Best activities on the Big Island: where to go, what to book
Prices and details checked on October 21, 2026How we compare tours
Of the activities we list, Kona Honu Divers, Hawaii Nautical Big Island, Aquatic Life Divers and Honoli'i Orchards tie for the highest Google rating: 5 stars each.
Best activities on the Big Island: where to go and what to book
Of the activities we list, Kona Honu Divers, Hawaii Nautical Big Island, Aquatic Life Divers and Honoli'i Orchards tie for the highest Google rating: 5 stars each. If price matters most, the Heavenly Hawaiian Kona Coffee Farm Tour starts at $30 per person. Kona Honu Divers has 7,751 Google reviews, Hawaii Nautical Big Island has 1,150, Aquatic Life Divers has 1,000 and Honoli'i Orchards has 230.
What are the best things to do on the Big Island?
Pick your day by the kind of place you want: volcano, beach, history or mountain. Snorkeling and scuba are popular at Waialea Bay because of its marine life, but the Waialea Section is closed due to fallen trees. Plan around that closure before you choose a beach day there.
| Place | What you can do | Good to know | Getting there | Hours or entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kekaha Kai State Park | A side hike to the summit of Puʻu Kuʻili, a cinder cone, gives a view of the coastline. | - | The park lies on the North Kona coast between the ocean and Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway (Highway 19), with Kona International Airport lands to the south. | Daily hours are 8:00am to 6:30pm, and the gates close at 7:00pm. |
| Kiholo Bay | Camping is allowed on weekend nights only (Friday through Sunday nights), and sites may be reserved up to 30 days ahead. | - | The entrance gates are locked nightly; while they are locked, vehicles cannot enter or leave the park. | The park is open daily from 7:00am to 7:00pm. |
| Waialea Bay | Its marine life diversity makes it a popular site for snorkeling and scuba. | - | Waialea Bay is in the southern part of Kawaihae Bay, on the west coast of Hawaii Island. | The Waialea Section is closed due to fallen trees (State Parks notice, checked 2026-10-14). |
| Hulihee Palace | The palace holds koa furniture, ornaments, portraits, tapa, featherwork, Hawaiian quilts and artifacts. | - | Huliheʻe Palace is in historic Kailua-Kona on Aliʻi Drive. | Guided Mo'olelo tours are generally Wednesday to Saturday at 11:30 AM. |
| Hawaii Volcanoes National Park | A temporary Welcome Center and the park store are at Kilauea Military Camp daily from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | Weather may be cool, windy and rainy; bring shoes, rain gear, jackets, hats, water and snacks for viewpoints. | The park is about 30 miles southwest of Hilo, about a 45 minute drive. | Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. |
| Kaloko Honokohau | Honokōhau Beach is a 20-minute walk from the visitor center or a 5-minute walk from the entrance near Honokōhau Harbor. | Almost half the park is underwater, with nearshore coral reefs and hundreds of anchialine pools. | An alternative entrance is reached by Kealakehe Parkway to Honokōhau Harbor, the first right, then the road to the Kona Sailing Club. | The visitor center (Hale Hoʻokipa) is open daily 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. |
| Mauna Kea Summit | The Visitor Information Station sits at about nine thousand two hundred feet and the summit at about thirteen thousand eight hundred feet. | Winter conditions can occur at any time on Maunakea, with freezing temperatures, very high winds and zero-visibility whiteouts. | The Visitor Information Station is on Maunakea Access Road, off the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road). | The Visitor Information Station is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
For history, Huliheʻe Palace holds koa furniture, ornaments, portraits, tapa, featherwork, Hawaiian quilts and artifacts. For a hike with a view, a side trail at Kekaha Kai State Park climbs to the summit of Puʻu Kuʻili, a cinder cone, for a view of the coastline.
How do you get to each place, and where do you park?
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is about 30 miles southwest of Hilo, about a 45 minute drive. There is no shuttle bus or public transportation within the park, so plan on driving yourself or booking a tour that includes transport.
Kekaha Kai State Park lies on the North Kona coast between the ocean and Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway (Highway 19). The gates at Kīholo Bay are locked nightly, and vehicles cannot enter or leave while they are locked.
Waialea Bay sits in the southern part of Kawaihae Bay on the west coast of Hawaii Island. The County guide lists parking, picnic areas, showers and restrooms for the Waialea Bay section.
Huliheʻe Palace is on Aliʻi Drive in historic Kailua-Kona. Kaloko-Honokōhau has an alternative entrance: take Kealakehe Parkway to Honokōhau Harbor, turn first right, then follow the road to the Kona Sailing Club. The Visitor Information Station for Mauna Kea is on Maunakea Access Road, off the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road).
When are these places open, and what does it cost to go?
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Kekaha Kai State Park is open daily from 8:00am to 6:30pm, and its gates close at 7:00pm. Kīholo Bay is open daily from 7:00am to 7:00pm.
Huliheʻe Palace guided Mo'olelo tours are generally Wednesday to Saturday at 11:30 AM. The Kaloko-Honokōhau visitor center, Hale Hoʻokipa, is open daily from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m..
What rules and hazards should you know about?
Kekaha Kai prohibits motorized vehicles and ATVs, animals and pets, alcoholic beverages, camping, smoking and commercial activities. Kīholo Bay allows camping on weekend nights only, Friday through Sunday nights, and sites may be reserved up to 30 days ahead. The bay is also a fisheries management area.
At Kaloko-Honokōhau, camping is not permitted and dogs must be on a 6-foot leash. Almost half the park is underwater, with nearshore coral reefs and hundreds of anchialine pools. Waialea Bay is a Marine Life Conservation District under rule HAR 13-35.
Weather at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park may be cool, windy and rainy, so bring shoes, rain gear, jackets, hats, water and snacks for viewpoints.
On Mauna Kea, two-wheel drive vehicles are not permitted above the Visitor Information Station. The station sits at about 9,200 feet and the summit at about 13,800 feet. Winter conditions can occur at any time, with freezing temperatures, very high winds and zero-visibility whiteouts.
Which tours go to these places?
The Kailani Tours Hawaii Big Island Highlights Volcano Day Tour runs 11 hours and starts at $292.15 per person. The Coral Reef Kealakekua Bay Captain Cook Monument Snorkel runs 3.5 hours and starts at $99 per person. Pick the tour that matches the length of day you have.
Frequently asked questions
Can you camp at Kīholo Bay?
Sites may be reserved up to 30 days ahead.
Is the Waialea Section open?
The Waialea Section is closed due to fallen trees, according to a State Parks notice checked on 2026-10-14.
Ratings last checked September 2026.
