See the Best of the Big Island (5 Day Itinerary)

We have traveled to all of the Hawaiian islands and to be frank, the Big Island was the most time-intensive to plan.

There is so much to the Big Island that it was easy to get overwhelmed.

My goal is to make the itinerary make sense for you so that you don’t have to spend weeks planning the way I did!

This itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors to the Big Island!

I am also using 5 full days for this itinerary. So in a perfect world, it’s assuming you’ve flown in the day or night before or that you’re just a go-getter who doesn’t need down time to rest.

It is also a pretty full itinerary. If you can spend more time in Hawaii, more time is always better. But none of us have unlimited time so this itinerary is built with efficiency in mind.

I personally prefer a slower approach but that is not always possible. Please feel free to add more days to your itinerary (more time in Hawaii is always better!) to relax by the pool, have a beach day, or hike.

Quick Breakdown of My 5 Day Big Island Itinerary

If you’re short on time, here is a quick overview of my Big Island itinerary.

You’ll be spending the first two nights on the Kona side (the West side) and then finish off the last two nights at accommodations in Hilo (East side). You’ll have the choice of spending your third night in either Kona or Hilo depending on your interests.

• Day 1: Coffee farm guided tour, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, and downtown Kona
• Day 2: Go snorkeling, Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, and night swim with manta rays
• Day 3: Kohala Coast or Hike/Beach
• Day 4: Volcanoes National Park
• Day 5: Hilo and Waterfalls

You will need a rental car on the Big Island. It’s by far the most efficient way to get around. It would be difficult to do everything on this itinerary without a rental car.

Suggested Places to Stay Near Kona: Kona Reef Resort ($$), Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa ($$), Four Seasons Resort Hualalai ($$$)

Suggested Places to Stay Near Hilo: The Grand Naniloa by Hilton ($), The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls ($$$)

We personally stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. We absolutely loved our stay and it was one of our favorite hotels, but we didn’t like the location. If you want your stay to revolve more around the resort itself, I couldn’t recommend it more. But we had to do a lot of driving to see the things we wanted to see and I wish we would have booked a hotel in or at least closer to Kona.

This is just one very small part of a very large pool at the Hilton Waikoloa Village

Day 1: Coffee Farm, Explore Downtown Kona, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

On your first day, you’ll dig into island life while you adjust to the time change. I designed it so that it can be as active or as laid back as you need it to be. If you adjust well to the time change, you can do a bit more exploring or if you want to have a slower day, you can do that without missing out.

Morning: Coffee Farm and Explore Downtown Kona

What is better than starting your day with coffee the morning after a long travel day?

One of the Big Island’s biggest exports is their Kona coffee. You can tour a working coffee farm where you’ll learn how coffee is grown, harvested, processed, and roasted.

And of course, you get to sample the coffee. It’s super fresh, brewed right where it was produced.

There are several coffee tours. They are all good, but one of the most popular ones is Greenwell Farms. They have free tours that run every 30 minutes. It is recognized for its historical significance (since 1850), and you can see coffee, cacao, and vanilla growing.

Afternoon: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

Your next stop is Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park. This park is often overlooked compared to the island’s waterfalls and volcanoes, but it’s absolutely worth visiting. It has it all – history, coastline views, short walking trails, and wildlife.

One of the highlights of the park is Honokōhau Beach. There is a short trail here from the visitor’s center to reach the beach or you can park by the marina for an even shorter trail. Just a heads up, they told us at the visitor’s center that we could park there, but it definitely feels like you aren’t supposed to when you pull up.

Honokōhau Beach is most popular for the Hawaiian green sea turtles that are often there resting. Just remember to keep a respectful distance and never touch the turtles.

But the park also preserves ancient Hawaiian fishponds. If you aren’t familiar with a fishpond, in shallow coastal areas, Hawaiians constructed massive rock walls to partially enclose sections of the ocean. Then they created small gates that allowed the water to flow in and out with the tides. Small fish could swim into the pond through the gates, but when they got bigger they couldn’t leave. This created a naturally stocked fish farm.

It’s pretty cool to see, but it also creates a calm beach area which was perfect for our toddlers to explore. Hanging out at the beach while also seeing the rugged volcanic landscape is pretty special and you’ll walk through the lava fields to reach the beach.

Evening: Downtown Kona

I recommend spending the evening in downtown Kona, where you’ll want to stroll along Ali’i Drive. Ali’i Drive has restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques placed right along the water. It’s very walkable and is a great way to get familiar with the area.

I recommend just wandering around and adjusting to the slow pace of Hawaii. But here are some nice highlights:

I know I have this area listed as an evening activity, but if you get there earlier, the Kona Village Farmers Market is open Wednesday through Sunday from 7am-4pm. It is right in the middle of the action, located on the corner of Ali’i Drive and Hualalai Road. You’ll find trinkets, local produce, crafts, and coffee.

Downtown Kona also has a couple of historic stops while you are wandering around:

• Mokuaikaua Church is the oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands, the building was completed in 1837
• Huliheʻe Palace is the former vacation home of Hawaiian royalty, and now it a museum with artifacts

If you are traveling to Hawaii with kids, we also loved the Nākamalei Playground located nearby (75-5500 Kuakini Hwy; Kailua-Kona, HI 96740).

Day 2: Snorkel, Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, and Night Swim With Manta Rays

Hopefully day one helped you get adjusted to the time change because we have a busy day on day two.

Morning: Go Snorkeling

The Kona coast is known for clear water and abundant marine life, two things that make snorkeling pretty amazing.

Here are some great snorkeling options on the Big Island:

• Captain Cook Monument at Kealakekua Bay highlights include:
  • One of the most popular places to snorkel on the Big Island. Because of this, it can definitely get crowded.
  • A secluded bay with abundant marine life, calm waters, and crystal clear water
  • There are shallow, calm areas around the shoreline. The water gets deeper gradually with a drop off
  • It’s called Captain Cook after the famous explorer that visited in 1778. The Captain Cook monument marks where he was killed.
  • I recommend taking a tour to get to Kealakekua Bay. If you don’t take a tour, the other two options are to either hike 2 miles (we haven’t hiked it, but have heard it’s a tough hike) or kayak a mile to the bay. Here are some recommended tours.
    • Captain Hook snorkel on a power catamaran (lunch included)
    • Small group snorkel – limited to 12 passengers for a more personal experience

Two Step at Honaunau Bay

• Located 22 miles south of Kailua-Kona
• Mostly known as Two Step. It gets its nickname from the ‘steps’ that naturally formed in the lava rock leading to the water.
• If you are more of a beginner, head to the right. There is around 6-10 feet of water and you’ll likely see a lot of fish or you can swim a little farther out where it gets to around 25 feet deep.
• The left side has deeper water (up to 20 feet). The reef is more vibrant here and you very well may see turtles here.
• Because of all the lava rock, there isn’t much of a beach here
• Parking can fill up FAST

Kahalu’u Beach Park

• This is the most convenient place to go snorkeling. It’s around 6 iles south of Kailua-Kona
• Great for beginner snorkelers because the sheltered cove creates calm waters and good visibility. They also have lifeguards.
• Marine life is easy to spot close to shore and it’s a popular place to see turtles.

The park is not only stunning but it is also one of the most culturally significant places on the Big Island.

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is often called the “Place of Refuge”. It used to provide protection for ancient Hawaiians who had broken kapu (sacred laws). Those who reached Puʻuhonua could be forgiven and allowed to return home safely.

Today, you can walk through the beautifully preserved grounds while learning more about Hawaiian history and culture. The park features carved kiʻi statues, ancient temples, lava rock walls, royal fishponds, and stunning oceanfront scenery.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect with the park and I don’t always enjoy historical sites. But this park is incredibly peaceful and I can see why it is one of the most scenic cultural attractions on the island.

Evening: Snorkeling with Manta Rays at Night

This is such a unique experience!

The Kona coast is one of the only places in the world where you can reliably see giant manta rays up close at night. During these tours, lights are placed in the water to attract plankton, which then attracts the manta rays.

Even people who are nervous about ocean activities often describe this as the highlight of their entire Hawaii trip. Despite their enormous size, manta rays are completely harmless to humans since they do not have stingers or teeth.

Most tours depart just after sunset and last a few hours. You can choose between boat tours or shoreline experiences depending on your comfort level and budget. If you are traveling with younger kids who may not participate, some tours also allow family members to watch from the boat.

This is definitely one of those bucket-list Big Island experiences that lives up to the hype and a perfect way to end your second day in Hawaii.

Book your trip to go night snorkeling with manta rays

Day 3: North Kohala Scenic Day OR Hike/Beach

This is one of the best scenic drive days on the island and a great option for slower exploration rather than packing in nonstop activities.

I will say that a lot of people I’ve talked to skipped many of these things on their trips. While I do highly recommend them, if you had other activities in mind (like hiking or spending a day at the beach), this might be the best day to do that.

Start your morning driving north along the Kohala Coast towards Waipi’o Valley Lookout. If you didn’t get a chance to do the coffee farm tour on your first day, this would be another good day to do it.

Waipiʻo Valley Lookout is one of the most breathtaking viewpoints on the Big Island. The valley was once home to Hawaiian royalty.

Access into the valley is now much more limited than it once was, but the overlook alone is absolutely worth visiting.

You’ll then continue north toward Pololū Valley Lookout, another incredible stop along the coast. This overlook offers dramatic views of rugged cliffs dropping into the ocean and a remote black sand beach below. If you have the energy, you can hike partway down the trail for even better views, though the trail is steep and can become slippery after rain.

Along the drive, explore Hawi and Kapa’au. I didn’t reach much about these towns before we visited and I wish I’d been able to spend more time in each of them. They have such a low-key, small town feel with art galleries, boutiques, cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, and food trucks.

Kapa’au is also where you can see the famous King Kamehameha statue. It is one of the most photographed landmarks on the Big Island. King Kamehameha unified the Hawaiian islands and the surrounding area is believed to be where he was born.

Before heading back, you can spend some time at the beach. I recommend Hapuna Beach.

This slower-paced day is the perfect reset before your final day exploring the dramatic volcanic landscapes of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

From Hapuna Beach, you’re around 45 minutes from Kailua-Kona or around 90 minutes away from Hilo. I recommend just heading to Hilo to get a good night of sleep before a busy day at Volcanoes National Park.

Day 4: Volcanoes National Park

It’s very important to mention that if the volcano erupts on your trip, I highly recommend dropping everything and going. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. Sadly, we missed the eruption by two days on our trip.

You can sign up for alerts with the USGS Volcano Notification Service.

Now, for visiting the park! When I was researching, it felt overwhelming and a big intimidating. But the park is actually very manageable.

Starting your visit at the Visitor’s Center is a good idea. You can get updates on volcanic activity, road closures, and any other information you might want to know. There are also educational exhibits and a gift shop.

Most sites are located right on the Crater Rim Drive or the Chain of Craters Road. I recommending driving both roads and stopping as you go.

We also used the GuideAlong app. It helped us learn more about the sites and which sites were worth stopping at. Here are the highlights of the best things to do in Volcanoes National Park:

Kīlauea Overlook – panoramic views of the main Halemaʻumaʻu crater caldera

Nāhuku Lava Tube (formerly the Thurston Lava Tube) – 500-year-old underground cave that was carved out by rushing lava. You can walk in it and explore.

Kīlauea Iki Trail – a hike that takes you across a lava crater floor, it is a 3.3-mile loop

Volcano House – nice for a drink or meal, it is a restaurant inside the national park with views of the volcano.

Steam Vents & Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks) – you can see volcanic gases escaping from the earth. There are a couple visible right from the parking lot but you can also walk an easy 1.2 mile boardwalk for better views.

Devastation Trail – An easy 1-mile paved path that was the site of 1959 eruption of Kīlauea Iki crater.

Kealakomo Overlook: A gorgeous overlook where the lava meets the sea

Puʻuloa Petroglyphs: A 1.4 mile round-trip walk on lava to view ancient Hawaiian rock carvings (note that this trail is hot and has no shade, definitely bring water with you)

Hōlei Sea Arch: The end of the road leads to the sea arch. It is 90 feet tall and has been naturally carved out by the ocean waves.

Day 5: Hilo and Waterfalls

On your last day, we’re going to wind down a bit before your trip home. A lot of flights out of Hawaii are in the evening and if yours is one of those flights, you could do everything on this day before flying home.

Hilo is amazing because there are several waterfalls to see with very low effort. Like the other days, I will break up the day with a morning, afternoon, and evening plan. But I think this day really fits in any order.

Morning: Rainbow Falls, Boiling Pots, and Kaūmana Caves

It couldn’t be easier to see a waterfall than it is at Rainbow Falls inside of Wailuku River State Park. The viewpoint to the 80-foot tall waterfall is a very short walk from the parking area. If you want to take some steps to see it from above, you can but you don’t have to for an amazing view.

In the morning, it’s common to see a rainbow in the falls, which is how it got its name.

Also in the area is Pe‘epe‘e Falls. Pe’epe’e means “hiding” in Hawaiian language and these waterfalls look like they’re hiding behind a lava formation.

Nearby is Boiling Pots, which is an area where water flows down over rocks, creating a bunch of small pools that look like steps. These were actually formed a very long time ago by cooling lava. These little pools bubble because of the turbulent water and the bubbling makes the water look like it is boiling. This is how Boiling Pots got its name.

Finally, check out the Kaūmana Caves, one of the most unique places to explore near Hilo. The caves were formed by a lava flow from Mauna Loa in 1881. You can go into the cave and wander through rugged lava formations, hanging roots, and dark passageways. Be sure to bring a flashlight and sturdy shoes, the cave floor is uneven and can be slippery.

Afternoon: Hamakua Coast to ‘Akaka Falls State Park

Drive north along the scenic Hamakua Coast to ‘Akaka Falls State Park. Along the way, you can take the Onomea Scenic Drive, which I recommend.

The Onomea Scenic Drive is one of the most beautiful roads on Hawaii’s Big Island. It’s not very long, but it’s a winding road that leads you through a beautiful tropical rainforest.

On the drive are some scenic overlooks and the entrance to the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. It was sadly closed when we visited, but we would have loved to go.

After the drive, you’ll keep driving north to ‘Akaka Falls State Park. There is a short loop trail through the rainforest that leads to the tallest waterfall on the island.

Everything I read stated the hike was very easy. And I definitely wouldn’t say it was hard – my 2-year-old and 3-year-old did the entire thing by themselves. But because I kept reading how easy it was over and over, I was a little surprised at how many steps there were. Maybe it was because I was wearing my baby, but it was slightly more difficult than I was prepared for. Nothing major, but just worth mentioning so you can be slightly more prepared!

The ‘Akaka Waterfall is so impressive. It is 442 feet!

On the same hike you’ll take to get to the ‘Akaka Waterfall, you might be able to see Kahuna Falls. This is best visible after heavy rain, and we really couldn’t see much when we visited.

Evening: Explore Hilo

After you spend the day exploring, spend the rest of the day in Hilo. Hilo has a local, laid back feel. The downtown area has local shops and restaurants.

If you have enough time and energy, you could also visit Liliʻuokalani Gardens. They are peaceful, with a Japanese-style garden located waterfront.

If You Have More Time on the Big Island

Maybe you have more time on the Big Island or maybe I convinced you to extend your trip. Here are some great things to do on the Big Island!

• Stargazing at Mauna Kea: Thanks to its high elevation, dry climate, and minimal light pollution, Mauna Kea offers some of the clearest night skies in the world. On a clear evening, you can see thousands of stars, the Milky Way, and planets with the naked eye. The summit requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle and is not recommended for everyone due to the altitude (for example, kids under 16 are not allowed to take commercial tours past the visitor’s center). But the visitor information station provides an excellent stargazing experience and is accessible to most people.
• Go to a Luau: Luaus are popular in Hawaiian culture to celebrate special occasions and also to welcome visitors. There are a lot of different luau options throughout every Hawaiian island and they generally come with an evening of entertainment, Hawaiian food, and drinks.
• Take a Helicopter Tour: If you have the ability to splurge on a helicopter tour, it’s a really cool way to see the Big Island (especially if you are lucky enough to be there during an eruption!)
• Whale watching is a popular activity if you are there in season. Whale season is November through May.
• I didn’t really mention beaches because I wanted you to be able to plug in beach time wherever you find it to fit the best. Maybe that means you’re on the Big Island for more than 5 days or maybe you find one while you’re wandering. In any case, here are some of the best beaches on the Big Island:
  • Punalu’u Black Sand Beach – a beach with pure black sand, also has frequent sightings of Hawaiian green sea turtles
  • ‘Alula Beach – calm waters, soft sand, and excellent snorkeling conditions
  • Kikaua Point Park – a quieter experience than many of the island’s more popular beaches
  • Magic Sands (La’aloa Beach Park) – known for boogie boarding and body surfing, got its name because the beach can completely disappear during periods of high surf
  • Manini’owalu Beach (Kua Bay) – powdery white sand and crystal-clear water, often considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the island
  • Mahai’ula Beach – Located within Kekaha Kai State Park, this scenic beach offers golden sand, lava rock landscapes, and a more rugged, off-the-beaten-path feel
  • Makalawena Beach – often considered one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Hawaii if you are willing to take a hike or rough access road

Are You Ready to Visit the Big Island of Hawaii?

There is so much to do on the Big Island that you can’t see it all in one trip. This made the trip planning feel intimidating to us.

You can always add more time to slow down the trip, add in beach days, or hikes. But my hope is that this really broke down the best way to see the island in a fairly short amount of time.