What's On in Hawai‘i Island This Week — from Jun 6
What's Happening on Hawai'i Island — Week of June 6, 2026
Hawai'i Island (the Big Island) has a weekly rhythm that rewards those who pay attention to it. From the Hilo side's farmers markets and rainforest walks to the Kohala Coast's resort activities and evening manta ray dives, here's what's on this week.
Hilo Farmers Market — Saturday, June 7
The Hilo Farmers Market at the corner of Mamo Street and Kamehameha Avenue is open Wednesday and Saturday. The Saturday market is the bigger event, with 200-plus vendors selling rambutan, longan, starfruit, fresh ginger, Big Island avocados, Hamakua mushrooms, orchid plants, and food from Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Hawaiian plate lunch vendors. Arrive by 8am for the widest selection — many of the best produce vendors sell out by 10am. Free to browse, parking along the bayfront or in the lot at Mo'oheau Park.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — Open Daily
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers some of its best conditions in June, before the dry heat of late summer sets in. The Kilauea Iki Trail (4-mile loop, 400-foot descent into the 1959 lava lake) is one of the finest hikes in the Pacific and requires no advance reservation beyond the park entrance fee ($35/vehicle, valid 7 days). The Kilauea Visitor Center on Crater Rim Drive screens an orientation film and has current lava activity information — check nps.gov/havo before driving up. Early morning light on the caldera is extraordinary. Bring a jacket; the summit sits at 4,000 feet.
Manta Ray Night Snorkel — Nightly, Keauhou Bay
The manta ray aggregation off the Sheraton Kona Resort at Keauhou Bay is one of the most reliable wildlife encounters in Hawaii. Every clear evening, underwater lights attract plankton, and the plankton attract the mantas — sometimes 10 or more circling directly overhead as snorkelers float on the surface. Multiple operators run evening tours from Keauhou Bay; book through Manta Ray Advocates Hawaii, Jack's Diving Locker, or the Sheraton's own dive desk. The bay is approximately 20 minutes south of Kailua-Kona. Cost: around $90–$120 per person including equipment. This is not weather-dependent the way beach activities are — the mantas show up rain or shine.
Kohala Coast — Beach and Water
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area (roughly 30 miles north of Kailua-Kona) is the Big Island's finest white-sand beach, with lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and a concession stand. Free to enter (small parking fee). June brings calm South Shore conditions to Hapuna — good for snorkeling at the north end of the beach near the rocks. Spencer Beach Park next to the Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site just north is the calmest swimming beach in the state — protected, flat water, and historically significant as the site of the last major heiau (temple) built by Kamehameha I.
Pololu Valley — Short Hike, Big Views
The Pololu Valley Lookout at the end of Highway 270 on the Kohala Coast offers one of the most dramatic views in Hawaii — a steep valley dropping to a black sand beach with Na Pali-like sea cliffs. The 0.25-mile walk to the lookout is free and accessible to anyone. The steep descent to the valley floor adds another 0.5 miles each way. The beach itself has dangerous shore break — not for swimming, but stunning to walk and photograph. A Tuesday-through-Sunday drive up the Kohala coast highway (passing upcountry ranches, the Kamehameha birthplace, and views of Maui across the channel) is one of the finest scenic drives in the state.
Practical Notes for the Big Island This Week
- Rental car availability is tighter on the Big Island than any other island — book before arriving
- Hilo side and Kona side are literally different climates; if it's raining in Hilo, it's almost certainly sunny in Kona (90 minutes away)
- Gas prices are highest at stations in Hilo and Na'alehu — fill up in Kailua-Kona before long drives
- Volcano updates at nps.gov/havo — current eruption status changes frequently
Looking for something to do on Hawai‘i Island? Here are our top picks for the week, starting Saturday, June 6 — from marquee shows to neighborhood gatherings.
Looking for things to do in Big Island? Browse upcoming Big Island events →
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