Below are some of the best places to visit on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Hawaii Island is truly the “Big Island” and that is what it is commonly called although it is correctly referred to as Hawaii or the island of Hawaii. It is bigger than all of the other islands combined and takes an entire day to drive around it.
At least 7 distinct climate zones are found here and it’s one of the few places in the world where you can play in the snow in the morning (at the top of Mauna Kea) and be surfing on a beautiful beach a couple of hours later. One of the world’s most active and accessible volcanos (Kilauea) is found here at the southern end of the island.
King Kamehemeha, who unified the Hawaiian islands, was born here and lived most of the time.
Waipio Valley has been called the most beautiful place in the world.
| Place | Normal Speed | Slower Please! |
|---|---|---|
| Kohala Coast | ||
| ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay | ||
| Waikoloa | ||
| Puakō | ||
| Hāpuna Beach | ||
| Kawaihae | ||
| Mahukona | ||
| Kapa‘a Beach Park | ||
| ‘Upolu Point | ||
| Mo‘okini Heiau | ||
| Hawi | ||
| Kapa‘au | ||
| King Kamehameha Statue | ||
| Pololū Valley lookout | ||
| Waimea | ||
| Kamuela | ||
| Hāmākua Coast | ||
| Waipi‘o Valley | ||
| Honoka‘a | ||
| Laupāhoehoe | ||
| Pāpa‘aloa | ||
| Hakalau | ||
| ‘Akaka Falls | ||
| Hilo | ||
| Volcano Area: | ||
| Kea‘au | ||
| Pāhoa | ||
| Kalapana | ||
| Kilauea | ||
| Pāhala | ||
| Punalu‘u | ||
| Na‘alehu | ||
| Kā‘ū District (southernmost) | ||
| Ho‘okena Beach Park | ||
| South Kona: | ||
| Napo‘opo‘o | ||
| Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau (Place of Refuge) | ||
| Hōnaunau | ||
| Kealakekua | ||
| North Kona: | ||
| Kainaliu | ||
| Honalo | ||
| Keauhou | ||
| Kahalu‘u | ||
| Kailua-Kona | ||
| Keahole | ||
| Honokōhau Harbor | ||
| Kealakehe | ||
| Holualoa | ||
| Kalaoa | ||
| Koloko | ||
| Ka‘ūpūlehu (Four Seasons) | ||
| Kīholo Bay | ||
| Volcanoes: | ||
| Mauna Kea | ||
| Mauna Loa | ||
| Hualālai | ||
| Streets and Miscellaneous: | ||
| Ka‘iminani Street | ||
| Makalei | ||
| Mamalahoa Highway | ||
| Palani Road | ||
| Lanihau Shopping Center | ||
| Makalapua Shopping Center | ||
| Kohanaiki (Pine Trees) | ||
| Kuakini Highway | ||
| Queen Ka‘ahumanu | ||
| Hōkūmoana | ||
| Kolea |
