Tourist Attractions on Hawaii's Big Island

The Hawaiian island of Hawaii is also called the Big Island as it is the biggest of the islands in the archipelago and the state. This is a place with much to offer from marine life, to beautiful beaches, jungle, volcanoes, coffee farms and much more.

Getyourguide.com has listed some of the activities available during a visit to this beautiful and unique place on earth.

Big Island: Eco-Friendly Twilight Manta Ray Adventure

This unique night time snorkeling expedition lasts for 75 exciting minutes as you get up close and personal with manta rays. The adventure will take place near protected reefs abundant with marine life near the mouth of Keauhou Bay where you get to see the fascinating manta ray ballet, when these graceful creatures feast on plankton, after sunset.

The experienced snorkeling guide will go through a quick safety briefing, outfit you with all the necessary gear needed, including snorkel gear, wetsuits and flotation devices. The floating swim ring has high-illuminating blue water light that attracts the plankton on which the mantas feed, and you get to grip onto it.

The manta rays can get up to 7 m/23 ft. in width and they eat when gliding through the plankton with their enormous open mouths.

After the remarkable experience and you are back on the boat, you get to warm up with a nighttime snack of hot chocolate and cookies.

Kailua-Kona: 2-Hour Polynesian Culture ATV Tour

This is a tour that combines learning about the cultures of 4 Polynesian cultures while enjoying a 2-hour ATV drive or UTV ride through an award-winning coffee farm and a lush jungle.

For those between the ages of 5 and 25 and for anyone not feeling comfortable driving an ATV there is the option of riding as a passenger in a 6-seater UTV instead.

When arriving at the meeting point you will listen to a quick safety briefing and get geared up before setting off on the adventure.

The tour kicks off with a drive through an award-winning coffee farm before transitioning through a grove of Rainbow Eucalyptus trees when entering the jungle. The first stop is “Hawaii” where you will learn about traditional implements and legends passed down through generations of Hawaiians. The second stop is “Fiji” where you get to play games that symbolizes the Fiji culture. The third stop is “Tonga” where you will learn about the island's history and how to perform a traditional Tongan dance. The fourth stop is “Samoa” where you will learn about the culture, watch a coconut demonstration and taste the coconut water. Along the way the jungle will change from lush rainforest to towering native trees.

During the adventure there will be opportunities to take in a panoramic view of Kona city and the Kona shoreline from the mountains of Holualoa.

Big Island: Voyagers of the Pacific Luau with Buffet

This experience takes place at the Royal Kona Resort and it is an interactive luau show celebrating the rich history of Hawaii in the setting of the glimmering shores of Kailua Bay.

The evening starts with an aloha shell lei greeting and craft demonstrations, which is followed by a delicious feast of an all-you-can-eat buffet with Hawaiian dishes, of course made with local ingredients, such as honey soy braised beef, fresh-catch fish, Hawaiian sweet potatoes, coconut rolls, macaroni, Lomi Lomi salad, stir fry vegetables, kalua style pork, haupia pudding and coconut cake. While you embrace the local culture and the radiant sunset your taste buds can enjoy a Mai Tai or another drink of choice.

After the feast, as drumbeats build, the sensational Voyagers of the Pacific Luau show will begin to unfold on stage. A dramatic show inspired by Polynesian stories told through live music, song, and dance that will captivate you from the moment it begins until culminating in the exciting Samoan fire knife dance finale.

From Kona and Waikoloa: Intimate Volcano Discovery Tour

Join a certified guide on a journey to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for an in-depth volcano adventure including a mix of cultural and natural history about Hawaii and the ever-changing landscape of the Big Island.

The 12-hour tour begins with a scenic drive over the stark and beautiful saddle road where mesmerizing views will set the stage for the day.

The first stop is at Hawaii Forest & Trail’s private lava tube, Kauhi Cavern, a unique cave with 35 ft high ceilings with an upside-down forest of roots hanging from it, expansive rooms as well as bright golden walls.

After lunch the journey will take you to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where you get to discover all the Park’s “must-see” spots, including the dramatically changed Halemaumau Crater, while immersing yourself in the magnanimous culture and history of the Park.

Later you will enjoy a picnic dinner in the Park before venturing back to Halemaumau Crater after dark to see the latest eruption of Kilauea light up the night sky.

Big Island: Full-Day Circle Island Tour

The Big Island has a lot to see and this 12-hour tour will take you on an adventure to experience the dramatic beauty and volcanic thrills of Hawaii while traveling in the comfort aboard a spacious, deluxe big-window coach bus with air-conditioning.

The tour will travel to the southern coast of the island overlooking the scenic Kealakekua Bay before continuing on to Volcanoes National Park where you can watch a remarkable video featuring volcanic eruptions, see steam bluffs, take a walk through the Thurston Lava Tube and more.

Next up is the east coast where you will stop at a lush orchid and anthurium nursery before a free tour of Big Island Candies, producers of high quality macadamia nut candies and cookies established in 1977, where you can enjoy a complimentary cup of Kona coffee and some free candy samples.

The tour also includes visits to Rainbow Falls and Punalu’u Black Sand Beach with additional highlights of a drive through Hilo Town and Parker Ranch – home of the Hawaiian Cowboy.

Big Island: Kona 2-Hour Small Group Surf Lesson

Hawaii Big Island is a great place to learn how to surf while enjoying the warm, blue waters of Kahaluu Bay.

This surf lesson provides quality surf instructions to people of all ages and skill levels, bringing the Hawaiian saying “You never forget your first wave” to life.

The lessons are designed to teach people how to surf safely and effectively after the surf shop has outfitted you with reef booties and rash guards.

Before entering the water there will be instructions on land on how to paddle, pop up and wipe out properly as well as important surfing etiquette. Once you are comfortable and get the go from the instructor it’s time to practice on the long rolling waves found in Kahaluu Bay.

The instructor will help you, on the level you are at, to catch waves and when to do what – when to pop up, when to paddle, when to be, when to wipe out, or if you are a more advanced surfer – how to turn and catch larger waves.

The instructors work in small groups of no more than 3 participants to ensure a highly personalized experience.