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I’ve been lucky enough to explore 3 of the Hawaiian Islands, and the Big Island is undoubtedly the most unique Hawaiian Island.

I was blown away just by landing at the airport at the landscape and how molten lava covers a good amount of the Big Island. Little did I know, that was just the start.

If you’re an adventure seeker, solo traveler, or couple looking for a balance of adventure and tranquility, this 4-day Big Island itinerary is your sign to book that flight. It’s fast-paced but flexible, a guide for those who want to feel the Big Island, not just see it.

Here’s the TLDR, exactly what you’ll want to make sure is on your list for your trip to the Big Island. Keep reading for the full day by day breakdown!

Top 10 Iconic Experiences on Big Island Hawaii

1. Manta Ray Night Snorkel
2. Explore Kailua-Kona town
3. Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
4. Kaumana Caves
5. Rainbow Falls Lookout
6. Krishna Cow Sanctuary
7. Hilo Farmer’s Market
8. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
   • Specifically Thurston Lava Tube and Kilauea Iki Trail
9. Snorkeling in Captain Cook Bay
10. Loco Moco at 808 Grindz Cafe

Where To Stay on The Big Island

Even though the Big Island is big, there are really only 3 areas that are best to stay in, central to activities. Most recommended hotels are near Kona, as it is the main hub of the island.

• Kona Side: Ideal for beach lovers, snorkeling, and nightlife.
  • Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
• Volcano Village: Best for proximity to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
  • Volcano Village Estates
• Hilo Side: Great for waterfalls, local culture, and a slower pace.
  • The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls

A rental car is essential for your trip. The island is vast, and having your own wheels allows you to explore freely.

There is limited public transport on the Big Island of Hawaii, and ride shares would run a pretty penny to more remote places you may want to visit.

Now, for the full breakdown. The Big Island is called a big island for a reason, if you want to see the entire island, it will require a lot of driving.

Here is how I would spend 4 days exploring the entire Big Island, Hawaii.

Day 1: Kona Coast Adventures + Manta Ray Night Snorkel

We started the trip on the Kona side of the Big Island, which is the perfect base for adventure and ocean lovers.

✈️ The town of Kona is very close to the Kailua-Kona Airport (KOA), which is the primary airport on the island. Hilo International Airport (HIL) is on the other side of the island and less central to activities.

Day 1 was a half day for us, which yours may be too, depending on where you fly in from since we’re wayyy out in the Pacific!

Don’t let a half day discourage you though, there is still plenty to do.

Explore Downtown Kailua-Kona

🚗 We snagged our rental car and headed to Downtown Kailua-Kona, about a 20 minute drive south of KOA airport. Kona is small enough to explore in a few hours, but you will need a car to get around.

I recommend stopping by Kona Brewing Co for a quick lunch or early dinner. I’m always starving after a flight so this place was perfect with options for everyone, including vegan!

Depending on where you’re staying, now is a good time to check into your accommodations before heading up north to swim with the Manta’s.

We stayed in a remote house the first couple nights, south of Captain Cook, near Pebble’s Beach. If I were to do this trip again, I would go straight from Kona up north to Kauna’oa Beach to save time driving.

🚗 The drive from Downtown Kona to Kauna’oa Beach to swim with the manta rays is about 1 hour 30 minutes.

That being said, if you have time to kill before heading up north, try Kua Bay or Makalawena Beach for a beautiful sunset.

💡Pro-Tip: Makalawena Beach is not easily accessible! It is about a half mile walk on lava rock to reach the pristine white sand.

Night Swim with Manta Rays

I’m not much of an ocean swimmer, especially at night, so believe me when I tell you I was a little freaked out to be snorkeling in the ocean at night with giant manta rays.

I could not have been happier I did it though.

Just like any tour, it’s super important to go with a reputable and eco-friendly company. We had an amazing experience with Manta Ray Advocates which resides on Kauna’oa Beach within Mauna Kea Beach Resort.

Parking was simple with hotel valet included in the reservation. We arrived a bit early to explore the grounds and the manta ray viewing point to see the mantas from above.

A quick walk down to the beach and we were ready to suit up in the snorkel and fins that were provided to us.

One of the founders, Martina Wing, was there to help us prepare for what to expect in the water, especially since the ocean conditions were a bit choppy. Something to consider if you’re going closer to winter, but tours won’t run if it is too choppy.

The water was surprisingly warm in early October, I wore a bikini with no wetsuit. A quick 1 minute swim later and we were about 25m off shore, positioned at the manta viewing point.

Within minutes we were greeted by 2 manta rays, feeding on the plankton near us. These manta rays are HUGE and they glide so effortlessly through the water, it felt otherworldly.

Swimming with manta rays is equal parts peaceful and thrilling, definitely something I’d do again in a heartbeat.

Day 2: Hilo’s Waterfalls, Volcanoes National Park & Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach

Kona to Hilo Road Trip

I highly recommend waking up early today to take advantage of the full day. Hopefully with the time change you’ll wake up early anyway!

This trip starts south of downtown Kona near Pebble’s Beach where you can enjoy accommodations with 180 degree ocean views. I highly recommend staying in this area for the first 1-2 nights as it is central to the rest of the island.

There will be 6 stops on the road trip to Hilo today, with the option of adding more if time permits. Today will be a lot of driving, so these are the 6 that you must see!

Exploring Hilo by Car – Must See Spots (in order)

• 🏝️ Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
• 💦 Rainbow Falls
• 🌿 Kaumana Caves
• 🍍 Hilo Farmers Market
• 🐮 Krishna Cow Sanctuary
• 🌋 Volcanoes National Park

Extra Stops near Hilo

• 🏝️ Papakolea Beach (Green Sand Beach)
• 💦 Akaka Falls
• 💦 Umauma Falls (w/zip line adventure!)

See Lava in Volcanoes National Park

There were many highlights to the day today, but seeing lava from an active volcano was hands down a top highlight.

Check the current eruption status before you visit — if Kīlauea volcano is active, you can often see a faint red glow from the overlook after dark.

Day 3: Relax Day and Snorkeling in Captain Cook

Take some time to sleep in this morning after a long adventure day. You may still be staying in North Kona, but today is a good day to stay down closer to downtown Kona for the rest of your trip.

🏨 We stayed at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa for our last night on the Big Island and thoroughly enjoyed it.

There is no swimmable beach which is very typical, but the grounds and amenities were very relaxing, not to mention the proximity to Keauhou Harbor for snorkeling.

🍳 Start out the day with breakfast at one of the few restaurants on the property, or drive 15 minutes into town for a proper Hawaiian breakfast. Try 808 Grindz for an authentic Loco Moco.

After breakfast, spend some time thrifting or shopping in Kona while you are in town. I am a big fan of thrifting, especially on vacation, because there are always unique pieces to find.

These are the thrift stores I stopped at:

🛍️ Olivia’s Closet Consignment

🛍️ Aloha Vibes Thrift and Gift

🛍️ Goodwill Store

🛍️ Big Island Thrift Shop

Snorkel Tour from Keauhou Harbor

We booked our snorkel tour in the afternoon which I highly recommend doing so you can have a slower start to the morning. The water temperature and weather was just as nice, if not nicer, at 2pm.

The Hoku Nui snorkel tour to Captain Cook was the absolute best. The spacious catamaran cruise takes about 45 minutes to get to the snorkel point by the Captain Cook monument.

Captain Cook Bay has the clearest water in Hawaii. Even clearer than the Na’Pali Coast in Kauai! You can read more about that trip here: How to Spend 5 Days in Kaua’i, Hawaii: An Adventure Itinerary.

We had a little over an hour to snorkel and saw tons of colorful fish and coral. Light snacks and drinks were provided on the way back.

End your night with a dinner in town and of course dessert afterwards. We ate at Cheeky Tiki rooftop, then drove down the street to Gecko Girlz for some shave ice.

💡Pro-Tip: Take your shave ice to go and sit at the tables overlooking the beach volleyball court.

Day 4: North Coast Beaches

Your last day is likely another half day to book end your trip before a night flight home. Take this time to relax!

The highlight of the morning was outdoor yoga at Keauhou Bay. This was a perk of staying at the Outrigger, I’m usually not a resort person but free yoga was a nice perk.

After you wake up to the sound of singing birds and the ocean, head back inside for some breakfast and a relaxing day by the pool.

The Outrigger has a flexible late checkout policy for $25/hr after 10am since so many flights leave later in the day. It was nice to have access to the room longer to shower before getting on the red eye flight back to LAX.

If you prefer to have a beach day, you can drive about 30 minutes north of Kona for the best swimmable beaches. Check out these beaches near Kona:

🏝️ Hapuna Beach

🏝️ Kua Bay

🏝️ Kikaua Point Beach Park

After your relaxing beach or pool day, stop by downtown Kona one more time for a sunset dinner. We ate on the patio at Papa Kona with panoramic ocean views. The food was just ok, but the view and sunset made it a perfect end to the trip.

Traveling Sustainably on the Big Island

Respect for the land is central to Hawaiian culture. Small gestures make a big difference. Here is a list of things to keep in mind when traveling sustainably to Hawaii.

• Reef safe sunscreen
• Stay on marked trails
• DO NOT remove anything from the beaches, including sand
• Bring a reusable water bottle
• Support local businesses
• Leaving reviews, especially for small businesses

Final Thoughts

Four days on the Big Island felt like a good amount of time to get a good feel for the diverse islands, but also relax in true Hawaiian fashion.

There are many things that could have been added to the trip for more adventure, which is great because you can customize your perfect trip.

My only regret on the Big Island was not starting driving earlier in the day to take advantage of having more daytime outside.

If you’re planning your own trip, I’ve created a Google MyMap with every stop from this itinerary — including beaches, coffee farms, waterfalls, and scenic lookouts — to make planning easier. Download it and customize your own Big Island adventure.