- Kailua-Kona. Downtown Kailua-Kona is the epicenter of the west side of the island. …
- Kahaluu Keauhou. …
- Holualoa is one of the best-kept secrets on the Big Island. …
- North Kohala. …
- Hilo.
What should I not miss on the big island?
- Visit the Seahorse Farm in Kona. …
- See the green and black sand beaches. …
- Take a helicopter tour over an active volcano. …
- Star gaze atop Mauna Kea. …
- Tour a coffee plantation in Kona. …
- Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Is it better to stay in Hilo or Kona?
Kona offers better weather, the best beaches and snorkeling, newer resorts, more vacation rentals, and more nightlife compared to Hilo Town
. Hilo is worth a visit but may not be worth staying for more than a night.
What is the prettiest island to visit in Hawaii?
Oahu
is the best Hawaiian island for first-timers and family vacations. You'll find tons of activities to satisfy any traveler's wanderlust, giving a great balance between stunning natural landscapes and unique historical sites such as the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.
How many days do you need in Big Island?
Being the largest of the Hawaiian Islands there is a lot of ground to cover and a lot of exciting and adventurous activities to do. Many visit Hawaii Island on a day trip from Oahu. We recommend spending
at least five days
on the Big Island, even longer if you can!
What side of the Big Island is better?
Locals refer to the Hilo side as the island's
East side
, which includes downtown Hilo (the second largest town in Hawaii) and the Volcano area. Ultimately, the east side's proximity to all the great Big Island attractions makes staying here worthwhile.
How long does it take to drive around Hawaii Big Island?
To circle the entire Big Island takes
almost 6 hours
, if you include a loop through North Kohala. When driving between Hilo and Kailua-Kona, you might consider taking the north scenic coast route in one direction and the Saddle Road route between the mountains going back!
What is the best time of year to visit the Big Island of Hawaii?
The best time to visit Hawaii's Big Island is
between September and November
. That's when the island's generally reasonable room rates take the most significant plunge.
How many days in Hawaii is enough?
While many vacations are five to seven days long, we recommend staying for
at least 10 days
to enjoy your Hawaiian vacation. The time change is difficult to adjust to at first and takes about 3 days to get fully acclimated.
Is the Big Island worth it?
Re: Is Big Island worth visiting?
Yes, of course itʻs worth visiting
. You could easily spend your entire time there and not see and do everything.
Does the Big Island have good beaches?
- Best Big Island beaches.
- Papakōlea Green Sand Beach.
- Punaluu Black Sand Beach.
- Hāpuna Beach.
- Mauna Kea Beach.
- Makalawena Beach.
- Manini'owali Beach.
- Waialea Bay.
Are there sandy beaches in Kona Hawaii?
Kikaua Point Beach Park
was our favorite beach on the Kona Coast. These Kona beaches are sandy and classic Hawaiian with volcanic tide pools and surrounding lava fields. The kind of Kona, Big Island beaches you would expect on this island paradise. Enjoy your stay on the Kona Coast with our favorite Kona beaches.
What is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit?
Oahu
is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit, with a total cost of $2,625. A Ko Olina Resort lagoon on Oahu. Maui is the most expensive island to visit, coming in nearly $1,000 more expensive, with a total cost of $3,600.
Which island in Hawaii has best beaches?
With 227 miles of shoreline,
Oahu
is the best Hawaiian Island for beaches. Oahu has the best beaches in Hawaii due to Oahu's many protected bays, reefs surrounding the island, gold-sand beaches, and calm waters year-round.
Is Maui better than Oahu?
Oahu vs Maui: Resorts
Maui resorts are generally better
, though they are usually significantly more expensive. The majority of Oahu resorts are found in Waikiki, which offers a beautiful, white sand beach and bustling nightlife. But, the downside is that Waikiki is much more crowded than the resort areas on Maui.
Can you drive around the Big Island of Hawaii?
It's about 300 miles to drive around the Big Island
, and that's just staying on the edge of it. You can easily add miles as you stop at random places or cut across the island.
Can you swim in Akaka Falls?
Visitors can walk a 0.4 mile loop trail that takes you to an overlook of the falls and past a smaller waterfall. An entrance fee of $5 per vehicle is charged.
You cannot swim in Akaka Falls
.
Is it easy to drive around Hawaii?
Driving in Hawaii is
relatively straightforward
as roads are well signed and in good condition, particularly on the island of Oahu. Home to the tourist mecca of Honolulu, Oahu's roads are the busiest and as such you'll find several freeways here as well as the most developed roads in Hawaii.
Is the Big Island crowded?
The island does receive about 1.7 million tourists yearly, in addition to its 186,000 residents, but the Big Island is much larger than the other Hawaiian Islands (go figure) so
it's much less crowded
. The Big Island is also one of the few places in the US that you can see an active volcano and lava flow.
What is the wet side of the Big Island Hawaii?
The west side (Kona side) is called the ‘dry side' of the island, and the
east side (Hilo side)
the ‘wet side'.
What is the rainy season in Kona Hawaii?
While for most of Hawaii, the winter months are generally the rainiest, Kona's drier season is generally from November through March, while the rainy season runs from
April through October
.
How far is the Volcano from Kona?
The distance between Kailua-Kona and Volcano is
52 miles
. The road distance is 102.8 miles. How do I travel from Kailua-Kona to Volcano without a car?
How long does it take to go from one side of the Big Island to the other?
Driving to and from the island's two largest towns—Kailua-Kona and Hilo—will take
well over an hour
, and that's the short way. Driving along Hawaii Belt Road and Mamalahoa Highway would be considered the scenic route—the 125-mile trip takes about three hours.
So to drive around the Big Island of Hawaii with the places on this Big Island itinerary as a guide, the driving time would be around
9 hours
long.
What should I avoid in Hawaii?- Underestimate the ocean. …
- Touch a monk seal, sea turtle, or other wildlife. …
- Use sunscreen that isn't reef-safe. …
- Hike on an illegal trail or late at night. …
- Park wherever you want to take in the sights. …
- Bring back lava rocks as souvenirs. …
- Step on coral.
When should you not go to Hawaii?
If you wish to avoid Hawaii's hurricane season, then stay clear of Hawaii from
June 1st to November 30th
. Due to winds, currents, and ocean temperatures around the islands, Hawaii escapes most direct hits. The last hurricane to directly hit a Hawaiian island was Hurricane Iniki in 1992.
What is the cheapest time of year to go to Hawaii?
The cheapest time to fly to Hawaii is during
February and March
. The most expensive month to fly is December when the holiday period falls, with January being very expensive as well. The peak travel months of June and July are surprisingly not the most expensive months for flights, with middle figure prices.
