Are you one of the lucky souls to have 7 glorious days to spend on the Big Island? Well, I have this itinerary that will guide you on everything you have to know to plan for your trip. Read on to learn all about your Big Island 7 day itinerary and what spots you should visit!
For everything you need to know for your Big Island trip, be sure to read this post that covers the following topics:
- How to reach the Big Island
- Where to stay on the Big Island
- When to visit the Big Island
- How to get around the island
Other Big Island itineraries
If you are planning to travel to the Big Island for a shorter than 7 day duration, definitely check out these other itineraries for the best fit.
Big Island 7 day itinerary
A Big Island 7-day itinerary allows you to explore the biggest island of Hawaii at a leisurely pace with enough time to stop at all the popular spots and go off-the-beaten-path.
Note the following things to consider for your trip.
- You should consider renting a car. Not only does Hawaii have great roads making for epic road trips, have a car accessible will allow you to set your own schedule and reach far-flung areas with ease.
- If visiting Mauna Kea and you wish to drive to the top, you will need a 4WD vehicle. Alternatively, if you don’t find one and still want to go there, you can book a tour to take you there.
- The itinerary described here is pretty jam-packed for visitors who want to cover more ground and explore the island. However, since you will be in Hawaii, make sure to spend an afternoon lounging in the pool and soaking up the sun with a cocktail. You are on vacation after all!
Day 1 Morning - Kona downtown, Kamakahonu beach, Broke Da Mouth Grindz
When you arrive at the airport, get a rental car straightaway and start your day early by heading to downtown Kona. If you’re staying in Kona, check in to your hotel. If your hotel is further out, explore Kona downtown, grab a delicious acai bowl from Kona Wave Cafe, and head towards Kamakahonu Beach for some sun and sand.
Tomorrow evening, you will be snorkeling with manta rays. So, if you need some snorkeling practice, take out your gear and dive into the waters off Kamakahonu Beach in Kailua Pier. You will see beautiful Hawaiian fish in the clear waters right near the beach. This is also a good spot for parents with kids to snorkel.
If you are a beginner snorkeler, definitely check out these first-timer tips here. They are based on my own experience snorkeling for the first time in Oahu, Hawaii!
While you’re there, check out the Kamakahonu National Historic Landmark, a reconstruction of the Hawaiian king, Kamehameha, and pay your respects. Note that this landmark is an important sacred site for Hawaiian people, so be respectful.
Once you’ve had your fill of the sun and the beach, drive over to the Broke Da Mouth Grindz (a curious name for this place, lol) restaurant for Filipino-Hawaiian style food. Their generous portion sizes of Kahlua pork, lau lau, and garlic furikake chicken are finger-licking good and will keep you full for a long time.
Day 1 Evening - Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, Dinner and nightlife in Ali’i drive
In the afternoon, visit a coffee farm to learn all about the Hawaiian coffee made on the hills of this island. Because the hills are covered in fog in the morning which burns off in the afternoon, the coffee can grow well and is incredibly tasty. We went to Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation close to Kona, and it was a cool experience.
At night, head over to Ali’i drive for a late dinner of udon and sushi at Sushi Cocoro & Udon. Let your hair down with a drink at the lively Gertrude’s Jazz Bar.
Wondering what foods you need to try in Hawaii? Check out these 18 dishes that you absolutely need to sample in the Aloha-State!
Day 2 Morning - Snorkel in Kealakekua Bay
Day 2 of your Big Island 7 day itinerary will be a snorkel day! Start your morning with a snorkel tour of Kealakekua Bay, home to fishes in most colors of the rainbow and coral forests. It is a marine sanctuary and is naturally protected from wind and strong waves. If you do not wish to go with a tour operator, you can also hike down to the bay. Note that it is not a shaded trail, so it can be pretty hot and strenuous. So, make sure to carry plenty of water. Alternatively, you can rent a kayak and ride out to the bay and snorkel. If you are lucky, you may even see spinner dolphins there!
Day 2 Evening: Two Step, Place of Refuge, Captain Cook Monument, Night Snorkel with Manta rays
If you have not have enough of snorkeling so far, head over to Two Step. This place is named after lava rock beds that appear to be two steps going into the water. Travelers with children as well as beginner swimmers will like this place as there is a small pool formed by the rocks.
A few hundred feet away is one of the most serenely beautiful spots on the island, the Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park (Place of Refuge). This is an archaeological park with burial grounds and a reconstructed Hawaiian village, offering a unique view of life on the island from centuries ago. Add to the fact, that it is right next to the ocean, and you get to see poignantly beautiful views of the waves crashing against rugged lava shore next to reconstructed huts and carved wooden Ki’i. Here, take the self-guided 0.5-mile tour.
Then, on your way back, make a stop at the Captain Cook Monument. Captain Cook was the first European that landed in Hawaii and this spot marks the location where he breathed his last during a battle.
Later, head back to Kona for the most exciting adventure ever! A night snorkel with manta rays is absolutely at the top of my list for the Big Island of Hawai’i. Seriously, getting up, close and personal with these giant, gentle creatures was a bucket list item and I still get goosebumps thinking about it to this day! To learn more about all you should expect on a manta night ray snorkel, including tips, dos and don’ts click here!
Looking for a manta ray snorkel tour operator? We went with Kona Style, and you can read my complete, honest review here.
Day 3 Morning: Waipio Valley Overlook, Hawi, Kohala coast, Pololū Valley Lookout and hike
After your nighttime workout in the ocean watching mantas, sleep in the morning. Today, you will do some hiking and sightseeing. You will get to drive along Kohala Coast and see the incredible Waipio Valley which was home to Hawaiian kings back in the day from the Waipio Valley Overlook. As you drive on Highway 19 to the northwest corner of the island, keep an eye out for stunning scenery made up of black lava rocks for hundreds of feet on either side.
Continue along the rich, diverse Kohala coast, by the Kohala mountains and the Kohala Ridge Road. Drive to Polulu Valley Lookout for dramatic views of the folds and creases of the coastline. Then, head over to the Awini trailhead and hike down the short but steep 0.6 miles to the black sand beach below.
Afterward, drive back to Hawi and stop for a bit of history. Hawi was the birthplace of Kamehameha I, Hawaii’s greatest king. It was under him that all the Hawaiian islands unified. Stop by the Statue of King Kamehameha to learn of his contributions. Grab lunch at Hawi.
Day 3 Evening: Kuhio Farmers Market, Puako Petroglyphs Park, Holoholokai Beach
On your way back, make a stop at the city of Waimea and grab lunch. Visit the Kuhio Hale Farmers Market for fresh Hawaiian fruit and other produce. Next, start driving south and stop at the Puako Petroglyphs Park. This park is an archeological preserve with more than 3000 rock etchings dating back to 1200AD! It was very cool and interesting to see the rocks out in the open, exposed to the elements. The trail around this park is short, and we covered it completely in about 20-30 minutes. Close-toed shoes are recommended, but not required.
Nearby this park is one of the most uniquely picturesque beaches I have ever been to. Holoholokai Beach boasts black lava rocks mixed with white coral. Add in the greenery from small trees growing along the shores, it makes for breathtaking landscapes. We spotted tide pools with marine organisms and tiny crabs hanging out on the lava rocks.
An optional pitstop in this area is Hapuna Beach, another pretty beach with a nice, sandy strip.
Day 4 Morning - Hilo, Hawai’i Tropic Bioreserve & Garden, Akaka Falls
This morning, you will head towards Hilo. Since you should split your hotel stay between Kona and Hilo, check out of your Kona hotel this morning.
Start your day by driving to Hawai’i Tropic Bioreserve & Garden to see over 1800 incredible species of flora that Hawaii has to offer. You will need to pay a fee to enter, but the incredible variety of colors of the orchids and the dazzling tropical greenery will make it worthwhile.
Next, drive up to the mesmerizing Akaka Falls. A short loop of 0.5 miles will bring you to the 442-ft waterfall in a dark green gorge. The loud splashing of water making its fall onto the pool below drowns out people’s voices. This is one spot you should not miss on your Hilo trip. Note that there is a $10 parking/entrance fee here.
Afterward, head towards the city of Hilo and grab lunch at Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine for a satisfying fish plate. In addition, check out the fresh produce at the Hilo Farmers Market.
Day 4 Evening - Liliuokalani Garden, Coconut Island, Rainbow Falls, Peepee Falls, Kaumana Caves
After lunch, you will be ready for a walk to burn off the calories. Head towards the Liliuokalani Garden, named after the Hawaiian queen. This garden is a peaceful place with several koi ponds with koi fish and Japanese-style sculptures. Walk further to the curious Coconut Island accessed via a footbridge. There, you can explore the ruins, observe the lava flow sign of the lava rocks near the ocean, or jump into the water from a dive tower!
By now, if you are still itching to see more waterfalls and lush greenery, drive to Rainbow Falls and Peepee Falls. These falls are lesser-known than Akaka Falls but equally beautiful. Rainbow Falls are named after the rainbows visible on sunny days from the water spray!
Another stop on Saddle Road is the Kaumana Caves, formed by Mauna Loa. You can descend into this lava tube created in 1881. There are no admission fees to access this lava tube.
Stay overnight in Hilo.
Day 5 Morning: Papakolea Green Sand Beach, Southernmost Tip of the US, Punalu’u Bake Shop, Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
Bright and early on day 5 of your Big Island 7 day itinerary, you will explore the south side before heading to Hawai’i National Volcanic Park.
Drive to the trailhead for Papakolea Green Sand Beach and park your car. From there, you can either hike down to Green Sand Beach, or locals offer to drive you there on their pickup trucks for a fee. While we were there, some locals offered to take us down to the beach and back up for $20 per person. We skipped that and hiked down to the closest location from where we could see the ocean. So, while we missed out on this beach, we heard a lot of people raving about how pretty it is (albeit not quite as green as they expected)!
Next, drive towards the Southernmost Tip of the US spot close by. While a bit gimmicky, it was cool to stop for a bit, and think about the fact that we were at the south-most point of the US! This location is a fantastic drone-flying area covering swaths of black lava shores on one side and golden foliage on the other. Talk about photogenic!
By now, you’re probably starving! Make a stop at the Punalu’u Bake Shop for their delectable assortment of malasadas and plate lunches. Note that there are very few places to eat around the National Volcanoes Park, so make sure to grab something in the town of Punalu’u before heading to the park.
After your stomachs are filled with malasadas, head towards Punalu’u Beach or the Black Sand Beach of the Big Island. True to its name, you will be greeted with a picture-perfect black sandy beach lined with coconut trees.
Day 5 Evening: Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
As the afternoon rolls in, drive over to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and head straight to the Kilauea Visitor Center. There, decide on where you would like to go in the park. Based on my experience, it is better to visit about 3 hours before sunset. That is plenty of time to look at the park highlights, do a short hike, and see active lava in the dark after sunset if you’re lucky! Make sure to pack your America the Beautiful Pass, if you have one.
The highlights of the park are Halemaumau Crater, Steam Vents, Sulphur Banks, Thurston Lava Tube, and the Keanakako’i Overlook. This overlook is from where you can see active lava. You will need to walk about 1 mile each way from the closest parking lot. One thing to note here is that this parking lot fills up very quickly right before sundown. So, plan accordingly. You can also park a bit further at the Pu’upua’i Overlook and walk an extra 0.5 mile each way.
Day 6 Morning - Explore Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (contd.), Hike in Mauna Loa, or take a helicopter ride
If you have not had your full of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park yet, go back and explore the trails some more. You can hike along the caldera of one of the smaller volcanoes.
Later, drive towards Mouna Loa, the largest active volcano on our planet, which stands at a whopping 13,100 ft above sea level! Just before you reach the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, take the Mauna Loa Road to reach many different trails, lava tree molds, and Mauna Loa Lookout. Experienced hikers can hike to the summit from here (a very intense hike though!) with a permit.
Alternatively, take a helicopter ride on the Big Island to get unique vistas of the rugged cliffs and volcanoes of the island from the top. Fly along the coast towards Kilauea and see the most fascinating views of the volcano from high up on your seat.
Day 6 Evening - Mauna Kea Summit
After grabbing lunch (food trucks are good options), you will drive to the tallest peak in Hawaii, Mauna Kea, standing at 13,803 feet above sea level. Drive up to Mauna Kea Visitor Center. Stop at Mauna Kea Scenic Viewpoint on the way to take in the awe-inspiring sight of this gigantic volcano. The Visitor Center is situated at 9,200 ft and you can stargaze here after dark. Note though, that you can drive to the visitor center during daylight hours only. So, make sure to reach early enough. Parking is limited and tends to be busy ~1-2 hours before sunset. You can drive any car up to the Visitor Center located halfway up the volcano.
If you want to drive to the top of the volcano to Mauna Kea Summit, you will need a 4WD vehicle and a heart of steel! I have not done this myself but I hear that the road uphill to the summit has a lot of hairpin turns and you need expert driving skills to navigate! The Mauna Kea Summit has an observatory where you can view the celestial skies after sundown. Be prepared with warm clothes as the temperature drops in the higher elevation significantly.
However, if you don’t have a 4WD vehicle, or don’t want the hassle of driving yourself, opt for a tour group that will take you to the summit.
Day 7 Morning - Cacao Farm, Umauma Falls, Laupahoehoe Point
On your final day in Hawaii, take the scenic drive along Hawaii Belt Road to the north and then west. You will spend the night in Kona to catch your flight back home. Stop on the way at Mauna Kea Cacao and take a tour to learn all about cacao farming in this region.
Next, drive over to Umauma Falls to see a stunning three-tiered waterfall with a short hike. You can even zip-line in this region!
I skipped these two spots as we were running out of time, but they are definitely on my list for our next trip!
Next, drive east towards Laupahoehoe Point, one of the most stunning shorelines you will see on the island. Take your drone with you and capture the most unbelievable footage of waves crashing onto huge black lava rocks. It was a surreal sight.
Day 7 Evening - Waimea town, Visit a ranch, Grab some mochi
Learn about the cowboy culture of Hawaii (called paniolos) in Waimea by visiting the Parker Ranch or Anna Ranch. Parker Ranch offers horseback riding excursions for adventure-seekers.
Alternatively, take a lei-making class or sample some local beer.
Afterward, head back towards Kona and grab a few of the delicious malasadas and mochi from Paradise Bakery Hawaii. End your evening with dinner on Ali’i Drive and get ready for your flight back!
Big Island 7 Day Itinerary FAQs
Are 7 days on the Big Island enough?
A week on the Big Island is a sufficient amount of time to see the main spots and experience an adventure or two. It also allows you enough time to relax and unwind by the beach or pool for a day. Additionally, if you rent a car, you can pretty much cover the entire island in 7 days and explore all that it has to offer!
What is the address of the Mauna Kea Visitor Center?
The Mauna Kea Visitor Center goes by the name of the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station (VIS). Plot this on your Google Maps and the location will pop up on the Mauna Kea Access Rd. The address provided is only this: Mauna Kea Access Rd, Hilo, HI. It is open daily from 10:30 am to 7 pm.
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