Big Island (Kona), HI

What to do in Big Island (Kona), HI

Volcano Helicopter Tour

Take a helicopter tour of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and enjoy a spectacular bird's eye view of the world's most active volcano, Kilauea, as it creates new coastline.

Cruise/Land Tours

Take a romantic sunset dinner cruise with entertainment along the famous Kona Coast, or one of the many driving tours that take you through the island with stops at coffee plantations, black-sand beaches, the city of Hilo, and Rainbow Falls.

Atlantis Submarine Odyssey

If you are the adventurous sort, climb aboard the Atlantis for a submarine tour of Konas Reef. As you cruise past the natural coral beds, you'll get a terrific view of moray eels and all the other extraordinary marine life that thrives in these waters.

Captain Zodiac Raft Expedition

Depart from Kailua pier for a journey to Kekua and Hawaii's finest marine sanctuary. You captain entertains you with Hawaiian folklore and history as you look for green sea turtles, manta rays, and spinner dolphins. Snorkel in clear water filled with tropical fish and coral gardens, explore sea caves, lava tubes, and have a picnic on the rugged coast.

Valley/Waterfall Hiking Adventure

There is also plenty of great hiking, thanks to the prominent valleys, plantations, and waterfalls that make up the island's eastern side. There are many trails in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Haleakala National Park, and along Kauai's Na Pali Coast.

Waipio Valley

This is the largest and most spectacular valley on the lush eastern side. Enclosed by steep cliffs, the best way to get here is by hiking. Once inside, you will enjoy a hint of jungle, tropical flowering plants, and waterfalls. Secluded and immersed in the "spirit" of Hawaii, this valley is home to wild horses and a few isolated farmers.

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Scuba Diving

Diving is good year-round, and there are several spots where depths reach up to 130 feet. Plenty of underwater caves, canyons, lava tubes, vertical walls and sunken ships keep even the most experienced diver happy and busy. Turtle Pinnacle off Honokohau Harbor offers some great views of large sea turtles. A host of big sealife sightings reward patient divers at The Pentagon, a shallow site off the island's northeastern coast.

Beaches and Water Sports

Of course, Hawaii offers some of the best locales for water sports. Fishing off either coast and in the deep-sea is almost always reward with a "big one." And lest we forget the obvious, Hawaii has some of the best beaches in the world.

Golf

Golfers will love the top-ranked courses along the sunny Kohala coast. The greens actually wind through lava fields, providing some fantastic scenery at high quality courses, including the Mauna Kea Resort Golf Course and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

Horseback Riding

Saddle up for a horseback ride and have one of the fantasy experiences of a lifetime. Few things are more exhilarating than riding a horse through rain forests and across a shore being pounded by the surf. The entire time, you'll be surrounded by stupendous scenery and lots of wildlife.

Botanical Gardens

If you love flowers and exotic plants, visit one of the island's many noteworthy botanical gardens. Nani Mau Gardens includes 20 acres of native Hawaiian plants, tropical flowers, trees, pools, waterfalls, and sun-dappled paths. The extravagant and formal Japanese Liliuokalani Gardens are filled with lush green trees, tropical plants, and beautiful ponds.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Exploring the lush greenery and thrilling active volcano is a great hike and one of the most popular activities on the Big Island. Don't forget to take a flashlight if you want to see the sunset and walk around the jagged coastline afterwards.