The places worth a stop.
Natural and cultural landmarks across Big Island of Hawaii — falls, beaches, viewpoints, parks. Free to visit unless noted, with the nearby tours that bring each one to life.
All attractions· 121 places
'Imiloa Astronomy Center
Planetarium and museum connecting Hawaiian culture with modern astronomy
A-Bay (Anaehoomalu Bay)
Popular Waikoloa resort beach with calm waters and ancient fishponds
Ahu'ena Heiau
Reconstructed Hawaiian temple at Kamakahonu Bay, King Kamehameha's last home
Akaka Falls
Picture this: a 442-foot ribbon of water tumbling over ancient volcanic cliffs, surrounded by some of the most lush rainforest you'll fin…
Ali'i Drive
Kona's iconic oceanfront boulevard stretching 6 miles from Kailua Pier past historic sites, beaches, and waterfront restaurants.
Anaehoomalu Bay (A-Bay) Snorkel
Anaehoomalu Bay offers the Big Island's most reliable snorkeling conditions with calm, protected waters perfect for beginners. Green sea …
Anna Ranch Heritage Center
Discover Hawaii's paniolo (cowboy) heritage at this restored 1800s ranch home in Waimea. Guided tours reveal authentic Hawaiian ranching …
Big Island Candies
Iconic Hilo confectionery and factory store known for macadamia nut shortbread cookies. Free factory tours let visitors watch candy-makin…
Boiling Pots (Pe'ePe'e Falls Overlook)
Series of natural lava-rock pools along the Wailuku River where water appears to boil as it cascades between interconnected pools.
Buddha's Cup Coffee
Family-run organic coffee farm on Hualalai volcano slopes offering intimate 45-minute tours through sustainable growing methods. Walk vol…
Carlsmith Beach Park
Hilo's calm lagoon-style beach with lava rock pools and sea turtles
Crater Rim Drive
Scenic 11-mile loop road circling Kilauea's summit caldera through rainforest and volcanic desert, connecting major viewpoints and trailh…
Crater Rim Trail
Walk the rim of Earth's most active volcano on this 11-mile loop trail around Kilauea Caldera. Experience steaming vents, volcanic format…
Crescent Beach Dive
A protected crescent bay in Kailua-Kona offering beginner-friendly shore diving with easy sandy beach access. Features gradual coral gard…
Daylight Mind Coffee
Watch the complete bean-to-cup journey at this working Kona coffee farm and roastery. Guided 90-minute tours include tastings, hands-on d…
East Hawaii Cultural Center
Big Island's premier community arts hub housed in a historic 1932 police station in downtown Hilo. Features rotating exhibitions of local…
Garden Eel Cove (Manta Night Dive)
World-famous site for manta ray night dives and snorkels
Green Sand Beach (Papakōlea)
Rare green sand beach near South Point
Greenwell Cultural Heritage Garden
A 12-acre living museum preserving four generations of Hawaiian agricultural history in Kealakekua. Walk heritage coffee groves, sample t…
Greenwell Farms
Historic Kona coffee farm offering free tours since 1850
Halemaumau Trail
Walk directly to the edge of Kilauea's active crater on this accessible 2.6-mile trail across hardened lava fields. Experience one of Ear…
Hamakua Coast Drive
Hawaii's most scenic coastal drive from Hilo to Waipio Valley
Hapuna Beach
Picture nearly half a mile of powdery white sand meeting the endless blue of the Pacific Ocean. That's Hapuna Beach – and locals will tel…
Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
Premier 17-acre botanical garden on the scenic Onomea Bay
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
There's something magical about standing at the edge of an active volcano, watching the Earth create itself right before your eyes. Hawai…
Hi'ilawe Falls
Picture this: a silver thread of water drops 400 feet straight down from emerald cliffs, disappearing into the misty depths of Waipio Val…
Hilo Bay
Scenic crescent-shaped bay framing downtown Hilo, backed by Mauna Kea. The bayfront promenade connects Coconut Island, Liliuokalani Garde…
Hilo Farmers Market
Hawaii's largest outdoor market with 200+ vendors every Wednesday and Saturday
Holualoa Village
Charming upcountry art village above Kailua-Kona at 1,400 feet elevation. Coffee farms, artist studios, and galleries line the single mai…
Honoli'i Beach
Honoli'i Beach offers authentic Hawaiian surf culture on black volcanic sand shores near Hilo. This protected bay provides gentle waves p…
Hookena Beach
Hookena Beach offers authentic old Hawaii charm with black volcanic sand and calm, protected waters perfect for families and beginner sno…
Hualalai
The Big Island's third most active volcano at 8,271 feet, last erupting in 1801. Its lava flows created the Kona coastline and its slopes…
Hula Daddy Kona Coffee
Award-winning single-estate Kona coffee farm with educational tours
Hulihe'e Palace
Oceanfront royal palace on Ali'i Drive in Kailua-Kona
Hulihe'e Palace Cultural
One of only two royal palaces on American soil, Hulihe'e Palace offers intimate glimpses into 19th-century Hawaiian royalty through origi…
Kahalu'u Beach Park
Picture yourself slipping into the warm, crystal-clear waters of Kahalu'u Beach Park, where the Big Island's magic comes alive beneath th…
Kahalu'u Beach Snorkel
Big Island's most beginner-friendly snorkeling spot features calm, shallow waters protected by natural lava rock barriers. Green sea turt…
Kahuna Falls
Kahuna Falls drops 100 feet through a volcanic gorge just 15 minutes from Honomu, offering one of the Big Island's most accessible waterf…
Kailua Pier
Historic Kona waterfront pier and seawall, the starting point for the Ironman World Championship. A gathering spot with ocean views and s…
Kaiwi Point
Kaiwi Point offers some of Big Island's most consistent shore diving with 60-100 foot visibility and calm conditions perfect for beginner…
Kalapana Lookout
Witness the raw power of Kilauea volcano at this dramatic lookout where lava flows buried entire communities in 1990. Black volcanic terr…
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
There's something magical about stepping into Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, where ancient Hawaiian stories unfold along Kona…
Kalopa Native Forest State Park
Kalopa Native Forest State Park protects 100 acres of rare ohia forest on Hawaii's Big Island. Three trails wind through ancient trees an…
Kamehameha Birth Site
Sacred site where King Kamehameha I was born around 1758
Kapoho Tide Pools (historic)
The legendary Kapoho Tide Pools were Big Island's most beloved snorkeling spot until the 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed them. These spri…
Kaumana Caves
Drive-to lava tube caves on the outskirts of Hilo
Kauna'oa Bay
Just north of Kawaihae Harbor, Kauna'oa Bay waits like a secret underwater world where ancient lava meets vibrant marine life. Here's whe…
Kealakekua Bay
Picture this: you're floating in water so clear you can see the ocean floor 100 feet below, surrounded by vibrant coral gardens where tro…
Keauhou Bay Manta Point
Primary manta ray viewing spot where rays come to feed nightly
Keauhou Farmers Market
Saturday morning market at Keauhou Shopping Center with Kona coffee and local goods
Kekaha Kai State Park
Remote state park north of Kona airport with pristine white sand beaches including Mahai'ula and Makalawena. Requires a bumpy dirt road o…
Kiholo Bay
Hidden black lava beach with sea turtles and a secret lava tube pool
King Kamehameha Statue (Original)
The original King Kamehameha I statue in Kapaau, North Kohala
Kohala Mountain Road (Hwy 250)
Panoramic drive through rolling ranch country with Pacific views
Kona Coffee Living History Farm
Museum and working 1920s-era coffee farm in Captain Cook
Kona Farmers Market
Waterfront farmers market on Ali'i Drive in downtown Kailua-Kona
Kona Joe Coffee
The world's only trellised coffee farm grows unique beans on vertical structures resembling vineyards. This innovative Kona coffee operat…
Kua Bay (Manini'owali)
Hidden along the wild Kona Coast, Kua Bay (Manini'owali) feels like Hawaii's best-kept secret. Picture this: brilliant white sand so fine…
Kuaiwi Farm
Family-owned Kuaiwi Farm offers 90-minute guided Kona coffee tours on Mauna Loa's volcanic slopes. Experience multi-generational farming …
Kukio Beach
Exclusive but publicly accessible beach on the Kohala Coast
Kula Kai Caverns
Guided tours through 1,000-year-old lava tubes in South Kona
Kulaniapia Falls
Private 120-foot waterfall near Hilo you can swim under
Kīpukapuaulu (Bird Park)
Experience Hawaii's best bird-watching on this easy 1.2-mile paved loop through rare native rainforest. Spot endangered Hawaiian honeycre…
Lapakahi State Historical Park
Ruins of an ancient Hawaiian fishing village on the North Kohala coast
Laupāhoehoe Point
Dramatic sea cliffs and tsunami memorial on the Hamakua Coast
Lava Tree State Monument
Something magical happens when lava meets forest, and nowhere is this more evident than at Lava Tree State Monument. Just outside Pahoa, …
Liliuokalani Gardens
Largest authentic Japanese garden outside Japan, spanning 30 acres along Hilo Bay with pagodas, stone lanterns, koi ponds, and ocean views.
Lyman Museum
Hilo's premier cultural museum housed in a 19th-century missionary home, featuring Hawaiian natural history, cultural artifacts, and geol…
Magic Sands Beach (La'aloa)
There's something almost mystical about Magic Sands Beach that keeps drawing people back. Locals call it La'aloa – "long lava" in Hawaiia…
Mahukona Beach Park
Former sugar shipping port with underwater ruins and excellent diving
Makalawena Beach
Along the wild Kona Coast, there's a secret that locals have treasured for generations. Makalawena Beach isn't your typical Hawaiian geta…
Manta Heaven (Makako Bay)
Picture yourself floating in the dark Pacific as a manta ray with a 14-foot wingspan glides just inches from your face. This is Manta Hea…
Manta Village (Keauhou Bay)
Hidden in Keauhou Bay's calm waters, Manta Village feels like nature's own private theater. Every evening, something magical happens here…
Mauna Iki Trail
Hike through a cinder cone formed during Kilauea's 1959 eruption on this moderate 2.4-mile trail. Experience close-up volcanic formations…
Mauna Kea Beach
Picture this: you're walking barefoot across impossibly soft white sand, the kind that feels like powdered silk between your toes. That's…
Mauna Kea State Recreation Area
Hawaii's only freshwater fishing spot sits at 6,500 feet on Mauna Kea, offering cool mountain air, rainbow trout fishing, and cabin renta…
Mauna Kea Summit
At 13,803 feet above the Pacific, Mauna Kea Summit isn't just tall—it's otherworldly. When you're standing up here, literally above the c…
Mauna Lani Beach (49 Black Sand)
A unique black volcanic sand beach with calm, protected waters on Big Island's Kohala Coast. This quieter alternative to crowded white sa…
Mauna Loa
Earth's largest active volcano rising 13,681 feet, covering half the Big Island. Last erupted in 2022 after 38 years of quiet.
Mo'okini Heiau
One of Hawaii's oldest and most sacred temples, dating to 480 AD
Moku'aikaua Church
Hawaii's oldest Christian church, built in 1820 in Kailua-Kona
Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
Cloud forest coffee farm above Kailua-Kona with free and premium tours
Nani Mau Gardens
20-acre botanical garden in Hilo with Japanese garden and orchids
Old Airport Dive
Old Airport Dive transforms Kailua-Kona's former runway into the Big Island's most accessible shore diving spot. Calm waters, easy entry,…
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
Former airport runway transformed into Kailua-Kona's most accessible ocean playground. Features protected swimming areas, excellent snork…
Onomea Bay Overlook
Onomea Bay Overlook offers one of Big Island's most photogenic coastal views from a convenient roadside perch. This elevated viewpoint fr…
Onomea Falls
Waterfall inside the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
Onomea Trail
The Onomea Trail offers an easy 30-minute loop through accessible tropical rainforest near Papaikou, featuring dramatic ocean views, wate…
Pacific Tsunami Museum
Powerful museum in a historic bank building documenting Hilo's devastating 1946 and 1960 tsunamis through survivor stories, photos, and i…
Painted Church (St. Benedict's)
Historic church with hand-painted biblical murals
Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens
America's only natural tropical rainforest zoo features 80+ species including Bengal tigers and Hawaiian nēnē geese thriving in 12 acres …
Parker Ranch
One of America's oldest and largest cattle ranches, founded in 1847. The historic homes and rolling green pastures showcase Hawaii's pani…
Pe'epe'e Falls
Just a few minutes from downtown Hilo, you'll discover one of the Big Island's most captivating natural wonders. Pe'epe'e Falls crashes t…
Pebble Beach (Halape area)
Big Island's most remote beach accessible only via challenging 7-mile hike through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Black pebble shore off…
Pepe'ekeo Scenic Route
4-mile detour along the Old Mamalahoa Highway through tropical jungle
Pine Trees
Pine Trees offers Kailua-Kona's most accessible shore diving with calm, protected waters and 60-100 feet of visibility. Green sea turtles…
Pololu Valley Lookout
Highway 270 winds to a dramatic end at Pololu Valley Lookout, where one of the Big Island's most stunning views unfolds before you. Here,…
Pu'u Huluhulu Trail
Short cinder cone hike with views of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualalai
Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs Trail
Walk across ancient lava flows to discover over 23,000 Native Hawaiian petroglyphs at this sacred site in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.…
Pu'u Ulaula (Red Hill)
Pu'u Ulaula sits at 13,796 feet on Mauna Kea's summit, making it Hawaii's highest accessible point. This red cinder cone offers panoramic…
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (Place of Refuge)
Ancient Hawaii whispers its secrets at Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau, where sacred history meets the drama of black lava coastline. This isn't jus…
Puakō Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve
Hawaii's largest concentration of ancient petroglyphs — over 3,000 rock carvings
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
Picture this: black sand so dark it seems to absorb sunlight, stretching along Hawaii's coast where ancient lava met the sea. Punalu'u Bl…
Rainbow Falls (Waianuenue)
Just a short drive from downtown Hilo, Rainbow Falls beckons with one of Hawaii's most stunning and accessible waterfall experiences. Pic…
Richardson Ocean Park
Just steps from Hilo's rugged coastline, Richardson Ocean Park feels like Hawaii's best-kept secret. This isn't your typical white sand b…
Royal Botanical Garden of Hilo
Explore 2,000 plant species across 24 riverside acres at the Royal Botanical Garden of Hilo. This living collection features rare Hawaiia…
Royal Kona Visitor Center
Experience the complete bean-to-cup coffee journey at this working Kona farm. Walk through volcanic coffee groves, watch master roasters …
Saddle Road (Daniel K. Inouye Highway)
Dramatic cross-island highway running between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa at 6,600 feet elevation, connecting Hilo to Kona through volcanic h…
Sadie Seymour Botanical Park
A 20-acre botanical sanctuary in Kailua-Kona showcasing native Hawaiian plants and Pacific tropical species through winding trails, inter…
South Point (Ka Lae)
Southernmost point in the United States
Spencer Beach Park
Calm, family-friendly beach near Kawaihae with excellent facilities
Two Step (Honaunau Bay)
Along Kona's stunning coastline, Two Step (Honaunau Bay) stands out as Hawaii's premier snorkeling destination. This protected bay sits r…
Umauma Falls
Deep in the Hamakua Coast rainforest, Umauma Falls tumbles down three spectacular tiers, each one more captivating than the last. The upp…
Wai'ale Falls
Remote waterfall in the back of sacred Waipio Valley
Waialea Bay (Beach 69)
Secluded white sand beach with excellent snorkeling near Puako
Waikoloa Petroglyph Field
Accessible petroglyph trail at Kings' Shops in Waikoloa
Wailoa River State Park
A peaceful 132-acre urban park where Wailoa River meets Hilo Bay, featuring pond systems with Hawaiian waterbirds, the cultural Wailoa Ce…
Waimea Farmers Market
Saturday morning market in Waimea with local produce and paniolo culture
Waipio Valley Lookout
Standing at the edge of Hawaii's most legendary valley, you'll understand why locals call this place magical. Waipio Valley Lookout deliv…
Whittington Beach Park
Whittington Beach Park features dramatic black lava rock coastline perfect for tide pooling and picnicking. Located in remote Ka'u distri…
World Botanical Gardens
300-acre botanical garden with waterfall views and garden maze