Big Island: Places to Explore

The spectacular waterfalls, mysterious jungles, emerald fields, and stunning ocean vistas along Highway 19 northwest of Hilo are collectively referred to as the Hilo-Hamakua Heritage Coast. Brown signs... Read more

Few visitors realize that in addition to "the volcano"(Kilauea)—that mountain oozing new layers of lava onto its flanks—there's also Volcano, the village. Conveniently located next to Hawaii... Read more

When compared to Kailua-Kona, Hilo is often described as "the real Hawaii." With significantly fewer tourists than residents, more historic buildings, and a much stronger identity as a long-established... Read more

A fun and bustling seaside town, Kailua-Kona has the souvenir shops and open-air restaurants you'd expect in a major tourist hub, with the added bonus of a surprising number of historic sites. Except for... Read more

The most desolate region of the island, Kau is home to spectacular sights. Mark Twain wrote some of his finest prose here, where macadamia-nut farms, remote green-sand beaches, and tiny communities offer... Read more

If you had only a weekend to spend on the Big Island, this is probably where you'd want to go. The Kohala Coast is a mix of the island's best beaches and swankiest hotels just minutes from ancient valleys... Read more

South of Kailua-Kona, Highway 11 hugs splendid coastlines, leaving busy streets behind. A detour along the winding narrow roads in the mountains above takes you straight to the heart of coffee country... Read more

Mauna Kea ("white mountain") is the antithesis of the typical island experience. Freezing temperatures and arctic conditions are common at the summit, and snow can fall year-round. You can go even snowboarding... Read more

The Puna District is wild in every sense of the word. The jagged black coastline is changing all the time; the trees are growing out of control, forming canopies over the few paved roads; the land is dirt-cheap... Read more

Just up the hill from Kohala, past Saddle Road (the route to Mauna Kea), Waimea offers a completely different experience from the rest of the island. Rolling green hills, large open pastures, cool evening... Read more