Big Island, Hawaii
Planning your vacation the Big Island of Hawaii? Well here's all my favorite things to do on the island! As always be sure to practice Leave No Trace principles everywhere you go so the island can be preserved and enjoyed by the locals and tourists t...
Map
Things To Do
There are tons of things to do on the Big Island of Hawai'i, here's just a few of my favorites!
This is such cool experience. You can choose to snorkel or do the actual dive and either way you're bound to have a once in a lifetime experience with the Manta Ray Dives of Hawai'i crew. Each one of them cares so much about the history and conservat...
The luncheon tour is such a cool experience, run by one of the sons of the man who opened the vanilla farm way back in the day this is such a cool experience. You'll learn about the history of the farm in a really personal and intimate experience. Pl...
The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the only places in the world where you can surf in the morning and snowboard in the afternoon. The Mauna Kea Observatory can take you on a moonlit tour of the volcano where you'll get hot chocolate and look at the s...
Sam's Hideaway goes under “Things to do” because they don't serve food. It's a spot for beer and karaoke depending on the day. It has a local feel even in a tourist town and is a great spot to check out and just have fun at! Plus the best part is the...
The only National Park in Hawai'i (and often forgotten about) Volcanoes National Park is a unique and incredibly beautiful spot. Plan to be there all day since there's a ton to look at! And as always be sure to practice Leave No Trace principles ever...
Shopping
You've definitely had a Donkey Ball in your life, even if you didn't know what it was called. Just imagine wafer balls but bigger and more chocolatey. That's what you get when you stop in the Original Donkey Ball Store. Not only can you get some amaz...
Right off the Kona shopping strip, this is a great little farmers and artisan market for tourists who want to try some fruit grown on the island, get some souvenirs directly from locals, or even try some coffee! It's easy to get to and is such a nice...
Restaurants
My favorite eats on the Big Island!
This is hands down the best poke I've ever had. The kimchi muscles were my highlight. I still tell people about them to this day!
The ambiance here is amazing. Plus before you go to get your food you can walk along the beach and meet some of the local stray cats who are pretty much all incredibly friendly!
I have a soft spot for this location since my dog's name is Kai, but I love that they have a gorgeous view no matter what time of day it is and a wonderful staff and experience!
This smoothie and lunch spot is a little off the beaten path but totally worth it! The smoothies are made from farm fresh fruit and the food is just as good!
I absolutely LOVE the frozen yogurt and ice cream here. Everything is so beautiful and unique. It's nestled in the shopping center on the main road of Kona among a ton of other great shops and isn't super obvious unless you know where it is and are p...
Places to Stay
If you're traveling in a group and have a bit more to spend this Airbnb is an AWESOME spot! It's gorgeous enough where you'll be able to save some money and still enjoy all the island has to offer.
Located close to Kona this spot is a great vacation for just a few guests! It's charming and brimming with character!
This Airbnb boasts some amazing amenities (and a super great price for the area) that you will definitely want after a day exploring the Big Island!
The absolute perfect place to stay if you're planning on spending most of your trip in Kona. This condo is right on Ali'i Drive (The main shopping and restaurant road in Kona) and has a ton of great amenities right there, like the ocean! This is the ...
A beautiful beach resort with amazing restaurants and and everything you could need right there, this is the perfect spot if you're in need of a relaxing vacation and want to just enjoy the sun, the sand, and the water.