5 unique reasons we love Hawaii’s Big Island

Note: All travel is subject to frequently-changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state, and local advisories before scheduling trips. This article was last updated October 2021.

When it comes to Hawaii travel, you really can’t go wrong with whichever island, or islands, you choose to visit. Enticing beaches, clear waters, lush rainforests, and arid landscapes — most islands have them all! But they also each have their own distinct personalities, which makes discovering them even more fun. Here, we say aloha to the Island of Hawaii, the youngest of all the islands, yet the largest (hence its nickname).

Active volcanoes

The Big Island is indeed the largest of all the Hawaiian Islands, and it’s still growing! The star of the show at aptly named Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is Kilauea and its active lava flow. Once inside the park, follow the Chain of Craters Road to its end, where you’ll likely see steam rising from the active flow. From there, walk the road to see the flow up-close, but be forewarned, it’s quite a hike, and steam may prevent views, so be prepared. If you’d rather try and catch the ocean entry, take a boat tour from Kamokuna and take your chances there. For a definite lava glow, head to the Kīlauea Overlook where stunning views of the Kīlauea Caldera and the main crater Halema’uma’u await.

Where to stay: Kilauea Lodge

Hot swimming ponds

With its geothermal energy, it’s not surprising that a couple of hot ponds are found around the island, and they’re perfect for warming up. After all, temperatures on the Hilo side of the Big Island can dip substantially as night falls. One that’s easy to visit is the pond found within Ahalanui Park, near Puna. The water’s temperature is in the mid-90s, but saying you went swimming in a volcano-heated natural pond next to the Pacific Ocean is a pretty cool story to tell back home.

Where to stay: Hawaiian Sanctuary

Sea turtle sightings

Majestic sea turtles can oftentimes be seen when snorkeling off of nearly all of the Hawaiian Islands. But like all wildlife, sightings are never guaranteed. While the turtles are mostly spotted underwater, there are two places on the Big Island on which they haul themselves out onto the beaches — not to lay their eggs, but rather to simply take a break from their undersea lives. Just a short drive from Kona, Hawaiian green sea turtles can be spotted on the quiet beaches of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. On a recent visit, we watched as a small turtle hauled himself onto the beach to bask in the sun, while other turtles swam and fed in the shallow waters along the shoreline. En route from Kona to Volcanoes National Park, stop by the black sand Punalu’u Beach, where you may just see the endangered sea turtles resting ashore. If not, the black sand is an attraction of its own.

Where to stay: Holua Resort

Magical manta rays 

As the sun sets over the Big Island, the underwater show begins when boards light up, attracting plankton and their photosynthesis processes. While the eerie blue lights are kind of cool, it’s when the stars of the show—massive manta rays—arrive that things really get exciting. These gentle, filter-feeding fish open their mouths wide and scoop up the plankton as if it’s a smorgasbord set out just for them (which it is). The ballet the manta rays perform whilst eating is mesmerizing, they do barrel rolls for the best vantage point, coming within inches of snorkelers’ faces. Our guides with Hawaii Oceanic mentioned that there are just three spots in the world in which it’s legal to snorkel with these gentle giants—two are on the Big Island, the other is the Maldives.

Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel

Extraordinary sweets

There are just some foods you have to sample when visiting Hawaii, like Mai Tais, Hawaiian shave ice (one to try is Scandinavian Shave Ice in Kona) and traditional poi. On the Big Island, another must-taste are the malasadas (donuts) at Punalu’u Bake Shop, the southernmost bakery in the USA. Plain or filled with tropical flavors such as mango and guava, it’s easy to get carried away when ordering. On a recent visit, we also snagged a box of macadamia nut shortbread cookies. When in Hawaii, right?

Where to stay: Hawaii Island Resort

What’s your favorite reason to love the Big Island? Let us know in the comments below.

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