Planning a vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii?
This island is completely different from the rest of Hawaii.
You can explore an active volcanic landscape, stand high on Mauna Kea, play golf through black lava fields, fish some of the world's most famous blue-marlin waters, discover black- and green-sand beaches and drive through dramatically different landscapes and climates.
And when you need a break from the adventure, there's always Kona coffee and macadamia nuts.
Here are our Top 5 Things to Do on the Big Island — plus one bonus experience.
If this is your first trip to the Big Island, experiencing its volcanic landscape should be near the top of your list.
Kīlauea is one of the world's most famous active volcanoes and one of the highlights of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The park gives visitors an opportunity to experience volcanic craters, lava fields, native Hawaiian forest and a landscape that continues to be shaped by volcanic activity.
Volcanic conditions can change, so check current park and eruption information before making the drive.
Even when there isn't visible lava, the enormous craters and volcanic landscape make this one of the Big Island's essential experiences.
Mauna Kea gives you a completely different perspective of the island.
Rising high above the Pacific, Mauna Kea is internationally known for astronomy and its extraordinary night skies.
Many visitors choose a guided sunset and stargazing experience rather than driving toward the summit independently.
The altitude is significant, and visitors should understand the health, weather and vehicle considerations before traveling to higher elevations.
Kīlauea lets you experience the forces that created the island. Mauna Kea lets you experience the Big Island from above.
If you're a golfer, the Big Island should be high on your Hawaii golf list.
Golf here looks different.
Green fairways cut through black lava. Mountains rise behind you. The Pacific Ocean stretches across the horizon.
The Kohala Coast in particular has become one of Hawaii's premier resort-golf destinations.
Big Island golf options include:
If golf is important to your vacation, don't wait until you arrive on the Big Island to start looking for tee times.
Popular resort courses and desirable morning tee times can become limited, particularly during busy winter and holiday periods.
Hawaii Tee Times has been helping visitors book golf in Hawaii for more than 25 years.
Compare courses, check available tee times and organize your golf before you leave home.
VIEW & BOOK BIG ISLAND GOLF WITH HAWAII TEE TIMES
If golf is one of the Big Island's great land activities, deep-sea fishing is one of its great ocean experiences.
The Kona Coast is internationally known for offshore sportfishing.
One of its advantages is geography: deep Pacific water is relatively close to shore, allowing fishing boats to reach productive offshore waters without spending hours simply traveling to the fishing grounds.
Depending on the season and conditions, anglers may encounter species including:
You don't have to be an experienced fisherman.
Private charters can work for serious anglers, families and first-time visitors who simply want to experience fishing in Hawaiian waters.
If deep-sea fishing is something you really want to do, arrange your charter before your trip.
Hawaii Deep Sea Fishing can help you find and book a fishing charter for your Big Island vacation.
VIEW & BOOK BIG ISLAND DEEP-SEA FISHING
Golf one day. Fish the next.
That's a pretty good way to spend a Big Island vacation.
Hawaii is famous for beautiful beaches, but the Big Island has beaches you won't find on a typical tropical postcard.
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach is one of the Big Island's most recognizable beaches.
The black volcanic sand creates a dramatic contrast with the blue Pacific and surrounding vegetation.
Hawaiian green sea turtles are also frequently seen in the area.
If turtles are present, give them plenty of space and follow all posted wildlife rules.
Look. Take pictures. Don't touch.
Then there's Papakōlea Green Sand Beach.
Its distinctive color comes from olivine crystals in the surrounding volcanic material.
Reaching the beach requires considerably more effort than visiting a roadside beach, so research current access conditions before going and be prepared for the trip.
Black sand and green sand on the same island.
That's the Big Island.
Here's something visitors sometimes underestimate:
The Big Island really is big.
Renting a car and exploring gives you a much better understanding of how different one part of the island can be from another.
Depending on your route, you can experience:
You can leave a dry, sunny resort area and several hours later find yourself surrounded by completely different vegetation and weather.
Don't try to drive the entire island just to say you did it.
Choose an area, give yourself time to stop and actually experience it.
The drive itself is part of the Big Island experience.
After volcanoes, golf, fishing, beaches and driving around the island, you deserve something easier.
Go taste the Big Island.
The Kona region is famous around the world for Kona coffee.
The area's volcanic soil, elevation and climate create conditions that have made Kona one of the best-known coffee-growing regions in the United States.
Numerous farms offer tours and tastings where visitors can learn how coffee is grown, harvested, processed and roasted.
And yes, you'll get to drink some.
The Big Island is also closely associated with macadamia nuts.
Visit a farm, orchard or visitor center to learn how they're grown and processed — and sample a few different varieties while you're there.
A coffee farm and macadamia nut stop can also fit nicely into a driving day around the island.
Absolutely.
A one-week Big Island vacation could include:
But don't make the mistake of trying to do everything every day.
You're still on vacation.
Leave some time for the beach, pool, restaurants and doing absolutely nothing.
You can decide which beach to stop at while you're driving around the island.
You can decide where to drink coffee that morning.
But if there's a particular golf course, tee time or fishing charter you want, don't leave those reservations until the last minute.
Book with Hawaii Tee Times, a local Hawaii company helping golfers book Hawaii golf for more than 25 years.
BOOK BIG ISLAND GOLF WITH HAWAII TEE TIMES
Book your fishing trip with Hawaii Deep Sea Fishing.
BOOK BIG ISLAND DEEP-SEA FISHING
See the volcanoes. Play golf through the lava. Fish the Pacific. Walk on black sand. Explore the island. Drink Kona coffee.
That's a Big Island vacation.
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