Big Island of Hawaii attractions

Waimea Falls are the headline attraction of the Waimea Valley on the North Shore of Oahu. Surrounded by lush botanical gardens, the falls plunge into a large pool below, and there’s a designated swimming area where visitors can cool off (as long as lifeguards give the OK that day). Waimea Falls is a great place to relax, take in the surroundings, and learn a little about Hawaii’s botanical and cultural history.

Located at an altitude of 3,000 feet (914 meters) on the slopes of Mt. Hualalai, the 70-acre (28-hectare) privately owned Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary is the most accessible cloud forest on the Big Island. It is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including ancient and endangered native plants and rare birds. You can visit this tropical ecosystem on a tour or guided wellness experience that focuses on nature.

The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Visitor Center is a full-package experience that ushers visitors into the world of one of Hawaii’s signature foods: the humble macadamia nut. Through expansive orchards and a self-guided tour, guests will learn all about the production process, from harvest to package. Of course, no visit is complete without sampling the treasured Hawaiian nuts and visiting the gift shop to pick up a tasty souvenir.

Some consider Kaʻu coffee to be the Big Island’s “secret” coffee—some also think it to be just as good, if not better, than its globally famous sibling, Kona coffee. Find out what your tastebuds prefer on a visit to the Kaʻu Coffee Mill, which runs regularly scheduled tours and is open to visitors every day of the week.

Translating to “the shoreline” in Hawaiian, Kekaha Kai State Park (formerly known as formerly known as Kona Coast State Park) is just that: a 4.5-mile (7.2-kilometer) stretch of beach along the verdant Kona coast. Though this area is largely known for its black lava rocks, Kekaha Kai protects some of the Big Island’s best white-sand beaches. Naturally, swimmers, sunbathers, and snorkelers all flock here for the tropical goodies, and hikers head out on the trails that connect it all.

Kula Kai Caverns features miles of 1000-year-old lava tubes that can be explored with experienced cavers. This cave system on the Big Island, is one of the planet’s youngest and attracts scientists from all over the world. Kula Kai offers a range of tours, from an introductory geology tour to demanding crawl and spelunking adventures.

With its black sand beach, luxe resorts, and an ancient petroglyph park, Waikoloa Village is like a sampling platter of some of Hawaii’s most exciting attractions. Inland, you’ll find a quiet residential community with an upscale shopping center and golf course, but most of the action is on the coast. There, popular beaches are mixed amongst striking black lava fields and expansive vacation resorts, where you can bop between restaurants or relax at poolside hotel bars, piña colada in hand.

The massive Hualalai Volcano looms over the town of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island’s western coast and is lesser-known than its more popular neighbors, the Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa. Hualalai is still considered active and is expected to erupt again within the next 100 years. Hawaii’s famed Kona coffee grows on its slopes and the area is a popular hiking attraction.

If you like coffee, you can get your fill—and learn about coffee production in the process—at the Royal Kona Coffee Center. Here, you can see where Kona coffee cherries are processed and beans are separated from the fruit, and you can also learn how the beans are air-dried after they are hulled.

If you're on a cruise through the Hawaiian islands and have a stop on the big island, you may find yourself at the Hilo Cruise Port in Kuhio Bay, just east of downtown. If you book a shore excursion to Hilo, expect to be met by a tour representative or shuttle.

Otherwise known as Pohoiki Beach, Isaac Hale (ha-lay) Beach Park is one of the newest black-sand beaches in the world. Created during the massive Kilauea eruptions in 2018, you shouldn’t expect soft white sand, icy mango drinks, and idyllic cerulean waters lapping the gentle shore. This spot is volcanoes all the way down.

With a rousing revue of traditional Hawaiian song and dance (including the spectacular Samoan fire knife ritual), an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring classic island fare, and a theatrical setting overlooking Kailua Bay, the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau offers an immersive introduction into Polynesian culture and cuisine.

Kailua Bay Cruise Port is situated on the west side of Hawaii’s Big Island in the Kona district, and travelers shuttle to land via the Kailua Pier, located just a stone’s-throw from Kailua Village. The port serves as the ideal jumping-off point from which to explore the Big Island's major attractions, including volcanoes, waterfalls, and sandy beaches.

At the end of Highway 270 in North Kohala, the Pololū Valley Lookout is where to go if you want to take in spectacular views of the Kohala Coast and the water and sea stacks that lie beyond it. Come to take photos or give yourself a bit of extra time to descend to the valley below.

Kulaniapia Falls, on the Big Island, is an exclusive experience: It’s on private property, offering a fabulous view for day visitors and overnight guests. The owners have turned this Hawaiian spot into a full-fledged experience, complete with multiple accommodation options, rappelling, walking trails, and cooking classes. With limited crowds, many visitors say the price tag is worth it.

Once a thriving fishing village and residential community, Kalapana was destroyed by lava from the Kilauea Volcano in 1990. Nearly the entire town was buried under molten rock including Kaimu Beach, one of the most popular black-sand beaches on Hawaii’s Big Island. Today, all that remains is a handful of homes and the ruins of the town.

The Crater Rim Drive is an 11-mile (17.7-kilometer) route encircling the active Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The road takes you past Kilauea’s summit caldera and large pit crater. Along the way, you’ll find museums, a lodge, lava tubes, numerous overlooks, and trails to explore deeper into the park’s environment.

Kahua Ranch showcases traditional Hawaiian cowboy (paniolo) culture at a working cattle ranch in the Big Island’s West Kohala mountains. You can take part in authentic ranching experiences, from trail rides and roping to line dancing and songs around the campfire, while learning about the role that ranching played in Hawaiian history.

Practically in the shadow of Hilo International Airport, Richardson Ocean Park—aka Richardson Beach—is the closest black-sand beach to the island’s biggest city. Popular with locals and visitors, this easy-access spot offers excellent snorkeling and swimming for all ages, plenty of amenities, and fabulous ocean views along every inch of soft, dark sand.

While most visitors make a beeline for Rainbow Falls, something is bubbling nearby: the Boiling Pots of Wailuku River State Park. While not actually boiling, the water is raging so fiercely that the effect is the same, especially after rainfall. An easy-access viewing area makes this a convenient stop when exploring the area.

On the Big Island’s Kohala Coast, Puako Bay is a secluded inlet popular with divers and snorkelers for its lava tubes, impressive coral reef, and myriad colorful fish and other marine life. The rocky tide pools are also vibrant, fun places to explore. It’s lovely to relax on the bay’s long white-sand beach, but swimming can be dangerous.

Only in Hawaii would a 60-foot (18-meter) waterfall be a lesser-known attraction. Not far from the famous Rainbow Falls in Wailuku River State Park, Pe’epe’e Falls forms the backdrop to the Boiling Pots Area, a thundering section of the powerful Wailuku River. While not easily accessible for most visitors, it's another of Hawaii’s magnificent views.

The Big Island’s Pacific Tsunami Museum offers the rare chance to explore three things: history, culture, and disaster. Sparked by two tsunamis—in 1946 and 1960—this tiny-but-mighty museum is dedicated to the understanding of tsunamis, both locally and globally. It also serves as a memorial to Hawaiian lives lost from these natural disasters, preserving aspects of the island’s past.

Perched on the slopes of Hualalai Volcano, Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation produces renowned Kona Coffee and offers free tours of the farm, which is located in a cloud forest overlooking the ocean on Hawaii’s Big Island. Visitors can sample fresh coffee and see the entire process, from where the coffee grows to how it is served.

Hawaii the Big Island’s Hi‘ilawe Falls is a ribbon of white that plunges from lush green cliffs to the Waipio Valley floor. At 1,450 feet (442 meters) high, Hi‘ilawe is one of the tallest and most popular falls in the Hawaiian Islands. The cascade is set at the back of isolated Waipio Valley, so visitors typically view it from a distance.