4 Must-Visit Big Island of Hawaii Attractions

Posted on January 1, 2012 - Filed Under Hawaii Tour

Hawaii’s Big Island is a popular vacation destination because there is so much for you to see and do. Creating a rough itinerary for your trip before making your hotel reservations has a number of benefits.

By familiarizing yourself with popular Big Island attractions, you can to make the most of your trip, making sure that you visit the mostly highly rated and recommended sites, a few of which are outlined below.

Hawaii Tour

1 – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must see for all Big Island tourists. This National Park is situated on of a vast array of landscaping; ranging from mountain, to rain forest, to desert, to coastal. Whether you are interested in traveling by car, foot, or bike, there is a large part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that you can examine.

When traveling by car, you can visit the summit of the Kilauea volcano. Chain of Craters Road is a nice drive in the park, although sections of it have sometimes been closed due to volcanic activity affecting the air quality. Speaking of which, probably the #1 reason people visit the park is in hopes of witnessing an active lava flow.

There has been volcanic activity consistently since 1983, but its location and movement are unpredictable, so its impossible to say if you will be one of the lucky ones or not. Some days, you can get within a few hundred yards and on other days, there is no visible activity to be seen even if you tried by helicopter or boat.

With so much to do and see in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including guided tours and themed wilderness tours, you may want to base your stay in Hilo, rather than Kailua. Hilo is a short 30-minute drive from the park, while the hotels in Kailua are about 2-hours away.

For those so inclined, you could also try camping on-site. What better way to end your day than camping? Camping is free as long as you paid admittance into the park. Be aware that camp sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis and you are limited to 7 consecutive nights.

2 – Waipio Valley

Waipio Valley is also known as “The Valley of the Kings.” This Big Island attraction is a must visit if the history and culture of Hawaii is of interest to you. Here, you will be able to explore an area that was once populated with native Hawaiians. There are unlimited hidden treasures in the area, including beautiful waterfalls, rivers, and taro fields.

To learn the history of the Waipio Valley, not just see it, a guided tour is recommended. Guided tours of “The Valley of Kings,” are available by way of, horseback, and foot. You MUST have a 4×4 that also has a low-gear to even consider driving down. Most rental agreements put this on the “do not drive” list.

There are various excursions that will take you into and around Waipio Valley that you might want to consider instead. If you choose to hike in and out, I will warn you that the mile walk down is not a problem, but the hike back out will have you huffing and puffing and swearing they moved the entrance. With a 25% grade, this would be rated as a “difficult” hike.

3 – Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is often referred to as “A Garden in the Valley of the Ocean.” About 7 miles north of Hilo, it is located on the old highway, a 4-mile stretch designated as a “scenic route” and missed by most people who are not aware of its existence.

Self-guided garden tours are available for multiple trails, including the Onomea Falls and Palm Jungle Trail. Entrance fees are a little high at /adults and /children (6-16 years of age), but its a one-of-a-kind garden with over 2,000 types of identified plants and a great view of Onomea Bay.

4 – Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park

If you are in the Kailua-Kona area, the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park (aka Place of Refuge) is a must visit for you. Situated on 180 acres of land, this National Historic Park is considered sacred ground. It was once refuge and home to those who broke the “kapu”, ancient laws of old Hawaii.

When visit the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, you can see examples of a sacred temple, wooden statutes of Hawaiian gods, and so much more! The park is located along the shores of Kealakekua Bay. You should plan on doing some snorkeling while in the area at the state park, located about a mile away. Kealakekua Bay is one of the best snorkeling sites on the Big Island.

In addition to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, and Waipio Valley, there are many other popular and well-known attractions that you should place on your vacation itinerary. For that reason, you are encouraged to use the internet to your advantage or request free Big Island travel guides, which are relatively easy to find online.

4 Must-Visit Big Island of Hawaii Attractions

Randy Yanagawa was born and grew up in Hawaii and currently lives in North Carolina. His website, www.myhawaiionline.com, is designed to help people answer the #1 question asked, which island should they go to? The answer depends on what your interests and activity levels are, so he provides an overview of each island and what activities are available. He includes more specific information about both popular attractions and the not so familiar locations to help people answer that question for themselves. He also has a blog, www.myhawaiifoodfun.com, with timely posts on upcoming events and news that may be of interest to those planning a visit or just interested in the latest news and travel information, as well as recipes for some island favorites you can prepare at home.

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