Big Island

Attractions & Activities

'Akaka Falls State Park

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 ... (more) ...

Anaeho'omalu Bay and Waikoloa Beach

One of the Big Island's top beaches, A-Bay is known for metallic, yellow-hued sands that earn it the nickname "Gold Coast." The bay's crystal blue wat ... (more) ...

Banyan Drive

Scenic Banyan Drive, which loops around Hilo Bay's Waiakea Peninsula, is named for the 50-plus trees that line it. The ground roots of these eerie har ... (more) ...

Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center

This informative facility is located just a few miles north of Kailua-Kona – at Keahole-Kona International Airport, to be exact. What the museum lacks ... (more) ...

Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area

Hapuna Beach, nestled between Waikui and Puako, is known for being one of the cleanest, most family-friendly beaches on Hawaii. Its smooth, white sand ... (more) ...

Hawai'i Tropical Botanical Garden

About 10 miles outside of Hilo Bay, overlooking the Big Island's dramatic north shore, sits the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, a virtual Eden consi ... (more) ...

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Encompassing more than 350 square acres, this tumultuous national park is one of the most photographed locales in the Hawaiian chain. For more than 70 ... (more) ...

Hulihe'e Palace

With an exterior constructed almost entirely of lava rock and coral mortar, Hulihe'e Palace is one of the Big Island's more unique structures – and on ... (more) ...

Kahalu'u Beach Park

Easily one of the Big Island's most popular beaches, Kahalu'u offers parking, equipment rental stalls, a covered pavilion, and a snack bar. A reef far ... (more) ...

Kailua Pier

A great launching point for sightseeing and fishing excursions, this pier is always a-bustle. On one day, an excited crowd may gather to see the weigh ... (more) ...

Kawaihae Harbor

Historically, Kawaihae Harbor is significant because from here King Kamehameha the Great and his followers set out to conquer other civilizations on t ... (more) ...

Kipuka Puaulu

One of many fascinating features of Volcanoes National Park, Kipuka Puaulu, located on Mauna Loa, is a reminder of how lava flowing from the mountain ... (more) ...

Kona Historical Society Museum & Greenwell Store

Englishman Henry Nicholas Greenwell arrived on the Big Island around 1850 and, soon after, purchased a parcel of land in Kalukalu. On his farm, he rai ... (more) ...

Laupahoehoe Beach Park

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 villa ... (more) ...

Lyman Mission House and Museum

When David and Sarah Lyman finished their Big Island home in 1839, it was one of the island's most unique. The house's architecture is a masterpiece o ... (more) ...

Mauna Kea Beach

South of Hapuna Beach, Mauna Kea is regarded by many as one of Hawaii's – if not the world's – top beaches. Smooth, golden sands are flanked on one si ... (more) ...

Mauna Kea Summit & Onizuka Visitor Center

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 ... (more) ...

Mo'okini Heiau

This three-story stone temple, erected more than 1500 years ago, stands as one of the oldest structures in the state. Built to honor Ku (the Hawaiian ... (more) ...

Nani Mau Gardens

Makato Nitahara, owner and masterful green thumb behind this exquisite garden, began planting tropical flowers in this former papaya patch more than t ... (more) ...

Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm

For a truly unique experience, call ahead to schedule an up-close-and-personal tour of this facility, which is dedicated to seahorse preservation. Mor ... (more) ...

Old Kona Airport State Park

Some beaches are beautiful, but you can't park anywhere near them. Old Kona Airport beach is attractive AND has lots of parking. In fact, the original ... (more) ...

Pacific Tsunami Museum

On the east coast of the United States, hurricane season runs from June to November, and coastal residents keep track of weather systems while meteoro ... (more) ...

Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo

One of the more unique zoos you'll visit, Pana'ewa Reserve allows a glimpse of life in a tropical rainforest, making it the only such facility in the ... (more) ...

Parker Ranch

Parker Ranch, one of America's oldest and largest ranches, was founded in 1847 and spans some 150,000 acres. Visitors to the island eagerly venture he ... (more) ...

Pololu Valley Lookout

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 ja ... (more) ...