Big Island attractions
The free and self-guided sights across Big Island of Hawaii: waterfalls, beaches, parks, valleys and viewpoints. No booking needed, just what to know before you go and the tours worth pairing nearby.
"Which waterfalls are worth it near Hilo?"All attractions· 121 places
'Imiloa Astronomy Center
Observatories · Hilo · $24.50/adult
A-Bay (Anaehoomalu Bay)
Beaches · Waikoloa · Free
Ahu'ena Heiau
Historical Sites · Kailua-Kona · Free (view from outside)
Akaka Falls
Waterfalls · Honomu
Ali'i Drive
Scenic Drives · Kailua-Kona
Anaehoomalu Bay (A-Bay) Snorkel
Snorkel Spots · Waikoloa
Anna Ranch Heritage Center
Cultural Sites · Waimea
Big Island Candies
Cultural Sites · Hilo
Boiling Pots (Pe'ePe'e Falls Overlook)
Viewpoints · Hilo
Buddha's Cup Coffee
Coffee Farms · Holualoa
Carlsmith Beach Park
Beaches · Hilo · Free
Crater Rim Drive
Scenic Drives · Volcano
Crater Rim Trail
Hiking Trails · Volcano
Crescent Beach Dive
Dive Sites · Kailua-Kona
Daylight Mind Coffee
Coffee Farms · Kailua-Kona
East Hawaii Cultural Center
Cultural Sites · Hilo
Garden Eel Cove (Manta Night Dive)
Dive Sites · Kailua-Kona
Green Sand Beach (Papakōlea)
Beaches · Pahala
Greenwell Cultural Heritage Garden
Cultural Sites · Kealakekua
Greenwell Farms
Coffee Farms · Kealakekua · Free
Halemaumau Trail
Hiking Trails · Volcano
Hamakua Coast Drive
Scenic Drives · Hilo · Free
Hapuna Beach
Beaches · Waikoloa
Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
Gardens · Papaikou · $25/adult
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Parks · Volcano
Hi'ilawe Falls
Waterfalls · Waipio Valley
Hilo Bay
Viewpoints · Hilo
Hilo Farmers Market
Markets · Hilo · Free entry
Holualoa Village
Cultural Sites · Holualoa
Honoli'i Beach
Beaches · Hilo
Hookena Beach
Beaches · Captain Cook
Hualalai
Volcanoes · Kailua-Kona
Hula Daddy Kona Coffee
Coffee Farms · Holualoa · $30/person
Hulihe'e Palace
Historical Sites · Kailua-Kona · $10/adult
Hulihe'e Palace Cultural
Cultural Sites · Kailua-Kona
Kahalu'u Beach Park
Beaches · Kailua-Kona
Kahalu'u Beach Snorkel
Snorkel Spots · Kailua-Kona
Kahuna Falls
Waterfalls · Honomu
Kailua Pier
Historical Sites · Kailua-Kona
Kaiwi Point
Dive Sites · Kailua-Kona
Kalapana Lookout
Viewpoints · Pahoa
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Parks · Kailua-Kona
Kalopa Native Forest State Park
Parks · Honokaa
Kamehameha Birth Site
Cultural Sites · Hawi · Free
Kapoho Tide Pools (historic)
Snorkel Spots · Pahoa
Kaumana Caves
Caves · Hilo · Free
Kauna'oa Bay
Dive Sites · Kawaihae Harbor
Kealakekua Bay
Beaches · Captain Cook
Keauhou Bay Manta Point
Manta Ray Sites · Kailua-Kona
Keauhou Farmers Market
Markets · Kailua-Kona · Free entry
Kekaha Kai State Park
Beaches · Kailua-Kona
Kiholo Bay
Beaches · Kailua-Kona
King Kamehameha Statue (Original)
Historical Sites · Hawi · Free
Kohala Mountain Road (Hwy 250)
Scenic Drives · Waimea · Free
Kona Coffee Living History Farm
Coffee Farms · Captain Cook · $15/adult
Kona Farmers Market
Markets · Kailua-Kona · Free entry
Kona Joe Coffee
Coffee Farms · Kealakekua
Kua Bay (Manini'owali)
Beaches · Kailua-Kona
Kuaiwi Farm
Coffee Farms · Captain Cook
Kukio Beach
Beaches · Kailua-Kona
Kula Kai Caverns
Caves · Captain Cook · $35-95/person depending on tour
Kulaniapia Falls
Waterfalls · Hilo · $15/person day visit
Kīpukapuaulu (Bird Park)
Hiking Trails · Volcano
Lapakahi State Historical Park
Cultural Sites · Hawi · Free
Laupāhoehoe Point
Viewpoints · Laupahoehoe
Lava Tree State Monument
Parks · Pahoa
Liliuokalani Gardens
Gardens · Hilo
Lyman Museum
Historical Sites · Hilo
Magic Sands Beach (La'aloa)
Beaches · Kailua-Kona
Mahukona Beach Park
Snorkel Spots · Hawi · Free
Makalawena Beach
Beaches · Kailua-Kona
Manta Heaven (Makako Bay)
Manta Ray Sites · Kailua-Kona
Manta Village (Keauhou Bay)
Manta Ray Sites · Keauhou Bay Harbor
Mauna Iki Trail
Hiking Trails · Volcano
Mauna Kea Beach
Beaches · Waikoloa
Mauna Kea State Recreation Area
Parks · Waimea
Mauna Kea Summit
Viewpoints · Waimea
Mauna Lani Beach (49 Black Sand)
Beaches · Waikoloa
Mauna Loa
Volcanoes · Volcano
Mo'okini Heiau
Cultural Sites · Hawi · Free
Moku'aikaua Church
Historical Sites · Kailua-Kona · Free
Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
Coffee Farms · Holualoa · Free tour available; premium tours $35-65
Nani Mau Gardens
Gardens · Hilo · $10/adult
Old Airport Dive
Dive Sites · Kailua-Kona
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
Parks · Kailua-Kona
Onomea Bay Overlook
Viewpoints · Papaikou
Onomea Falls
Waterfalls · Papaikou · $25/adult
Onomea Trail
Hiking Trails · Papaikou
Pacific Tsunami Museum
Historical Sites · Hilo
Painted Church (St. Benedict's)
Historical Sites · Captain Cook
Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens
Gardens · Hilo
Parker Ranch
Historical Sites · Waimea
Pe'epe'e Falls
Waterfalls · Hilo
Pebble Beach (Halape area)
Beaches · Volcano
Pepe'ekeo Scenic Route
Scenic Drives · Pepeekeo · Free
Pine Trees
Dive Sites · Kailua-Kona
Pololu Valley Lookout
Viewpoints · Hawi
Pu'u Huluhulu Trail
Hiking Trails · Volcano · Free
Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs Trail
Hiking Trails · Volcano
Pu'u Ulaula (Red Hill)
Viewpoints · Volcano
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (Place of Refuge)
Historical Sites · Captain Cook
Puakō Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve
Cultural Sites · Waikoloa · Free
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
Beaches · Pahala
Rainbow Falls (Waianuenue)
Waterfalls · Hilo
Richardson Ocean Park
Beaches · Hilo
Royal Botanical Garden of Hilo
Gardens · Hilo
Royal Kona Visitor Center
Coffee Farms · Kailua-Kona
Saddle Road (Daniel K. Inouye Highway)
Scenic Drives · Hilo
Sadie Seymour Botanical Park
Gardens · Kailua-Kona
South Point (Ka Lae)
Viewpoints · Pahala
Spencer Beach Park
Beaches · Waikoloa · Free
Two Step (Honaunau Bay)
Beaches · Captain Cook
Umauma Falls
Waterfalls · Hakalau
Wai'ale Falls
Waterfalls · Waipio Valley
Waialea Bay (Beach 69)
Beaches · Waikoloa · Free
Waikoloa Petroglyph Field
Cultural Sites · Waikoloa · Free
Wailoa River State Park
Parks · Hilo
Waimea Farmers Market
Markets · Waimea · Free entry
Waipio Valley Lookout
Viewpoints · Waipio Valley
Whittington Beach Park
Beaches · Pahala
World Botanical Gardens
Gardens · Hakalau · $22/adult
Attractions vs. tours: what is the difference?
Attractions are the island's free or self-guided sights: pull over, walk in, usually no reservation. Many pair beautifully with a booked activity nearby, so each attraction page lists hours, access notes and the tours worth adding around it. Tell the concierge which sights you do not want to miss and it threads them into your week between the bookable highlights.