This is our sample five day itinerary (four nights) for the Big Island of Hawaii. One of the best ways to explore this fascinating island is to circle the island starting from Kona.

DAY 1: KONA AND THE BEACH

Kona is the sunny outdoor capital of the Big Island and you will spend your first two days and nights here enjoying the beach.

If you arrive during whale season (between December and March/April) you might want to sign up for a whale-watching cruise . Kona Coast is one of the best places in the world to Snorkel, our favorite spots to snorkel is Kahalu’u  (less than 10 minutes drive from the condo). You could also book one of the many excellent snorkeling companies to take you for a Manta Ray night dive/snorkel. These tours are very popular and you should try to book them in advance.

Afterward, drive north up Highway 11 to explore some of the beautiful west coast beaches such as Kua bay or Hapuna. End your day with watching the sunset at the pier fronting the King Kamehameha Hotel in the center of Kona (King Kam beach) and drinking a Mai Tai  and dinner at  any of the other beachfront restaurants on Ali’i drive.

DAY 2: OCEAN VIEWS AND ADVENTURES.

Getting up early should be easy since you still will be on mainland time. If you want some delicious breakfast with a view stop by at the Coffee Shack on your way to Captain Cook, and don’t forget to try some of their homegrown coffee.

After breakfast continue south to the Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (also known as the City of Refuge or Honaunau Bay) to learn about the ancient practices and rituals of the native Hawaiians and finish up with some snorkeling at one of the best snorkeling spots on the island: Two Step (at 300 ft. from the park entrance). This is a favorite snorkeling spot for many locals and a culturally significant place for the Hawaiian people.  Please remember to be respectful to both the animals and the surroundings.

If you are adventurous the hike to Captain Cook monument is arduous but the view and snorkeling spot are worth the effort.

Make sure to combine your activities of the day with the tours you possibly booked. If snorkeling is not your thing you can replace it with one of the many outdoor activities near Kona to spend this day.

DAY 3: VOLCANO VILLAGE AND THE HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

Day 3 is another early day so have a hearty breakfast and start your 2+ hour drive to Volcano Village directly after.

Make sure to stop on the way to make the drive more enjoyable, for example at South Point (the most southern point of Hawai’i and the second-most southern point in the United States) or our favorite, Punalu’u black sand beach, which is famous for its status as a turtle nesting area. Punalu’u Bakery(famed as the southern most bakery in US) is a good stop on the way to the Volcano National park.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the most popular destination on the island and recent volcanic activities have closed several interesting attractions in the national park.

Start your visit at the visitor center and plan your day in the park from there. Watch the 30-minute educational video in the auditorium and talk to the park rangers about the current situation in the park, ranger-led (free) hikes, and tailor-made advice. Also, ask the rangers about the current viewing conditions for the active lava flows that are entering the ocean.

Chain of Craters Road gives you a dramatic view of the volcanos over the years and is one of the most dramatic drives on the island. Most of the popular hikes have been closed off after the 2018 volcano. You could head out of the park and go down to Puna coast to see the 2018 lava flows. Mackenzie State park and Issac Hale State parks give you a closeup look to the 2018 lava flow. The new black sand beach formed on Issac Hale state park is worth the visit.

DAY 4 (OPTION 1): NEW LAVA FLOW – PUNA COAST

Today you can either choose to return to the Hawaii Volcanoes National park if you are a volcanoes enthusiast, or make a road trip to Hilo (option 2: scroll down for details) or Puna/Kalapana to the southeast of Volcano Village.

Kalapana is a serene and simply breathtaking spot that is home to what was once one of the most beautiful beaches of the world, before it was overtaken by lava in the 1990s. Currently, a new black sand beach at Issac Hale State Park (Pohoiki to the locals) is forming close to the old beach, allowing a glance into the constant processes of creation and destruction which reign supreme on the island. If you choose to head to Kalapana, we recommend you make an entire day of it to enjoy the other gems the Puna District has to offer along the coast like the Mackenzie State Park.

Afterward, enjoy a well-deserved dinner in the quaint, colorful old town of Pahoa.

DAY 4 (OPTION 2): HILO AND THE WAILUKU RIVER

The other option is to heading North to Hilo

Start your day driving south one hour to the beautiful coastal town of Hilo for breakfast at any of the wonderful cafe’s and diners in this historic town.

Afterward, head downtown to take a stroll along the many shops, galleries and boutiques and/or visit the Tsunami Museum. Hilo’s farmers market is held everyday but the big market days are  Wednesday and Saturday. We would definitely recommend stopping at the Farmers Market  to see how shopping is done local style. Pick up some souvenirs or some fresh fruit and bento’s for lunch later in the day.

After you’ve had your fill of exploring downtown, head out of town(8.5 miles on highway19) to the famous Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens. The Garden’s collection of tropical plants is international in scope. Over 2,000 species, representing more than 125 families and 750 genera, are found in this one-of-a-kind garden.

 Rainbow Falls is a good stop before getting on the Saddle Road  for a couple of photos and viewing one of the several gorgeous waterfalls on the Hamuka coast.

Now it is time to drive up Saddle Road to go stargazing at one of the best locations of the world: Mauna Kea. Its also our favorite place to watch sunset.  You can reach the visitor center where there are free stargazing programs offered just after sunset with any rental car but you’ll need a 4WD if you want to visit the summit. There are also professional tours organized from Hilo that will take you up the mountain. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world from ocean floor level.

DAY 5: ROAD TRIP TO WAIPI’O VALLEY

Start your day by heading out to Highway 19 onto the Hamakua Coast and get ready for some breathtaking scenery!

Start by turning off onto the 4-mile Scenic Route just a few minutes outside Hilo and enjoy the winding, magical drive along the coast. You can also stop at the World Botanical Gardens for a short hike through lush fern forests. Once back on Highway 19, make sure you stop at the ‘Akaka Falls State Park to see the most famous waterfall in the state of Hawaii.

Continue north to the historic town of Honoka’a. This former cane sugar stronghold has an interesting collection of shops and galleriesFrom here, Just a short drive to the Waipi’o Valley overlook at the end of Highway 240. Which will allow you a stunning view of the “Valley of Kings”, one of the most culturally significant spots for the native Hawaiians and a hotspot for the traditional cultivation of the locally prized “kalo” or taro crops.

Then continue via Waimea ( beautiful ranch country)  along the coastal Highway 270 you can either stop at the Waikoloa Village for some local grindz and/or visit one of the many stunning white sand beaches (e.g. Kua Bay) on your way back to the Kona .