray Night Snorkel
After dark, lights draw plankton and reef mantas barrel roll inches overhead while you float on a light board.
Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station
Free sunset and stargazing at 9,200 feet in exceptionally clear air, the right summit alternative for most visitors.
Kealakekua Bay
Protected reef with dense coral, yellow tang and turtles in the clearest water on the island by the Cook monument.
Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
A restored place of refuge with royal fishponds, carved images and the Great Wall on a black lava point.
Where to stay in Big Island
Kohala Coast
best overall and first trip base
Sunniest driest resort coast with the best beaches and golf, but no walkable town and long drives to the volcano.
Kailua-Kona town
walkable, social and budget to mid base
Walk to bars, restaurants, the pier and sunset drinks on Ali'i Drive, but town beaches are lava rock not sand.
Volcano village
volcano base, essential 1 to 2 nights
Fern forest village at 4,000 feet, five minutes from the park gate, cold nights and no swimming nearby.
Hilo
local east side base
Farmers market, cheap local eating and waterfalls in town with the volcano 45 minutes away, but rain is certain and beaches are rocky.
Think twice about
- Waikoloa Village (inland) sold as Waikoloa Beach
A residential town about 6 miles uphill from Waikoloa Beach Resort, so every swim is a drive and park despite beach sounding listings.
- Lower Puna (Pahoa, Kalapana, Kapoho)
Lava zones 1 to 2, catchment water at many rentals, few restaurants, spotty signal and car break ins at isolated parks.
- Ocean View, Na'alehu and deep Ka'u as a central base
Cheap but 1 to 1.5 hours to the volcano and over 1.5 to Kona with almost no dining, costing the trip in driving.
- Hilo as your only base for a beach holiday
One of the rainiest US cities with rocky ocean pools instead of sandy beaches, so base on Kohala or Kona for a beach trip.
Best restaurants in Big Island
Merriman's Waimea
The island flagship and founding room of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, built on Waimea vegetables and local beef and fish.
CanoeHouse
Japanese inflected oceanfront dining on Kona abalone and local fish at sunset over Pauoa Bay.
'ULU Ocean Grill and Sushi Lounge
Four Seasons oceanfront grill and sushi lounge using island ingredients, with sunset seating worth fighting for.
Brown's Beach House
Toes nearly in sand fine dining under the trees at Pauoa Bay, worth a trip for non guests.
Manta Restaurant
Resort dining above the floodlit manta viewing point, also the island's best resort breakfast.
Hilo Bay Cafe
Hilo's best all rounder, a chef led bayfront kitchen known for miso butterfish, ahi salads and a real sushi bar.
Moon and Turtle
A tiny chef owned Hilo room cooking a short changing menu of local fish and Big Island produce, reserve early.
Da Poke Shack
The poke benchmark, a takeout counter selling ahi poke by the pound, go for lunch before it sells out.
Outdoor things to do in Big Island
Mauna Kea Golf Course
The island flagship course, famous for the par 3 third hole carrying over a Pacific inlet between lava points.
Hāpuna Golf Course
The Kohala value pick, a Palmer design climbing dry hills above Hapuna Beach with panoramic ocean views.
Makalei Golf Club
A local price course in the cool coffee country hills above the airport with peacocks and elevation changes.
Waikoloa Village Golf Club
The residents course inland above Waikoloa Beach Resort with wind, mountain views and day rates.
Volcano Golf Club
Play at 4,000 feet on the edge of the national park in sight of Mauna Loa, a novelty second volcano day.
Kahalu'u Beach Park
The beginner snorkel answer, a shallow lifeguarded turtle dense bay behind an old breakwall in south Kona.
Lyman's Surf Break
Where Kona surf schools teach, the learner friendly break by Kahalu'u in south Kona.
Banyans Surf Break
A known local break off Ali'i Drive for watching or experienced surfers only, paddle out humble or not at all.
Best hotels in Big Island
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
The island luxury benchmark, low rise bungalows in lava and palm with a saltwater pond you can snorkel in.
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
Oceanfront luxury on ancient fishponds with two golf courses, calmer and more design led than the mega resorts.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
The 1965 Rockefeller original on Kauna'oa Beach, mid century architecture with the island's best beach out front.
The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
The mid luxury way onto Hapuna Beach itself, modernised with an adults pool and Hapuna golf attached.
Kolea at Waikoloa Beach Resort
The premium Waikoloa condo pick with kitchens and 2 to 3 bedroom space a short walk from A Bay.
Hali'i Kai at Waikoloa
Waikoloa Beach condo resort with kitchens and family space near Kings Shops and Queens MarketPlace dining.
Waikoloa Beach Villas
Condo resort space with kitchens at Waikoloa Beach, good value in shoulder season for families and groups.
Paniolo Greens
The honest cheap condo option, golf course condos uphill in Waikoloa Village where every swim is a drive.
Is Big Island expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | $120 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | $275 a person |
| Splurge | $650 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park: a few days ahead
- Manta Ray Night Snorkel: a few days ahead
- Kealakekua Bay: a few days ahead
- Mauna Kea Golf Course: weeks ahead
- Hāpuna Golf Course: a few days ahead
- Makalei Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Waikoloa Village Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Volcano Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Book lodging and rental car together first, especially for Ironman, Merrie Monarch, Christmas and summer.
- Book the manta night snorkel early in the trip so a weather cancellation can rebook.
- Merriman's, CanoeHouse and 'ULU need weeks ahead for sunset and weekend slots.
- Mauna Kea summit tours cap small, book a moonless window if stars are the point.
Is Big Island safe?
- Swim only at lifeguarded beaches in calm conditions and never swim at Pololu, Waipi'o or Papakolea.
- Do not swim in streams or waterfall pools during or after rain due to flash floods and leptospirosis.
- Stay on marked trails and behind volcano closures, and check the vog forecast if you have asthma.
- Car break ins are the top visitor crime, leave nothing visible in the car at trailheads and beach parks.
Big Island travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Any tour guaranteeing flowing lava viewing is selling fiction, nobody can promise it.
- The one day circle island tour means 260 miles and 20 minutes per stop inside a van.
- Do not drive a rental to Mauna Kea summit, down Waipi'o Road or to Papakolea, all are prohibited.
- Timeshare desks offering free manta or helicopter trips cost a half day hard sell presentation.
Getting around Big Island: public transport and more
- Rent a car for the whole trip, there is no version of this island without one.
- Kona to Volcano is 2 to 2.5 hours, Hilo to Volcano 45 minutes and the full island loop is about 260 miles.
- Never schedule the volcano, Mauna Kea or a manta boat on a flight day.
Who Big Island suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Big Island your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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