Unlike most of the other Hawaiʻian islands, Hawaiʻi isn’t just about the beautiful beaches. You’ll still be able to relax and enjoy your time on a beautiful tropical island, but your adventure to Hawaiʻi will also focus on hiking and geologic activity.
Famous for its volcanoes—some of the most active in the world—the big island of Hawaiʻi also has beautiful beaches, incredible snorkeling, gushing waterfalls, great hikes, and plenty of other exciting activities to keep you busy when you’re not relaxing on the sand.
Itineraries
Eat & Drink
Merriman’s Big Island
A Hawaii institution, Merriman’s serves some of the best food on the island, featuring farm-to-table regional cuisine and delicious local fish. Their Big Island location, in the town of Waimea, is their original restaurant and worth the trek.
Huggo’s
This restaurant right on the coast offers steaks, pastas, and seafood, alongside tropical cocktails, beer, and wine.
Magics Beach Grill
Perched on a deck above the ocean, Magics offers a welcoming atmosphere, neat views, and tasty sandwiches, salads, and seafood. It also has a full bar with good signature cocktails and beers on draft.
On the Rocks
The outdoor lounge for Huggos, the Kona institution, On the Rocks serves up tasty food, cocktails, and draft beers right on the coast. Some of the seating is even right on the sand. A great spot for happy hour or a casual dinner.
Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club
Located right on Mauna Lani beach, Napua is a great option for a delicious dinner with an ocean view. The restaurant serves tasty food and creative cocktails in this tranquil spot.
Kuleana Rum Shack
Operated by a rum distillery, this bar/restaurant offers excellent cocktails and a menu of tasty Hawaiian food.
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Anuenue Ice Cream & Shave Ice
This small spot makes some of the best shave ice in Hawaii, as well as ice cream and milkshakes.
Big Island Brewhaus
This Waimea spot offers tasty locally-brewed beer alongside scrumptious burgers, sandwiches, and tacos.
Seafood Bar and Grill
The Seafood Bar and Grill is aptly named; it offers tasty seafood and sandwiches as well cocktails in a tiki lounge atmosphere.
Tropics Ale House – Waikōloa
This casual restaurant is a great spot for a quick bite. The food includes yummy salads, sandwiches, and pizzas. Drinks include an extensive beer list, cocktails, and a smaller selection of wines.
Meridia
Located at the beautiful Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, Meridia is overpriced, but the food is good. The restaurant serves up tasty Mediterranean-influenced dishes above spectacular Hapuna Beach.
Lava Lava Beach Club Restaurant
It’s hard to beat dinner and drinks right on gorgeous Waikoloa Beach.
See
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
This unique national park protects the area around Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, two of the most active volcanoes in the world, and extends from sea level to 13,681 feet of elevation.
Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
One of ancient Hawaii’s best-preserved prehistoric sites, Pu’uhonua O Honaunau (also called the City of Refuge) is an incredible opportunity to learn about Hawaiian history.
49 Black Sand Beach
This beautiful salt-and-pepper beach offers some of the best snorkeling on the island (we recommend exploring the rocks to your left as you look at the ocean).
Greenwell Farms
See a beautiful coffee farm in the mountains above Kona, learn about the coffee-making process, and sample some delicious coffee.
Māhukona Beach Park
Don’t be disappointed that there’s actually no beach here; Māhukona offers some of the Big Island’s best snorkeling.
Makalawena Beach
It may be hard to get to, but gorgeous Makalawena Beach is one of the prettiest on the Big Island. To get here, you have drive a rough road to Mahai’ula Bay and then hike about a mile and a quarter.
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Hapuna Beach
One of the prettiest beaches on the Big Island, Hapuna is a long expanse of beautiful white sand. It’s a great place to relax on the sand or swim, and sometimes the surf comes up enough for some body boarding.
Do
Night Manta Ray Snorkel
Hawaii is perhaps the best place in the world to see manta rays. You’ll cruise to the ideal spot to see the rays and hang onto a lighted float while the rays swim and swirl around you. A truly magical experience.
Pololū Valley Hike
This beautiful hike offers spectacular views of Hawaii’s northern coast. Start at Pololū Valley Lookout (see map below), and hike a quarter mile and about 300 feet down to the beach.
Paniolo Adventures
Paniolo Adventures offers excellent horseback riding trips on the slopes of the beautiful Kohala Mountain on the northern tip of the island of Hawaii.
Kealakekua Bay Snorkel Cruises
A fantastic place to snorkel on the Big Island is Kealakekua Bay, where the Captain Cook Monument stands. A snorkel cruise is one of the best ways to see it.
Kīholo Bay
Kīholo Bay might be one of the most beautiful spots on the Big Island. An idyllic turquoise gem surrounded by white sand beaches frequented by green sea turtles with good snorkeling, it’s worth the trek.