Outdoors · Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · United States
8 best outdoor things to do in Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Liliʻuokalani Gardens, Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · Photo: AlaskaDave, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Maunakea and Hāpuna Beach. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 22–30 hours across 6 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 22–30 hours
- Areas
- Volcano, Maunakea and Kohala Coast
Plan a trip to Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
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Outdoors in Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
Nature · Volcano
1.Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Visit the caldera overlooks after dark if there is an active eruption, when any glow is most visible, and bring a warm layer because the summit is cool at night.
- Time needed
- A full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Kids
- After dark
- Photo spot
Nature · Maunakea
2.Maunakea
Stop at the visitor station for at least 30 minutes to acclimatise before going higher, and do not go to the summit with children under 13, if pregnant, or with heart or lung conditions.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- After dark
- Nature
- Free
Beach · Kohala Coast
3.Hāpuna Beach
Arrive in the morning for parking and calmer water; winter swells can create strong shorebreak and currents.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Nature · Hāmākua Coast
4.ʻAkaka Falls State Park
Combine it with the Hāmākua Coast drive and a stop in the old sugar town of Honomū.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Nature · Volcano
5.Kīlauea Iki Trail
Start early before tour groups arrive, and walk anticlockwise for the most gradual descent onto the crater floor.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Volcano
6.Chain of Craters Road
Fill up with fuel and carry water before you start; the descent and return take at least two hours with stops.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Nature
- History
- Photo spot
Nature · South Kona
7.Kealakekua Bay
Reach the monument snorkelling area on a permitted boat or kayak tour, or by the steep Kaʻawaloa trail; do not chase or approach resting dolphins.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Active
- History
- Outdoors
Experience · Kailua-Kona
8.Manta ray night snorkel
Choose a small-group operator that follows the manta-viewing guidelines, and take seasickness tablets if you are prone to it.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- After dark
- Nature
- Couples
- Active
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Volcano | Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Kīlauea Iki Trail and Chain of Craters Road | A full day + 2–3 hours + 2–3 hours |
| Maunakea | Maunakea | Half a day |
| Kohala Coast | Hāpuna Beach | Half a day |
| Hāmākua Coast | ʻAkaka Falls State Park | 1 hour |
| South Kona | Kealakekua Bay | Half a day |
| Kailua-Kona | Manta ray night snorkel | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 2 low cost, 4 mid-priced, 1 expensive. Book ahead for ʻAkaka Falls State Park and Manta ray night snorkel. The longest visit is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- ʻAkaka Falls State Park: Non-residents pay an entry and parking fee; check the state parks website before you go.
- Manta ray night snorkel: Tours fill up in peak seasons; book a few days ahead.
How to fit them into 7 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Volcano): Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Volcano): Kīlauea Iki Trail, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Volcano): Chain of Craters Road, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Maunakea): Maunakea, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Kohala Coast and Hāmākua Coast): Hāpuna Beach → ʻAkaka Falls State Park, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 6 (South Kona): Kealakekua Bay, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 7 (Kailua-Kona): Manta ray night snorkel, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- January: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 7 rainy days, busy crowds. Peak winter season on the Kona side with sunny days, humpback whales offshore and occasional snow on Maunakea.
- February: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 7 rainy days, busy crowds. Whale watching at its peak; Hilo is wettest in winter, while Kona stays mostly sunny.
- December: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak holiday season with the highest prices; the first humpbacks arrive and winter swells hit north-facing shores.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Kailua-Kona — The west side's main town with Aliʻi Drive, snorkel beaches and harbour tours
- Kohala Coast — Resort enclaves on black lava fields with white-sand bays
- Volcano Village — Cool rainforest village of B&Bs and cabins at the park entrance
- South Kona and Hōlualoa — Coffee country on the slopes above Kealakekua Bay
More of Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
All things to do in Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The park protects Kīlauea and much of Mauna Loa.
+Which of these are free in Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
Maunakea.