Biking on the Big Island is rarely considered by tourists and commonly thought of as “something only those crazy triathlon types would do”. However, it can be a very rewarding and fun experience to rent a bike during the day and cruise around town and along the shore or to ride in the rainforest and see the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on an e-bike.
We cover the following topics in our guide to biking on the Big Island:
Table of contents
- Bike rental shops
- Big Island bike tours
- Bikesharing (downtown Kona and downtown Hilo only)
- Bicycle safety
Table of Contents
- Bike rental shops
- Big Island bike tours
- Bikesharing (downtown Kona and downtown Hilo only)
- Bicycle safety
Biking is, in our opinion, a far better option than the car if you want to take in your surroundings. You can stop anytime and anywhere, explore at your own pace and take in the sounds, smells, and colors from up close. We especially like biking in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Bike rental shops
It is possible to rent a bike in most places on the Big Island. We list below our go-to places in Hilo, Kona, Waikoloa, and Waimea. Expect to pay between $25 (for the most basic bikes, not available in every shop) to $100+ (all the works, carbon fiber frame and wheels, etc.) for the first 24 hours, with a steep discount for following days.
- Hilo: Mid Pacific Wheels
- Kona: Bike Works Kona and Kona Sports Center
- Waimea: Bike Works Mauka and Big Island Bike Tours
- Waikoloa: Bike Works Beach and Sports
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- You can take your bike and drive to green sand beach
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- Biking along the coast can be a nice group activity that takes you off the beaten path and away from the more crowded spots
Biking in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The best (and most spectacular) place to ride your bike on the Big Island is, without any doubt, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There are trails for every skill set and age, and the biggest challenge will be to get your bike up to the park. The national park gives information on “how to bike the volcanoes“, listing all bike trails inside the park, as well as safety information and some handy pointers. All areas in the park that are open to bicycles are also open to e-bikes.
If you like a challenging uphill ride, try one of our favorite scenic drives, the Mauna Loa summit road!
It is also possible to rent e-bikes close to the park at the golf course subdivision of Volcano Village. You can read more about that option below.
Bicycle Tours
If you like biking but don’t like planning, you can also choose for an arranged (sometimes self-guided) bicycle tour. The people organizing these tours take all the planning out of your hands and make sure you have a fitting bicycle, protective gear, transport to and from the tour location and, if needed, food, drinks and accommodation underway. These tours last between 3 and 7 hours, and start at around $120 per person.
Up and down the Volcano
If you’d like to explore the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park by bike we can heartily recommend the tours organized in and around the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park by bikevolcano.com.
Around the Big Island
Big Island Bike Tours (located in Waimea) organizes bike tours all over the island.
Bike Tours in Waimea
Big Island bike tours [website] is a locally owned and operated eco-tour company located at the historic Anna Ranch in Waimea. They offer both mountain and road bike tours lead by former professional cyclist Alex Candelario.
E-bike tours
Big Island Personal Tours (website) offers several GPS + Audio Guided E-bike Tours on the Big Island:
- A 3 hour GPS Guided Hilo Historical Tour
- A 4 to 6 hour GPS + Audio Guided E-bike Tour at the Volcano National Park
- And a GPS Guided Waikoloa E-bike Tour.
Try using the discount code “lovebigisland10” for a 10% discount.
Bikesharing
You can now find bikesharing stations in downtown Kona and Hilo. These bikes can be rented for short periods of time (30 and 60 minutes) and are meant to make short trips through town. To get a day pass go to one of the bikeshare kiosks and follow the instructions on-screen.
If you feel like taking one of these bikes to explore Hilo or Kona you should have a look at the hawaiiislandbikeshare website.
Biking safety
Please, take good care of your own safety! People on the Big Island drive their cars with more aloha than on the mainland, but regardless people are not as used to bikes on the road as, for example, in Europe.
You should [1] wear head protection (which is included at most bike rental shops) and [2] stay away from roads that are frequently used by cars, or at least ride your bike on the soft shoulder of the road if there is no other option.