110 Best Sights in Big Island, Hawaii

A pavilion welcomes visitors to this 7-acre county beach park fronting the rugged shore in North Kohala. This is a popular local spot for picnics, fishing, and surfing. It's a nice rest stop on your way to Pololu Valley.  Enjoy the scenery, but don't try to swim here—the water is very rough. Be careful on the hairpin curve going down.

One of the state park system's newest treasures, Kiholo Bay is still in the planning stage, so facilities are sparse (portable toilets, for example) and not yet complete. The brilliant turquoise waters of this stunning bay, set against stark black lava fields, are a cooling invitation on a warm Kohala day. The shore is rocky and the water's a bit cold and hazy due to freshwater springs, but tons of green sea turtles are in residence year-round. Swimming and snorkeling are excellent when the tide is calm. Thanks to the eruptions of Mauna Loa, what was once the site of King Kamehameha's gigantic fishpond is now several freshwater ponds encircling the bay, with a lava-rock island in the middle. Bring plenty of drinking water. Gates are locked promptly at the times indicated; weekend camping is allowed with fee and permit. Community group Hui Aloha Kiholo helps the state manage the park. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Located inside the park, Kilauea Military Camp, established in 1916, offers visitor accommodations to members of the military and their families but also has places open to the public, including an arcade, bowling alley, diner, buffet, general store, and gas station. The Lava Lounge cocktail bar features live music on weekends.

Rangers and volunteers greet people and answer all questions at this visitor center, located just beyond the park entrance. There are lots of educational murals and displays, maps, and guidebooks. Also check out the daily itinerary of ranger-led activities and sign up for some. The gift shop operated by the Hawaii Pacific Park Association stocks excellent art, books, apparel, and more. A small theater plays documentaries about the park.

A statue of Kamehameha the Great, the famous king who united the Hawaiian Islands in the early 19th century, stands watch over his descendants in North Kohala. The 8½-foot-tall figure wears the king's sacred feather kihei, mahiole, and kaei (cape, helmet, and sash). This is actually the original of the statue fronting the Judiciary Building on King Street in Honolulu. Cast in Florence in 1880, it was lost at sea. A replica was commissioned and shipped to Honolulu, but the original statue was found later in a Falklands Island junkyard. It now stands in front of the old Kohala Courthouse in Kapaau, next to the highway on the way toward Pololu Valley. Every year on King Kamehameha Day (June 11), Kohala residents honor their most famous son with a celebration that involves a parade and draping the statue in dozens of handmade floral lei.

The road between North Kohala and Waimea is one of the most scenic drives in Hawaii, passing Parker Ranch, open pastures, rolling hills, and tree-lined mountains. There are a few places to pull over and take in the view; the lookout at mile marker 8 provides a splendid vista of the Kohala Coast and Kawaihae Harbor far below. On clear days, you can see well beyond the resorts to Maui, while at other times an eerie mist drifts over the view.

At this family-owned business, the commitment to growing 100% organic coffee starts even before the plants are in the ground, with organic mulch and naturally developed fertilizers that they also sell throughout Hawaii. No pesticides or commercial fertilizers are used on the 80-acre farm. Because it's such an exacting process, only 2% of Kona coffee can claim to be 100% certified organic. They process coffee from cherry to roasted on a solar-powered mill. The farm does private tours (with tastings) by appointment only and even offers a guesthouse should you wish to stay a little longer than a day. At this writing, plans are under way for building a visitor center in 2022.  The property can be accessed only by four-wheel-drive vehicles.

In 1819, an estimated 300 Hawaiians were killed on this vast lava field; their burial mounds are still visible at the south end of Alii Drive (called the "End of the World" by locals). After the death of his father, King Kamehameha, the newly crowned King Liholiho ate at a table with women, breaking the ancient kapu (taboo) system. Chief Kekuaokalani, his cousin and co-heir, held radically different views about religious traditions and unsuccessfully challenged Liholiho's forces in battle here. It's a great place to watch the surf, especially when a large swell is in, creating splashes as large as three-story buildings.

A self-guided, 1-mile walking tour leads through the ruins of the once-prosperous fishing village of Koaie, which dates as far back as the 15th century. Displays illustrate early Hawaiian fishing and farming techniques, salt gathering, games, and legends. Because the shoreline near the state park is an officially designated Marine Life Conservation District (and part of the site itself is considered sacred), swimming, swim gear, and sunscreen are not allowed in the water. Portable restrooms are available but not drinking water.  Gates close promptly at 4 pm, and they mean business!

Here the surf pounds the jagged black rocks at the base of a stunning point, lending a savage beauty to the place. But be advised: this is not a safe place for swimming, so bring only cameras and picnics, not swimsuits. Still vivid in the minds of longtime area residents is the 1946 tragedy in which 21 schoolchildren and three teachers were swept out to sea by a tsunami.

Behind a stone loading platform of the once-famous Hawaii Consolidated Railway, constructed about 1900, the former manager's house is now a museum and a reminder of the era when sugar was the local cash crop. It displays artifacts from the sugar plantation era, the 1946 tsunami, local railway history, and the rich culture of the Hamakua Coast. The museum's Wye railyard has a vintage switch engine, large standard-gauge caboose, and narrow-gauge explosives boxcar. The trains even run a few yards along the restored tracks on special occasions. Call before coming: hours may vary according to docent availability.

Tree molds that rise like blackened smokestacks formed here in 1790, when a lava flow swept through the ohia forest. Some reach as high as 12 feet. A meandering trail provides close-up looks at some of Hawaii's tropical plants and trees, and there are restrooms and a couple of picnic pavilions and tables.  Mosquitoes live here in abundance, so be prepared.

Designed to honor Hawaii's first Japanese immigrants and named after Hawaii's last reigning monarch, Liliuokalani Gardens' 30 acres of fish-filled ponds, stone lanterns, half-moon bridges, elegant pagodas, and a ceremonial teahouse make it a favorite Sunday destination. You'll see weddings, picnics, and families as you stroll. The surrounding area, once a busy residential neighborhood on Waiakea Peninsula, was destroyed by a devastating 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people.

This park was one of the few coastal parks in the Puna region spared in the 2018 Kilauea eruption, and overlooking rocky shoreline cliffs in a breezy ironwood grove are a pavilion, picnic tables, and restrooms—but no drinking water. The park is significant for the restored section of the old King's Highway trail system, which circled the coast in the era before Hawaii's contact with the Western world. In those days, regional chiefs used the trails to connect coastal villages, collect taxes, and maintain control over people. Views take in the rugged coast, rocky beach, and coastal dry forest. There's good shore fishing here, so you might see some locals with a line or two in the water.

Towering coconut trees provide some shade and lend a touch of tropical beauty to this pretty little beach park (also called Laaloa), which may well be the Big Island's most intriguing stretch of sand. A migratory beach of sorts, it can disappear when strong surf washes away the small white-sand parcel (hence the name "Magic Sands"). Then suddenly, all the sand can reappear within days. You'll know you've found it when you see the body- and board surfers. It's often quite crowded, no matter what time of year. Large shore breaks here can be dangerous so always listen to lifeguard instruction. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing.

Snorkelers and divers make exciting discoveries in the clear waters of this park, now a swimming hole and an underwater museum of sorts. Long ago, when sugar was the economic staple of Kohala, this harbor was busy with boats waiting to make overseas shipments. Now remnants of shipping machinery, train wheels and parts, and what looks like an old boat are easily visible in the clear water. There's no actual beach here, but a ladder off the old dock makes getting in the water easy. Venture out only on tranquil days, though, when the water is calm; conditions can get windy and the ocean choppy.

A popular place for locals, Mahukona is busy on weekends. A camping area on the south side of the park has picnic tables and an old covered pavilion. A trail also leads to nearby Lapakahi State Park, about a ½-mile hike. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

This lowland forest reserve spreads across several relatively recent lava flows, and a semirugged trail follows a 2-mile loop past a pit crater, winding around interesting trees such as hau and kukui (candlenut). You can wander through the well-maintained arboretum, snap photos of the eerie forest, and let the kids scramble around trees so large they can't get their arms around them. The pathways can get muddy and rough, so bring appropriate shoes if you plan to hike. Large populations of the Hawaiian hoary bat inhabit the area, which, in totality, encompasses 25,000 acres of forest reserve. Restrooms and picnic areas are available.

Acres of macadamia nut trees lead to a giant roasting facility and processing plant with viewing windows and self-guided tours. You can even watch demonstrations showing how they coat nuts and shortbread cookies with milk chocolate to create their famous products. There are free samples and plenty of gift boxes with mac nuts in every conceivable form of presentation for sale in the visitor center. There is no factory processing on weekends or holidays. Children can burn off extra energy on a nature trail here.

Also known as Coconut Island, this small island sits just offshore from Liliuokalani Gardens and is a nicely manicured spot where children play in the tide pools and anglers try their luck. Accessible via a footbridge, it was considered a place of healing in ancient times. 

This is a great place to learn about the stunning Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which encompasses nearly 140,000 square miles in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands and is the only mixed UNESCO World Heritage site (meaning one that has both natural and cultural significance) in the United States. Giant murals, 3-D maps, and hands-on interactive kiosks depict the monument's extensive wildlife, including millions of birds and more than 7,000 marine species, many of which are found only in the Hawaiian archipelago. Knowledgeable staff and volunteers are on hand to answer questions. A 3,500-gallon aquarium and short films give insight into the unique features of the monument, as well as threats to its survival. Located in the refurbished F. Koehnen Building, the center is worth a stop just to get an up close look at its huge stuffed albatross with wings outstretched or the monk seal exhibit. The price is right, too. 

Dating from as early as AD 480, this parallelogram-shaped structure is a stunning example of a luakiniheiau, used for ritualized human sacrifice to the Hawaiian war god Ku. The isolated National Historic Landmark within Kohala Historical Sites State Monument is so impressive in size and atmosphere that it's guaranteed to give you what locals call "chicken skin" (goose bumps). The place feels haunted, and even more so if you are the only visitor and the skies are dark and foreboding. Visit with utmost care and respect. Nearby is Kapakai Royal Housing Complex, the birthplace of Kamehameha the Great. Although it is now under the care of the National Park Service, family descendants still watch over the site.  Don't drive out here if it's been raining; even with a four-wheel drive, you could easily get stuck.

This coffee producer offers hourly "bean-to-cup" tours, including a tasting and access to the processing plant, which shows dry milling, sizing, coloring, sorting, and roasting. For $10, take the lava tube/nature walk in the cloud forest ecosystem. There's a small retail store where you can purchase coffee and souvenirs. Remember that afternoon rains are common at this elevation, so bring an umbrella and sturdy shoes.

These two huge, oblong stones in front of the Hilo Public Library are legendary: the Pinao stone is purportedly an entrance pillar of an ancient temple built near the Wailuku River. King Kamehameha I is said to have moved the 5,000-pound Naha stone when he was still in his teens. Legend decreed that he who did so would become king of all the islands. 

Hugging the long shoreline adjacent to the runway that served Kona's airport until 1970, this beach is flat, generally clean, and speckled with black rocks and coral bits. Mostly calm waters make for good snorkeling, and a few accessible small coves of white sand offer safe water entry and tide pools for children. Shady areas are good for picnics or admiring the Kona skyline, complete with a whale (in season) and a cruise ship or two. A well-tended community jogging trail and dog park opposite the runway are worth checking out. Just north, an offshore surf break known as Old A's is popular with local surfers. It's usually not crowded, but this area can get busy on weekends. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; walking.

Shallow, rock-wall-enclosed tide pools and an adjacent grassy picnic area make this park a favorite among Hilo families with small children. The protected pools are great places to look for Hawaiian marine life like crabs and opihi (limpets). There isn't much white sand, but access to the water is easy. The water is usually rough beyond the line of large boulders protecting the inner tide pools, so be careful if the surf is high. This beach gets crowded on weekends. Amenities: lifeguards (weekends, holidays, and summer only); parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

A small but informative museum in a vintage First Hawaiian Bank building designed by noted Hawaii-raised architect C. W. Dickey provides tsunami education and scientific information. It may seem odd that downtown Hilo businesses tend to be far from the scenic bayfront, but tsunamis have killed more people in Hawaii than any other natural event, especially in Hilo. Visitors can peruse the history of these devastating disasters, with accounts taken from tsunami survivors from Hawaii and worldwide. Exhibits include a wave machine and interactive tsunami warning center simulation as well as films and pictographs detailing tsunamis in Japan, Alaska, and Indonesia. A safety-wall exhibit demonstrates how to be prepared and what steps to take during an evacuation.

About 16 miles east of Naalehu, beyond Punaluu Beach Park, Highway 11 passes directly by this sleepy little town, once a booming sugar plantation company town but still inhabited by retired cane workers and their descendants. You'll miss it if you blink. There is a Longs Pharmacy, a gas station, and a small supermarket, but not much else in terms of conveniences. Beyond the town, past a wide, paved cane road, is Wood Valley, known for a Buddhist temple set amid a peaceful area.

Founded to serve the sugar plantation community, this little town is reminiscent of the Wild West, with its wooden boardwalks and vintage buildings. Secondhand stores, tie-dye/hemp clothing boutiques, smoke shops, and art and antiques galleries add to the "trippy" experience. In 2014, lava flows from Kilauea almost intruded into the town, destroying a couple of buildings. Residents packed up as smoke from the flows billowed in the near distance and the flows glowed after dark. Then it all stopped within 500 yards of Pahoa Village Road, again ensuring the town's status as a survivor—until 2018, when Pahoa became command central for disaster assistance, Hawaii County Civil Defense, and reporters covering the nearby dramatic eruption of Kilauea. Today Pahoa's funky main street—with buildings dating from 1910—boasts a handful of excellent, local-style eateries. (In 2017, a fire swept through parts of the boardwalk and some buildings, which have been rebuilt.) To get here, turn southeast onto Highway 130 at Keaau, and drive 11 miles and follow signs to the Village.

Those tired of the same old white- or black-sand beach can lace up good hiking shoes or sneakers to get to this olive-green crescent, one of the most unusual beaches on the island. It lies at the base of Puu O Mahana, at Mahana Bay, where a cinder cone formed during an early eruption of Mauna Loa. The greenish tint is caused by an accumulation of olivine crystals that form in volcanic eruptions. The dry, barren landscape is totally surreal but stunning, as aquamarine waters lap on green sand against reddish cliffs. Drive down to South Point; at the end of the 12-mile paved road, take the road to the left and park at the end. To reach the beach, follow the 2¼-mile coastal trail, which ends in a steep and dangerous descent down the cliffside on an unimproved trail. The hike takes about two hours each way and can get hot and windy, so bring lots of drinking water. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are no longer permitted on the trail. The surf is often rough and swimming can be hazardous due to strong currents, so caution is advised. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.

Located next to Isaac Hale Beach is Madame Pele's newest creation, Pohoiki Black Sand Beach, formed when lava from the Lower Puna eruption of 2018 was pulverized as it flowed into the ocean. This added newly created—albeit rough—sand that washed up on the shore and cut off access to the boat ramp. The beach is open daily from 7 am to 6 pm. There is a portable restroom but no running water in the area. This is not a good swimming beach since the water can be rough and dangerous. To get there, take Highway 137 from Kalapana to an unpaved access route that cuts straight through the lava flow of 2018. Amenities: toilets. Best for: walking.