Hawaiʻi
Big Island: What Was Actually Worth It
Volcanoes, black and green sand, manta rays, coffee farms, snorkeling, huge coastal views and some excellent surprises.
Our approach: The Big Island rewards moving around. We stayed near Volcano, explored Hilo and the north coast, then based ourselves on the Kona/Kohala side.
Start here
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Kīlauea Iki, Chain of Craters, eruption timing and what we would skip.
Hilo to Kona/Waikoloa
Coffee, caves, tropical gardens, waterfalls, coast and Waipiʻo.
Snorkeling + Coffee
Captain Cook vs. Two Step, Greenwell Farms and Mauka Meadows.
Our Big Island must-dos
Kīlauea Iki, Maunakea sunset and stars, manta-ray night snorkeling, Pololū Valley at sunrise, and a road-trip day through the Hilo/Hāmākua side were among the experiences we would prioritize.
More Worth It guides
Maunakea sunset & stargazing · Pololū Valley sunrise hike · Papakōlea Green Sand Beach · Manta ray snorkeling