Best Things to Do on the Big Island 2026 — Volcanoes, Stargazing & Black Sand

The Big Island Is Unlike Any Other Hawaiian Island

Hawaii Island is almost twice the size of all the other main Hawaiian islands combined, contains 11 of the world's 13 climate zones, and has an active volcano that has been erupting intermittently for decades. It also has the darkest skies in the state, the southernmost point in the US, and beaches in five different colors. It is not a beach trip. Come here for the geology, the astronomy, and the sense that you are somewhere genuinely different from the rest of Hawaii.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

This is the main event. The park entry fee is $35 per car, good for 7 days, and it is worth every dollar. Start at the Kilauea Visitor Center near the Rim of Kilauea — staff post daily eruption status and the best current viewing spots. Halema'uma'u Crater, the summit caldera, is the primary active vent; when it is erupting, the lava lake glow at dusk from Uekahuna Bluff is extraordinary. Check the NPS website the day before for live eruption updates.

Drive Chain of Craters Road from the summit down to the coast — 19 miles of switchbacks through lava fields, pit craters, and coastal cliffs. The road ends where a lava flow crossed it in 2003 and was never reopened. The Holei Sea Arch at the bottom is worth the stop. Walk out on the hardened lava to the coast and understand that everything you are standing on was ocean floor a century ago.

Thurston Lava Tube (now called Nahuku) is a 10-minute detour in the middle of the park — a 500-year-old lava tube you walk through. Cool, lit, requires no gear. It is not a huge time commitment and it is genuinely impressive underground.

Mauna Kea Stargazing

The summit of Mauna Kea sits at 13,796 feet and hosts the world's largest optical telescopes for a reason: the air is exceptionally clear, dry, and dark. Stargazing here is the best accessible stargazing on earth. The summit road requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle. A safer approach: drive to the Mauna Kea Visitor Center at 9,200 feet and watch from there. The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy runs free public stargazing programs Thursday through Sunday nights starting around 6pm. The Milky Way is visible without any magnification. Dress in serious layers — it is cold at altitude even in summer.

Green Sand Beach (Papakolea)

One of only four green sand beaches in the world. The green color comes from olivine crystals eroding out of an ancient cinder cone. Getting there requires a 2.5-mile walk each direction from the parking area at South Point — or you can pay $5-10 to local residents who run unofficial truck rides out and back. South Point itself is the southernmost point in the US and worth a 10-minute stop regardless.

Black Sand Beach (Punalu'u)

Punalu'u Beach is the most accessible black sand beach on the island — parking lot, facilities, no hike required. The black sand is dramatic and genuinely black (pulverized basalt, not volcanic ash). The main attraction is the Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) that rest on the beach regularly. They are wild animals; stay 10 feet away and do not block them from the water. The beach has a freshwater spring that enters the ocean here, which the turtles are attracted to. Go early morning for the best turtle sightings before crowds arrive.

Waipio Valley

The valley overlook from the road is one of the most dramatic vistas on the island — a 2,000-foot drop to a flat valley floor with black sand beach and taro fields. Driving into the valley requires 4WD (the road is a 25% grade with serious switchbacks and the county does not rescue low-clearance vehicles). Walking down is allowed and takes about 30 minutes. Walking back up in humidity and heat takes 45-60 minutes and should be taken seriously. Waipio Valley Shuttle runs guided tours for those who want to reach the valley floor without the walk.

Kona Coffee Belt

Highway 180 above Kailua-Kona winds through the coffee farms. The Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation gives free tours that are genuinely informative about the harvest and processing. Buy directly from farms when possible; Kona Blend labeling requires only 10% actual Kona beans, so read the label. 100% Kona costs $30-50 per pound and tastes noticeably different from blends.