The Big Island is awesome.Kealakekua Bay Park is beautiful.You used to be able to rent kayaks and kayak across the bay to the marine reserve at theCaptain Cook monument. the locals rent them out, but its kind of hush hush because they don't have permits. Fun way to go see the spot where Captain Cook met his fate. Other options to get to the marine reserve are by boat tour or a pretty decent hike down.
Waipio Valley isreputed to be one of the most beautiful valley's in Hawaii. The big island's tallest waterfall is at the back of Waipio. You can drive to the lookout (and down if you have a 4WD), but if you want to go down, probably want to do a tour (4WD or horeseback). The road is very steep. There's also ATV tours along the rim which sound cool (www.ridetherim.com)
Rainbow Falls State Park doesn't have the most spectacular falls, but it's beautiful and very easy to get to if you're in Hilo.
Mauna Kea Beach is probably the best beach on the island and it just has a old school feel that puts you at ease.
If you like hiking,Two Step is some of the best snorkeling on the island. Nice to combine with a trip to the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau ParkPlace of Refuge, but worth it by itself. Hang a right on the small road right before you get into the state park/place of refuge parking lot. You can park along the road or pay to park in a small lot. you can't miss it, you'll see lots of people and cars. Various areas to snorkel... I like going out across the bay (can see dolphin here at the right time of day. keep your ears peeled), then coming back along the shore, but probably the most reliable is to get in the water, swim left past the opening to the small harbor area (where you can see turtles) and work your way over and around the lava canyons towards the point of the place of refuge. there can be surf and surge in this area, but if you're an experienced snorkeler, you can get great fish out in this area. Bring food and water if you plan on staying a while.
Pololu Valley Lookout is an easy drive from the Mauna Kea. One of the more beautiful views on the Big Island. Take highway 270 until it ends. There is a small car park where you can take in the view. If you want some exercise, there is a good hike down the valley to the black sand beach at the bottom. The drive out there is interesting... you go through a couple of small Hawaiian towns (Hawi is an interesting place with art galleries, etc.). If you do this, on the way back from the lookout, instead of taking the 270 back along the coast, when you enter Hawi, make a left on either the Kohala Mountain Road or Highway 250 (they merge a couple of mile from the turnoff from the road through town), and take that to Waimea (then you can take the 19 right down from Waimea to the Mauna Kea). This is a great little drive... you drive through rolling hills and ranches with views out to the Pacific and Maui. We stumbled across this route and loved it. Totally different than the drive along the coast.
For food,The restaurant Manago Hotel is famous, plate lunch style. Right on the ocean side of the road in Captain Cook. I'd probably opt for Teshimas (down the road towards Kona), but if you're hankering for a pork chop, this is a good, inexpensive option. Very blue collar Hawaiian. Also known as a good budget option hotel if you want to stay in the Captain Cook area for any reason.The CanoeHouseat the Mauni Lani hotel is also a good spot.
If you need a place to stay, is my random recommendation for an inexpensive place to stay around Kona. This is a very old hotel that Sheraton did a big renovation on, went through bankruptcy, etc. It has no beach, but is perched on some dynamic black lava shoreline south of the main part of town. The pool is very good, the staff was very friendly when I was there. Rooms are so-so (but many have great views). What I really like about this place is the Manta Ray bar. At night, you can have a drink and watch giant Manta Rays swim below the cliffs (that they illuminate with lights and give a presentation on many nights). Not the nicest hotel, by any means, but has a lot to offer for the price (especially if you feel like hanging at the pool). Worth going by even for the Manta Rays at night. Also, the famous Manta Ray dives leave right next door, so if you want to do the dive, may make sense to stay here a night so you don't have to drive the 45 minutes to your hotel up on the Kohala coast.
Another nice hotel is theMauna Kea Beach Hotel.Make sure to have a Frederico at the beach bar. Named after Fred Allen.
FAQs
The Big Island is generally divided into the western Kona side and the eastern Hilo side. The Kona side has the best beaches, commercial resorts, restaurant scene, and coffee farms. The Hilo side is more lush, offers great hiking, and is home to Volcanoes National Park and all its must-see sites.
How many days do you need in Big Island Hawaii? ›
To discover Big Island as a whole, we recommend staying ideally 8 to 10 days so that you have time to explore it at your own pace, as the island is quite large.
Do I need a car for the Big Island? ›
Unless you want to just relax at your hotel, the answer is yes. Driving is the best way to get around and will provide you with the most flexibility. Hawaii Island is known as “The Big Island” for good reason — spanning 10,931 square miles, it has a lot of ground to cover.
Is it safe to travel to the Big Island of Hawaii right now? ›
The Big Island and the rest of Hawai'i remain safe destinations for visitors and residents, and there are no travel restrictions for any of these locations.
What is the best month to visit the Big Island of Hawaii? ›
The best time to visit Hawaii is between March and September. This is when the islands see the highest temperatures and the lowest amount of rain. It's the perfect time to enjoy the beach or the water.
Is the Big Island as beautiful as Maui? ›
Both Maui and The Big Island have stunning landscapes that showcase the natural beauty of Hawaii in their own unique ways. The scenery of Maui vs Big Island can best be simplified as Maui being a lush garden isle, and the Big Island being a testament to incredible volcanic landscapes.
Is Kona or Hilo better? ›
When comparing Kona versus Hilo, the choice depends on what type of trip you want as well as your budget. If you're looking for a rainforest climate and lots of hiking, Hilo might be for you. If you want to use hotel points or prefer a drier climate, Kona is a great choice.
Is the Big Island expensive to visit? ›
A one week trip to Big Island of Hawaii usually costs around $1,753 for one person and $3,506 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing. A two week trip to Big Island of Hawaii on average costs around $3,506 for one person and $7,011 for two people.
Do you need a passport to go to the Big Island? ›
In general, US citizens do not require a passport for domestic travel, including trips to Hawaii. Hawaii is a state in the United States. And citizens of the United States can enter and depart the state using their state-issued driver's licence or identity card.
Is Hilo safe to walk at night? ›
Most on-campus incidents are crimes of opportunity, so keeping track of belongings and locking vehicles and homes is a must. If possible, avoid walking alone at night, or stick to well-lit areas. And when partying, do it responsibly with people you trust, and always have a sober driver.
Aedes albopictusis the most common day-biting mosquito. Aedes aegyptiis found only on the Big Island and Molokai. Aedes japonicusis currently found only on the Big Island. The two species, Culex quinquefasciatus (Southern House Mosquito) and Aedes vexans are active only at night.
What is the safest island in Hawaii? ›
If you're just looking at the sheer number of incidents on each island, Kauai is the safest island to live on.
What is special about the Big Island of Hawaii? ›
The Island is incredibly diverse, offering more climate and landscape variety than any of the other Hawaiian Islands. According to the Köppen Climate Classification System the Big Island has 10 of the 15 types of climate zones that exist on our planet!
Which side is better on Big Island of Hawaii? ›
The west side of the Big Island is hands down, the best. Here you will find dry sunny days, balmy tropical evenings, beautiful beaches, world-class snorkeling, a developed coastline, quaint shopping areas and more. Popular areas of the west side are the Kohala Coast region, Waikaloa and Kailua-Kona.
What is the difference between the Big Island and Honolulu? ›
While O'ahu is a beautiful, eroded island with much to learn and observe about volcanic history, the Big Island has two obvious advantages: It is made up of five volcanoes instead of just two for O'ahu, and. The Big Island has active volcanoes, whereas O'ahu does not.
What is considered the best Hawaiian island to visit? ›
With such great variety, there's always a reason to come back again.
- Oahu Brings the Best of City Life and Country Living. ...
- Maui is Considered Heaven on Earth. ...
- Hawaii Island is for Volcano Lovers. ...
- Kauai is Nature at Its Finest. ...
- Molokai and Lanai Offer a Laidback Getaway.