Heading to the island of Hawai’i, also known as the Big Island? While it is the largest Hawaiian island in terms of geography, the Big Island has a relatively small population and is known for its beautiful landscapes, rustic feel and mix of world-class beaches, lush jungles and an active volcano. This Big Island itinerary (5 days) will give you a look at some of the Big Islands most incredible sites and attractions. I’ll go into way more detail below, but here’s a quick look at what to expect.
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Big Island Itinerary 5 Days:
- Day 1: Kona Snorkeling
- Day 2: Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
- Day 3: Hilo Waterfalls
- Day 4: Hawi Road-trip & Swimming With Manta Rays
- Day 5: Kona & Mauna Kea Summit
- Where to Stay on the Big Island Hawaii
- Do You Need a Rental Car On the Big Island?
- Big Island Itinerary 5 Days: Day 1 Kona Snorkeling
- Big Island Itinerary 5 Days: Day 2 Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
- Big Island Itinerary 5 Days: Day 3 Hilo Waterfalls
- Day 4: Hawi Road-trip & Swimming With Manta Rays
- Day 5: Kona & Mauna Kea Summit
Where to Stay on the Big Island Hawaii
There are two major options for where to stay on the Big Island: Kona and Hilo. If you are looking for sunnier weather, less rain and beautiful beaches, Kona is a great option. However, if you’re more interested in seeing the Big Island’s lush jungles, waterfalls and staying close to an active volcano, Hilo is a better option.
In order to see all of the things in this Big Island itinerary, you will need to drive to both Kona and Hilo. It’s about a 90 minute drive from Kona to Hilo, so keep in mind that wherever you stay, you will likely have at least one to two days of driving.
There are numerous hotels that you can stay at on the Big Island, but I personally highly recommend the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa. The Outrigger has a killer view of the ocean, where you can watch the sunset every day. There are also several pools, dining options and best of all – a nighttime front-row sea to manta ray viewing. One of the days in this Big Island itinerary includes swimming with manta rays, and the area where you swim is walking distance from the hotel.
Do You Need a Rental Car On the Big Island?
In a word: yes. The Big Island lives up to its name and is fairly large to drive around, and you will need to drive in order to see most of the sites in this itinerary. The Big Island is also known for its incredibly diverse landscapes, so you will want the ability to drive and see the sites. For more information on rental cars on the Big Island, click here.
Big Island Itinerary 5 Days: Day 1 Kona Snorkeling
The first day of your Big Island itinerary starts in the Kona area, where you can participate in world-class snorkeling.
Kealakekua Bay
There are several beautiful spots to snorkel near Kona, including the famous Kealakekua Bay. The bay is the site where Captain Cook was killed in a battle with the native Hawaiians, and it’s also close to where the famed Hawaiian King Kamehameha III was born.
In modern day, it’s also an incredible spot to snorkel and enjoy the Big Island’s beautiful coastline. You can get to Kealakekua Bay by car, but for the best experience try a boat tour of Kealakekua Bay, which includes seeing whales (in season), cruising the coastline and snorkeling. Boat tours like the one listed above usually last around 4-5 hours, giving you plenty of time to swim, snorkel and enjoy a meal on the ocean.
I cannot stress enough how impressive boat rides are in Hawaii, and if you’re debating going on a snorkel tour or cruise of the coast, trust me, you won’t regret it.
Two Step
Another beautiful place to snorkel near Kona is Two Step, which is an easily accessible beach with crystal clear water, coral and lots of fish and wildlife. It’s an easy spot to snorkel for all levels of swimmers, with many areas where you can stand if needed. If you’re lucky, you might even see wild dolphins!
Two Step can be accessed by car, and it’s an easy drive from Kona for an afternoon of snorkeling and enjoying the beach. It also has several shallow areas and small waves, and would be a good place for kids.
You’ll likely be fairly tired after a full day of snorkeling and/or boating, so plan to stay in Kona area (assuming your hotel is there) for the evening. Downtown Kona has a lot of cute restaurants that are all walking distance from each other, and you should be able to walk in most places without advanced reservations.
Big Island Itinerary 5 Days: Day 2 Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
For day 2 of your Big Island itinerary, be prepared to see a completed different side of the Big Island – an active volcano with fresh lava. You can do this day either by yourself or as part of a guided tour of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, where you get picked up from your hotel in Kona and just get to enjoy the scenery rather than worry about a long drive.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a sprawling park with – you guessed it – an active volcano. If you’re driving to the park by yourself and not as part of a tour, the cost of entry is $30 per vehicle. Before heading to the park, you can also read about the current volcano conditions from the National Park Service, to get an idea of which areas of the park are currently seeing fresh lava.
There are several hikes within Volcanoes National Park, where you can walk around and see the lava. There are also several spots worth visiting inside the park, including the Nahuku – Thurston Lava Tube and the Steam Vents. If you go on a guided tour like the one listed above, your guide will let you know the volcano conditions and where to go. If you’re going by yourself, you can make a quick stop at the Kilauea Visitor Center to get pamphlets on the park that include a map with directions.
Plan to spend 1-2 hours at Volcanoes National Park if you are planning to mostly stay in your car and drive around to see the volcanoes with stops for photos. If you want to do any hiking, plan for 2-4 hours, as there are options for shorter hikes or longer ones that go around the volcano.
Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
If you book the tour listed above, you will also stop by Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, and it’s a worthwhile stop even if you are driving by yourself. The beach lives up to its name with stunning black sand, and you often can also see green turtles near the beach. If you’re into stunning turquoise water, black sand, turtles and Hawaii’s famous jungle-like vegetation, this is a great place to relax and see all of the above.
There is free parking at the beach that is easily accessible, and you can plan either a quick stop for photos or a longer stop to swim and enjoy the beach.
Big Island Itinerary 5 Days: Day 3 Hilo Waterfalls
For day 3 of your Big Island itinerary, plan for another day with a bit of driving if you’re staying in Kona. Some travelers plan to split up the trip between Kona and Hilo, but this is still accessible if staying in Kona for the entire trip. The drive from Kona to the Hilo waterfalls is about 90 minutes, so plan for a small roadtrip on day 3.
Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is located near Hilo, and has beautiful waterfalls where you can often also see rainbows. It’s very easy to access, and you do not need to do any hiking to get to the falls. This is a great spot to stop for photos and enjoy the view.
Richardson Ocean Park
While in the Hilo area, head next to Richardson Ocean Park – another stunning black sand beach on the Big Island where you can enjoy snorkeling and often see turtles and tropical fish. The beach is understandably popular and parking can be challenging to find, but it’s worth it to make the stop and experience the incredible snorkeling. The beach here is also fairly rocky, so keep in mind that you may want to bring water shoes or sandals that you can wear while snorkeling.
Hilo Farmers Market
While in Hilo, plan to stop at the Hilo farmer’s market – an incredible local market with fresh fruits and vegetables. The farmers market is open 7 days per week from 7am to 3pm, but the biggest market days are Wednesday and Saturday. This is a great place to pick up fresh produce and snacks and enjoy tropical Hawaiian foods.
After enjoying the attractions in Hilo, plan to take another 90 minutes or so to get back to Kona. You’ll likely be pretty tired after all of the day’s driving, so this is a good evening to relax and recharge.
Day 4: Hawi Road-trip & Swimming With Manta Rays
For day 4 of your Big Island itinerary, you’ll be checking out an incredible drive to Hawi from Kona. Hawai is a small town with a population of only around 1,000 people, but the drive along the coastline is incredible and Hawi is a great spot to have lunch before heading back to Kona.
Kukio Beach and Hapuna Beach
For this trip, plan to do the opposite of most days and not make a solid plan, just enjoying the drive and stopping at little beaches along the way. Two stops I wouldn’t miss are Kukio Beach and Hapuna Beach, which both have stunning white sand and crystal clear turquoise water. Although these are really low-key stops, this drive along the coastline and beach stops are one of my favorite things to do on the Big Island because of its stunning simplicity and change to unwind and relax in nature. Both beaches have very clear water for snorkeling and swimming, and they are a wonderful place to pass the morning before continuing on to Hawi.
Hawi
The town of Hawi is very quaint and gives a beautiful feel for Hawaii’s relaxed culture. Consider spending about an hour in Hawi checking out the stops and stopping for food – Roots Alchemy is a great hole-in-the-wall stop for incredible healthy food.
If you’re wanting to add an adventure element to your day, consider stopping by Big Island Gravity for skydiving over the Hawi coast. Hawaii is know for its beautiful skydiving options, and this is an incredible add if you’re wanting to spice up your trip.
Swimming With Manta Rays
Plan to head back to Kona by early afternoon, so you have plenty of time to prepare for your nighttime activity: swimming with manta rays. I highly recommend the specific tour linked in this section with Sea Quest Hawaii – the company was super professional, the snorkeling was easy and its accessible for all skill levels.
If you’re wondering what swimming with manta rays entails – it will likely be the highlight of your trip to the Big Island. Basically, there are a lot of manta rays near Kona, and tour companies like the one listed above take you out on a boat at night, use fluorescent lights to attract plankton (which the manta rays eat), and you get to snorkel while manta rays literally swim right up to you. \
Manta rays aren’t scary – they eat plankton and are incredibly gentle. The snorkeling is also very easy – the company brings a large floating board that you hang on to and basically just stay still and float while watching the manta rays swim and eat. I can’t stress how insanely cool this is – just do it.
Day 5: Kona & Mauna Kea Summit
For day 5 of your Big Island itinerary, plan to spend the morning relaxing in Kona, either at your hotel pool or exploring shops in the town of Kona. The second part of the day will be action-packed, so the morning is a good change to relax, get some rest and enjoy the pool or Kona town.
Mauna Kea Summit
For the second half of the day, plan to take a tour to the Mauna Kea Summit, which is an 8-hour excursion to the top of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano with several observatories.
The tour picks you up in Kona, taking you to the Onizuka Astronomy Complex, where you’ll likely want to change into winter clothes. There’s also a gift shop here where you can pick up souvenirs. After that, you’ll continue on to the Mauna Kea Summit to watch the sunset from the highest point in Hawaii. After the sun sets, you’ll also get a chance to stargaze and take some incredible nighttime photos.
This tour is a great way to learn about Hawaiian history, astronomy and take some mind-blowing photos of the drive, the sunset and stargazing at night. If you haven’t been to Hawaii before, know that the stargazing is incredible due to the lack of light pollution, and this spot in particular is famed for its nighttime stargazing – a great way to finish up your trip to the Big Island.
And that wraps it up for your Big island itinerary in 5 days – giving you a taste of all the varied nature found on Hawaii’s Big Island. Have you been to the Big Island or are you planning a trip soon? Comment and let me know!
Visiting the other Hawaiian islands? Consider checking out these articles: