Things To Do On The Big Island Of Hawaii

Hilo Waterfalls: Akaka Falls State Park, Rainbow Falls, Kulaniapia Falls

Snorkeling – Captain Cook, Two Step, Manta Ray Night Dive, deep ocean snorkeling with wild hawaii ocean adventurers,

Pololu Valley

Volcano National Park

Mauna Kea

Green Sand Beach

Secret Slide in Waimea

Visit the black sand beach and sea turtles Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, Keiki Beach

Sun tan at Kua Bay, Makalawena Beach, Pine trees (Kohanaiki Beach)

Painted Church?

Tour a coffee farm

Helicopter tour

Surf

Drink in Kona

Try Manuela Malasadas

Hike Into The Kuamana Caves

While the most popular lava tube to explore on the island is the Thurston Lava Tube in Hawaii Volcanos National Park, it is still closed due to the 2018 eruptions. The Kuamana Caves near Hilo are a great alternative and free.

Once you park off Hwy. 200 (Kuamana Drive) and cross the street, you’ll descend down a metal staircase and into a lava tube created during the 1881 flow from Mauna Loa. You can wander around the entrance of the cave, but it is not recommended going much further. Not only does the tube travel underneath the private property, but the island experiences many earthquakes, and the collapse of the tube is possible. Best to be safe and not go far or explore with an expert on a certified tour.

If you want to go deeper inside the cave, bring sturdy shoes and a flashlight. Don’t depend on your phone’s light. I promise it doesn’t work well.

Hilo Waterfalls

Cliff Jump at South Point

Ka Lae, or South Point, is the island's southernmost point in the United States! ⁠For thrillseekers, South Point is the perfect place for cliff jumping 40 to 50 feet into the ocean. However, only attempt when the conditions are right. There are strong winds and currents in the area so jumping is not recommended unless there are calm seas, clear skies, and good water visibility. ⁠Also, jumping at this height can result in serious injury, so please only attempt if you are familiar with jumping from large heights.

Whether you're a daredevil or not, South Point is a must-see location. The beautiful drive-through farmland and the tower cliffs offer a unique perspective of the island. Plus, if you go during the winter, you might even see dolphins or whales off the coast!

Manta Ray Night Dive

There are over 240 resident Manta Rays on the Hawaiian Kona Coast, and each has been identified and named. These gentle giants can grow up to 16 feet in length and weigh up to 1600 pounds. However, before you start to fret, they can't bite or sting, which makes them the safest large animal encounter in the world!

Swimming at night with 16-foot-wide manta rays might still seem daunting, but it is the experience of a lifetime! I booked a $ 100-night diving/snorkeling tour with Manta Ray Dives of Hawaii through HawaiianDiscount.com, and it was amazing!

We boated to Makako Bay (off the coast of the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Hotel), where Manta Rays come to feed on the phytoplankton & zooplankton that appear when soaking up the glow given off by underwater dive lights and lights of the Sheraton Hotel. Once you're in the water (which is about 30-40 feet deep), snorkelers will hold onto a surfboard as a group and wait for these magical creatures to appear. Since Manta Rays are wild animals, seeing them is not a guarantee. Luckily, we saw four during our tour, and they put on quite the show. Just watch the video below!

Hike Waipi’o Valley

Waipio Valley is one of my favorite places on the Big Island of Hawaii. This picturesque valley is surrounded by 2,000 feet of cliffs, waterfalls, tropical vegetation, and a black sand beach. It was home to Hawaiian royalty before the arrival of Captain Cook in 1778. Back then, there were between 4,000 and 10,000 people living here, but now, there are only about 50.

To reach the valley, you must hike one of the steepest roads in the United States! I don't do much cardio, so this was a real challenge. The steep part is like walking downstairs for one mile and then back upstairs for another mile. Your legs will burn; I promise you that. But it is worth it! The valley is absolutely gorgeous, and the beach is the perfect respite from the hike.

Note: If you want to drive instead of hike, it's possible to do so with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. However, many rental car companies prohibit driving down to the valley floor. For those who want a postcard shot of Waipio Valley, there's a lookout near the parking lot before the steep descent into the valley.

For more information and answers to common questions about hiking Waipio Valley, check out my article 'The Ultimate Guide To The Waipio Valley Hike'.

Try Hawaiian Shave Ice

Shave ice is a dessert made by shaving a block of ice, and it originated in Taiwan as early as the 7th century AD. Japanese immigrants brought it to America and Hawaii when they came to work on the sugar plantations. Now, Shaving ice is part of Hawaiian culture.

You might think you've had it before, but don't get it confused with snow cones or sunshine, both of which are made with crushed ice. Hawaiian shave ice has ice cream or frozen yogurt in the middle, snow-like shave ice outside, flavored syrups drizzled until the ice absorbs it, and a snow cap of sweetened condensed milk on top. While traditional flavors are offered in Hawaii, local ingredients include guava, pineapple, coconut cream, passion fruit, li hing mui, lychee, kiwi fruit, and mango.

The best place to get this delicious treat is Scandinavians Shave Ice or "Scandi's." The shop has been located in the heart of Kailua Village since 1991 and is constantly busy. My favorite shave ice combo is lilikoi (passionfruit) cheesecake ice cream with guava, mango, and passion fruit syrup! It's the perfect snack after a long day at the beach.

Beer and Beach

Secret Slide in Waimea

Hike Pololu Valley

Volcano National Park

Mauna Kea

Surf

Drinks in Kona

Green Sand Beach

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach is one of the most exciting beaches on the Big Island for a few reasons:⁠

⁠The endangered Hawksbill Turtles and Green Sea Turtles frequent it. They love basking on the black sand.
Note: Visitors are asked to stand 15 feet away from the turtles for their protection.
It has a lot of underground fresh water that flows in it. Legend has it that in the time of drought, the early Hawaiians living in the area would dive underwater with a jug to get their fresh water.
Taking black sand and volcanic rocks from the area is prohibited. Local tradition says that if any volcanic rock or black sand from Punalu'u is taken away from Hawaii, that person will be cursed by the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele until it is returned. Whether or not this is true, many visitors have mailed back rocks and sand taken from the beach and included letters describing the bad luck that has befallen them. Bottom line, don't take anything.⁠