Twice as large as all of the other major Hawaiian Islands combined, the Big Island of Hawaii is the youngest of the island chain and perhaps, the most dramatic. At some 800,000 years of age, it is also still growing.
The Big Island is a study in contrasts and natural diversity. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park contains one of the world's most active volcanoes, which continues to pour into the sea adding to the shoreline. Nowhere else in the state, let alone in the rest of the US, can match the sheer rawness of its newborn landscapes.
That might sound like an unlikely place to visit, but the Big Island also offers everything you might want from a tropical vacation – dependable sunshine, superb sandy beaches, warm turquoise fish-filled waters, swaying coconut palms, and pristine rain forests.
The Hilo region is lush and rainy with cascading waterfalls. The Kohala region, on the other hand, is dry and sunny with rugged, lava-covered terrain. At certain times of the year, it is not uncommon to see a snow-covered mountain from a lounge chair on a sunny beach.
Hawaii is a great place to relax and get away from it all. The open spaces are soothing as is the natural beauty of its dramatic landscape.
Island Attractions
- Volcanoes National Park
- Parker Ranch
- Mauna Kea Observatory
- Waipio Valley
- Akaka Falls
- Hapuna Beach State Park
35 Fun Things to do on the Big Island (requires Adobe Reader)
Shopping
- Resort Shops at Mauna Kea Resort
- King's Shops in Waikoloa (15 minutes away)
- Waimea Center (20 minutes away)
- Keauhou Shopping Center in Kailua-Kona (40 minutes away)
- Prince Kuhio Shopping Plaza in Hilo (2 hours away)
Island Events
To find out what's happening during your stay, access the Hawaii State Visitor Bureau's Calendar of Events.
To learn more about our beautiful state, go to our Visiting Hawaii section.
