Island of Hawaii Vacations & Travel

Overview

Watch the continual spectacle of the majestic Kilauea volcano, as it spurts molten rock into the sea (which it has done almost continuously since 1983), increasing the island’s size even further. Explore the steaming craters, lava tubes and rainforests on your next vacation to the Island of Hawaii.

This stark landscape vividly contrasts the lush, eastern side of the island, home to the friendly town of Hilo and the spellbinding 442-foot Akaka Falls.

Be sure to visit Banyan Tree Drive in the heart of Hilo. It takes about six hours to drive around Hawaii. However, you’ll be stopping throughout your trip to admire the amazing sights and sounds of the island such as Rainbow Falls State Park in the Hilo region, the mysterious black sand Punaluu Beach in the southeast, and the lively seaside town of Kailua-Kona on the sun-blessed west coast.

Shopping

There are lots of shopping destinations on the Island of Hawaii from Kohala to Hilo. Shop for Tahitian Black Pearls along the Kona Coast at Island Pearls. Browse the Kings’ Shops at Waikoloa Village for high-end apparel and more.

Just south of the Kailua pier, the Ali'i Gardens Marketplace provides plenty of locally made goods. Shop at the Kona Coast Shopping Center, just minutes from Kona Airport.

Nightlife

From sunset cruises to stargazing atop the world’s tallest sea mountain, Hawaii’s nightlife offers a variety of experiences you won’t find on the mainland. Listen to local Hawaiian slack key guitarists or contemporary music at one of the many restaurants, bars or hotels, and let the romance begin.

Off the Beaten Path

Get moving with a Botanical Segway Adventure through the stunning Hamakua coastline past fragrant gardens and colorful rainforests.

View ancient petroglyphs and wildlife at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park in Kailua-Kona. Swim and snorkel with wild Hawaii spinner dolphins for the vacation of a lifetime. A Pleasant Holidays expert can help you plan personalized Hawaii vacation packages for a truly memorable trip.

Food and Drink

Hawaii is the only state that commercially produces coffee. Start your day with a piping cup of Kona coffee, rated among the best in the world. Visit a Kona Coffee Plantation or one of the many coffee farms in the area.

Chocolate and macadamia nuts are also produced on the island.

You’ll also discover a variety of beers created in microbreweries across Kona, Waimea, and Hilo. Try some with huli huli chicken, kalua pig or lau lau, a delicious dish of pork wrapped in taro leaves. Taste the more contemporary Loco Moco made with a hearty hamburger patty and a fried egg covered in brown gravy atop steamed rice.

For something sweet, visit Big Island Bees, a Kona farm producing delicious raw and organic honey.

What To Do on the Island of Hawaii

Get the lay of the land aboard an exhilarating Two-Hour Waikoloa Big Island Spectacular helicopter tour. Rated as the “World’s Best Helicopter Ride” by the Travel Channel, this fantastic tour will give you a Nene bird’s eye view of all that the Island of Hawaii has to offer, from cascading waterfalls to erupting volcanoes, endless beaches and more.

Located on the historic shores of Kamakahonu Bay and Kamehameha the Great’s former Kailua-Kona home, the Haleo Luau offers a chance to sample the best authentic Hawaiian dishes and musical entertainment on the Big Island.

You can’t beat the fun of taking an outrigger canoe, paddleboard or kayak along the island’s sunny western shores. Visit pleasantactivites.com for ideas on the varied attractions on the Island of Hawaii.

Check out some of our 5 favorite experiences on the Big Island.