Travel guide · United States
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) travel guide
Active volcanoes, snow-capped Maunakea and black-sand beaches on Hawaiʻi's largest island
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hawaii Land Cover Analysis project, NOAA Coastal Services Center, Public domain
Quick answer
Hawaiʻi Island, usually called the Big Island, is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined and spans climates from rainforest to lava desert and alpine summit. The dry, sunny Kona and Kohala coasts on the west hold most of the resorts, snorkelling bays and Kona coffee farms, while the wetter east side around Hilo has waterfalls, gardens and the gateway to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Distances are large, about two hours' drive between Kona and the volcano, so many visitors split their stay between both sides. Plan 8 days for a first visit; the best months are April–May and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- April–May and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 8 days
- Main airports
- KOA, ITO
- Mid-range daily budget
- US$250–420 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Kīlauea volcano, Maunakea stargazing, Kona coffee and Manta ray snorkelling
Plan a trip to Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Why visit Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
- Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park lets you walk across lava fields and look into Kīlauea's summit caldera, one of the world's most active volcanoes.
- Maunakea rises to 4,207 metres, and its mid-level visitor station is a famous spot for stargazing.
- Night snorkels with manta rays off the Kona coast are among the most memorable wildlife experiences in Hawaiʻi.
- Black-sand Punaluʻu and green-sand Papakōlea show the island's volcanic geology on its beaches.
- Kona coffee farms on the slopes above Kealakekua Bay offer tastings and tours.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Nature · Volcano
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
The park protects Kīlauea and much of Mauna Loa.
- Time needed
- A full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Kids
- After dark
- Photo spot
Nature · Maunakea
Maunakea
The island's highest peak is a sacred mountain in Hawaiian tradition and home to major astronomical observatories at its 4,207-metre summit.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- After dark
- Nature
- Free
Beach · Kohala Coast
Hāpuna Beach
A long crescent of white sand on the Kohala Coast, often ranked among Hawaiʻi's finest beaches, with lifeguards, picnic shelters and good swimming and bodyboarding in calm conditions.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Nature · Hāmākua Coast
ʻAkaka Falls State Park
A paved loop of under a kilometre leads through bamboo, ginger and heliconia to ʻAkaka Falls, which drops about 135 metres into a gorge, with the smaller Kahūnā Falls on the way.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Nature · Volcano
Kīlauea Iki Trail
A loop of about 6.4 km descends through rainforest onto the floor of the Kīlauea Iki crater, which was a lava lake in 1959.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Volcano
Chain of Craters Road
This road descends about 1,100 metres over roughly 30 km from the summit to the coast, past pit craters, recent lava flows and the Puʻu Loa petroglyphs, ending near the Hōlei Sea Arch.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Nature
- History
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Kailua-Kona is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, families and nightlife
Kailua-Kona
The west side's main town with Aliʻi Drive, snorkel beaches and harbour tours
$$$$ · Best for luxury, families, beach and couples
Kohala Coast
Resort enclaves on black lava fields with white-sand bays
$$ · Best for budget, culture, food lovers and families
Hilo
Old-fashioned bayfront town of farmers markets, gardens and rain
$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and solo travellers
Volcano Village
Cool rainforest village of B&Bs and cabins at the park entrance
What to eat
Full Big Island (Hawaiʻi) food guide.
- Poke — Cubes of raw ʻahi tuna or other fish dressed with shoyu, sesame oil, onion and limu seaweed, sold by the pound at grocery counters and served over rice in bowls.
- Loco moco — White rice topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg and brown gravy.
- Plate lunch — Two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and a main such as kalua pork, teriyaki beef, chicken katsu or garlic shrimp.
- Kona coffee — Grown only on the slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona districts, Kona coffee is smooth and low in acidity.
- Kaʻū coffee — A less-known coffee from the southern Kaʻū district, grown on former sugar land and increasingly award-winning.
- Malasadas — Portuguese-style fried doughnuts rolled in sugar, sometimes filled with custard, haupia (coconut) or lilikoʻi cream.
When is the best time to visit Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
The Big Island is warm year-round. April to May and September to October bring good weather, fewer crowds and lower prices, while December to March is peak season for whale watching but the most expensive. Hilo is rainy in any month; the Kona and Kohala coasts are sunny most days.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | December–March | Peak season with humpback whales, occasional snow on Maunakea and wetter weather in Hilo; the highest prices of the year. |
| Spring | April–May | Settled weather, calm seas and the Merrie Monarch Festival; a good-value shoulder season after Easter. |
| Summer | June–August | The warmest, driest season on the coasts, busy with family holidays; hurricane season starts in June but direct impacts are rare. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm seas, fewer visitors, coffee harvest and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival; winter rains start in Hilo late in the season. |
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in January
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in February
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in March
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in April
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in May
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in June
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in July
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in August
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in September
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in October
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in November
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in December
Getting there and around
Kona International Airport (KOA) is about 11 km north of Kailua-Kona and roughly 30 minutes from the Kohala resorts. Hilo International Airport (ITO) is 3 km from downtown Hilo and about 45 minutes from the national park. Both have hire car desks.
The Big Island is large and public transport is limited, so a hire car is essential for most visitors. The Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) crosses between Kona and Hilo, and the coastal Hawaiʻi Belt Road circles the island.
How many days do you need in Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
Five days lets you see the Kona coast and make one long day to the volcano. A week or more lets you split nights between Kona and Hilo or Volcano Village, adding Maunakea, the Hāmākua Coast waterfalls and North Kohala without rushed drives. How to split your days.
Planning a trip to Big Island (Hawaiʻi) from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones, airport coordinates and local power standards. Time differences can shift by an hour for a few weeks a year while daylight saving starts or ends on different dates.
Time difference
5 hours behind New York in January, 6 in July; 2 hours behind Los Angeles in January, 3 in July
Distance from the U.S.
4,920 miles (7,920 km) from New York (JFK); 2,480 miles (3,980 km) from Los Angeles (LAX)
In a straight line between the airport and the city centre, not a flight route.
Plugs and voltage
U.S. plugs fit (Type A and B sockets). Power is 120 V (120 V at home).
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English and Hawaiian
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink in towns and resorts; carry plenty when hiking, as sources on trails are not drinkable.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tipping follows US norms: about 18–20% in restaurants, a few dollars per drink at bars, and tips for tour guides, boat crews and hotel staff.
The main risks are natural: strong currents and shorebreak, especially in winter; volcanic gases (vog) that can affect people with breathing conditions; altitude sickness on Maunakea; and flash floods in streams after rain. Follow park closures and lifeguard advice, and do not leave valuables in parked cars.
Flights to Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
Questions travellers ask
+What is Big Island (Hawaiʻi) known for?
Kīlauea volcano, Maunakea stargazing, Kona coffee, Manta ray snorkelling, Black-sand beaches, Hilo waterfalls and Merrie Monarch Festival. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park lets you walk across lava fields and look into Kīlauea's summit caldera, one of the world's most active volcanoes.
+Is Big Island (Hawaiʻi) expensive?
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly US$250–420 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
Yes. Distances are long, sights are spread out and public transport is very limited; a car is the only practical way to explore.