The Big Island is the largest and most volcanically active of all Hawaiian islands. It is know for its beautiful nature and many cool activities and it is almost impossible to fit everything in your vacation – even if you stay more than a month! That is why we give you our personal highlights for the Big Island: as an efficient way to get to know our favorites of Hawaiʻi.
Table of contents
- A short introduction to the Big Island
- 4 coolest beaches
- 4 popular activities
- our favorite sights and destinations
- Delicious and 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.
Table of Contents
- A short introduction to the Big Island
- 4 coolest beaches
- 4 popular activities
- our favorite sights and destinations
- Delicious and 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 known as the island of Hawaiʻi and received this nickname for a good reason: it is the largest island of the United States with a total surface of 4,029 square miles (10,433 square kilometers)! Its surface area is also greater than that of all other Hawaiian island combined.
The 206,315 inhabitants of the Big Island (which is only 14.3% of the total population of the state of Hawaiʻi, 2022 census) mostly live in and around the two large population centers in the island: Hilo (the capital) on the east coast, and Kona on the west coast.
Despite these impressive figures the state of Hawaiʻi actually is pretty small: there are only 3 states (Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island ) with less land surface than the aloha state. Yet, our “small” Big Island is home to 8 / 13 of the climate zones in the world, and there are many fun, exciting and accessible activities possible for you to explore it.
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, Pololu valley, dolphins, a manta ray, and much more. Video credits go to Tyler Fairbank from Light Owl Productions.
If you are interested in reading more about Hawaiʻi we recommend the following two pages: One with 3 reasons why we think the Big Island is so incredible impressive, and the other with 40+ facts about Hawaiʻi.
3 Good Reasons why the Big Island is so Impressive
40+ Big Island Facts and Trivia. Learn fun stuff!
Our favorite beaches on the Big Island
If you like beaches you are in luck. The Big Island is a true paradise, and has quite some amazing white, black, and green sand beaches!
Our hands-down favorite beaches on the Big Island are Hapuna and Mauna Kea beach (white sand), Punaluʻu beach (black sand + turtles!), and Papakōlea (green sand). Read more about these beaches in the following guides:
Kaunaʻoa (Mauna Kea) Beach
Turtles, Swimming and Snorkeling at Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
Green sand beach (Papakōlea)
Hāpuna Beach
Do you want to know where black and green sand come from? Easy: lava and crystals! Read more about why the sand is white/green/black on these favorite Big Island beaches.
Popular activities on the Big Island
The Big Island spans 8 out of the world’s 13 climate zones and the activities you can enjoy here are almost as distinct. Our personal favorite things to do for the Big Island are the following:
First of all, there is of course the lava. You can also snorkel over tropical reefs and enjoy a sunset snowball fight on the summit of Mauna Kea a few hours later. And then there is, of course, the unforgettable Manta Ray night dive. Read more about these 4 fantastic activities in our guides linked below:
Stargazing and How to Visit MaunaKea: Stargazing Tours + DIY Guide
Manta Ray Night Snorkel and Dive (Kona coast)
Big Island Snorkeling Guide: Tips, Safety, Rentals, and Tours
How to See Lava in Hawaiʻi (DIY, Best Tours, and 2024 Updates)
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 are more interested in other people doing the planning you should definitely have a look at our new curated tour section, where we list a small amount of tours that we know and love, that receive consistent high praise and good reviews, and that give back to the community and try to minimize their impact on the environment.
Favorite Sights and Destinations
Get the lay of the land with our list of the most popular sights and destinations. In our list of most popular sights and destinations we break your options down into different categories to help you on your way. Our list includes the most visited places as well as outdoor, cultural, and kid-friendly points of interest. We conclude with scenic spots and a couple hidden gems that we think are well worth a visit.
Curious? read more in our list of sights and destinations on the Big Island.
Local food and snacks
Many people tend to forget about the culinary side of their vacation, which is a real shame! The Big Island is one destination where you should do anything to avoid that trap because food here can be so different from what you can find on the mainland.
It is easy (and tasty!) to find local food in restaurants, farmers markets, supermarkets or, at the source, the farm/orchard.
Malasadas (Portuguese sugared fried dough snacks) are a tasty snack for when you are on the road. The combination of Kalua pig with one of the many locally produced micro brews never gets old, and don’t leave the Big Island without a taste of one of the world’s most famous coffees: Kona coffee.
Farmers Markets (overview)
BIG LIST of Kona Coffee Tours on the Big Island
Get to know our delicious local food!
4 Beers that are locally brewed on the Big Island
“Must Do” activities in Kona, Hilo, Volcano and Waimea
These are our “local flavor” unmissable activities for each of the four largest cities on the Big Island: 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 make sure to connect with the ancient history of the Hawaiians. Make a visit (or two) to some of the petroglyph sites near Kona:
Puakō Petroglyph field
If you are sending more time in Kona you can try out 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 try to plan a visit the Big Island Brewhaus in Waimea for good Mexican food and homemade beer. Highly recommended after for example visiting the breathtaking cliffs of Waipiʻo valley:
Big Island Brewhaus in Waimea
Read more about our favorite things to do in Waimea.
Volcano Village highlights
Volcano Village on the Big Island is a perfect place to stay for when you are exploring the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
If there is only one thing you can do in Volcano Village the choice is simple. The Hawaii Volcanoes national park is for us without question the only “must visit” attraction on the Big Island!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Visitor Guide + Top Attractions
If have have more time to spend in our favorite town on the Big Island you should have a look at our list of things to do in Volcano Village.
Hilo highlights
Hilo is the capital of the Big Island
A visit to Hilo isn’t complete without a stop at the Hilo farmers market for souvenirs and tasty food. Pick up some lunch for on the road, when you are taking one of the incredibly scenic drives close by.
The Hilo Farmers Market + 7 smaller farmers markets near Hilo
Hilo is a great city to use as base for a few days. If you spend more time in the area you should have a look at more of our Hilo favorites.
Hawaiian islands compared: which island is best for you?
The four most visited and popular Hawaiian Islands are Oʻahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Kauaʻi. Every one of our islands is an amazing tropical island well worth your visit, but they do each have their own unique selling points that distinguish them from the rest. We try to summarize how the islands compare to each other in 1 paragraph, below.
The Big Island
The Big Island should be your #1 choice for outdoor adventures, volcanology interests, and diversity. While we also have beautiful and multi-colored beaches that often make it into the “top xx beaches of the world” lists, those on Maui and Oʻahu are even more spectacular. Nightlife and shopping malls are almost non-existent on the Big Island.
Maui
Maui represents everything that people think of when they picture Hawaiʻi: A beautiful blend of beaches, volcanoes, palm trees, and tropical agriculture. Its appeal comes from its beaches (which are on par with those of Oʻahu) natural landscape and biodiversity, including its two massive volcanoes, whale watching and marine ecosystems, and remote, undeveloped parts of its island, like Hana.
Summarizing, Maui combines aspects of Oʻahu and the Big Island to find a happy medium between its cultural, culinary, hotel, and outdoor options. Curious? See also our overview of most popular sights and destinations, and our list of 14 bite-sized (smaller) 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 diverse of the Hawaiian islands, offering a wide variety of people, landscapes, and lifestyles. From the buzz of Honolulu to the laid back beaches and big waves of the north shore, it’s possible to experience almost everything Hawaiʻi has to offer here. If your main goal is beach hopping and immersing yourself in culture, food, drinks, and nightlife, Oʻahu is the place to be.
It is worth noting that as the most densely populated and visited of all Hawaiian islands, it can be harder to escape inconveniences like 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 in Hawaii’s modern-day chain and has a reputation for being a lush island; hence, its nickname as the “Garden Island.” But it’s also one of the most dramatic islands. As volcanoes age, they sink and reflect the effects of erosion, and about five million years of weathering have transformed Kauaʻi into a marvelous sculpture, with natural features found on no other island.
With a population of less than 75,000, Kauai is truly a small-town island, littered with open space, protected preserves, and old plantation history. Its main attractions, such as Waimea Canyon and the Nāpali Coast, will wow you with their grandeur, and its outdoor recreation, like hiking, is limitless.
Curious? See our overview of most popular sights and destinations and our list of 14 bite-sized (smaller) activities on Kauaʻi to get a better feeling for what is going on on Kauaʻi.
Traditional Hawaiian Taro fields stretch out in the lush 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 please see our island comparison articles: