Things to do in Big Island of Hawaii
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Kona Salt Farm Tour: Hand-Harvested Hawaiian Paʻakai & TastingYou walk through a working salt farm on the Big Island, learn how water from 2,200 feet below the surface becomes hand-harvested Hawaiian salt, and taste pure, flavored, and smoked varieties. Optional deep ocean water foot soaks cool you down between stops. The tour takes you through the whole solar-evaporation process and the cultural significance of paʻakai, and your Salt Farm Manager is there the whole time to answer questions.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to understand where Hawaiian salt actually comes from and taste the difference it makes, without arranging transport or hunting for a working farm—the location is minutes from the airport and the manager walks you through the whole operation in one visit.
Snorkeling with Manta Rays off Kona Coast at SunsetSnorkel with manta rays at night off the Kona coast on a 50-foot catamaran, starting with a sunset sail and ending in the water with a professional guide. The boat departs from Kona pier after a 45-minute check-in at the operator's retail outlet; snorkel equipment, wetsuits, instruction and complimentary drinks are included. If you don't see a manta ray while snorkeling, you can rebook for free on another night.Is it for me?Book this if you're a confident open-water swimmer wanting to snorkel with manta rays at night—the guide leads you in the water rather than narrating from the boat.
Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkeling: Kailua-KonaYou board a boat at sunset in Kailua-Kona, cruise to a manta ray feeding site, and snorkel among them for roughly an hour while a guide explains what you're seeing. Gear, wetsuit, floatation, snacks and transport are all included. The whole outing takes two to three hours, and you'll want to call 12 hours ahead to confirm the departure time.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see manta rays in their natural feeding habitat without arranging your own boat, gear, or guide — the night timing is what brings the rays to the surface reliably, and it's the one thing that makes the whole experience possible.
Snorkel & Dolphin Watch Cruise from Kailua-Kona: Red HillA 4.5-hour snorkeling and dolphin-watching cruise from Kailua-Kona aboard a double-decker catamaran, departing from Kailua Pier and heading 10 miles out to the Red Hill marine sanctuary. The boat carries breakfast, lunch, snorkel gear, a 20-foot waterslide and a 15-foot jump platform; you spend roughly two hours in the water while the crew watches for dolphins and other marine mammals. Boarding is 30 minutes before departure. Hotel pickup is not available; free parking is a one-block walk from the pier. The lower deck is fully wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?You're booking a shared boat tour where you do the snorkeling yourself in a protected marine sanctuary, not a guided tour where the guide leads you through a single spot. The two hours of water time and the onboard amenities — breakfast, lunch, showers, the waterslide — suit travelers who want to move at their own pace and stay comfortable between water sessions. If you prefer a guide pointing out fish and corals, or if you need hotel pickup, look for a different tour.
Snorkeling with Manta Rays: South Kona Coast Night ExperienceSnorkel at night with manta rays on the South Kona Coast, a 90-minute activity with snorkel gear, wetsuits and hot chocolate included. You board a boat for a short ride to the feeding grounds, then enter the water with trained guides to watch the rays glide beneath you. If no mantas appear—extremely rare—you return free on another night during the same vacation.Is it for me?The 90-minute timeframe leaves your morning and most of your afternoon free, so this fits easily into a day with other plans. You'll need to be a confident swimmer with snorkeling experience and comfortable re-boarding a boat by ladder, which is what keeps the group small and the experience manageable in the dark water.
Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel: Big Island HawaiiYou'll float in warm water off the Big Island's Kona coast at night while manta rays glide past you, attracted by the boat's lights and the plankton they feed on. The tour includes a sunset cruise, full snorkel gear, wetsuit, and a warm shower after. Small groups, experienced crew, and a boat with a cabin and bathroom mean you're not roughing it—you're just showing up and getting in the water.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see manta rays in their natural feeding zone without arranging your own gear or worrying about timing—the boat handles everything, and the small-group format means you're not crowded in the water.
Snorkel with Manta Rays at Manta Ray Village: Guaranteed sightingSnorkel with manta rays at Manta Ray Village, a nighttime activity where you float on a specialized manta flotation device above the rays as they feed on rising plankton attracted to underwater lights. The tour runs roughly 90 minutes aboard the catamaran Hoku Nui, with wetsuits, masks and snorkels provided; if no manta rays appear, you return free within 7 days. Children from age 6 with swimming or snorkeling experience are welcome, though non-swimmers cannot enter the water.Is it for me?Book this if you want to watch manta rays from a catamaran rather than swim among them, or if an evening departure fits your schedule better than a daytime option.
Kona: Atlantis Submarine Dive & Shuttle Boat TourYou’ll ride a real submarine beneath Kona’s waves, explore ancient lava-formed coral gardens teeming with tropical fish, and hear local stories from your guide. The shuttle boat ride gives you a fresh look at Kona’s coast before you descend 100 feet below — it’s quieter than you’d expect down there, but somehow more alive too.
Big Island: Kealakekua Bay Snorkel & Captain Cook MonumentYou sail down the Kona coastline to Kealakekua Bay and snorkel near the Captain Cook Monument in a marine sanctuary known for colorful reef fish and spinner dolphins. Gear, sunscreen, water and snacks are provided; the afternoon departure means fewer crowds in the water. You need to be a confident swimmer, and children wear life jackets. The tour takes three hours total.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to snorkel one of Hawaii's best reefs without arranging your own boat or gear—the afternoon timing also means you avoid the morning crowds and still have time for dinner or other island activities.
Kohala Zipline: 5 lines, 2 sky bridges, all equipmentKohala Zipline is a 3-hour zipline activity on Big Island's private nature reserve, featuring 5 ziplines, 2 sky bridges, spiral tree staircase and nature trails. The course is designed for all ages and fitness levels, with certified guides leading small groups through the canopy. Children ages 8 to 13 must zip with an adult; all participants are weighed at check-in (70–270 lbs required). Check in 30 minutes before your start time.Is it for me?The 3-hour time commitment leaves room for another activity earlier or later in your day, but not for a full second excursion. Book this if you want a longer, more varied zipline course than the standard three-line tour, and you're comfortable with the weight check and early arrival.
Kealakekua Bay: Snorkel & Sail Tour with Kona Coffee BreakfastYou’ll sail along Kona’s wild coast with a native Hawaiian crew, sip real Kona coffee for breakfast, snorkel among bright fish at Kealakekua Bay near Captain Cook Monument, and share stories (and lunch) with new friends on deck. Expect laughter, quiet moments in blue water, and an easygoing pace that lets you actually feel Hawaii instead of just seeing it.
Kealakekua Bay Afternoon Snorkel & Waterslides, Big IslandYou board the Fair Wind II at Keauhou Bay in the afternoon, leaving your morning free to explore the island. Snorkel the reefs of Kealakekua Bay with provided gear, ride the onboard waterslides, and float past the Captain Cook Monument while your crew shares the history of the coast. Island snacks and all equipment are included; the boat is small enough to move quietly through the marine sanctuary. You're back by late afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to snorkel Kealakekua Bay without giving up your morning to a full-day commitment, and you're traveling with family or first-time snorkelers—the waterslides and flotation gear mean everyone stays engaged in the water, not just the experienced swimmers.
Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua-Kona: Small Groups, Canoe RideNight snorkeling with manta rays in Kailua-Kona, Big Island of Hawaii, aboard a traditional Hawaiian double-hulled canoe with a small group of 12 or fewer. You'll float with floatation devices along a lit board while manta rays arrive to feed on plankton attracted by the lights. The experience includes a brief canoe ride to the snorkel site near Keauhou Bay, snorkel gear, wetsuit top, and a safety briefing from a professional crew.Is it for me?Book this for a small-group experience where the crew can position you for the best manta ray viewing without the constraints of larger groups tethered to their boats. The short travel time means you maximize snorkeling rather than logistics.
Big Island ATV Tour: Polynesian Culture & Jungle RideYou ride an ATV or UTV through jungle stops representing Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Hawaii, doing hands-on activities at each one. The tour includes helmet and goggles, runs 10 minutes from Kona, and works for riders 16+ or younger passengers with an adult. Arrive 30 minutes early for the safety briefing or you'll lose your ATV seat.Is it for me?Pick this if you want the ATV adrenaline but also want to actually learn something and do something with your hands at each stop, rather than just ride for the sake of riding — the cultural stops are what break up the day and make it more than a standard jungle tour.
Kona: Manta Ray Night Snorkel Small Group Tour & GearYou’ll float above glowing waters off Kona as manta rays sweep beneath you—sometimes so close you can feel their movement in your chest. With all snorkel gear provided (even Rx masks), small group size, snacks and drinks included, plus guidance from locals who know these waters by heart—you’ll leave with salt on your skin and maybe a little awe tucked away.
Big Island: Fat Tire E-Bike Volcanoes National Park TourYou ride electric fat tire bikes through Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, visiting the Thurston Lava Tube and Kilauea Volcano overlook on paved park roads. The e-bikes let you cover multiple stops in one tour without parking hassles, and the pedal assist handles the elevation. Bring a jacket for the cooler, wetter climate at the park's elevation, and expect intermediate-level riding on a 26-inch bike.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you're a confident rider who wants to see multiple volcanic landmarks in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park without the time lost to parking and walking—the e-bikes and paved roads are what make that possible in a single outing.
Whale Watching Big Island: 2.5-Hour Catamaran CruiseA 2.5-hour whale watching tour on the Big Island operates December through mid-April aboard a powered catamaran with shade, a professional guide, bottled water and snacks. The operator guarantees whale sightings or offers a free return trip. A restroom is onboard and the boat is designed for open ocean conditions.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see humpback whales without arranging your own boat or managing the logistics of a longer excursion—the catamaran, guide and guarantee handle all of it in a single morning or afternoon window.
Big Island: Kilauea Volcano Tour, Kona Coffee & Black Sand BeachYou’ll start your day sipping Kona coffee in cool mountain air before feeling black sand under your feet at Punaluʻu Beach. Watch for sea turtles and listen as your guide shares stories beside Kilauea’s steaming crater. End with a cozy dinner at Kilauea Lodge—all with hotel pickup and meals included. It’s less about checking sights off a list than letting Hawaii get under your skin.
Oahu to Big Island: Kilauea Volcano & Hilo Waterfalls Day TripYou fly from Honolulu to Hilo, spend the day with a driver-guide moving through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, walk the Thurston Lava Tube, drive Chain of Craters Road, see Kilauea's steam vents, stop at Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls, tour Liliʻuokalani Gardens, and eat lunch — all included. The return flight gets you back to Oahu by late afternoon.Is it for me?This works best if you're staying on Oahu but want to see Kilauea and the Big Island's waterfalls in one day without renting a car or figuring out flights yourself — the tour handles the airfare, timing, and all the stops, so you just show up at the airport in Honolulu.
Big Island Hawaii: Volcanoes, Waterfalls & Black Sand Beach Day TourYou spend most of the morning inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with a Native Hawaiian guide covering the crater overlooks, steam vents, and lava tubes. After lunch at Hilo Farmers Market, you visit Rainbow Falls, a botanical garden with tide pools, a local candy factory with free samples, and Richardson Ocean Park to see Hawaiian green sea turtles. Hotel or airport pickup and drop-off in Hilo are included, along with the national park fee, bottled water, and an umbrella for the mist.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to see the Big Island's most famous natural landmarks—volcanoes, waterfalls, tide pools, and sea turtles—in a single day without renting a car or planning the route yourself. The Native Hawaiian guide and fixed schedule handle the logistics, and the van's reclining seats mean you're not exhausted by the driving between stops.
