The top things to do on the Big Island include exploring Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, seeing waterfalls along the Hāmākua Coast, visiting a Kona coffee farm, relaxing at Hāpuna Beach, and snorkeling with manta rays after dark. Add a black sand beach and a Hawaiian cultural site, and you’ll experience much of what makes Hawaiʻi Island so different from anywhere else.
The challenge is choosing what fits your trip. A waterfall day near Hilo feels completely different from a beach day on the Kohala Coast. Volcanoes, gardens, and valley lookouts deserve time of their own, and trying to squeeze them all into one day can leave you spending most of your vacation in the car.
At Wild Hawaiʻi Tours, we specialize in private, customized Big Island tours. This guide brings together our recommendations for a first visit, with suggested time allowances and regional combinations to help you plan a day you’ll actually enjoy.
The best Big Island activities at a glance
These are suggested time allowances at each destination or for the activity itself. Driving, parking, meals, and check-in time are additional.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park — Volcano. Best for volcanic scenery and hiking. Suggested time: Half to full day.
ʻAkaka Falls — Near Honomū. Best for waterfall views and rainforest. Suggested time: 45–60 minutes.
Hawaiʻi Tropical Botanical Garden — Onomea, north of Hilo. Best for plants and photography. Suggested time: 1.5–2 hours.
Hāmākua Coast drive — Northeast coast. Best for scenic stops and local flavors. Suggested time: Half to full day.
Waipiʻo Valley Lookout — Near Honokaʻa. Best for valley scenery and history. Suggested time: 20–30 minutes.
Pololū Valley Lookout — North Kohala. Best for coastal cliffs and valley views. Suggested time: 20–30 minutes at the lookout.
Hāpuna Beach — Kohala Coast. Best for a white sand beach day. Suggested time: 2–4 hours.
Kona manta ray night snorkel — Kona Coast. Best for a guided marine experience. Suggested time: Reserve an evening.
Kona coffee farm — Kona uplands. Best for coffee tasting and agriculture. Suggested time: About an hour.
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach — Kaʻū. Best for black sand and possible turtle sightings. Suggested time: 30–60 minutes.
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau — South Kona. Best for hawaiian history and coastal scenery. Suggested time: 1–2 hours.
Puʻukoholā Heiau — Near Kawaihae. Best for hawaiian history. Suggested time: About an hour.
Hilo and Rainbow Falls — Hilo. Best for food, shops, and a waterfall stop. Suggested time: Half day.
Kaloko-Honokōhau — Kona. Best for cultural landscapes and coastal walking. Suggested time: 1–2 hours.
1. Explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
If you choose one major sightseeing day on your first visit, make it Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Kīlauea’s caldera, rainforest, and lava landscapes reveal the forces that shaped the island.
Build your visit around caldera viewpoints, Nāhuku—also called Thurston Lava Tube—and Kīlauea Iki Overlook. If you have more time, consider a volcanic hike or the drive down Chain of Craters Road. A longer park visit gives you room to experience different landscapes instead of rushing between overlooks.
Visible lava is a bonus. Eruptions can pause, and viewing locations or roads can close. The park remains worth visiting without an active eruption.
Planning tip: Bring walking shoes, water, a rain layer, and something warm. Check the National Park Service’s current information before choosing your route.
For a guided day that combines volcanic scenery with other island highlights, explore our Southern Gems Tour. Discuss your priorities with us so the park gets the time you want.
2. See ʻAkaka Falls surrounded by rainforest
ʻAkaka Falls is one of the Big Island’s standout waterfall stops. It drops 442 feet into a gorge, framed by the lush vegetation that makes the east side so memorable.
The standard loop is approximately 0.4 miles and includes stairs. It’s a relatively short outing, but you should be comfortable walking and climbing steps. Allow time to enjoy the rainforest as well as the waterfall viewpoint.
Planning tip: Pair this stop with Honomū or the botanical garden near Onomea. Check ʻAkaka Falls State Park updates before visiting; trail closures can change the available route. Entrance and parking fees apply to nonresidents.
3. Wander through Hawaiʻi Tropical Botanical Garden
For travelers who enjoy flowers, plants, or photography, Hawaiʻi Tropical Botanical Garden deserves a generous place in the itinerary. Located in Onomea north of Hilo, it combines tropical plant collections with a lush coastal setting.
Give yourself time to look closely. The appeal is in the variety of leaves, flowers, and textures as much as the wider scenery. This is a good choice when you want an immersive outdoor experience without committing to a long wilderness hike.
Planning tip: Allow around 1.5–2 hours as a starting point, and check the garden’s visitor guidance for walking conditions, accessibility, admission, and hours before booking. Bring water and shoes with good traction.
4. Make a day of the Hāmākua Coast
The Hāmākua Coast is especially rewarding for visitors who want rainforest, ocean views, small towns, and local food in the same day. It also gives you a different perspective from the dry lava landscapes around Kona and the Kohala resorts.
Choose a few meaningful stops rather than pulling over everywhere. Depending on your starting point, a day might include Honokaʻa, Waipiʻo Valley Lookout, ʻAkaka Falls, or Onomea. A fruit stand or bakery stop adds a taste of the island between larger attractions.
Planning tip: Pick your two main priorities first. A leisurely botanical garden visit and a long lunch leave less time for distant lookouts. Use Hawaiʻi’s official Hāmākua Coast guide for regional context.
Our Northern Gems Tour offers a private way to explore this side of the island, with optional garden and vanilla experiences available to discuss when planning your day.
5. Take in the view from Waipiʻo Valley Lookout
Waipiʻo Valley Lookout offers a striking view across a deep green valley toward the coastline. The setting is spectacular, but its significance goes beyond scenery: Waipiʻo has a long and important place in Hawaiian history.
For a first visit, plan around the lookout. Seeing the valley from above is a worthwhile experience in its own right. It is separate from accessing the valley floor, where road restrictions apply.
Planning tip: Don’t treat an older travel blog’s walking or driving directions as permission to descend. Follow current county guidance and posted signs, respect residents, and stay within permitted areas. Read more about the setting in the official Waipiʻo Valley Lookout guide.
6. Visit Pololū Valley Lookout in North Kohala
Pololū is a wonderful choice for dramatic coastal scenery. From the lookout, you can see the valley and the rugged coastline extending beyond it. Combine the stop with time in Hāwī and Kapaʻau for a North Kohala outing.
The lookout and the hike into the valley are different experiences. You can appreciate the view without hiking down. If you choose to hike, remember that the return requires an uphill climb and deserves its own time allowance.
Planning tip: Check access notices before setting out and follow local stewardship guidance. Park only in permitted spaces, keep driveways clear, and respect this culturally important landscape. The DLNR Pololū information page explains ongoing management of the area.
7. Enjoy a white sand beach day at Hāpuna
Hāpuna is a strong choice when you want a classic beach day: white sand, an open shoreline, and room to slow down. It makes a good complement to the island’s longer sightseeing days.
Swimming depends on conditions. A beautiful beach can still have powerful shore break or rip currents, so speak with lifeguards and follow posted warnings before entering the water.
Planning tip: Bring shade, drinking water, and sun protection. Check the Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area page for current facilities, fees, and access information. Give the beach a few hours instead of treating it as another rushed photo stop.
8. Book a Kona manta ray night snorkel
A manta ray night snorkel is one of Kona’s most distinctive experiences. Guided outings give visitors a chance to observe these graceful animals in the ocean after dark.
This is best suited to travelers comfortable with the operator’s swimming requirements and being in the water at night. Ask about flotation equipment, group size, age requirements, and what happens if weather cancels the trip or mantas don’t appear. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Planning tip: Reserve a separate evening with a specialist marine operator. Leave some flexibility in your vacation in case conditions require rescheduling. Hawaiʻi’s official Kona guide highlights manta encounters among the area’s signature activities.
9. Taste Kona coffee where it grows
A Kona coffee farm visit adds agriculture and local flavor to your trip. Learning how coffee is grown and processed makes the tasting more interesting—and gives you a better sense of the work behind each cup.
Greenwell Farms is one option to consider in the Kona coffee-growing region. Confirm the farm’s current tour arrangements before visiting, especially if you want to build a larger sightseeing day around it.
Planning tip: Leave room in your itinerary to ask questions and browse. When purchasing coffee, read the label carefully if you’re looking for 100% Kona coffee. A farm visit works well with other South Kona stops, depending on your route.
10. Visit Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
Punaluʻu’s black shoreline is one of the island’s most memorable coastal sights. Coconut palms, dark sand, and the ocean create a vivid contrast with the white sand beaches farther north.
Hawaiian green sea turtles, or honu, sometimes rest here. Enjoy any sighting from a respectful distance, follow posted guidance, and never touch, feed, or crowd them. Leave the sand and rocks where they belong.
Planning tip: Think of Punaluʻu primarily as a scenery and wildlife stop. It isn’t automatically a suitable swimming beach. Its location in Kaʻū makes it a natural consideration for a southern route toward Volcano. See the official Punaluʻu guide for more information.
11. Learn Hawaiian history at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park adds cultural depth to a South Kona visit. This place of refuge and its surrounding royal grounds help visitors understand Hawaiian society and the importance of this coastal landscape.
Take time to read interpretive information and follow the designated visitor route. Understanding what you’re looking at makes the visit much more meaningful than simply photographing the shoreline.
Planning tip: Allow 1–2 hours and bring water and sun protection. Follow guidance around sacred spaces and historic features. Combine the park with a coffee farm visit if you want a South Kona day centered on history and agriculture.
12. Visit Puʻukoholā Heiau near Kawaihae
Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in Kamehameha I and the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The heiau was built in 1790–1791, and the site helps explain events central to the kingdom’s formation.
Its location near Kawaihae makes it convenient to consider while exploring the Kohala Coast. Give the history as much attention as the coastal setting.
Planning tip: Allow about an hour, stay on designated routes, and respect restricted areas. Plan for exposed conditions and bring water. This can be a manageable cultural stop on a day that also includes time at the beach.
13. Explore Hilo and stop at Rainbow Falls
Hilo rewards a slower pace. Browse local shops, enjoy lunch, and leave time for the town’s waterfront and gardens. It’s a good place to experience a different side of the island from the west coast resort areas.
Rainbow Falls is a natural addition to a Hilo outing. It offers a waterfall view without the longer rainforest walk at ʻAkaka Falls. A rainbow depends on sunlight and conditions, so enjoy the waterfall whether one appears or not.
Planning tip: Choose Hilo as the focus of the day or as a carefully timed stop on a longer route. Adding the botanical garden, ʻAkaka Falls, and Volcano to the same day leaves little room to linger. The official Hilo guide can help you choose priorities.
14. Walk the cultural coastline at Kaloko-Honokōhau
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park offers a chance to explore Hawaiian coastal history close to Kona. Fishponds, shoreline landscapes, and traces of settlement show how people lived with and cared for this environment.
It’s a good choice for visitors who enjoy walking and want context behind the scenery. Honu may be present along the coast, but wildlife sightings should remain a bonus rather than the purpose of approaching an animal.
Planning tip: Choose your route according to your walking ability and available time. Expect sun and uneven terrain, bring water, and follow park guidance around cultural features and wildlife.
How to choose activities for your first visit
If you have only one sightseeing day, choose the landscape that interests you most. Volcanoes National Park is our first recommendation for volcanic scenery. The Hāmākua Coast suits travelers drawn to waterfalls, gardens, and green valleys. Kona and South Kona offer a rewarding mix of coffee, cultural sites, and coastal experiences.
For families, balance one major outing with shorter stops and time to eat. For photographers, leave enough flexibility to wait for light or explore a garden slowly. For travelers with limited mobility, verify each destination’s route and facilities individually; a short walk can still include stairs, slopes, or uneven ground.
A suggested three-day sightseeing plan
This is a selection of sightseeing days to spread through your vacation. Adjust the order to your accommodation, weather, and reservations.
Day 1: Kona and South Kona — Coffee farm and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, with a relaxed lunch. Schedule a manta outing on this or another suitable evening.
Day 2: Volcano and Kaʻū — Make Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park the priority. Consider Punaluʻu if it fits your starting point and route.
Day 3: Hilo and the Hāmākua Coast — Choose ʻAkaka Falls and the botanical garden with lunch in Hilo. Substitute Waipiʻo Lookout for a longer stop if valley scenery is your priority.
With more time, add a separate North Kohala day for Pololū, Hāwī, and Kapaʻau, plus a beach day on the Kohala Coast. You don’t need to drive around the entire island to have a memorable visit.
Common questions about things to do on the Big Island
What should I do on my first trip to the Big Island?
Start with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, one east-side rainforest or waterfall experience, and time on the Kona or Kohala Coast. Add coffee, a cultural site, and a manta ray outing according to your interests. That combination shows the island’s variety without requiring every attraction on the list.
How many days should I spend on the Big Island?
We recommend about five to seven days for a first visit if you want several sightseeing days and time to relax. A shorter trip can still be rewarding: choose fewer regions and avoid filling every day with long drives.
Can I see the Big Island in one day?
You can experience several highlights in one full day, but you won’t see the whole island in a meaningful way. Choose a focused route based on your starting point. Cruise visitors should also plan around their ship’s required return time.
Can I see lava at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park?
Sometimes. Visible lava depends on eruption activity, weather, and permitted viewing access. Check official park updates close to your visit and enjoy the park’s other volcanic landscapes even if no eruption is visible.
What are good things to do on the Big Island with kids?
Coffee farm visits, waterfall viewpoints, black sand beaches, and selected Volcanoes National Park stops can work well for families. Choose walks and water activities according to your children’s abilities. Build in snacks, restroom breaks, and flexibility rather than aiming for the longest possible itinerary.
Is Kona or Hilo better for sightseeing?
They serve different interests. Kona is a useful base for coffee farms and west-coast marine activities. Hilo puts you closer to east-side waterfalls and gardens. Your preferred activities should guide where you stay and how you group sightseeing days.
Is a private Big Island tour worth it?
A private tour can be especially helpful when you want a day tailored to your group, local interpretation, and someone else handling the driving. It lets you discuss walking preferences, meal stops, and must-see destinations before setting out. Self-driving also works well for travelers who enjoy planning their own route.
Explore the Big Island with Wild Hawaiʻi Tours
Your best Big Island day should reflect what you’re excited to see. You might want more time in the rainforest, a deeper understanding of volcanic landscapes, or a comfortable sightseeing day with your family.
At Wild Hawaiʻi Tours, we create private tours around your interests and pace, with knowledgeable guides, comfortable transportation, snacks, refreshments, and rain gear. Tell us your priorities and we’ll help build a realistic route.
Explore our Southern Gems Tour and Northern Gems Tour, or contact us to plan your private tour.
Book a private tour today and discover the Big Island at your own pace.