Have fun in Hawaii -- see volcanos and swim with the dolphins on the Big Island!
Your Vacation on The Big Island/Hawaii
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island is the home of the Kilauea volcano, the most spectacular active volcano in the US. There are eleven different climate zones on the island which means you can experience lush rain forests, arid deserts, black sand beaches, snow-capped mountaintops and more. Where else in the world can you find such diversity in a single vacation place?
This island is believed to be the first island Polynesian voyagers set foot on 1,500 years ago. In 1778, Captain Cook discovered the islands for the western world when he arrived on Kauai. A year later warriors at Kealakekua Bay killed the famous Captain.
In 1791, King Kamehameha (born in Kohala) united all of the Hawaiian islands. His court moved to Ohau in 1804.
In 1820, missionaries arrived and a cattle industry and sugar plantations were started.
The Kilauea volcano has been in a constant state of eruption since 1983.
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Big Island Shows/Luaus
- Island Breeze Productions - the Island Breeze Lü’au is held on the historic grounds of the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.
- Gathering of the Kings Show - newest luau -- a theatrical production depicting islanders journey across the Great Pacific to the lands they settled along the way- at the Fairmont Orchid (also Island Breeze Productions)
- Kona Village Luau - held Each Wednesday and Friday evening
- Legends of the Pacific - at the Hilton Hilton Waikoloa Resort
- Waikoloa Beach Luau - at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Beach Hotel -- called the Big Island's most authentic luau.
- Royal Kona Resort Luau - From Tihati Productions
- Big Island Hotels
Luxury 250+ per night
- The Fairmont Orchid - located on the Kohala Coast -- this AAA Four Diamond Award Hotel earns high marks with travelers. Features a secluded beach & waterfall gardens. ($600)
- Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at
- Historic Ka'upulehu (Kailua-Kona) (Editors Choice/Luxury) but expensive ($700)
- Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel (Editors Choice) ($260) - A great value, beautiful setting, luxurious accommodations and full array of services.
- Hilton Waikoloa Village (Waikoloa) - a 62 acre resort, beatufully maintained tropical gardens, cascading waterfalls, exotic wildlife -- no ocean beach but lots of lagoon and water activities. ($300+)
- Horizon Guest House (Kona) - a 40 acre bed and breaksaft style resort - spectacular views, good food, pleasant atmosphere. ($250)
- Holualoa Inn (Kona) a Bed and Breakfast with beautiful gardens, peaceful and pleasant. ($300)
- Kanaloa at Kona (Keauhou)
- Kona Village Resort (Kailua-Kona) (Recommended)
- Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (Kamuela)
- Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows (Kamuela) (Editors Choice)
- The Palms Cliff House Inn (Hilo)
- Waianuhea (The Hamakua Coast)
- Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort (Kailua-Kona)
Mid-priced up to $250 a night
- Castle Kona Reef (Kailua-Kona)
- The Cliff House (The Hamakua Coast)
- Holua Resort at The Mauna Loa Village (Kailua-Kona)
- Keauhou Kona Surf And Racquet Club Resort (Kailua-Kona) oceanfront available, 2 bedrooms with washer/dryer, 4 miles from Kona village - great views, well kept, good value.
- Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort (Kailua-Kona)
- Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa (Kailua-Kona)
- Shipman House Bed & Breakfast (Hilo)
- Silver Oaks Guest Ranch (Kailua-Kona)
- Waimea Garden Cottages (Waimea)
- Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (Waikoloa)
- Wyndham Mauna Loa Village (Kailua-Kona)
- Volcano House -- only hotel in the Volcano Noational Park -- try to get a room facing the volcano. Mark Twain Queen Liliuokalaniand and President Franklin D. Roosevelt slept here. ($175)
Value $150 or less per night
- Dolphin Bay (Hilo) (Editors Choice/Low Price)
- Kona Tiki Hotel (Kailua-Kona) - This smallish hotel is about a mile south of the Kailua Village. It is right on the ocean (not a beach) but is has a nice ocean front pool. Close to activities. Popular with guests -- usually requires 3 days stay. They do not currently accept credit cards. $70 and up. Worth the extra effort to make a reservation.
- Kona Seaside Hotel (Kailua-Kona)
- Manago Hotel (very low priced) (Captain Cook)
- Waipio Wayside B&B Inn (The Hamakua Coast
- Big Island Sightseeing
- Banyan Drive (Scenic drive from Hilo)
- Captain Cook Monument – Captain Cook was killed here on February 14, 1779 (South Kona)
- Hulihe's Palace -(Kailua-Kona) - vacation residence of Hawaiian royalty and now a museum operated by the Daughters of Hawai`i. It is a showplace of beautiful furniture and fascinating artifacts.
- Hilo Coffee Mill – The best coffee in the world? Come to the source to try it for yourself. (Hilo)
- Honomu Plantation – Walk on wooden boardwalks and see the old shops shops in the small, out of the way town.
- Kealakekua Bay – A beautiful scenic view with dramatic cliffs, turquoise water and amazing coral and tropical fish. (South Kona) (Recommended)
- Lava Flow - Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park --- including Kilauea Caverns of Fire – while at the volcano, take a tour into these caverns to see 500-700 years old stalactites, stalagmites, colored flowstone and the largest lava tube in the world.
- Roberts Grand Circle Tour (Hilo or Kona) or Volcano Special (from Hilo)- discount online.
- Polynesian Circle Island Tour (Gray Line) - discount online.
- Lava Tree State Park -- See tree molds that look like black smokestacks (formed in a 1790 lava flow) (Puna)
- Lili'uokalani Gardens – Honors Hawaii's first Japanese immigrants. Includes fish-filled ponds, stone lanterns, half-moon bridges, elegant pagodas, and a ceremonial teahouse. (Hilo)
- Mauna Kea, go to the top of the world’s tallest mountain (measured from the ocean floor) (Recommended)
- Moku'aikaua Church – A thatched roof church was erected by missionaries here in 1820 and served as the first Christian church on the Islands. The permanent structure was built in 1836 with black stone from an abandoned heiau. Quaint and historic. (Kona) (Recommended)
- Pololu Valley – Want to take a hike? This trail (sometimes steep) leads through lush green foliage and down to Pololu Beach. (Sometimes the trail may be closed but the vistas are still impressive.)
- Pu'uhonua O Honaunau - This 180-acre National Historic Park includes the Hale-o-Keawe Heiau, the burial place of King Kamehameha's ancestor Keawe (1650.) (South Kona)
- Puukohola Heiau-- the largest restored ancient Hawaiian religious temple
- Waipio Valley, the “Valley of the Kings” for an awesome hiking experience. (recommended)
- Big Island Activities
- Akaka Falls State Park – take a 10 minute walk to see the 400-foot Kahuna Falls (Hamakua Coast)
- Billfisher II -- sport fishing from Kona
- Dolphin Discoveries (Kona) - Snorkling and whale wathcing from Kona. (Dolphin swim adventure 8:30 to 1pm) (Morning and afternoon snorking and whale watching tours.)
- Dolphin Quest (Waikoloa)
- Kauna'oa Beach was named America's best beach in 2000, by "Dr. Beach," (Dr. Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University) (Recommended)
- Fair Wind Big Island Ocean GuidesFair Wind Big Island Ocean Guides (Kona) - Since 1971, recommended by several published guides -- snorkling and whale watching. AM and PM cruises.
- Manini'owali Beach (Kua Bay) -a fine white sand beach located north of Kona (between mile markers 88 and 89.)
- Mauna Kea Summit Adventures (Sunset and Stargazing Tour) (Kona) - Take an afternoon (into the evening) trip into the mountain and some of the best observatories in the world. You'll use a portable telescope to view the skys.
- Na'alapa Stables - Waipio Valley (Horsback Riding) (Waipio)
- Sea Quest Snorkel Tours (Keauhou) Morning and afternoon adventures for snorkling and rafting along the Kona coast -- you often see spinner doplhins and/or whales on the tour.
- Sunlight On Water (Kona) - Dophin, Manta and Whale eco charter tours and sightseeing. Owner's Michael and Melainah Yee have a 37' boat named "Great Spirit of the Dolphin" built specifically for snorkeling.
- UFO Parasailing (Kona) - soar above the ocean in a parasail.
- Vavoom Volcano Tours (Hilo) - specializes in personalized hiking/walking tours at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Full day and half-day tours out of Hilo.
- Restaurants (Selected)
- Alan Wong's Hualalai Grille (Regional)(Hualalai)
- Bamboo (Asian) (Kohala)
- Basil's (Pizza) (Inexpensive) (Kona)
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Company (Chain) (Kona)
- Brown's Beach House Fairmont (Modern/Great view) (Kohala)
- Cafe Pesto Hilo Bay & Kohala (Pizza) (Hilo) (Inexpensive)
- CanoeHouse (Regional/Fine Dining) (Klhala)
- Coast Grille (Steaks/Fine Dining) (Kohala)
- Coffee Shack (Deli) (Kona) (Inexpensive)
- Donatoni's at Hilton (Italian) (Waikoloa)
- Fijimama's (Japanese) (Kona)
- Hilo Bay Cafe (Asian/American) (Hilo) (Recommended)
- Hualalai Grille (Asian/Fine Dining) (Kona)
- Huggo's (Modern) (Kona) (Reasonable prices)
- Island Lava Java (Regional) (Kona)
- Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill (Various) (Kona)
- Jamesons's by the Sea (Kona)
- Kamuela Provision Company Hilton (Atmosphere/Regional) (Kohala) (Editor's Choice)
- Kenichi Pacific (Asian) (Kona)
- Ke'ei Café (American) (Kona) (Inexpensive)
- Kilauea Lodge (Continental) (Volcano Village)
- La Bourgogne (French) (Kona)
- Manago Hotel Restaurant (American) (Child Friendly) (Captain Cook)
- Merriman's (Regional)(Waimea)
O's Bistro (Kona) - Pahu i'a Four Seasons (Regional) (Kohala)
- Quinn's Almost By the Sea (American) (Kona) (Inexpensive)
- Restaurant Kaikodo (Bistro) (Hilo)
- SeaSide Restaurant (Seafood) (Hilo)
- Thai Thai Restaurant (Thai) (Volcano) (Inexpensive)
- Tommy Bahama Tropical Cafe (Kohala)
- Toys Wailoloa Bar & Grill (Asian) (Kohala)
- What's Shakin' (Smoothies) (Pepeekeo)
Note: Our intention is not to list every business or activity -- we list only those we feel have the most value to visitors.
If you have comments, suggestions or reports (good or bad) on any of these items listed, please Contact Us.