Culture
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (Place of Refuge)
A sacred place of forgiveness on a lava point of carved ki'i, royal fishponds, and swaying palms. One of Hawaii's most powerful cultural sites, and its best preserved.
Experiences
Design your perfect day
Whether you're seeking adventure on the Kohala Coast, snorkeling, sailing, or cultural journeys, the best of Hawai'i Island begins the moment you arrive. We know the island, its places, and its people, and we help you make the most of every day.
Culture
Culture
Pu'ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
The last great temple of old Hawai'i, raised by Kamehameha I to fulfill a prophecy and unite the islands. Its massive stone platform stands above Kawaihae, just up the coast.
Culture
Puakō & Waikoloa Petroglyphs
Thousands of figures carved into the lava centuries ago, canoes, dancers, and voyagers. Some of Hawaii's richest petroglyph fields sit within a short walk of the resort.
Culture
Hulihe'e Palace, Kailua-Kona
A seaside royal residence turned museum on Ali'i Drive, its koa halls full of the Hawaiian monarchy: feather work, quilts, portraits, and grand island furniture.
Culture
Lapakahi State Historical Park
Walk a 600-year-old Hawaiian fishing village on the Kohala coast, house sites, salt pans, and canoe sheds, with the trade winds and the sea telling the story.
Culture
Oceanfront Sunset Luau
Kālua pig from the imu, hula and fire knife under the stars, and a Polynesian feast by the water. The luau is the island's warmest evening out.
Culture
Kona Coffee Farm Tour
Walk the rows where the world's most famous coffee grows, from cherry to roast, on a working farm in the cool green hills above Kona, tasting as you go.
Culture
Hawaiian Tea Farm Tasting
Hawai'i Island's volcanic soil and mountain mist grow tea worth crossing the island for. Tour the garden, learn the craft, and taste small-batch leaves at the source.
Ocean
Ocean
Manta Ray Night Snorkel
Float above lit ocean water after dark as Kona's resident manta rays somersault inches beneath you, the Big Island's single most unforgettable hour.
Ocean
Kealakekua Bay Kayak & Snorkel
Paddle a glassy marine sanctuary to the Captain Cook Monument, where spinner dolphins pass and the reef drops into some of Hawaii's clearest water.
Ocean
Whale Watching on the Kohala Coast
From November through April, humpbacks fill the channel off Waikoloa, breaching, tail-slapping, and singing. Some of the best viewing is from shore.
Ocean
Sunset Catamaran Sail
Slip out of the bay as the sun drops into the sea, drinks in hand and sails full, the Kohala Coast glowing gold behind you. The island's easiest evening on the water.
Ocean
Snorkel the Kohala Coast Reefs
Clear morning water, green sea turtles, and reefs that begin just off the sand. The Kohala Coast is some of Hawaii's easiest, richest snorkeling, no boat required.
Ocean
Surf Lessons on the Kona Coast
Gentle rolling breaks and warm water make Hawai'i Island a forgiving place to stand up for the first time. Instructors have most beginners riding within the hour.
Ocean
Stand-Up Paddleboarding at A-Bay
Glide across the calm, protected water of Anaeho'omalu Bay, turtles below and Mauna Kea behind you, all a short walk from your suite.
Ocean
Best Beaches on the Kohala Coast
White sand, turquoise water, and reliable sun. From Hapuna to hidden coves, the Kohala Coast holds the Big Island's finest beaches, most within twenty minutes of Hali'i Kai.
Land
Land
Mauna Kea Summit & Stargazing
Journey to the 13,803-foot peak of Mauna Kea for sunset above the clouds, then some of the clearest night skies on Earth.
Land
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Day Trip
Stand at the edge of Kīlauea's summit caldera, walk through a lava tube, and cross a landscape still being born, an epic day trip from Waikoloa.
Land
Zipline Through the Kohala Rainforest
Soar over gulches, waterfalls, and forest canopy on North Kohala's zipline courses, an easy jolt of adrenaline with some of the island's greenest views.
Land
Helicopter Tour of Volcanoes & Waterfalls
Lift off from Waikoloa and cross the island to Kīlauea's craters and the roaring waterfalls of the Hamakua Coast, terrain you can reach no other way.
Land
Waipi'o Valley Lookout
The Valley of the Kings drops a thousand feet to a black-sand shore and taro fields laced with waterfalls. The overlook is one of Hawaii's great views.
Land
Pololū Valley Lookout & Hike
The road's end in North Kohala opens on a black-sand valley walled by sea cliffs. Take in the lookout, or switchback down to the wild beach below.
Land
Akaka Falls & the Hamakua Waterfalls
A short rainforest loop delivers you to Akaka, a 442-foot ribbon plunging into a green gorge, the showpiece of the Big Island's lush, waterfall-laced east side.
Land
Golf at Waikoloa Beach Resort
Two acclaimed courses wind through black lava, green fairways, and ocean views right at the resort, some of the most scenic golf in the islands, minutes from your door.
Family
Family
Dolphin Quest at Hilton Waikoloa Village
Meet Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in a saltwater lagoon a few minutes up the road, a hands-on encounter kids remember for years.
Family
Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo
The only tropical rainforest zoo in the country, and admission is free. Tigers, lemurs, and native nēnē under a Hilo-side canopy, an easy win with kids.
Family
Mauna Kea Visitor Center Stargazing
You don't need the summit to see the stars. At 9,200 feet the visitor station offers some of the clearest, kid-friendly night skies on Earth, no 4WD required.
Family
'Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo
Where Hawaiian voyaging wisdom meets the science of Mauna Kea's telescopes. A planetarium and hands-on exhibits that make a rainy Hilo afternoon fly by.
Family
Hawai'i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
A boardwalk winds through a jungle valley of orchids, waterfalls, and a wild ocean cove, one of the most beautiful botanical gardens anywhere, on the lush Hamakua Coast.
Family
Rainbow Falls & Boiling Pots, Hilo
An 80-foot waterfall you reach in a two-minute walk, best in the morning when the mist throws a rainbow. An easy, free stop right in Hilo town.
Family
Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary
High above Kona, a private cloud forest of giant tree ferns, fruit trees, and mist. Guided canopy walks open a green, cool world most visitors never see.
Family
Kings' & Queens' MarketPlace
The resort's twin open-air centers: shops, island eats, ukulele and hula on the lawn, and a petroglyph field out back. An easy, walkable evening with the kids.
Beyond this page
An island too big for one page
This is a starting point, not the whole story. Hawai'i Island is the largest in the chain, with far more than we could fit here: waterfalls and rainforest on the Hilo side, hidden black-sand coves, seasonal happenings, and the quiet local spots that never make a guidebook. Tell us what you love, and we will point you toward the local favorites and quiet corners that make an island this big feel like your own.
We know the island
Our concierge lives here and knows its places and its people. Tell us what you love, and we will help you plan your days, share the spots worth your time, and do everything we can to make your adventures memorable.
Meet your concierge