Big Island Guide » Attractions & Activities » Great Views
Big Island Attractions & ActivitiesGreat Views
Don't have time to cover a lot of ground but still want to see the big picture? Our Great Views picks give you details on where to get a bird's-eye view or hidden glimpse of the most beautiful and most popular places in the area.
Address: Akaka Falls Rd, off Hwy 19, Honomu, HI 96728
This state park, hidden away in a dense forested area just northwest of Hilo, features two of the Big Island's most majestic scenes: Kahuna Falls and 'Akaka Falls. The former, easily the smaller of the two, cascades over a tree-lined cliff into the canopy below. Meanwhile, the latter tumbles more than 440 feet into a...
Address: N Kohala Mountain Rd, Kawaihae, HI
Historically, Kawaihae Harbor is significant because from here King Kamehameha the Great and his followers set out to conquer other civilizations on the archipelago. Years later, ships dropped anchor with the first horses and cattle to set foot on the Big Island. In more recent times, the bay served as the setting for...
Address: Laupahoehoe Point, off Hwy 19 N, Laupahoehoe, HI 96764
Easily offering one of the best vistas on the island, this leaf-like peninsula extends far into the Pacific. In the mid-'40s, tragedy struck the village located here when a tsunami swept across the peninsula and claimed the lives of 24 people. A memorial in the park remembers that dreadful incident. Today, Laupahoehoe...
Mauna Kea Summit & Onizuka Visitor Center
Address: Mauna Kea Access Rd, Mauna Kea, HI
From the ocean floor to Mauna Kea's 13,000-plus-foot summit, this majestic mountain is the world's tallest. Its elevation, combined with its relative isolation from air pollution, also makes it one of the world's foremost locations for stargazing, a fact not lost on astronomers. Indeed, 11 countries, including Japan,...
Address: Hwy 270, Mile Marker 28, HI 96719
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Make it to the end of scenic Highway 270 and experience the majesty of the Big Island's dramatic Kohala coastline. High above waves that crash onto jagged rocks are several lookout areas that offer sweeping vistas of verdant cliffs and sliver-like waterfalls cascading over them. Folks wanting a touch of adventure can...
Address: Rainbow Dr, off W Waianuenue Ave, Hilo, HI 96720
Just a short drive outside of downtown Hilo, the Wailuku River penetrates dense tropical undergrowth and cascades more than 80 feet into a picturesque gorge. The emerald green pool at the base of the falls used to be a popular swimming hole, especially with daredevils who wanted to explore the cave behind the falls;...
