📌Island
Hawaiʻi Island (United States), which everyone calls the 'Big Island' so it isn't confused with the state. It is the largest and southernmost island in the Hawaiian archipelago, in the middle of the North Pacific: about 10.430 km², more than all the other islands combined. It makes up Hawaiʻi County, which had 200.632 residents in the 2020 census and about 209.790 according to the 2025 estimate. The two towns are Hilo, on the wet, green east coast (44.186 residents in 2020), and Kailua-Kona, on the dry, sunny west coast (19.713 in 2020). The island is made up of five shield volcanoes: Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualālai, Mauna Loa and Kīlauea, the last of which has been erupting episodically since December 2024. Mauna Kea rises to 4.207 metres, and several international astronomical observatories operate on its summit. It is known for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its black and green sand beaches, for Kona coffee and for night snorkelling with manta rays. It is also the birthplace of Kamehameha I, the king who unified the islands, and the place where Captain James Cook died in 1779
📌Currency
US dollar (US$). Cards are used for everything, and in several places they are the only option: the state parks (ʻAkaka Falls, Rainbow Falls, Hāpuna) take card only, and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau does not accept cash. Prices are shown before tax, and tipping is expected at sit-down restaurants. Hawaiʻi is expensive: the car and accommodation are the biggest costs. What's free: the Hele-On bus, the Waipiʻo lookouts and the Mauna Kea visitor centre
📌Base town
There are two bases, and it's worth splitting your nights between them. Kailua-Kona, in the west, has the airport with the most flights (KOA, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole), with connections to the mainland, Canada and Japan, and is close to the beaches, the coffee and the manta rays. Hilo, in the east, has Hilo airport (ITO), is about 48 km (30 miles, around 45 minutes) from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and is the gateway to the waterfalls. Between the two towns, the Hele-On bus takes about 2 h 45 min via Saddle Road
📌Visa
It is United States territory, so federal rules apply. Chile has been in the Visa Waiver Program since 2014: Chileans with an e-passport travel with an ESTA authorisation, which costs US$ 40,27 and rises to US$ 40,62 from 16 October 2026. Argentines, Uruguayans, Mexicans, Colombians and Peruvians need a B1/B2 tourist visa, with the DS-160 form and a consular interview. There is also the 'visa integrity fee' of at least US$ 250, which consulates are charging unevenly in 2026: confirm it with the embassy
💱 USD exchange rate
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🌤️ Weather in Hawaiʻi Island
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Hawaiʻi Island is the island that is still being made. In Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Kīlauea has spent almost two years in episodes of lava fountains inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater, and in a single afternoon you go from a forest of giant ferns to a desert of black rock only a few years old. It is the largest island in the archipelago and the least urban: there are no skyscrapers, just ranches, coffee farms and small towns with a single street.
What makes it different is the variety. In one day's drive you cross from the dry Kona coast, with white sand beaches and sunsets over the sea, to the wet Hilo coast, with waterfalls and rainforest. Up above is Mauna Kea, at more than 4.200 metres, where observatories from several countries operate and there is free stargazing for the public. Down below, at night, manta rays feed on plankton a few metres from the snorkellers.
It isn't a cheap destination, and it's best to know that from the start: a rental car is almost essential and beach hotels cost what they cost. But much of the best is free or nearly free: the Waipiʻo Valley lookouts, the black sand beach at Punaluʻu with its turtles, the Hilo market, a visit to a coffee farm or the Mauna Kea visitor centre. With five or six days well split between Kona and Hilo, you'll see the essentials.
📖 History of Hawaiʻi Island
The first Polynesian settlers reached Hawaiʻi in double-hulled canoes; recent studies place that settlement between the years 900 and 1200. For centuries the Big Island was the centre of power of the Hawaiian chiefs: the ruler ʻUmi-a-Līloa set up his seat in Kailua, in the Kona district. In the north, in Kohala, Kamehameha was born; around 1791 he took control of the whole island, and in 1810 he completed the unification of the archipelago into a single kingdom. In January 1779 the British captain James Cook anchored in Kealakekua Bay; he returned weeks later and died on 14 February 1779 in a clash with Hawaiians on the shore at Kaʻawaloa, where an obelisk stands today. Kamehameha spent his last years in Kailua-Kona and died there in 1819. In 1838 Governor John Adams Kuakini built Huliheʻe Palace, which King Kalākaua later bought. During the 19th century came missionaries, whalers and workers from China, Japan, Portugal and the Philippines for the sugar cane plantations, which were the backbone of the economy for more than a hundred years; the last one closed in 1995. The kingdom was overthrown in 1893, the United States annexed the islands in 1898 and Hawaiʻi became a state in 1959. Hilo suffered two devastating tsunamis, in 1946 (originating in Alaska) and in 1960 (from the Valdivia earthquake in Chile). Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was created in 1916 and has been a World Heritage Site since 1987. The 2018 Kīlauea eruption covered part of the Puna district; since December 2024 the volcano has been erupting in episodes inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
🗺️ What to see
Tours you can book
A local guide tells you in half an hour what no sign at the site will ever explain. We look ours up on Civitatis: guided in Spanish and booked online with no fuss. They have 12 activities in Isla Hawai. Three are below so you get the idea: tap any of them and they all open.
If you book from here we earn a commission and you pay no more. Prices and availability come from Civitatis.
1
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
The park of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa: steaming craters, lava fields, lava tubes and an eruption that comes and goes.
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This is the main reason to come to the island. The park protects the summit of Kīlauea and part of Mauna Loa, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. At its heart is the Kaluapele caldera and, inside it, Halemaʻumaʻu crater, where Kīlauea has been having episodes of lava fountains since 23 December 2024.
Current status: according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, on 9 October 2026 the volcano was at alert level WATCH / aviation code orange. Episode 54 ended on 25 August 2026; there is now minor spattering and a night-time glow at the vents, and the USGS says another episode could come within days or weeks without warning. Check the status on the day at usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea.
Watch out for construction: the Kīlauea Visitor Center is closed until late 2026, and a temporary centre runs at Kīlauea Military Camp, from 9 to 16:45. The Jaggar Museum was demolished and is not being rebuilt. Chain of Craters Road, which runs down to the sea, is still the great alternative. The park is open 24 hours and the car parks fill up before 10. Volcanic gases can affect sensitive people.
ℹ️ Distance: About 48 km (45 minutes) from Hilo and about 153 km (2 to 2.5 hours) from Kailua-Kona via Route 11, according to the NPS · Best time: All year round. Early to get parking, and at night to see the glow if there is activity · Admission: Private vehicle US$ 30 (7 days); motorcycle US$ 25; pedestrian or cyclist US$ 15; under 15 free (source: nps.gov/havo, verified October 2026) · Duration: A full day; two if you want to hike the trails
2
Mauna Kea (Maunakea) and its Visitor Center
The highest mountain in Hawaiʻi, with observatories on the summit and free stargazing at the visitor centre at 2.800 metres.
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Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano, 4.207 metres high, and a sacred place for Hawaiians. Observatories from several countries operate on the summit, taking advantage of the altitude and the dark skies.
For most travellers the visit is to the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, at 2.804 metres. According to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, it is open every day from 9 to 21 and charges no admission, registration or parking fee. There are stargazing programmes on clear nights: check the calendar before you go.
Going up to the summit is another story. The road is 4x4 only, and many rental contracts don't allow it: check yours. The summit is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The university's Institute for Astronomy advises against going beyond the visitor centre for children under 16, pregnant women, people with heart or respiratory conditions, and anyone who has been scuba diving in the last 24 hours.
The simplest option is a tour with 4x4 transport, warm clothing and dinner. Bring winter clothes: it's cold up there even in summer.
ℹ️ Distance: On Saddle Road, between Hilo and Kona; the visitor centre is at 2.804 m altitude · Best time: All year round; cloudless nights for the stars · Admission: Visitor centre: free, no admission or parking fee (source: hilo.hawaii.edu/maunakea, verified October 2026) · Duration: 3 to 4 hours for the visitor centre; 7.5 to 8.5 hours with a summit tour
3
Kealakekua Bay (Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park)
The bay where Captain Cook died, now a historical park with a much-loved snorkelling reef at the foot of the monument.
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Kealakekua Bay, south of Kailua-Kona, brings together history and sea. On the Nāpōʻopoʻo shore stands Hikiau Heiau, a sacred Hawaiian temple you must not climb. Across the bay, at Kaʻawaloa, a white obelisk marks the spot where James Cook died in 1779. At the foot of the monument there is a much-loved snorkelling reef: clear water, coral and tropical fish.
How to reach the monument: there are three ways. On foot along the historic Kaʻawaloa trail (no toilets; bring water and pack out your rubbish). By kayak, but only with companies permitted by State Parks: currently Kona Boys and Adventures in Paradise are listed; landing at Kaʻawaloa with your own or a rented kayak is prohibited, as is launching from the Nāpōʻopoʻo pier. Or by boat: the Fair Wind II catamaran leaves from Keauhou Bay.
The state park is open from 7 to 20 and charges no admission. Toilets are only on the Nāpōʻopoʻo side. Check the State Parks notices before you go, as there have been closures due to storms.
ℹ️ Distance: South Kona coast, south of Kailua-Kona · Best time: Early morning, when the sea is calmer and visibility is better · Admission: State park free, open from 7 to 20 (source: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp, verified October 2026). Kayak or boat tours extra · Duration: Half a day
4
Night snorkelling with manta rays (Kona)
At night, giant manta rays come up to the boats' lights to feed on plankton, a few metres from the snorkellers.
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This is one of the best-known activities on the island, and it only happens at night. The boats head out at sunset and stay floating over the seabed. The guides switch on lights that attract plankton, and reef manta rays rise to feed on it, circling and somersaulting centimetres from the surface. You float face down, holding on to a lit board or ring, without touching the animals.
Many trips leave from Keauhou Bay, a few minutes from the area known as 'Manta Village'. They last 2 to 3 hours. You don't need to know how to dive: being able to float and being willing to get into dark water is enough. There are spectator seats for anyone who'd rather watch from the boat.
Good to know: some operators offer a free repeat trip if no mantas show up that night; ask before you pay. Taxes and harbour fees (7% to 10%, according to Dolphin Discoveries) are added to the base fare, and a tip is expected. If you get seasick, take something beforehand.
ℹ️ Distance: Departures from Keauhou Bay, south of Kailua-Kona · Best time: All year round, with calm seas · Admission: Paid tour: from US$ 99,99 per person; typical range US$ 99–169 (source: dolphindiscoveries.com, verified October 2026) · Duration: 2 to 3 hours
5
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau (National Historical Park)
The ancient Hawaiian place of refuge: rebuilt temples, carved wooden statues and a stone wall by the sea.
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In ancient Hawaiʻi, anyone who broke a kapu (a sacred law) could be sentenced to death, unless they reached a puʻuhonua, a place of refuge, where a priest would absolve them. This is the best-known one still preserved. A great dry-stone wall separates it from the chiefs' grounds, and by the sea there is a rebuilt temple surrounded by kiʻi, carved wooden figures.
The visit is on foot along a short trail among palm trees and lava shoreline where green turtles often rest. The visitor centre is open every day from 8:30 to 16:30, according to the NPS. Next to the park is the popular snorkelling spot known as Two Step.
Good to know: the park does not accept cash; you pay by card at the entrance, or with a QR code if the booth isn't staffed. The Hawaiʻi Tri-Park annual pass (US$ 55, only for US citizens and residents) is also valid here and at Volcanoes National Park. Combine it with Kealakekua Bay and a coffee farm: they're in the same area.
ℹ️ Distance: South Kona, south of Kealakekua Bay · Best time: Morning, before the heat sets in · Admission: Car US$ 20 (7 days); motorcycle US$ 15; on foot or by bike US$ 10; under 15 free; card only (source: nps.gov/puho, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours
6
Waipiʻo Valley (Waipiʻo Valley Lookout)
A deep valley with green cliffs and a black sand beach. The lookout is free; you can only go down to the valley floor on a tour.
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Waipiʻo, on the Hāmākua coast, is a valley with towering green walls that ends at a black sand beach. For Hawaiians it is a place of great historical and cultural value, and taro is still grown on the valley floor.
Current access (verified October 2026): the road down has been closed to visitors since February 2022 for safety reasons, under county emergency rules that are renewed roughly every 60 days. Pedestrians can't go down either, you can't walk to the beach, and camping permits are suspended. According to the Love Big Island guide, the current emergency declaration runs until 25 February 2027, so it isn't expected to reopen soon.
What you can do: the lookout, at the end of Waipiʻo Valley Road in Kukuihaele, open and free, no permit needed. The car park fills up by mid-morning at weekends. You can't see the waterfalls from the top. The only way down is with Waipio Valley Shuttle, which meets on Honokaa-Waipio Road, according to its website. The Waipio on Horseback rides take place on the ranch, above the valley. Combine it with the town of Honokaʻa.
ℹ️ Distance: Hāmākua coast, at the end of Waipiʻo Valley Road, in Kukuihaele (past Honokaʻa) · Best time: Morning, before the car park fills up · Admission: Lookout free. Descent only on a tour: Waipio Valley Shuttle from US$ 67 online (source: waipiovalleyshuttle.com, verified October 2026) · Duration: 30 minutes at the lookout; 105 minutes with the tour
7
ʻAkaka Falls (ʻAkaka Falls State Park)
A 134-metre waterfall in the middle of the rainforest, reached by a short paved trail with lots of steps.
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This is the best-known waterfall on the island. The state park, north of Hilo, has a loop trail of about 640 metres (0.4 miles), paved but with lots of steps, through dense rainforest. Along the way you see two falls: Kahuna Falls and ʻAkaka Falls, which drops 134 metres (442 feet) into a pool.
The park is open every day from 8:30 to 17. Hawaiʻi state parks charge non-residents per person and per vehicle, and ʻAkaka takes card only. Since there is almost no mobile signal in the area, State Parks recommends paying online on the reservations website before you arrive.
Good to know: it isn't wheelchair accessible because of the stairs. According to the State Parks notice, part of the trail is closed due to fallen trees: check the notices before you go.
ℹ️ Distance: North of Hilo, on the Hāmākua coast · Best time: All year round; mornings are less crowded · Admission: Non-residents US$ 5 per person + US$ 10 parking; under 3 free; Hawaiʻi residents free; card only (source: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp, verified October 2026) · Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
8
Hilo and the Hilo Farmers Market
The island's largest town: a historic centre facing the bay, a daily fruit and food market, and small, inexpensive museums.
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Hilo is the Hawaiʻi that lives for itself rather than for tourism. The centre, facing the bay, is easy to explore on foot among shops, cafés and the market. This is the island's wet coast, which is why everything is so green.
The Hilo Farmers Market, on the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Mamo Street, is open every day from 7 to 15, according to its website. The big days are Wednesday and Saturday, with more than 200 stalls according to several guides; the rest of the week it's smaller. There's tropical fruit, vegetables, flowers, prepared food and crafts. Entry is free.
Other places: the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, run by the University of Hawaiʻi, explains Mauna Kea and Polynesian navigation and has the island's only planetarium (Tuesday to Sunday, 9 to 16:30). Hilo also remembers the tsunamis of 1946 and 1960, which destroyed part of the waterfront. From here, Volcanoes National Park is 45 minutes away.
ℹ️ Distance: East coast of the island; Hilo Airport (ITO) a few minutes from the centre · Best time: Wednesday and Saturday for the big market; mornings, as it often rains in the afternoon · Admission: Market free. ʻImiloa: adults US$ 19, children 5-12 US$ 12, over 65 US$ 17 (source: imiloahawaii.org, verified October 2026) · Duration: Half a day to a full day
9
Kailua-Kona and Huliheʻe Palace
The tourist town on the west coast: a seafront stroll along Aliʻi Drive, a missionary church and an 1838 royal palace turned museum.
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Kailua-Kona is the base for most travellers. The historic centre is best explored on foot along Aliʻi Drive, the coastal road, with bars, surf shops and sunset views. It was the seat of the Kona chiefs and the place where Kamehameha I spent his last years and died, in 1819.
Huliheʻe Palace was built in 1838 by Governor John Adams Kuakini from lava rock. It was later bought by King Kalākaua, who had it plastered and used it as a summer home. Since 1927 it has been cared for by the Daughters of Hawaiʻi, who restored it as a museum with koa wood furniture and objects belonging to the royal family. It is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 to 15 (last entry 14:30); booking is recommended.
Boats for Kealakekua Bay and manta ray snorkelling leave from the Kona area, and the coffee farms begin to the south. It makes a good base for your first and last nights if you fly through Kona Airport.
ℹ️ Distance: South of Kona Airport (KOA), on the west coast · Best time: All year round; sunset for the seafront stroll · Admission: Huliheʻe Palace: non-resident adults US$ 16, youth 6-17 US$ 14, under 5 free; guided tour US$ 20 (source: daughtersofhawaii.org, verified October 2026) · Duration: Half a day
10
Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots (Wailuku River State Park)
Two stops on the Wailuku River, within Hilo: a 24-metre waterfall with rainbows, and pools that seem to boil between basalt columns.
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Wailuku River State Park has two sections a few minutes from downtown Hilo. Rainbow Falls (Waiānuenue, 'rainbow water') drops 24 metres (80 feet) in front of a large cave. In the morning, when the sun is shining straight at it, a rainbow often forms in the mist. Legend says the cave was home to Hina, mother of the demigod Maui. You can see it from a lookout next to the car park.
Further up, at the end of Peʻepeʻe Falls Drive, are the Boiling Pots: a series of pools linked by underground currents that make the water bubble. The walls are hexagonal basalt columns that formed when the lava cooled slowly. A single admission and parking payment covers both sections.
The park is open from 7:00 to 17:30 and the gate closes at 18:00. Don't go into the river: respect the signs and the railings. After heavy rain, State Parks may close access, so check the notices.
ℹ️ Distance: In Hilo, via Waiānuenue Avenue and Rainbow Drive · Best time: Morning, to see the rainbow · Admission: Non-residents US$ 5 per person + US$ 10 for parking (covers both sections); residents free; card only (source: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp, verified October 2026) · Duration: 30 to 60 minutes
11
Kona coffee (farms in North and South Kona)
The slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa produce Kona coffee; several farms offer free tours, and there is a historic farm museum.
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Kona coffee is grown on a narrow strip of mid-elevation slopes between Holualoa and Hōnaunau, where mornings are sunny and afternoons are cloudy. Many of these farms were worked by families of Japanese origin, like the one recreated at the area's historic farm.
The simplest way to get to know it is to visit a farm. Greenwell Farms, in Kealakekua, offers free tours every day, with a tasting, roughly between 8:30 and 14:00 (its website gives different hours in different sections, so confirm by phone). Other farms along Route 11 and Route 180 also open their shops.
For the history, the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, run by the Kona Historical Society, recreates a 1920s Japanese family farm: the original house, coffee trees, drying racks (hoshidana) and the mill (kuriba), with guides in period dress. It is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 14:00 (last entry 13:15).
ℹ️ Distance: Slopes between Holualoa and Hōnaunau, south and east of Kailua-Kona · Best time: All year; mornings for the tours · Admission: Greenwell Farms: free tour. Kona Coffee Living History Farm: adults US$ 20, students 7-17 US$ 10, under 7 free (source: konahistorical.org, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1 to 3 hours
12
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
The island's best-known black sand beach, where green sea turtles often rest. It's on the way between the volcano and Kona.
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Punaluʻu is in the Kaʻū district, on the south coast, and it's the obvious stop between Volcanoes National Park and Kona. The sand is black basalt broken into grains by the sea, and the bay is ringed with coconut palms. What everyone comes to see are the green sea turtles (honu) that haul out onto the sand to rest in the sun; hawksbill turtles sometimes show up in the water too.
Rules: don't touch them, don't feed them, and stay at least 3 metres (10 feet) away, as local guides ask. If a turtle comes towards you, move away slowly. Taking sand is also prohibited.
The sea has strong currents at times, so swim with care. According to Love Big Island, there are lifeguards from 8:30 to 17:00, plus parking, tables, toilets and a shower. Further south, in Nāʻālehu (about 16 km, 10 miles), is the Punaluʻu Bake Shop, famous for its malasadas and sweet bread: a good stop for a cheap meal.
ℹ️ Distance: About 50 km (31 miles) from Volcano Village on Route 11, between mile markers 56 and 57 · Best time: Midday, when the turtles are usually on the sand · Admission: Free (public beach) · Duration: 1 hour
13
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
A beach of greenish sand, coloured by olivine crystals from a volcanic cone, at the southern tip of the island. You get there on foot.
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Papakōlea is near Ka Lae (South Point), the southernmost point in the United States. The beach fills a small bay inside an eroded volcanic cone. The sand has an olive-green tint because it's full of olivine crystals, a mineral heavier than the ash the sea washes away.
Getting there isn't easy. Guides agree you can't drive all the way to the beach. The hike starts from the car park near South Point and crosses open ground with no shade and lots of wind; guides give between 4 and 5 km each way depending on where you start. Bring water, sunscreen and sturdy shoes. At the end you have to climb down a rock wall to the beach.
Alternative: local residents offer rides in 4x4 trucks along the dirt tracks, paid in cash. They aren't an official service and prices change. Taking sand is prohibited. The sea can be rough: if the waves are big, watch from above.
ℹ️ Distance: Southern tip of the island, near Ka Lae (South Point); the last stretch is on foot · Best time: Morning, before the heat and the wind · Admission: Beach free. Informal 4x4 ride: about US$ 20 per person according to travel blogs (source: one-million-places.com, blog, verified October 2026); unofficial · Duration: 3 to 4 hours including the hike
14
Hāpuna Beach (Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area)
A long white sand beach on the Kohala coast, with lifeguards, good for swimming when the sea is calm and for watching the sunset.
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Hāpuna is the big white sand beach on the Kohala coast, north of Kona, between lava fields and resorts. It has turquoise water and plenty of space. In summer the sea is usually calm and it's good for swimming and snorkelling at either end; in winter there can be big waves and currents. There are lifeguards, toilets and cold showers, tables and a stretch of the Ala Kahakai coastal trail.
The park is open from 7:00 to 19:30 and the gate closes at 20:00. It's a state park, so non-residents pay admission and parking, card only. The A-frame cabins and the campground are closed, the food stand is temporarily closed and the Waialea section is closed due to fallen trees, according to State Parks: check the notices.
Good to know: there's almost no shade, so bring an umbrella. It's a good plan for your arrival or departure day if you're flying from Kona.
ℹ️ Distance: Kohala coast, north of Kona Airport · Best time: Summer for swimming; sunset all year · Admission: Non-residents US$ 5 per person + US$ 10 for parking; under 3 free; card only (source: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp, verified October 2026) · Duration: Half a day
💵 Prices
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|
| Parque Nacional de los Volcanes de Hawái | Private vehicle US$ 30 (7 days, up to 15 passengers); motorcycle US$ 25; pedestrian or cyclist US$ 15; under 15 free (source: nps.gov/havo, verified October 2026). America the Beautiful annual pass for non-residents US$ 250; for residents US$ 80. Pay at the entrance or on recreation.gov. If you arrive on Hele-On you pay US$ 15 at the park |
| Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau (Parque Histórico Nacional) | Car US$ 20; motorcycle US$ 15; on foot or by bike US$ 10; under 15 free; cash not accepted (source: nps.gov/puho, verified October 2026). Hawaiʻi Tri-Park Pass US$ 55 (US citizens and residents only), also valid at Volcanoes and Haleakalā |
| ʻAkaka Falls State Park | Non-residents US$ 5 per person + US$ 10 per car; under 3 free; Hawaiʻi residents free with ID; card only (source: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp, verified October 2026). Best to pay online beforehand, as there's no signal |
| Rainbow Falls y Boiling Pots (Wailuku River State Park) | Non-residents US$ 5 per person + US$ 10 per car (one payment covers both sections); residents free; card only (source: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp, verified October 2026) |
| Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area | Non-residents US$ 5 per person + US$ 10 per car; under 3 free; residents free; card only (source: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp, verified October 2026) |
| Centro de Visitantes de Mauna Kea | Free: no admission, registration or parking fee; open 9:00 to 21:00 every day (source: hilo.hawaii.edu/maunakea, verified October 2026) |
| Palacio Huliheʻe (Kailua-Kona) | Self-guided visit: non-resident adults US$ 16, youth 6-17 US$ 14, under 5 free, kamaʻāina and over 65 US$ 12; guided tour US$ 20 (source: daughtersofhawaii.org, verified October 2026). Wednesday to Saturday |
| Kona Coffee Living History Farm | Adults US$ 20; students 7-17 US$ 10; under 7 free; Hawaiʻi residents US$ 15 and US$ 5 (source: konahistorical.org, verified October 2026). Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 14:00 |
| ʻImiloa Astronomy Center (Hilo) | Adults US$ 19; children 5-12 US$ 12; over 65 US$ 17; under 4 free; kamaʻāina US$ 14 (source: imiloahawaii.org, verified October 2026). Includes planetarium; tickets non-refundable |
| Valle de Waipiʻo | Lookout free. Descent into the valley only with Waipio Valley Shuttle: from US$ 67 booking online, with a special price for children (source: waipiovalleyshuttle.com, verified October 2026) |
| Bahía de Kealakekua (parque histórico estatal) | Free, 7:00 to 20:00 (source: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp, verified October 2026). Kayaks only with permitted companies |
| Playas Punaluʻu y Papakōlea, Hilo Farmers Market, Greenwell Farms | Free (public beaches, market and farm tour at no charge) |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
Activities and tours
Night snorkel with manta rays
PriceFrom US$ 99,99 per person with Dolphin Discoveries; typical range for shared trips US$ 99–169, plus 7%–10% in taxes and fees (source: dolphindiscoveries.com, verified October 2026)
Snorkel cruise to Kealakekua Bay (Fair Wind II)
PriceMorning: US$ 193,75 adult, US$ 127,32 child 4-12; afternoon: US$ 143,93 adult (source: hawaiiactivities.com, aggregator listing Fair Wind's offer, verified October 2026)
Guided kayak and snorkel trip to the Captain Cook Monument
PriceMorning trip US$ 249,99 adult; midday trip US$ 169,99 adult and US$ 129,99 youth, excluding taxes (source: lovebigisland.com, guide with bookings, verified October 2026)
Sunset and stargazing on Mauna Kea with 4x4 transport
PriceFrom US$ 330 per person, excluding taxes and booking fee; ages 13 and up (source: maunakea.com, verified October 2026)
4x4 tour to the floor of Waipiʻo Valley
PriceFrom US$ 67 booking online (source: waipiovalleyshuttle.com, verified October 2026)
Helicopter flight over the volcano and waterfalls
PriceFrom Hilo, Safari from US$ 349 (55 min); Blue Hawaiian US$ 419–719; from Kona, Mauna Loa Helicopters US$ 229–639 (source: lovebigisland.com, guide updated in August 2026, verified October 2026)
Tour of a Kona coffee farm
PriceFree at Greenwell Farms, every day (source: greenwellfarms.com, verified October 2026)
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🚌 How to get there and distances
Getting around
PriceA quarter of searches on Kayak found Enterprise at Kona Airport for US$ 94 per day or less; SUV average US$ 107 per day (source: kayak.com, aggregator, verified October 2026)
DurationHilo–Volcanoes: about 45 minutes; Kona–Volcanoes: 2 to 2.5 hours (according to the NPS)
NotesAlmost essential: the island is huge, buses are infrequent and ride-hailing apps barely work outside the towns. You can rent at KOA and ITO airports. Check whether the contract allows the Saddle Road and the drive up Mauna Kea (4x4 only). Traffic drives on the right, as in Latin America
Hele-On bus (county-wide)
PriceFree for all passengers until 31 December 2028 (source: heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov/fares, verified October 2026)
NotesGood for saving money, not for sightseeing. The Blue line (route 2) links Hilo and Kailua-Kona via Kona Airport, with few departures a day; route 101 goes to Hilo Airport. Check current timetables at heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov or on (808) 961-8744
Hele-On to Volcanoes National Park
PriceFree bus + US$ 15 pedestrian admission paid at the park (source: heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov and nps.gov/havo, verified October 2026)
NotesThe stop is at the Volcano House junction and the second entrance to the Kīlauea Visitor Center. There's no public transport or shuttle inside the park, according to the NPS: you'll have to walk
PriceCounty fare: US$ 3 for the first 1/8 mile and US$ 0,40 for each additional 1/8 mile, plus US$ 1 per large suitcase (source: heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov, fare in force since November 2008, verified October 2026)
NotesUseful for the airport–hotel leg. Not all taxis can pick up at the airports. Uber and Lyft operate in Kona and Hilo, but the NPS warns that there are hardly any drivers near Volcanoes National Park
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
How to get there
From Latin America: flight with a connection in the continental US to Kona (KOA)
Airlines / operatorsKona Airport is served by Alaska, American, Delta, United, Southwest, Hawaiian, Air Canada, WestJet, Japan Airlines and Go! Mokulele (source: airports.hawaii.gov/koa)
Avg. priceNo fixed fare: varies by date and connection; compare on search engines (source: airports.hawaii.gov, verified October 2026)
From Honolulu (HNL) to Kona (KOA) or Hilo (ITO)
Avg. priceHNL–KOA one way from US$ 69 on Southwest (source: southwest.com, verified October 2026); Expedia showed one way from US$ 49 in the past week (aggregator, verified October 2026)
From Las Vegas to Hilo (ITO), direct flight
Airlines / operatorsSouthwest Airlines, three times a week since 6 August 2026; Hawaiian Airlines connects Hilo with Honolulu
Avg. priceFare varies by date; check southwest.com (source: flymag.com, news report on the route, verified October 2026)
Kona Airport (KOA) → Kailua-Kona
Avg. priceTaxi: about US$ 25 to Kailua-Kona town, as a non-guaranteed reference (source: airports.hawaii.gov/koa, verified October 2026)
Hilo Airport (ITO) → downtown Hilo
Avg. priceHele-On free until 31 December 2028 (source: heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov, verified October 2026); taxis charge the county meter rate
DurationShort ride; route 101 ran hourly on weekdays and Saturdays (UH Hilo, November 2024)
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🏨 Where to stay
No exact prices: a scale from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (luxury), with 2-3 options per category.
Recommended optionsHowzit Hostels Hawaii (formerly Hilo Bay Hostel), at 101 Waiānuenue Avenue in downtown Hilo: from US$ 58 a night; average of US$ 101 to 122 per room (source:
kayak.com, verified October 2026). It's one of the few budget options on the island. For beds in a shared dorm, check directly with the hostel
Recommended optionsGrand Naniloa Hotel Hilo, a DoubleTree by Hilton, next to Liliʻuokalani Park: US$ 213–243 a night including taxes (source: Orbitz and Travelocity, aggregators, verified October 2026). Hilo is quite a bit cheaper than Kona and is 45 minutes from the volcano
Beach hotel in Kailua-Kona
Recommended optionsCourtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, next to the pier and Ahuʻena Heiau: US$ 273–312 a night (source: Travelocity, aggregator, verified October 2026). According to Kayak, the average hotel in Kailua-Kona costs US$ 418 a night; December is the most expensive month
Resort on the Kohala Coast
Recommended optionsMauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection, on Kaunaʻoa Beach: US$ 1.225–1.375 a night for 2026 dates, plus taxes (source: Expedia, aggregator, verified October 2026). The Kohala Coast is also home to the Mauna Lani and Waikoloa resorts. For the year-end holidays, book months in advance
🍴 Where to eat
Loco moco (el plato de Hilo)
Options / signature dishRice, a hamburger patty, a fried egg and gravy: Hilo's most typical home-style dish. At Café 100 (969 Kīlauea Ave., Hilo) the original loco moco starts at US$ 8,50 with macaroni salad (source:
hawaiimagazine.com and
howtoliveinhawaii.com, verified October 2026). It's takeaway food, cheap and filling
Malasadas y pan dulce hawaiano
Options / signature dishMalasadas are Portuguese-style doughnuts. At the Punaluʻu Bake Shop in Nāʻālehu they cost US$ 1,29 plain, US$ 1,49 with passion fruit glaze and US$ 1,79 filled (source: the bakery's published menu, undated, verified October 2026). They also sell guava and taro sweet bread
Poke (pescado crudo marinado)
Options / signature dishHawaiian poke is cubed ahi tuna with soy sauce, sea salt, onion and seaweed. At Da Poke Shack in Kailua-Kona, bowls with rice cost US$ 12–18 according to guides (source:
flashpackingamerica.com, blog, verified October 2026); almost everything is takeaway. The island's supermarkets also sell poke by the pound
Cocina de productos de la isla (farm to table)
Options / signature dishMerriman's Waimea, in the ranching town of Waimea, works with local produce: grilled ahi US$ 49, Hāmākua macadamia-crusted fish US$ 54, Kahua Ranch lamb US$ 59, poke starter US$ 27 (source:
merrimanshawaii.com, verified October 2026). A 4% kitchen surcharge is added, plus taxes and tip
❓ Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit the Island of Hawaiʻi if I'm Argentine, Uruguayan, Chilean, Mexican, Colombian or Peruvian?+
Hawaiʻi is part of the United States, so federal rules apply. Chile has been in the Visa Waiver Program since 31 March 2014: Chileans with an e-passport travel with an ESTA authorisation, applied for online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. It costs US$ 40,27 and from 16 October 2026 rises to US$ 40,62; it's valid for two years or until your passport expires. Argentines, Uruguayans, Mexicans, Colombians and Peruvians need a B1/B2 tourist visa: DS-160 form, consular fee payment and an interview. There's also the 'visa integrity fee' of at least US$ 250, which in 2026 some consulates already charge and others don't yet. Check the website of the US embassy in your country and book your appointment well ahead.
Do I need to rent a car?+
Almost certainly yes. The island covers about 10.430 km² and the main sights are far apart: from Volcanoes National Park to Kona is a 2 to 2,5 hour drive, according to the NPS. The Hele-On bus is free until the end of 2028, but it runs infrequently and doesn't reach most beaches, lookouts and farms. There's no public transport inside Volcanoes National Park, and the NPS warns that Uber and Lyft have almost no drivers in the area. Book your car in advance at the airport you're flying into. Heads up: many rental contracts don't allow driving up to the summit of Mauna Kea, which requires a 4x4.
Is it safe to visit Kīlauea volcano?+
Yes, as long as you follow the park's guidance. Kīlauea has been erupting in episodes inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater since December 2024, in a closed area far from the lookouts. On 9 October 2026 the USGS had it at alert level WATCH / orange, and warned that another episode could come within days or weeks. The most real risk for visitors is volcanic gas (sulphur dioxide) and volcanic haze or 'vog', which affect people with asthma or heart problems, pregnant women and children. Check the volcano's status at usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea and the air quality before you go, stay on marked trails and never cross a closure.
How many days do I need?+
Five or six days let you see the essentials without rushing. A good approach is to split your stay: two or three nights in Kailua-Kona for the beaches, Kealakekua Bay, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, coffee and the manta ray snorkel; and two or three nights in Hilo or Volcano Village for Volcanoes National Park, ʻAkaka and Rainbow falls, the market and the Waipiʻo lookout. Mauna Kea fits in when you cross via Saddle Road. Punaluʻu and Papakōlea are on the long southern route between Kona and the volcano. With fewer than four days, it's best to pick one side and not try to do everything.
When is the best time to go?+
The island can be visited year-round, but it has two climates. The Kona and Kohala coast is dry and sunny almost all the time; the Hilo and Hāmākua side is wet, with frequent rain especially in the afternoon, which is why it's so green. In summer the sea on the west side is usually calmer for swimming and snorkelling; in winter there's more swell. According to Kayak, December is the most expensive month for Kona hotels. Whatever the season, it's cold at the summit of Mauna Kea and it can snow.
Can I pay for everything by card? How much will I spend per day?+
A card is practically essential: state parks such as ʻAkaka Falls, Rainbow Falls and Hāpuna only take cards, and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau doesn't accept cash. Bring some cash for Hilo market stalls, tips and informal rides like the one at Papakōlea. Hawaiʻi is expensive: a hostel in Hilo starts at about US$ 58, a mid-range hotel in Kona is around US$ 270–310 and a car about US$ 90–110 a day according to Kayak. You can save by eating poke and loco moco, using the public beaches and free lookouts, and buying the America the Beautiful annual pass (US$ 250 for non-residents) only if you'll visit several national parks within the year.
More places in United States
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