The Big Island
Epic Travel → North America → Hawaii → The Big Island
The Big Island has something to offer virtually everyone – diving, waterfalls, lava tubes, cool hikes, and of course the volcano (with flowing lava if you’re lucky…and most people are lucky these days). There’s a lot more that we’d like to do here, but we’ve had some awesome experiences on the two trips we’ve taken and highly recommend all the stops listed here. For more information on other things to do and see (and places to eat and stay), Hawaii The Big Island Revealed is an excellent guidebook.
Where to stay
South Kona: Aloha Guesthouse – the owners focus on sustainable living, and run a very pretty B&B with nice grounds. The location is extremely convenient for Kealakekua Bay.
Hilo: Palms Cliff House Inn – lovely inn right on the coast; they serve a fabulous breakfast and have amazing views.
Volcano/Pahoa Area: Volcano Village Lodge – beautiful individual mini-lodges (kind of like staying in a really fancy tree house) in a lush rainforest. Only two miles from Volcanoes National Park.
The Kimos’ Ohanas B&B – comfortable and reasonably priced option near Pahoa; the grounds are very pretty, the owners are super friendly, and they serve a nice breakfast.
Suggested Itineraries
This itinerary flies in to Kona and out of Hilo to maximize time on the island and can easily be completed in a week (even if you add in travel days on either side of the trip).
Day 1: Fly in to Kona, arrive mid-day. Check in to your accommodation and then drive down to the harbor for the Manta Ray Night Dive. Stay in Kona.
Day 2: Spend the morning diving, returning around noon. Hike down to Kealakekua Bay for snorkeling in the afternoon. Stay in Kona.
Day 3: Check out of your hotel after breakfast and drive to Pololu Valley; hike down to the beach. Drive the Saddle Road to Hilo, stopping to hike to Emesine Cave on the way. Stay in Hilo.
Day 4: Visit Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots/Pe’epe’e Falls in the morning, then drive north along the coast stopping at ‘Akaka Falls and the Botanical Garden (select the order based on when you’ll get the best light on ‘Akaka Falls), then head to Umauma Falls for zip lining. Stay in Hilo.
Day 5: Check out after breakfast and then drive up to Nanue Falls. Drive to the Pahoa/Volcano National Park area in the afternoon and check in at your accommodations, making preparations for a night hike/photography. Drive down and visit Lava Trees State Monument and then hike out to the lava viewing area in the late afternoon so you can catch sunset. Hike to the surface break-outs for night photography (note: if you’re doing this, you shouldn’t rent a bike since you’ll likely be returning after the bikes are due back). Stay in Volcano area.
Day 6: Explore Volcanoes National Park. Stay in Volcano area.
Day 7: Take a sunrise lava boat tour, and explore more of Volcanoes National Park with any remaining time before driving back to Hilo for your return flight. Fly out of Hilo.
Epic Travel → North America → Hawaii → The Big Island