Ten Unforgettable Things to Do on the Big Island

The Big Island at Its Best

• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Home to Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. Walk across hardened lava fields, explore lava tubes, and pass steaming craters and sulfur banks. Return after dark when conditions allow for a glow rising from the crater — a reminder the island is still being formed.
• Stargazing on Mauna Kea At nearly 14,000 feet, Mauna Kea offers some of the clearest night skies on the planet. The sunset above the clouds is breathtaking on its own. Guided tours reach the summit safely; the visitor center at 9,200 feet provides excellent stargazing without the altitude demands of the top.
• Manta Ray Night Snorkel One of the most distinctive wildlife encounters available anywhere. After dark, snorkel tours along the Kona coast deploy underwater lights that draw plankton — and then the mantas arrive. Their slow, wide passes through illuminated water are unlike anything else on the island.
• Punalu'u Black Sand Beach A jet-black shoreline formed by volcanic lava, and one of the best places on the island to see Hawaiian green sea turtles at rest. The contrast of black sand against turquoise water is unlike any other beach in Hawaii.
• Hapuna Beach An expansive white-sand beach with calm, clear water suited to swimming, bodyboarding, and long walks along the shore. On a clear afternoon, it is as close to a textbook Hawaiian beach as the island offers — and it sits minutes from Mauna Lani.
• Kona Coffee Farm Tours The volcanic slopes of Kona produce some of the most prized coffee in the world. Family-run farms welcome visitors for tours covering the full arc from cherry to cup, typically ending with a tasting above sweeping views of the Pacific. A half-day excursion well worth building into any itinerary.
• Hilo Waterfalls 'Akaka Falls drops 420 feet through dense rainforest; nearby Rainbow Falls produces shimmering color in the morning mist. The drive along the Hamakua Coast connects the two with a series of further scenic stops through the island's lush eastern landscape.
• Snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay A protected marine sanctuary widely considered among the finest snorkeling sites in Hawaii. Exceptionally clear water, vibrant coral, schools of tropical fish, and occasional spinner dolphins. The bay also holds historical significance as the site of Captain Cook's first landing in Hawaii.
• Scenic Drive Around the Island The Big Island is larger than all other Hawaiian Islands combined. A full circuit takes in lava fields along the Kona coast, rainforest near Hilo, rolling ranch lands around Waimea, and dramatic ocean cliffs along the northern coastline. Each region feels entirely distinct.
• Sunset on the Kohala Coast The sky along the Kohala Coast moves through gold, pink, and deep orange as the sun drops into the Pacific. From the lanai of an Abita home or the shore of the Beach Club, it is the natural close to a day well spent on the island.