📸 25 Best Places to Visit on Big Island for Epic Photos (2024)

Imagine walking the rim of a giant caldera while gazing into an active volcano as a lava lake bubbles and churns below.

This is the opportunity that awaits you on the Crater Rim Trail at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park!

Few places in the entire world offer as unique and humbling an experience as the one that awaits you within the Kīlauea caldera.

When deciding what to see on Big Island, put a night visit to Volcanoes NP at the top of that list!

Considered the best snorkel spot on the Big Island, Captain Cook Monument is home to a resident dolphin pod, a handful of honu (Hawaiian for sea turtle), and an impossibly beautiful coral garden.

While this destination is accessible by land by traveling to Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park and hiking in from there, this approach requires a long hike and some major preparation.

The best way to explore the waters of Captain Cook Monument is by booking a snorkel tour, which will save considerable time and energy.

The manta ray night snorkel is the activity we most highly recommend everyone do on their visit on Big Island.

There is something spiritual about the experience that cannot be described; it simply has to be experienced.

Numerous operators provide tours to Manta Ray Village, a spot in the ocean near the Outrigger Kona Hotel & Resort (formerly the Sheraton).

We recommend Sea Paradise as the original and still the best provider. They also offer a manta ray guarantee.

Did you know they get snow in Hawaii?!

Mauna Kea is one of Hawaii’s most awe-inspiring sights, particularly with a fresh snow dusting.

If you consider yourself adventurous, plan a trip to the summit of Mauna Kea for sunset. Then, after dark, venture to the Visitor Information Station to enjoy the best stargazing in all of Hawaii.

The summit is at 13,803 feet (4207m), and the temperatures can often be around 32ºF/0ºC. Additionally, reaching the summit requires 4WD.

You may wish to consider booking a tour to Mauna Kea. By visiting with a tour, you will have transport taken care of. Most tours also provide parkas and thick gloves to keep you warm, as well as snacks and water.

One of the true must-see places to visit on Big Island is the remote, unusual gem known locally as Papakolea, but more commonly referred to as Green Sand Beach.

Like much of Hawaii, this unusual sight owes its distinctive character to a volcanic origin. The olive-green sand gets its unique hue from the abundant olivine mineral.

In addition to being a visual rarity, Green Sand Beach is one of the best places to visit on Big Island for a beach day as well. It is the softest sand you will find anywhere on the island.

Nearly every visitor to Hawaii has one thing at the front of their mind and top of their to-do: beaches.

Hapuna Beach is widely considered the best beach on the Big Island.

Sheltered by Kohala Mountain, this stunning piece of paradise is a state-managed white sand beach with calm, tropical water and full facilities.

The Big Island is home to more black sand beaches than any other Hawaiian island. Among them, the most impressive and beautiful is Punalu’u Black Sand Beach.

You will find this oasis and turtle sanctuary near Papakolea (Green Sand Beach), mentioned above. If you are planning a visit to one, you will definitely want to include the other on your Big Island itinerary too.

What makes Punalu’u so impressive is the lush, vibrant greenery that lines the jet-black shore.

This interesting juxtaposition of dark and colorful, along with the thriving population of sea turtles that frequent the shores, make it one of the best places to visit on Big Island.

Kua Bay is arguably the best beach on the Kona side of the island, though Hapuna tends to receive that award.

Rankings aside, visitors will discover a quiet, idyllic cove with powdery-soft white sand and tropically-colored water.

If possible, plan your visit to coincide with sunset as Kua Bay provides a particularly impressive scene to savor a Hawaiian sunset.

The Waipio Valley might just be the most stunning region of the Big Island. Every new vista feels like discovering a lost land where dinosaurs may yet roam.

Waipio Valley Road has been closed to non-residents since 2022. However, it is now possible to visit Waipio Valley via a tour.

The Waipio Valley Lookout is still open to all.

Among the list of what to see on Big Island and the best places to visit, none provide as immersive an experience as the one found at Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park.

The culture and history of Hawaii is a rich tapestry. Nowhere on the Big Island is this more beautifully brought to life than at the ancient Royal Grounds now protected and preserved by the NPS.

Walk amongst a palm tree haven while learning about a time not so long ago when Hawaii was a very different place.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to bring your Annual National Parks Pass!

The Hilo region of Big Island is most renowned for its rainforest and natural beauty.

Of all the places to visit in Hilo, Peepee Falls is the most beautiful of them all. While Akaka Falls may be the most famous waterfall in the area, we rate Peepee even higher.

This location resembles Eden with its inviting green waters and lush vegetation, tempting visitors to lose themselves in nature and aloha.

Kekaha Kai State Beach is home to two of the best beaches on the Big Island, Makalawena and Mahai’ula.

Reaching this postcard-worthy Kona shoreline requires a rough road and walking over lava rock, but it is worth all the effort.

Awaiting visitors who make the trek are abundant palm trees, white sand, and contrasting lava rock, all of which come together for one of the most photogenic scenes you will visit on the Big Island.

Waikoloa is located along the Kohala region on the north coast of Kona. It is widely considered the best place to stay on Big Island as this region features most of the best beaches and resorts available.

If your time to explore is limited, make sure to see Waikoloa Beach, aka A-Bay (short for ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay).

A spit of pristine white sand separates a large lagoon from a calm cove that feeds into the Pacific Ocean. It is a great place to visit on Big Island with families, or for a relaxing day on the beach.

Kahuna Falls is located in ‘Akaka Falls State Park and is probably the most visited waterfall on the Big Island.

It is accessible via a short 0.4-mile loop trail that leads to a picturesque overlook of this jungle falls.

The lush rainforest of Hilo provides a photogenic backdrop to this tall but slender cascade.

Mauna Kea Beach is considered by many to be the ultimate place to spend an entire Big Island vacation.

The Mauna Kea Hotel has created the perfect ecosystem for visitors whose idea of a Hawaiian holiday is to be on the beach with a beverage, without a care.

Even if this is not you, it is certainly worth scheduling an afternoon to soak in some sun on this white sand beach.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park protects a beautiful, shallow reef cove that is excellent for fishing.

It is most known, however, for the thriving turtle population that lives and eats just off the shore of the Aiopio Fish Trap. Visitors on their first trip to Hawaii are all but guaranteed their first turtle sighting at Kaloko-Honokohau.

For a little extra magic, attempt an evening arrival. This is one of the best places to visit on Big Island for sunset, when the turtles bob about the water enjoying dinner under a beautiful red Hawaiian sky.

Most of the items on the What to See in Big Island List are natural wonders, and perhaps a historic or cultural site in between.

Kona town is the most modern thing on the list, but just as deserving as any other.

Kailua-Kona is the major city on the Big Island, if it can be called a city. It is where you will find a mix of old Hawaii, local artisan shops, modern conveniences, and yes, even some beautiful white sand beaches along the road!

Despite the name, seeing a rainbow at Rainbow Falls is far from a given!

Even when the Rainbow State fails to deliver, a trip to this beautiful jungle waterfall will always be worth it.

Rainbow Falls is located near Hilo and is one of the most popular places to visit in the area.

Two Step is the best free, accessible snorkel spot on the Big Island. It is located directly adjacent to the Royal Grounds of Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park.

There is not much to see from land, but the underwater world here is one of outrageous beauty.

This calm cove shelters an array of colorful and extravagant coral blossoms, vibrant tropical fish, and is even home to a resident pod of spinner dolphins.

Kikaua Point may just be the best place to visit on Big Island for sunset.

Located at the south end of Kukio Beach in Kona, Kikaua Point offers swimmable tide pools that are perfect for small children. For this reason, locals often refer to it as “Keiki Beach”, which means kids’ beach.

Just behind the lava rock-lined natural pool are soaring palm trees that will make you think you’ve fallen asleep and woken up on a Hawaii vacation brochure cover.

The Kohala Forest Reserve is home to two stunning valleys that are a dream come true for trekkers and nature lovers visiting the Big Island.

While the Waipio Valley is considered the more scenic of the two, its beautiful western counterpart of Pololu Valley should not be underestimated.

While the Waipio Valley is only accessible via tour, the Pololu Valley is open for exploration and features beautiful black sand beaches, lush greenery, and miles and miles of nature trails.

The aptly named Lone Palm Beach is a lava rock, black sand beach known for one lonely palm that has managed to grow and survive in a seemingly impossible place.

The beach is not particularly soft or inviting. Access requires a lengthy hike, and there is no sand- only pebbles. It is also a poor place to swim.

So why is it on the list of what to see on Big Island? Well, in short, because it is one of the most Instagrammable places on the Big Island.

What Lone Palm lacks in comfort, it makes up for in measures of photographability.

Magic Sands is the most popular beach in the Kona town area.

This is mostly due to its proximity to town and because it is just a lovely beach to pack in for the day while having restaurants and facilities nearby.

To be clear, Magic Sands is fairly small and often crowded, which can turn some people off.

However, few, if any, beaches on the Big Island are as accessible as this one, and only a handful have the same tropical, aloha vibes.

Ho’okena Beach is known mostly by the locals but is one of the best places to visit on the Big Island for anyone willing to get off the beaten path.

This grey-ish beach has softer sand than most beaches of the young Big Island. Picnic tables, restrooms, and shelters are available for small-group events.

Perhaps the most compelling reason to visit Ho’okena Beach is the pod of dolphins that typically swim by each morning.

While you cannot swim within 50m of them, they aren’t as familiar with Hawaiian laws and often will swim to you out of curiosity.

The Hilo region is absolutely one of the best places to visit on Big Island, though the beaches leave a lot to be desired.

In an area more renowned for its rainforest, waterfalls, and natural beauty, the one beach to add to your must-see on the Big Island list is Carlsmith Beach, also known as 4 Mile Beach.

Puako Bay is a hidden gem on the Big Island… for the eyes, anyway.

A palm tree grove lines a lava-rock and coral shoreline, making for beautiful scenery but rather uncomfortable beach-going.

This place deserves a look if you are interested in doing some postcard-worthy photoshoots, but the pictures tend to be better than the experience.

In one of the remote parts of the Kona coast lies Kiholo Bay; one of the most beautiful, albeit least comfortable, beaches on Hawaii.

Rather than sand, stone pebbles make up the shoreline which creates a less-alluring beach day destination.

However, Kiholo Bay makes the list of what to see on Big Island due to its aesthetic beauty and the incredible underwater life that inhabits this protected cove.