Vacation On The Big Island Of Hawaii
The Big Island of Hawaii is an island of adventure. There are some amazing sites and places to visit, and many things to do if you’re visiting for a vacation. It’s quite easy to book your vacation accommodation online nowadays. It saves time, and money too as you don’t have to waste your day traveling from place to place trying find the perfect accommodation that fits in with your needs and requirements. Some things you should know about The Big Island of Hawaii though is that one of the most popular resorts on the island is not accessible by land, but instead you have to travel to it by boat. There are over 130 beaches on the island, although only five are popular tourist destinations – Hapuna Beach, Kaunaoa Bay Beach, Mauna Kea Beach, MacKenzie State Park, and Kohanaiki Beach Park- each offering guests its own unique set of facilities and services in addition to stunning views which make them wonderful vacation retreats.
If you are considering taking a vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii, then you may be interested in my review for the Grand Kona Resort and Spa.
Hawaii has always been my favorite vacation location. I have been to Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island of Hawaii. I’ve been to other islands but by far these three are my favorite. If you’re planning on going there you’ll want to know some of the things to do on the Big Island of Hawaii.
The Big Island of Hawaii is the big island in every way: it has a big place in the volcanic ring of fire that characterizes the string of islands that form the Hawaiian Islands and it fringes a very big stretch of placid ocean called the Pacific. These Pacific waters carry some of the most beautiful waves in all of surfing, as well as being home to one of the largest pods of dolphins you’ll find in any ocean.
Vacation On The Big Island Of Hawaii
Knowing where to stay on the Big Island is essential. The island is large (twice the size of all the other islands combined) and diverse. Many visitors find it challenging to decide upon an island accommodation. To assist the process, choose a location on the island that you will enjoy. Our guide will list some essential considerations to help you choose wisely.
Where Do You Stay on The Big Island?
Consider a location that affords you enough time to visit all or most popular attractions. A week might cut it on smaller islands like Kauai, Maui, or Oahu. But the size of the Big Island requires more time to see all the worthwhile attractions. We suggest one week as a minimum, but two or three weeks are ideal. Plan to divide your time between the two primary halves of the island: the West Side and the East Side.
On this page, we’ll cover each of the major Big Island regions you can find accommodations within. Here are this page’s highlights…
- General overview of staying West side vs. East side
- Explore the Kohala Coast Region including its pros and cons
- Discover the Kailua-Kona Region and surrounding areas
- Explore the Hilo Town Region
- Discover places to stay in the Volcano Town Region
- Explore accommodation options in the north Hamakua Coast region
- Discover options in other regions including Puna, North Kohala, South (Kau), and Waimea Town
- Search for Big Island of Hawaii Hotels and find the Best Rates
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How to Maximize Your Stay From the West to the East of the Big Island
We suggest splitting your stay between Kailua-Kona on the west side and Hilo (or Volcano) on the east side during your trip. This will ease a lot of extra driving and allow you to experience both sides of the island. If you have only allocated a week to visit the island, four nights in Hilo and three in Kailua-Kona will suffice. Use that same ratio for more extended visits. Most visitors spend longer periods in Kailua-Kona since most hotels, upscale resorts, vacation rentals, and Big Island motels are here. The north of Kailua-Kona on the Kohala ‘Gold’ Coast hosts lodging options. Yet, since most of the Big Island’s best attractions & sights are closer to Hilo, visitors should attempt to book accommodations in Hilo for at least half of their stay on the island.
Reasons for Staying Hilo Side
The main reason for staying on the Hilo side, whether in Downtown Hilo or the beautiful Volcano area, is proximity to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The park is so large that it takes about two days to explore, especially if there is any lava activity you want to see. The rangers at the visitor center can tell you all about what’s happening in the park (you may even want to call ahead so you’ll know in advance). If you plan to drive up to the summit of Mauna Kea, then Hilo is the best side to start your journey along Saddle Road. Additionally, many of the north (Hamakua) sites and Puna attractions are best visited from Hilo.
Reasons for Staying Kona Side
On the Kailua-Kona side, you’ll have more time to explore the sights, beaches, historical and cultural locations, and attractions on that side of the island, including day trips up to Pololu and Waipio Valleys. Depending on your interests, you may want to give yourself more time in Kailua-Kona or Hilo- it’s really up to you. Knowing where to stay and knowing when to visit the Big Island of Hawaii is equally essential.
Visiting the Hilo (East) Side
Hilo side is what we refer to the East side of the island, including downtown Hilo (the second largest town in Hawaii) and the Volcano area. This side of the island is considerably wetter than the west side, but the extra rain also create a lush and verdant paradise, unlike the barren lava fields of the Kona side. You’ll find an abundance of waterfalls here right outside of Hilo. The Hilo airport is located here and, as noted above, can serve as a good place to either fly into or out of the island. One real downside to the east side is the lack of good beaches; they are few and far between here unfortunately. Ultimately, it’s the east side’s proximity to all of the great Big Island attractions that make staying here worth it though.
When visiting the Hilo side, we recommend staying either in a small hotel in town or preferably in one of the lodges/inns near Volcano. We love the Volcano area not only because of its proximity to the park but also because of the lush scenery.
Both Hilo and the Volcano area are lush and green for a reason- as noted above, it rains a good bit in these areas. Be sure to read our Big Island of Hawaii Weather article for more information.
The contrast between this side of the island and the Kailua-Kona side is incredible. Stark and barren lava fields on one side and lush and verdant rainforest on the other