10 Best Things to Do on the Big Island of Hawaii
The Big Island is the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, and it earns that title in every sense. It spans 8 of the world’s 13 climate zones. You can stand in a lava field in the morning and look at snow-capped peaks by afternoon. If you’re planning a trip and trying to figure out the 10 best things to do on the Big Island, this list covers both the Kona side and the Hilo side so you can build a trip that uses every day well.
Here’s what we recommend, starting with the one experience that exists nowhere else on Earth.
Top 10 Best Things to Do on the Big Island
Swim with Manta Rays at Night on a Sea Quest Hawaii Tour
This is the one. Of all the Big Island activities available to visitors, the manta ray night snorkel stands alone.
The Kona Coast is home to a resident population of over 200 manta rays. Every night, these animals come to shallow water to feed on plankton attracted by light. At Sea Quest Hawaii, we’ve operated on the South Kona Coast for over 35 years. Our US Coast Guard-licensed captains take small groups out to Keauhou Bay, deploy illuminated flotation boards, and give you a front-row position at the surface while the mantas feed directly below you.
The Travel Channel named this experience one of the top ten things to do in a lifetime. We run the tour seven nights a week.
Book the Night Manta Ray Snorkel with Sea Quest Hawaii here.
What to Expect on the Sea Quest Manta Ray Night Snorkel
Before you enter the water, our crew walks you through a full safety briefing and passive interaction guidelines. The illuminated boards attract plankton, which draws the mantas in close. Wingspans can reach up to 16 feet. The in-water portion lasts approximately 1.5 hours. Guests must be comfortable swimmers with prior snorkel experience, and the minimum age is 7.
Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
No trip to the Big Island is complete without a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The park covers over 330,000 acres on the southeastern side of the island and is home to Kilauea, one of the most continuously active volcanoes on Earth.
You can drive the Chain of Craters Road, walk through the Thurston Lava Tube, stand above active steam vents, and see sulfur banks up close. The park sits about 100 miles from Kailua-Kona, which makes it a full-day commitment from the west side, and it’s worth every hour.
Check current eruption status at the official National Park Service site before you go.
Snorkel Kealakekua Bay on a Guided Tour
Kealakekua Bay is a Marine Life Conservation District on the South Kona Coast, and it consistently ranks as one of the best snorkel sites in Hawaii. Water visibility here regularly exceeds 100 feet. Spinner dolphins rest in the bay in the mornings. Hawaiian green sea turtles, known as honu, and dense schools of reef fish fill the coral gardens near the Captain Cook Monument.
The best sections of the reef are only accessible by boat. Our Captain Cook Snorkeling Tour departs directly from Keauhou Bay and gets you into the water at this protected site in a small-group setting with expert local guides.
Book the Captain Cook Snorkeling Tour here.
Stargaze from Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano with a summit that sits at 13,796 feet above sea level. At that elevation, above most of the atmosphere’s moisture and light pollution, the night sky is extraordinary. Astronomers consider it one of the best observing locations on the planet, which is why it hosts some of the world’s most powerful telescopes.
The Mauna Kea Visitor Center, also known as the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, sits at 9,200 feet and is open to all visitors. If you want to reach the summit itself, you’ll need a 4WD vehicle, and many visitors choose a guided tour to safely manage the altitude change. Temperatures at the summit can drop well below freezing even in summer, so bring layers regardless.
Snorkel the South Kona Coast with Sea Quest Hawaii
If the manta ray night snorkel is your evening, the South Kona Snorkel Expedition is your morning. This five-hour tour covers three different snorkel sites along the South Kona Coast, including sea caves, lava tube formations, vibrant coral reefs, and open water where spinner dolphins and sea turtles are common.
It’s the most complete way to experience the Kona underwater world in a single outing. No other tour we offer covers as much coastline or as many distinct site types in one trip.
Book the South Kona Snorkel Expedition here.
Why the Kona Coast Produces World-Class Snorkeling
The Big Island’s west-facing Kona Coast sits in the lee of Mauna Loa and Hualalai, two massive shield volcanoes that block the northeast trade winds. This creates consistently calm, protected water. Because the island is geologically young with minimal sand runoff from lava rock coastline, water clarity runs from 30 to 100 feet on a typical day. Water temperature stays between 76 and 84°F year-round. These aren’t lucky conditions. They’re structural.
Explore Waipio Valley
Waipio Valley sits on the Hamakua Coast in the island’s north, and it’s one of the most significant landscapes in Hawaiian history. The valley is framed by 2,000-foot sea cliffs, a black sand beach at its base, and waterfalls that drop through dense forest. The Waipio Valley Lookout at the top of the road is accessible to everyone and worth the drive alone.
As of current restrictions, only Hawaii County residents with a valid county ID can drive the valley road to the bottom. All other visitors must take a shuttle to access the valley floor. Plan accordingly.
Drive to Punaluu Black Sand Beach
Punaluu is the Big Island’s most photographed black sand beach, located on the southern Ka’u coast about 20 minutes from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park entrance. The black sand forms where molten lava meets the ocean and cools rapidly. Hawaiian green sea turtles regularly rest on the beach here. Entry is free.
The drive from Kona takes roughly 90 minutes, which makes Punaluu a natural stop when you’re already heading to or from the national park.
Spend a Morning at Hapuna Beach
Hapuna Beach on the Kohala Coast is the Big Island’s best white sand beach. The stretch of fine sand runs for more than half a mile, the water is clear and calm in summer, and it suits swimmers and families well. Boogie boarding is popular here when small surf runs.
The beach is about 40 minutes north of Kailua-Kona, and a parking fee applies. Arrive early. By mid-morning the parking lot fills up.
Visit Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls Near Hilo
If you spend any time on the Hilo side of the island, both of these waterfall sites belong on your list.
Rainbow Falls is a short drive from downtown Hilo, free to visit, and viewable from a paved path just steps from the parking area. The falls drop 80 feet into a natural lava rock pool. Early morning visits are best for catching the rainbow effect in the mist.
Akaka Falls is located in Akaka Falls State Park, about 25 minutes north of Hilo. The falls drop 442 feet through a gorge lined with bamboo and tropical plants. A half-mile loop trail gets you there. Both sites suit all fitness levels and make a logical same-day pairing.
The official Hawaii DLNR page for Akaka Falls has current hours and entry information.
Take a Morning Snorkel Tour Along the Kona Reef
If you want to see the 10 best things to do on the Big Island in action, start your first full Kona morning on the water. Sea Quest Hawaii’s Premium Morning Snorkeling Tour and Deluxe Morning Kealakekua Snorkel Tour both take advantage of the calmest and clearest water of the day, before trade winds pick up and afternoon chop develops.
Our US Coast Guard-licensed captains lead both tours in small-group format. You’ll see reef fish, coral formations, sea turtles, and, on most mornings, spinner dolphins.
Book a morning snorkel tour with Sea Quest Hawaii here.
The Big Island rewards every type of traveler. You can spend a week and still feel like you’ve only covered half of it. But if there’s one experience on this list of the 10 best things to do on the Big Island, one that doesn’t exist anywhere else on Earth, it’s the manta ray night snorkel. Whatever else you do on your trip, start with that.
View all Sea Quest Hawaii tours and book your Big Island adventure here.