Explore the Big Island of Hawaii
A Tropical Paradise

A warm ALOHA welcome to Hawaii! The Big Island of Hawaii is magical, with a diversity of land and ocean features like nowhere else. With its stunning beauty, warmth and charm, this tropical Hawaiian paradise is a dream travel vacation destination. We will help make your next Hawaii vacation the trip of a lifetime.

Boasting 10 of the world’s 12 climate zones, it's possible to go from an arid desert environment on a sun-drenched beach, to frigid temperatures in a high alpine climate, to tropical rainforest all in a single day! With so much dramatic scenery and an endless array of unique activities, there is much to enjoy.

Hawaii Island is made up of 5 volcanoes, 3 of which are "active". Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in the world towers more than 33,000 feet/10,000 meters above the ocean floor.

Discovery and Adventure

Beautiful Beaches
As the youngest and largest of the Hawaiian islands, the Big Island grows larger every day. The coastline is both pristine and rugged. Waves crash unrelentingly against lava cliffs, while not far away the calm ocean laps gently along a sandy beach. Speaking of Hawaii beaches, we share all the best including the unique Papakolea green sand beach and Punalu'u black sand beach.

Fun Things To Do
Whether by land, sea or air, there is much to discover on Hawaii Island. Unique lava and coral reefs, the stunningly clear water, and a remarkable variety of sea life make this the best snorkeling and diving playground in Hawaii. Prefer surfing, kayaking, boogie boarding or perhaps a stand up paddle board lesson? We’ll tell you who to contact and share our favorite spots.

Great Hiking
If land activities are more your speed, check out some of the fantastic hiking trails around the island. The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail traverses 175 miles of dramatic coastline and connects to many great Hawaii beaches. From the remote north coast to hikes around the Kilauea volcano, you will find an abundance of adventuring opportunities.

Big Island whale watching and other attractions

Sights and Attractions
Our island attractions are as diverse as the landscape. Dramatic volcanoes, great Hawaii beaches, spectacular rainforest waterfalls, botanical gardens, and interesting parks offer seemingly endless opportunities to explore. Longing to swim with dolphins or see whales in the wild? Spinner dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Humpback whales, and even Green Sea Turtles call Hawaii home.

Volcanoes
No trip to Hawaii would be complete without exploring the fascinating volcanoes, and in particular Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Of the five volcanoes on the Island, Mauna Loa is the most massive mountain on the planet, Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on earth, and Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world (from the sea floor). We’ll visit them all.

Plan Your Vacation

Getting Around the Island
Be sure to book your Big Island rental cars well in advance of your arrival. The airports have been known to run out of cars, particularly during holidays and other busy travel times. We’ll tell you about Hawaii rental car options for cruise ship passengers as well, plus details on motorcycle and bicycle rentals, airport shuttle services and an island-wide bus schedule.

Lodging
Finding the best accommodations to fit your style is a key part of planning the perfect Hawaii vacation. Prior to booking a room, consider your vacation objectives and where you plan to do most of your exploring. There are many great hotels in Kona and Hilo, luxury resorts along the coast north of Kailua-Kona, plus hidden gems in other areas around the island.

Restaurants
And of course the ever-important topic of food! From fine dining to the best 100% Hawaii Island beef burger to our favorite natural foods store, we can help. You will find a remarkable selection of international flavors and a wide variety of restaurants, nearly 500 to choose from across the Island. Already have a favorite? Share your own experience with our readers.

Getting Here

Flights To The Big Island
Everything you need to know to find the best flights to Hawaii! With some advance planning and a bit of flexibility, flying to the Big Island doesn't have to put a hole in your pocketbook.

Hawaii Island Cruises
Whether it's a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands or a sail across the Pacific, cruise ships offer a fun and scenic alternative for traveling to Hawaii. Cruise ships sail to the Big Island from Honolulu, Ensenada, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Vancouver.