Things to do in Big Island of Hawaii
Sort
Big Island: Volcanoes, Waterfalls & Black Sand Day TripYou’ll walk black sand beaches looking for sea turtles, sip fresh Kona coffee at a local farm, feel mist from towering waterfalls like Akaka and Rainbow Falls, and explore ancient lava tubes inside Volcanoes National Park—all with a local guide and picnic lunch included. Expect moments that stick with you long after you leave.
Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays in MantaNight snorkeling with manta rays in Manta puts you in the water with giant rays feeding and interacting under underwater lights, with snorkeling gear, a wetsuit top, floatation device and a professional guide included. You need previous snorkeling experience and moderate fitness to enter the water; a Ride Along option is available for non-swimmers. The operator guarantees a manta ray sighting or your next trip is free.Is it for me?If you've snorkeled before and want to be in the water with the rays, the standard snorkeling option puts you face-to-face with them as they feed. If you're not a swimmer or prefer to watch without getting wet, the Ride Along option keeps you on the boat with the same view and the same guarantee.
Hilo: Volcanoes, Rainbow Falls & Black Sand Beach TourYou’ll wander ancient banyan avenues in Hilo, breathe volcanic steam at Kilauea, taste fresh macadamias at Mauna Loa Farm, and watch for sea turtles on black sand beaches — all with a local guide who knows every shortcut and story. Expect small surprises, easy walks, and moments you’ll remember longer than you think.
Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel: FREE re-ride if no sightingsNight manta ray snorkeling in Kona puts you in the water for 25–30 minutes on a small 11-passenger RHIB boat, departing between 6 and 10 p.m. Experienced swimmers with basic snorkel skills board for roughly 50 minutes total, including boat travel. If no manta rays appear, you get a free return trip instead of a refund.Is it for me?Book this if you're a confident swimmer who wants to be in the water with the mantas themselves, not watching from the boat. The small 11-person boat and the night timing—when mantas feed—are what make close encounters possible, and the free re-ride guarantee means you're not gambling on a single night's ocean conditions.
Kona: Night Manta Ray Snorkel Small Group & Light BoardYou’ll slip into Kona’s warm night water for a short swim above glowing manta rays—just minutes from Keauhou Harbor with a small group and pro guides beside you. Hold onto custom light boards as mantas sweep inches below, drawn by swirling plankton and blue glow. Expect laughter, salt air, maybe a shiver or two—and that wild moment when you realize how close you are.
Kealakekua Bay snorkeling: Cruise, caves & lunchA guided snorkeling cruise on a power catamaran through Kealakekua Bay, where the Captain Cook Monument marks the site of ancient Hawaiian history. You cruise the coastline, explore sea caves, watch marine life including dolphins and whales (seasonal), and snorkel with gear provided; lunch and refreshments are served aboard. The tour runs about 4 hours and departs from Honokohau Marina in Kailua-Kona. Choose the snorkeling option if you're comfortable in the water, or the Ride Along option if you prefer to stay aboard and watch.Is it for me?Book the snorkeling option if you're comfortable in the water and want to see the bay's marine life up close; choose Ride Along if you prefer to stay aboard the catamaran and watch from the boat instead. The 4-hour timeframe fits a morning or afternoon slot without dominating your whole day.
Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Kona: 30 minutes in the waterA manta ray night snorkel in Kona puts you in the water for approximately 30 minutes with an in-water guide, five minutes by boat from the departure bay. You choose between the Manta Guarantee (return free if no mantas appear) or a Standard Ticket for a single opportunity. Snorkeling experience and the ability to swim and tread water are required; the activity takes place in deep, dark ocean and ranges from moderate to strenuous depending on conditions. A short-sleeve wet suit top, mask and snorkel are provided; no fins are allowed.Is it for me?Book the Manta Guarantee if you're staying several days and want a second chance if mantas don't appear on your first night; the Standard Ticket works if you prefer a single scheduled time or are confident about ocean conditions. The Ride Along keeps you dry and on deck if you want the experience without entering the water, though sightings are less frequent from the boat.
Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stars: View Black Hole TelescopesA sunset and stargazing tour on Mauna Kea Summit in Hawaii takes you to the highest point in the Pacific, where you'll watch the sun drop into the ocean, then view planets through a professional Celestron telescope and stand among thirteen international observatories. The guide shares the mountain's Hawaiian cultural history, provides jackets and gloves against the cold, and photographs you with the stars—the image emailed to you after the tour. The experience runs 7 to 8 hours; minimum age is 13, and the road closes without notice if weather turns severe.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see the sunset and stars from the highest point in the Pacific and stand among the telescopes that photographed a black hole—the van handles the altitude, the guide handles the cold and the history, and you walk away with a photo of yourself under the night sky. The road closes without notice in bad weather, so book for a date when you have flexibility; if conditions turn unsafe, you'll reschedule or get your money back.
Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Stargazing: Free Night Sky PhotosAn eight-hour Mauna Kea summit tour from Kailua-Kona includes sunset viewing at Hawaii's highest peak, stargazing with a refractor telescope afterward, and free DSLR photos of the stars and constellations your guide captures for you. Pickup starts at 2 p.m. from Target parking lot in Kona or Queens Market Place in Waikoloa; the tour includes a sandwich dinner, winter gear, and a 4x4 van ride to the summit. Guests must be between 16 and 75 years old and in moderate physical fitness.Is it for me?Choose the Kailua-Kona pickup if you're staying on the west side; pick Queens Market Place if you're based in the Waikoloa resort area. The eight-hour window and fixed schedule mean the sunset and stargazing both fit into one evening without you arranging transport or timing separately, though bad weather or a full moon will affect what you see.
Big Island Volcano & Stargazing Tour with Kona CoffeeYou spend a full day moving through the Big Island's volcanic landscape—coffee farm to lava tubes to black sand beach to the crater rim—with a local guide explaining the geology and history as you go. Lunch and dinner are included, as is hotel pickup from the Kona or Kohala Coast. The day ends with stargazing at elevation, weather permitting, and you're back by evening.Is it for me?This tour works well if you want to see the Big Island's main volcanic and natural highlights in one day without arranging your own transport, park entry, meals, or timing—the fixed itinerary and included logistics mean you show up and the day unfolds.
Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit & Stars Small-Group TourYou get picked up from your Kailua Kona hotel, driven to 13,796 feet for a sunset above the clouds, then descend slightly to view Jupiter, Saturn and deep space objects through professional telescopes while sipping hot chocolate. Dinner, parkas, gloves and all transport are included. Plan for a full evening out — the tour runs long enough to let the altitude adjustment happen naturally and the sky show breathe.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying on the Big Island who want to see the night sky through real telescopes without arranging their own transport or equipment. The evening is long and the altitude is significant — that's what makes time for both the sunset and a proper star show possible, and why the tour includes dinner and acclimatization stops along the way.
Kealakekua Bay Snorkel Tour: Small Group, Sea CavesThis small-group snorkel tour departs for Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island's Kona coast aboard a fast Zodiac RIB boat, where you snorkel protected coral reefs near the Captain Cook Monument and explore sea caves and coves inaccessible to larger tour boats. The tour runs roughly 2.5 hours and includes snorkel gear, fresh pineapple, and bottled water; a live English-speaking guide leads the group. Wetsuits and lifejackets are available to rent at check-in. Wildlife sightings (dolphins, whales) are possible but not guaranteed.Is it for me?Book the snorkeling option if you want to get in the water and explore the coral reefs and sea caves yourself; choose the ride-along option if you prefer to stay aboard and see the coastline and bay without entering the water. Either way, the small Zodiac boat and small group size mean you skip the crowded experience of the big tour boats and reach places they cannot go.
Kailua Kona dinner cruise to Kealakekua Bay: Historical narrationA 3-hour dinner cruise from Kailua Pier to Kealakekua Bay on Hawaii Island's west coast, with a local guide sharing Hawaiian history and stories as you sail. The boat departs Kailua Pier after boarding and appetizers, cruises 24 miles round trip with live narration and dinner at the bay, then returns with live Hawaiian music and sunset views. Dinner, one complimentary cocktail, live entertainment and parking are included; dietary requests need 48 hours' notice by phone.Is it for me?This is a shared cruise with a fixed departure time and a guided experience, so it suits travelers who want the evening arranged and don't want to navigate the coast or plan the meal themselves. If you're new to the island and want to learn the history and stories behind the sites, the historian's narration is what sets this apart from a standard dinner boat.
Kona: Night Manta Ray Snorkel Tour & Sunset Boat RideYou’ll float above glowing waters in Kona as manta rays swirl beneath you—guided by locals who know every current. Watch the sunset from deck, slip into a wetsuit, and share quiet awe as these gentle giants glide past. Whether you swim or just watch from above, it’s one of those nights that lingers long after.
Kailua Kona: Night Manta Ray Snorkel Small Group TourYou’ll float above glowing waters as manta rays glide beneath you on this small-group night snorkel in Kailua Kona. With local guides leading you from Keahou Harbor and all gear included, you’ll watch these gentle giants feed just inches away—an experience that sticks with you long after you’re dry.
Big Island Zipline Tour: 7 Lines Over 250-ft WaterfallZipline seven different lines on Hawaii's Big Island, starting with shorter runs and building to a half-mile line soaring above a private 250-foot waterfall near Akaka Falls. The course is designed for all experience levels, with a professional guide, all equipment provided, and a 2.5-hour time commitment. Weight requirements are 40–260 lbs; children under 40 lbs ride tandem with a certified guide on the final three lines.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying on Hawaii's Big Island or have arranged your own transportation there—the remote location means rideshare is unreliable, so a rental car or pre-arranged pickup makes the difference between a smooth arrival and a scramble at the last minute.
Big Island: 9-Line Waterfall Zipline Adventure & Rainforest ViewsYou’ll fly above lush rainforest and real waterfalls on nine ziplines — some long enough to race your friends side by side. Guides share local stories while you catch glimpses of rainbows and Pacific views. All gear is included, so just bring your nerve (and closed-toe shoes). You might surprise yourself by wanting to go again before you even unclip.
Big Island: Coffee Farm, Volcano, Black Sand & Waterfall Day TripYou’ll sip fresh Kona coffee among lush hillsides, try warm malasadas at Punaluʻu Bake Shop, watch sea turtles bask on black sand beaches, hike through a lava tube in Volcanoes Park, and feel spray from Rainbow Falls — all with a local guide handling every detail so you can just take it in.
Kealakekua Bay & Captain Cook: Kona Morning Snorkel TourYou’ll start your day at Kona’s Keauhou Bay with local guides who share stories as you cruise south past historic lava cliffs toward Kealakekua Bay. Snorkel among vibrant fish near Captain Cook Monument, enjoy breakfast and lunch on board, and hear firsthand about Hawaiian history and conservation efforts—a mix of adventure and reflection you’ll probably remember long after salt dries from your skin.
Big Island Ziplining: 8 Lines & Suspension BridgeZip Isle Zipline Adventures on the Big Island is an eight-line zipline course through rainforest that gets progressively longer and faster, ending with dual side-by-side zips over a 330-foot gorge and 300-foot waterfall. The course includes a suspension bridge crossing and a free self-guided botanical garden tour; a professional guide handles all rigging and safety, shares knowledge of local plants and history, and lets you taste fruits and spices along the way. The experience runs 2.5 hours and suits anyone from age 4 up to 275 pounds, with children between 35 and 70 pounds zipping tandem with the guide.Is it for me?Groups stay small enough that the guide can share stories about the plants and history as you move through the rainforest, and children between 35 and 70 pounds zip tandem with them rather than solo, which keeps the experience safe and social for families with younger kids.
