The To Must See and Do Things On Kona Hawaii’s Big Island

Here is the Ultimate list of all of the things to seed and do on Kona Hawaii’s Big Island! The word ‘Hawaii’ is derived from the Proto-Polynesian word ‘Hawaiki’ which translates to ‘place of the Gods’ or ‘homeland’? The famous Hawaiian word ‘Aloha’ used as a form of greeting to mean either hello or goodbye has a similar Proto-Polynesian origin from the word ‘alofa’ which could be translated to mean love, mercy or compassion. Now, the reason why Hawaii is synonymous with paradise doesn’t seem farfetched, anymore, Hawaii is undoubtedly one of the closest things to paradise here on earth.

The Hawaiian state is the only state in the U.S. made up completely by islands. Hawaii is essentially a chain of 132 islands with 8 major Islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kaho’olawe and the Big Island. The Big Island, officially known as Hawai’i is unsurprisingly the biggest island in the state. As a matter of fact, it has a land mass of double the size of all other Hawaiian islands combined. The Big Island of Hawaii is an adventurer’s dream come true, from crystal blue waters to kaleidoscopic volcanoes to snow-capped mountains to picturesque waterfalls. Big Island deserves to be seen by everyone and there’s no shortage of fun and thrilling things for every tourist to do or see while in the Big Island of Hawaii.

Fun things to do on Kona the Big Island

1. Rent a car and go Sightseeing and Exploring

When you think of Hawai’i, think of it as an assortment of all of nature’s elements – fire, water and everything in between. From the scenic beaches to technicolour volcanoes, here are some of the most amazing sights in the Big Island. Every time we go to the Big Island I rent a car, it is the cheapest way to see the whole island and experience Hawaii’s local experiences. The driving is very safe comparable to anywhere else in the US, but the scenery is obviously much better! Car rentals are pretty inexpensive and most of the big name rental companies are on the island. This is a must do when you are here, it will save you a ton of money and you will be able to find hidden gems like secret beaches, waterfall hikes and much more. 

Driving the Big Island

2. Volcanoes

The Big Island is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kilauea volcano. The Mauna Loa volcano, the largest volcano in the world also happens to be in Hawai’i, back in 1960, NASA trained astronauts for space voyages by walking its hardened lava fields. The red-hot flowing and molten lava fields of the Volcanoes offer stunning and ever changing landscapes for the tourists. The lava viewing can be enjoyed from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Volcano villages and Hilo.

Hawaii’s Big Island Volcano

3. Beach Hopping!

The pristine beaches of Big Island with its crystal clear waters are another of the attractions the island offers. There are beaches with white sand, black sand, green sand, rocky shorelines etc. The beaches are never really crowded especially considering the fact that they are open to everyone. Some of the famous beaches in Hawai’i are; Hāpuna white sand beach, Kamakahonu beach, Kauna’oa (Mauna Kea) beach, Kua Bay beach, Papakōlea green sand beach, Punalu’u black sand beach and Waialea beach.

Big Island Beach Hopping!

4. Hot springs

Most of the smaller water bodies flow through molten magma heated by the nearby volcanoes on the island. The springs and ponds retain the heat long enough to provide a warm bath for everyone who uses it. The popular hot springs in Big Island are the pohoiki warm spring and the Ahalanui warm pond.

Big Island Hot springs

5. Hiking trails

The Hawaiian outdoors is every hikers fantasy. 10 out of the 14 climatic zones in the world are represented on the island and as such, hikers are constantly treated to beautiful and ever changing sceneries. From the lush green rainforests to shrub lands to the crystal clear waters on coastlines to deserts, every hiking trail is definitely worth the trek. Hiking trails every tourist should try out include; Onomea trail, Mauna Loa trail and Waipio valley trail.

Big Island Hiking

6. Waterfalls

Big Island is home to some of the most magnificent waterfalls in the world. With some waterfalls over 1000 ft. in height surrounded by lush green draping ferns and bamboo groves of the rainforest, they provide spectacular sights that will leave an imprint in the memory of everyone who sees it. Some of these amazing waterfalls are; Akaka falls, Rainbow falls, Pe’epe’e Falls, Umauma falls and Hi’ilawe falls.

Waterfalls

7. Water sports

The waters of Big Island are famous for far beyond the beaches and hot springs. Hawaii seems to be the number one destination for water sports and other water related activities. Whether it is surfing, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, spearfishing or any other water sporting activity, the waters promise an incredible and thrilling experience that tourists will not forget in a hurry.

The Hawaiian underwater is home to a variety of diverse marine lives as well as some of the rarest sea creatures in the world like reef fish, coral, green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals. Fittingly, underwater sports is the perfect way to explore that equally spectacular world. This is primarily why scuba diving, snorkelling and Manta-ray diving are some of the most popular water activities. For swimmers who would rather not go deep below, there’s also the option of swimming with dolphins and whale watching. Basically, there is a water activity in Big Island for everyone.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding

8. Helicopter rides

A helicopter ride gives tourists an obstructed and clear view of all the magnificent wonders of Hawai’i. From the waterfalls to lava lakes to shorelines to tropical rainforests to the settlements, nothing beats an aerial view of Big Island.

9. Zip lining

Zip lining is a fun and thrilling way to get a view of otherwise inaccessible areas of the island. The line is often placed across areas with impressive features to give the tourists a spectacular view as they journey across the area on the zip line.

Zip Lining Waterfall

10. Scenic drives

For tourists looking to actually explore Big Island beyond the popular attraction sites, a road trip is an excellent way of touring the island and see some sites that would otherwise be missed. Tourists can either hire a professional tour guide or request a cab driver to help them get around. For tourists who would rather do it themselves, car rentals are available within the island. The process of hiring a car in Big Island is relatively easy though terms and conditions may apply. Some scenic routes that guarantee breath-taking views during the road trip include; Mauna Loa road scenic drive, Kapoho Kalapana scenic drive, Onomea (Pepe’ekeo) scenic drive and Coffee country (South Kona) scenic drive.

11. Cuisine

A lot of tourists tend to spend a great amount of time on ‘adventurous’ activities and fail to try out the most amazing thing of all on Big Island – the food. Hawaii is paradise for foodies, and while hiking or diving or zip lining may be fun, every taste bud deserves the Hawaiian cuisine treatment. The Hawaiian cuisine has a variety of multicultural cuisine due to its multicultural heritage and influences. Big Island serves up its share of savoury treats, some of them are;

• Poke bowl – poke bowl is served in some parts of the US mainland but everything pales in comparison to the Hawaiian dish. Poke bowl is essentially fish salad – diced raw fish seasoned with ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce and other seasonings. It can be eaten with rice and salad greens.
• Loco moco – the loco moco is rice with toppings of fried egg, gravy and hamburger patty.
• Acai bowls – acai is a combination of different fruits mixed in ice cream or yoghurt. The mixture can be topped with cacao nibs, hemp seed, coconut flake, granola etc.
• Shave ice – not shaved ice or snow cone. This Hawaiian based desert is made from syrup flavoured ice. Additional flavours from local ingredients like pineapples, mango, kiwi fruits and passion fruit are often added for that distinctive Hawaiian taste.
• Other belt extending cuisines of Hawaii include cocoa puffs and munapua.

Hawaiian Foods

12. Meet Hawaiian people

Hawaii is a home to people of diverse ethnic and cultural groups like the Filipino, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and African American. Actually, just a few of the indigenes have true Hawaiian ancestry. As a result of its multi-ethnic society, the Hawaiian culture is greatly influenced by its people to give a rich and diverse cultural heritage. Tourists can also attend luau shows, a traditional Hawaiian party hosted on the Island. The party is a great way to experience the Hawaiian culture, interact with the locals and have a taste of their great culinary treats.

13. Hilo Farmers Market

While on the big island, there is no better place to go shopping than down town Hilo. Be it from produce to seafood, clothing or crafts, run of the mill like pineapples or bananas, jaboticaba fruit or bongo drums, Hilo farmers market sells a little of everything and what’s best is that you are free to bargain.

This market is located on the corner of Mamo Street and Kamehameha Avenue. Its open from Sunday to Sunday but most vendors turn up on Wednesdays and Saturdays from dawn to dusk.

14. Pu’uhonua Hanaunau

Hawaii is a place of beautiful cultural heritage. The pu’uhonua Hanaunau which when  translated  means a place of refuge is one of such heritage. Ancient Hawaiian priests were required to offer forgiveness for wrong doing and shelter for anyone who successfully swam to the heilu [temple] without getting caught. The pu’uhonua  Hanaunau asides from being a place of refuge is blessed with beauty and blissful serenity.

While on the big island you can explore similarly amazing places that perfectly illustrates how ancient life in the heilu may have been like. You can also include some swimming and snorkelling to your bucket list and some wonderful water creatures like the sea turtles may just pay you a visit.

15. Kona Pub and Brewing Company

On a daily basis the Kona Pub and Brewing Company offers site tours between the hours of 10;30 am to 3;30 am. They host an annual brew festival in support of the local community. This festival benefits 12 local nonprofit organizations as it rolls in thousands of dollars.

When it comes to beer, kona brings to the table seasonal selections that would definitely thrill your taste buds.  One of such is the Summer Wailua Wheat Beer. This delightful ale has a citrus flavor which is derived from the passion fruit which is brewed into each batch. They also serve five distinct bottled bears which is also made available to 23 states, japan and Hawaii inclusive. Their beer just adds something different and beautiful to the island. A visit to the big island is not complete without a taste of one of kona’s exquisite wines.

16. Hotels and Resorts

Hawaii is most often known as a tourist destination due to the amazing places and islands it has to offer. One of such beauties is the Hawaiian hotels and resorts, which you can take maximum advantage of while on the big island. What may seem bargain able in Hawaii may be expensive when compared to prices in similar resort locations. Wonderful hotels such as the Sheraton keauhou and the Holau Resort at Manau Loa Village are quite affordable. The Sheraton keauhou which is a four star hotel goes for a bargainable rate of 119 dollars while the Holau Resort at Mauna Loa Village goes for a bargainable rate of 112 dollars. The Sheraton has a breathtaking mountain view and the Holau resort offers a pool and BBQs plus free wifi and a kitchen.

17. Golf

If you are a golf lover, the Hawaiian big island has the Kona Country Club for you. The club has an afternoon golf deal at an affordable price made available to lovers of the game. So there is no need for you to fret if you can’t seem to find golf at an affordable price on the island. The kona country club has the golf deal slated for 3pm on a daily basis, and it goes for just 60 dollars. The front nine of the ocean also has a nine hole rate. There is a driving range here as well as a putting and pitching green!

When it comes to the Big Island of Hawaii, there is ample room for exploration of all of its dreamy and fascinating scenic beauty. With the tropical climate, remarkable recreational activities and a thriving food and drink scene, there is almost no wonder why the Big Island of Hawaii is one of the best destinations in the world.

18. Scuba Diving

19. Surfing

Surfing in Hawaii is incredible, people fly from all parts of the world to surf here. It is the perfect spot to learn, as there are tons of shops right on the beaches that teach at a reasonable price. I was able to get up on the board on my first lesson!

Surfing Big Island

21. Black Sand Beach

Kona is blessed with one wonder you must see to believe when you visit the Big Island, and that is the black sand beach. You won’t see a place like this anywhere else in the world . 

Black Sand Beach on Kona

22. Deep Sea Fishing On Kona.

Deep sea Fishing on Kona is one of the top things to do here, get ready for the catch of your life! The waters around Kona are surrounded with blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Spear Fish, Tuna and Wahoo (ono). This is an unforgettable experience for the whole family, tour operators offer full day charters, or half day charters. Most boats can fit up to 6 people fishing and come equipped with AC, shaded areas large fishing platforms and more. Some boats will even make you fresh sashimi on board! https://adventugo.com/adventure/hanamana-sportfishing/#

Hanamana Sportfishing 

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The Rampersauds at Ko Olina Beach in Oahu, Hawaii

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