Keauhou Bay is a picturesque cove on Hawaii’s sunny Kona coast that’s known for its rich history and opportunities to swim with manta rays. The birthplace of the longest-reigning monarch in the Kingdom of Hawaii, King Kamehameha III, the bay is now lined with upscale resorts and tour companies—but its main appeal remains its cultural significance and abundant marine life.
Saddle Road is the most direct route between Hilo and Kona, but that’s not why most people take it. The drive shows off the Big Island’s diverse ecosystems as it crosses lava flows, pastures, and moonlike landscapes, cresting an elevation of 6,600 feet (2,011 meters). While the road used to be rough and unpaved, it’s now in good driving condition—but you’ll still want to take it slow and savor every minute.
One of the most scenic roads on the Big Island, the Chain of Craters Road stretches for 19 miles (31 kilometers) from the summit of Kilauea Volcano to sea level, a change in elevation of 3,700 feet (1,128 meters). The drive offers stunning vistas across changing landscapes, access to different volcanic features, and other interesting sites.
The childhood home of King Kamehameha I, this is the Big Island of Hawaii’s “Valley of the Kings.” Forming a deep natural amphitheater that’s washed by the sea and waterfalls, the Waipi’o Valley is a natural wonderland marked by rainforests and empty hiking trails. Cliffs thousands of feet high plunge to the valley floor, where a curved black-sand beach meets the sea.
Curvy, cozy, and impossibly green, the Hāmākua Coast is a verdant time portal on the Big Island’s northeastern side. Often referred to as the “Hāmākua Heritage Corridor,” this 50-mile (80-kilometer stretch of two-lane road passes through small, historic towns and offers beautiful scenery around every hairpin turn.
Mauna Loa’s status as the largest active volcano in the world doesn’t stop travelers from flocking to the rugged mountain—in fact, it attracts them. With its last eruption occurring in 2022, locals are still rebuilding the area, and visitors are limited to certain areas and trails. If you’re rugged enough to camp or hike here, you’ll be rewarded with one of Hawaii’s wildest adventures.
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is one of Hawaii’s most sacred sites and a treasured cultural landmark. The park was once a sanctuary for people who broke forbidden kapu law, which was punishable by death. Today, visitors come to learn more about Hawaii’s history by walking through the traditional Kiʻilae Village and Royal Grounds, including ancient temple ruins and the well-preserved Great Wall (Pā Puʻuhonua).
Honaunau Bay, locally known as Two Step Beach, is widely regarded as one of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island. The shallow, calm water makes it a perfect place for kids and beginner snorkelers, while divers favor the bay’s deeper areas. The possibility of spotting bright tropical fish and the occasional sea turtle or dolphin makes it well worth braving the crowds.
Like a large thumb jutting into the sea, the Kohala district occupies the northwestern tip of the sprawling Big Island of Hawaii. Formed by a 5,400-foot (1,645-meter) volcano, the area is dominated by lush valleys, laid-back plantation towns, verdant pastures, ancient Hawaiian religious sites, and the modern beach resorts of South Kohala.
Tracing the northernmost portion of the Big Island of Hawaii, the Kohala Coast boasts Hawaii’s most desirable characteristics, from white-sand beaches lined with resorts to lush mountains bursting with wildlife and waterfalls. Go beyond nature to explore the island’s culture and history at restored temples and ancient villages.
Explore the Big Island’s cowboy heritage at Parker Ranch, one of the oldest and largest ranches in the United States. Set on rolling green pastures near Waimea, the ranch offers a window into Hawaii’s paniolo (cowboy) culture through historic homes, scenic drives, and sweeping views of Mauna Kea. Take in this blend of history, landscape, and local tradition on a self-guided tour or via full-day island excursions that include stops or drives at the ranch.
Kilauea Iki crater is one of the most visited spots in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and its most popular hike cuts across the floor of the crater—a walk into the heart of an active volcano. Though today the crater looks tame from above, steam vents still rise from areas with moisture, and the otherworldly terrain of the crater floor is unique among others in the Hawaiian chain.
Onomea Bay lines the Big Island’s lush Hamakua Coast, north of Hilo. A short 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) scenic drive along the Old Mamalahoa Highway—home to the verdant Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden—is an excellent way to see it. Two short hiking trails, which venture into the jungle and along the coast, offer views of the sparkling waters.
Tucked into the hillside just outside Hilo, Kaumana Caves offers a glimpse into the Big Island’s volcanic past with no ticket required. Formed by a Mauna Loa lava flow in 1881, this lava tube feels raw and untouched, with mossy skylights and cooled formations that lend a sense of adventure around every corner. Less crowded than Thurston Lava Tube in Volcanoes National Park, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure spot for travelers craving a more rugged underground experience.
Along the Big Island’s lush Hamakua Coast, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a gorgeous rainforest nature preserve that promotes education, ecology, and simple time in nature. The beautifully maintained living museum hosts thousands of native Hawaiian and international plant species, river-fed streams and waterfalls, easy paths for walking, plus a variety of wildlife, including birds, crabs, mongooses, and fast-moving geckos.
Situated along a lava-crusted portion of the Big Island’s western shoreline, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park is an outdoor archaeology museum. Beyond beaches and hiking trails, the park preserves parts of an early Hawaiian village, some of which have been meticulously restored. At the center of the park are two fishponds and a fish trap that date back nearly 800 years.
Situated on a hill overlooking Kealakekua Bay, St. Benedict’s Painted Church is a small yet beautiful church known for its lavishly painted interior. An active Roman Catholic parish, the church welcomes visitors and is also listed on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.
Mokuola, or Coconut Island, is just offshore from the Big Island’s Lili‘uokalani Gardens and connected by a wide footbridge. Easy access and calm waters make it one of the Hilo’s most convenient and popular beaches. It’s great for swimming and sea turtle watching, and the picnic tables and grassy areas often host barbecues and local events.
Located in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, Hulihee Palace once served as the vacation home of Hawaiian royalty in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the two-story lava rock and stucco home houses a museum of Hawaiian artifacts downstairs while showcasing original furniture and details upstairs.
Once the bustling hub of North Kohala's now obsolete sugar industry, Hawi is a cozy small town best known as the turnaround point for the bicycle portion of the Kona Ironman World Championship held annually in October. Today, Hawi is home to an array of art galleries, cafes, and organic markets, and is a popular foodie destination on Hawaii’s Big Island.
Kapaau is a small village on the northern tip of Hawaii’s Big Island, famous for being the birthplace of King Kamehameha. The town’s main draw is the original King Kamehameha statue that stands in front of the visitor center. Built in Florence in 1880, the statue was lost during a shipwreck off the coast of the Falkland Islands and was miraculously recovered 32 years later.
Operating for 30+ years, the Hilo Farmers Market is considered by some to be among the best in the US. More than 200 farmers and vendors sell everything from locally grown produce and fresh-caught seafood to handmade cosmetics, original artwork, and coffee. Even just lunch and a shave ice from the myriad food stalls are worth the trip.
This popular stretch of Kohala Coast beach, commonly called A-Bay, offers beachgoers a little bit of everything needed for a fun day, with good facilities and plenty of water sports. Palms trees add to the picturesque setting, framing sunset views in the evening and providing shade in the heat of the day.
Resting somewhat unobtrusively on the front lawn of the Hilo Public Library, the Naha Stone commemorates an integral part of Hawaii’s history. Legend has it that this 7,000-pound volcanic rock predicted the rule of King Kamehameha I—he who could move the rock would rule Hawaii, and the 14-year-old did just that. Years later, true to prophecy, he would go on to unite the Hawaiian islands.
Though several statues of Hawaii’s most famous king dot these tropical islands, the original King Kamehameha I statue—which depicts the island-uniting nobleman in a golden helmet and robes wielding a spear—stands in the small town of Kapaau, not far from his royal birthplace. It is on the north shore of the Big Island, on the North Kohala Civic Center lawn.
Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pots, and Pe’epe’e Falls draw many visitors to Wailuku River State Park. On sunny mornings you can see rainbows glimmering in the mist of the 80-foot (24-meter) Rainbow Falls. When the Wailuku River is high, continue past Rainbow Falls to marvel at the Boiling Pots bubbling below Pe’epe’e Falls.
Immerse yourself in Hawaiian history at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, where the story of Kona coffee culture is told through costumed interpreters, heritage buildings, and hands-on demonstrations. This working farm offers a glimpse into daily life for Japanese immigrant families in the early 1900s and is a rewarding stop for anyone interested in local history, agriculture, or Kona’s world-famous beans.
Located in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, Imiloa Astronomy Center combines a traditional science center with a cultural center that explores native Hawaiian culture. In addition to a state-of-the-art planetarium and interactive exhibits, the center is home to a Native Garden and hosts frequent education and cultural programs.
Enjoy a rush of color and fragrance as you enter the Big Island’s Akatsuka Orchid Gardens. The 8,000-square-foot (2,438-square-meter) showroom is brimming with rare flowers and tropical plants, including the famous Volcano Queen orchid valued at US$20,000. The family-run Akatsuka Orchid Gardens are a popular pit stop on the way to Volcanoes National Park.
A real-life aquarium, Kahaluu Beach Park is one of Hawaii’s best snorkeling spots, located just a few miles south of Kailua-Kona. A reef protects and calms the waters, breaking the surf and providing a home to parrotfish, pufferfish, humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa—Hawaii’s state fish—and more than 100 other species. Get here early, as everyone wants a piece of the marine action.
