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Guide to the Big Island, Hawaii

by samanthaellison9

Is the Big Island worth visiting? In short: absolutely yes.

I have been to a lot of beautiful places, but Big Island is decidedly my favorite thus far. If you love hiking and being outside, or if you love relaxing on quiet beaches with turquoise water and sea turtles, Big Island will not disappoint. 

I have an infinite amount of things to say, but I’ve narrowed it down for you here. I’ve known the stress of trying to choose which island to visit, so from first-hand experience, I can confidently say the Big Island is worth it and you are going to have the time of your LIFE. I’ve included a FREE itinerary at the end of this post to help ensure you have the most fun and get to experience it all!

So, here are 20 reasons (with photographic evidence, of course) proving why you should take a trip to Big Island, Hawaii! There are lots of places linked here, so check out my Hawaii itinerary for a concise list of directions on Maps, websites, etc! 

  1. Black Sand Beaches

Need I say more? Punalu’u is known for having sea turtles resting on the sand! Do not get too close, though, or the locals will be very upset! The waves at Lone Palm are amazing as they roll over the volcanic pebbles and pull you back and forth in the current with them. 

  1. Feel like you are Moana at Pololu Valley lookout

The view when you first pull up is MAGICAL. But let me tell ya, you do not want to miss the view from down in the valley, which is only about a 20 minute easy hike. It is so worth it. I would recommend spending the afternoon here because you get the golden hour sun shining on the valley, making it even more surreal!

  1. See an active volcano

If you have a national park pass, bring it!! The active volcano is located in Volcanoes National Park (obviously) and is incredible. Eat before you go because all the restaurants in Volcano Village close at 7 pm. The one we ate at was not amazing and super expensive, so prepare for that before you go! It is also chilly at night, so bundle up!

  1. Try fresh cocoa and macadamia nuts

On a whim, we stopped at Paradise Meadows farm to taste local farm products and WOW was it amazing. The employees were so kind, too, and gave us the best tour of the whole farm. They give out so many samples and you are probably going to be convinced to buy a snack or two. This is a great place to get authentic Hawaiian treats to bring home to family and friends. I snagged some yummy Mango Coconut shortbread cookies and parmesan macadamia nuts. 

  1. Visit the highest mountain in the world (sea floor to tip)

Mauna Kea has SNOW on the top of it! You can visit the observatory and watch the craziest sunset of your life (while feeling like you are exploring MARS) and then stay to watch as the stars begin to dot the crystal-clear sky. You cannot drive to the summit of Mauna Kea without a 4WD vehicle and if the roads are too dangerous and icy. Be sure to check if the access road past the observatory is open or not before attempting to drive to the summit. If you want to take a tour, this one is great!

  1. A more authentic Hawaiian experience than the other islands

The Big Island is the least crowded of all the islands. There is so much open space and nature to experience without the busyness of a big city. The ONLY minor time we had to wait in traffic was in Kona on the main road for about 5 minutes. Maybe this is weird, but it was also the most clean-feeling air I have ever experienced. So: less crowded, less tourists =  more authentic experience because everything is not being tailored to meet the expectations of tourism.

  1. Reliable weather

Unlike the other islands, with the Big Island, you can always count on at least the Kona side being rain-free for your day-time adventures. It is volcanic and extremely dry, leading to a very small amount of rain. An hour and half drive to the other side of the island, and you are in Hilo, which is much more lush, but less predictable weather. It rains there a ton, so I would recommend staying in Kona and checking the weather for a day trip to Hilo.

  1. Pretend to be on Survivor at Onomea Bay

This place is a hidden gem! We took Peepeko Scenic route to get to Onomea Bay and then parked on the side of the road to then hike down. At first we stopped at a little inlet and were about to leave, but decided to keep walking. And boyyy am I glad we did. We found a little inlet area with coconuts floating around in the water (that we broke open and drank, and then threw around like a football FUN). We then climbed out onto a little peninsula and ran into some local surfers and fishermen. We got to learn about the area from them as we watched the sky change colors as the sun colored the sky brilliantly.  You can also stop at the incredible Tropical Nature Preserve along the trail.

  1. Visit Dancing Fields and Green Sand Beach 

The drive to Green Sand Beach is STUNNING. Stop and enjoy it. Green Sand Beach is about 1.5 hours to walk to and from across a dirt path by the ocean. It is about a 20 minute ride if you have a 4WD car. You can hike down the rocks or relax on the beach. Locals are usually hanging out there to drive people to and from the beach for only $10! It is definitely rough getting there by car, driving over all the hills, but it is an adventure I am so glad we didn’t skip out on!

  1. Explore the Queen’s Bath Lagoon

This place was a bit hard to find, but it is amazing once you do. If you are feeling extra adventurous, you can swim back into the darkness of the cave with a flashlight and explore!

  1. Try real Hawaiian Rolls (YUM)

During our time in Hilo, we stopped at Mr. Ed’s bakery! Amazing, homemade treats and open 365 days of the year! Worth stopping at in Hilo!

  1. Catch the perfect Hawaiian sunset at Hapuna Beach

This is the largest white sand beach on the island. It is near all the resorts and truly has the softest sand I have ever walked on. It is a bit crowded, so wouldn’t recommend for family pictures, but it was my favorite way to end the evenings there. 

  1. Live on an orchard for the week

Imagine waking up with the sunlight and the chitter chatter of birds flitting about outside your window. That was life every day in the Airbnb we stayed in. The host was amazing and shared his whole story of, after his dad’s death, continuing his dad’s dream of running a farm. He raises orchids and countless types of fruit trees. This true Hawaiin experience beat staying at a resort anyyy day.

  1. Feel like you are on 12 different planets

Hawaii has 11 out of the 13 climatic zones, which I think is incredible!!!! Like how does one little island have so much variety??!!! Check out my reels on Instagram for alll the examples of this one.

  1. Snorkel 

We bought discount snorkel gear and headed out to the bay 3 minutes down the road to give ourselves a tour of the water! The coral was pretty dead, so I recommend taking a tour, honestly, if you want to see some better things than we did. But it was still fun swimming around for two hours beside a giant mountain trying with so much determination to see at least a sea turtle or manta ray. We grabbed coffee at this place after. I don’t even like coffee, but it was the best I have ever tasted! It is owned by the sweetest mom and daughter duo!

  1. Souvenirs and local snacks at the Hilo Farmers Market

Bring cash to pay with! I got 3 cool t-shirts and a magnet all for $23! Lollll. They also have tons of food samples, so show up with an empty stomach!

  1. Journey to the Center of the Earth at Akaka Falls hike in Hilo

We felt like we were in a movie scene walking around here. It is a jungle with the most amazing waterfall at the end and only cost $5 to get in!

  1. See whales first-hand

We LOVED getting to head out for whale watching with Simon at Hang Loose Tours. The crew was so personable and we got to make some awesome friends on the tour. A whale came up RIGHT BESIDE our boat. I so badly wanted to just hop in and swim with them. Such amazing creatures they are. 

  1. Eat the best Thai food of your life

Okay I don’t normally like Thai food, but the Massaman Curry at the Thai Rin restaurant in downtown Kona was freaking incredible. After dinner, we walked down the street about one block and got to enjoy our to-go food by the volleyball courts overlooking the sun setting over the ocean. 

  1. Get tattoos by the ocean

And right beside the Thai place… The coolest tattoo artist ever, DAVE! He was a pilot who decided to just settle down in Hawaii. Not a bad idea, if ya ask me. He is so talented, hilarious, and his prices are extremely fair, especially for Hawaii. We loved hanging out with him at Artistic Creations Tattoo!

Maybe too many suggestions??.. But if you’re not convinced yet, just let me know. I have a million more things to say! If you have any questions or additional ideas, I would love to hear about it in the comments!

Click HERE to download my free six-day itinerary! I put a ton of research into this to make sure I could sift through all the place and give you the very best of the island! Let me know what you think! For another tropical itinerary, check out my post on my trip to ARUBA that only cost $800! is my favorite place to be and I love getting to share that with you. Thanks for adventurin’ with me! 

xoxo,

Sam <3