One island runs through 8 of the world’s 13 climate zones, so a single drive takes you from the black-sand beach and basking turtles at Punaluʻu to one of the few green-sand beaches on the planet at Papakōlea. The other headline draws: the Mauna Kea summit at nearly 14,000 feet, the Manta Ray night dive off Kona, and lava at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park when Kīlauea is erupting, which it does in episodes, so check the current status first.
This page is for trip planners deciding where to spend limited days. The Big Island is larger than every other Hawaiian island combined, and circling it is a full day of driving, so with a week, pick the volcano and one ocean activity over trying to see it all. Skip the island for nightlife or shopping, both thin here.
Table of contents
- A short introduction to the Big Island
- 4 coolest beaches
- 4 popular activities
- our favorite sights and destinations
- Local Hawaiian food
- Favorite local activities for Kona, Hilo, Volcano Village and Waimea.
- Which island is better? The Big Island vs. Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Maui.
The Big Island in a nutshell
The Big Island is officially the island of Hawaiʻi, and the nickname fits: at 4,029 square miles (10,433 square kilometers) it is the largest island in the United States, with more land than every other Hawaiian island combined.
The roughly 210,000 residents of the Big Island (about 14 percent of the state total, 2025 estimate) mostly live around the two main population centers: Hilo, the county seat, on the east coast, and Kona on the west coast.
For all those figures, Hawaiʻi is a small state: only three states (Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island) have less land. Yet the Big Island alone spans nearly every climate zone on Earth, which is what makes a week here feel like several trips at once.
The following video is a great introduction to many of our favorite spots, and includes footage of Waipiʻo valley, ʻAkaka falls, Rainbow falls, the Kona coast, Mauna Kea, Pololū valley, dolphins, a manta ray, and much more. Video credits go to Tyler Fairbank from Light Owl Productions.
If you want to read more about Hawaiʻi we recommend two pages: one with three reasons we rate the Big Island so highly, and another with 40+ facts about Hawaiʻi.
3 Good Reasons why the Big Island is so Impressive
The Big Island is home to the tallest sea mountain and the largest volcano in the world, and has 8/13 climate zones! These are our Favorite Hawaiian Records.
40+ Big Island Facts and Trivia. Learn fun stuff!
"Did you know" fact sheet for the Big Island. Collection of interesting facts, fun trivia and little-known gems of knowledge about Hawaii. Surprise yourself.
Our favorite beaches on the Big Island
The Big Island has white, black, and green sand beaches, sometimes within the same day’s drive.
Our hands-down favorite beaches on the Big Island are Hapuna and Mauna Kea beach (white sand), Punaluʻu beach (black sand, plus turtles), and Papakōlea (green sand). Read more about these beaches in the following guides:
A family beach good for sunbathing and snorkeling, Mauna Kea Beach is one of the prettiest white sand beaches of Hawaiʻi!.
Half a mile of white sand, a year-round lifeguard, and shade from trees and a picnic pavilion. Hāpuna costs $5 per person plus $10 parking, free for HI residents.
Turtles, Swimming and Snorkeling at Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
Punaluʻu beach is the most famous black sand beach of Hawaii. It is easily accessible and great for swimming, seeing turtles, and snorkeling.
Papakōlea is one of only four green sand beaches in the world, and reaching it is a hot, shadeless 2.5-mile hike each way from South Point on the Big Island.
Want to know where black and green sand come from? Lava and crystals. Read more about why the sand is white, green, or black on these favorite Big Island beaches.
Popular activities on the Big Island
The island’s terrain runs from coastal desert to alpine summit, and the activities are just as varied. Our favorite things to do on the Big Island are these:
Start with the lava. When Kīlauea is in an active phase, fountaining is visible from overlooks inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, but the eruption comes in episodes, so check the current USGS eruption status before you build a day around it. You can snorkel tropical reefs in the morning and reach the nearly 14,000-foot summit of Mauna Kea by sunset. Then there is the Manta Ray night dive off the Kona coast. Read more about these 4 activities in our guides linked below:
Manta Ray Night Snorkel and Dive (Kona coast)
Manta rays feed within feet of snorkelers off Kona most nights. Tours from $99, three operators compared, plus what to do if no rays show up.
Mauna Kea Stargazing Tours and DIY Summit Guide
Mauna Kea stargazing tours start at $259. Covers all 7 permitted operators, the free visitor center program, 4WD summit requirements, and altitude safety.
How to See Lava in Hawaiʻi (DIY, Best Tours, and 2026 Updates)
Kīlauea erupts in episodes. Here's how to see it: overlook timing, the 5 viewing options, tour recommendations, and what to do if it's paused when you visit.
Big Island Snorkeling Guide: Kona, Hilo, Tours, and Rentals
Snorkeling guide for both sides of the Big Island: Kona coast spots, Richardsonʻs Ocean Park near Hilo, gear rentals from $5/day, and boat tours from $99.
You can also find an overview of all activities on the Big Island on our website. These guides are styled in a DIY fashion and explain how you can best plan everything you want to do, yourself.
If you would rather have other people do the planning, have a look at our curated tour section, where we list a small number of tours that we know and love, that earn consistent praise and good reviews, and that give back to the community while limiting their impact on the environment.
Big Island sights and destinations worth your time
Get the lay of the land with our roundup of the island’s most-visited sights, sorted into categories: top draws, outdoor spots, cultural sites, and kid-friendly stops. We close with a few scenic overlooks and lesser-known spots worth the detour.
Curious? Read more in our list of sights and destinations on the Big Island.
Local food and snacks
Food is the part of a Big Island trip that is easiest to overlook and the one you will regret skipping. What you find here, from the farm stands to the fish counter, looks nothing like the mainland.
It is easy (and tasty) to find local food in restaurants, farmers markets, supermarkets or, at the source, the farm or orchard.
Malasadas (Portuguese sugared fried-dough snacks) travel well when you are on the road. Kalua pig with one of the many locally produced microbrews never gets old, and a tasting of Kona coffee, one of the few coffees grown commercially in the United States, is worth a stop.
Big Island Farmers Markets: 30+ Markets With Hours and Map
From the 150-vendor Hilo market to small roadside stands. Full list of Big Island Farmers Markets with days, hours, and directions by region.
Get to know our delicious local food!
Hawaiian food is a mix of traditional local food and exotic dishes and crops. Learn about the many local snacks and specialties.
5 Local Beers on the Big Island
We love good beers on the Big Island and know how to brew it. Read about our local breweries and our beer festivals.
15 Best Kona Coffee Farm Tours: Free Tastings + $40 Deep Dives
Most Kona coffee farm tours are free; paid ones cap at $50, with one $190 ATV outlier. Compare 15 farms across Kona, Kaʻū, and the Hāmākua coast.
Local picks for Kona, Hilo, Volcano Village, and Waimea
One local pick for each of the island’s four main towns: Hilo, Kailua Kona, Volcano Village, and Waimea.
Kailua Kona highlights
Kailua Kona is the outdoor capital of the Big Island. Beaches, water sports and Kona Coffee
While in Kona, connect with the ancient history of the Hawaiians. Make a visit (or two) to some of the petroglyph sites near Kona:
The Puakō petroglyph close to Kailua Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii has about 1,200 petroglyphs visible in the park to which access is allowed. Directions.
If you are spending more time in Kona, try some of our 5 favorite things to do in Kona.
Waimea highlights
Waimea at 2500 ft elevation gives you a taste of the Hawaiian highlands.
While in Waimea, plan a stop at the Big Island Brewhaus for scratch-made food and house beer (open daily, 11am to 9pm). It pairs well with a trip to the Waipiʻo Valley lookout nearby. Note that the valley road itself has been closed to non-residents since 2022, so you can take in the view from the overlook but cannot drive down.
Working under the "Live Beer, Live Food, & Live Music" motto, the Big Island Brewhaus offers fresh Mexican food and an outdoor beergarden.
Read more about our favorite things to do in Waimea.
Volcano Village highlights
Volcano Village on the Big Island is a good base for exploring the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
If there is only one thing you do in Volcano Village, the choice is simple. The Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is, for us, the one place on the Big Island you should not skip.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Visitor Guide + Top Attractions
See the Halemaʻumaʻu crater glow, hike Kīlauea Iki, and drive Chain of Craters Road. What to do in half a day or several, plus when the lots fill.
If you have more time to spend in our favorite town on the Big Island, have a look at our list of things to do in Volcano Village.
Hilo highlights
Hilo is the county seat of the Big Island
A stop at the Hilo farmers market is the easy first move in town: souvenirs, tropical fruit, and lunch to take on the road for one of the scenic drives nearby.
Hilo Farmers Market: 10 Big Island Markets with Hours and Directions
The Hilo Farmers Market runs daily, 7 AM to 3 PM, with 150+ vendors. This guide covers 10 markets from downtown Hilo to Pahoa, 40 miles south.
Hilo is a great base for a few days. If you spend more time in the area, have a look at more of our Hilo favorites.
Hawaiian islands compared: which island is best for you?
Oʻahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Kauaʻi are the four most-visited Hawaiian islands, and each one rewards a visit for different reasons. Here is how they compare, one paragraph each.
The Big Island
The Big Island should be your top choice for outdoor adventures, volcanology, and diversity. Our multi-colored beaches regularly make the “best beaches” lists, though those on Maui and Oʻahu edge them out. Nightlife and shopping malls are close to non-existent here.
Maui
Maui is what most people picture when they think of Hawaiʻi: a mix of beaches, volcanoes, palm trees, and tropical agriculture. Its appeal comes from its beaches (on par with those of Oʻahu), its landscape and biodiversity, including its two massive volcanoes, whale watching and marine ecosystems, and remote, undeveloped corners like Hana.
In short, Maui finds a happy medium between the cultural, culinary, hotel, and outdoor options of Oʻahu and the Big Island. Curious? See also our overview of most popular sights and destinations, and our list of 14 bite-sized activities on Maui.
Snorkelers and a catamaran in Honolua Bay, one of the few sheltered bays to snorkel on Maui. Image credit: Edmund Garman, source.
Oʻahu
Oʻahu is the most varied of the Hawaiian islands, with a wide mix of people, landscapes, and lifestyles. From the buzz of Honolulu to the laid-back beaches and big waves of the north shore, you can experience almost everything Hawaiʻi has to offer here. If your trip is mostly beach-hopping plus culture, food, drinks, and nightlife, Oʻahu is the place.
As the most densely populated and most-visited island, it is harder to escape traffic and crowds.
Waikiki Beach on Oʻahu with Leahi (Diamond Head) in the background. Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Vincent Lim
Kauaʻi
Kauaʻi is the oldest island in Hawaiʻi’s modern-day chain, with a reputation as the green Garden Island. It is also one of the most dramatic. As volcanoes age, they sink and erode, and about five million years of weathering have carved Kauaʻi into a deeply sculpted landscape, with natural features found on no other island.
With a population under 75,000, Kauaʻi is a small-town island of open space, protected preserves, and old plantation history. Its main draws, Waimea Canyon and the Nāpali Coast, are the dramatic payoff, and its hiking is some of the best in the islands.
Curious? See our overview of most popular sights and destinations and our list of 14 bite-sized activities on Kauaʻi to get a better feel for the island.
Traditional Hawaiian Taro fields stretch out in the valleys inland of Hanalei on Kauaʻi. Image credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson
All Hawaiian islands compared: Oʻahu vs. Maui vs. Kauaʻi vs. the Big Island
For more nuance and a one-to-one comparison of our islands, see our island comparison articles: