Hard lava fields make the terrain seem otherworldly.
Hourly flights from Honolulu to the big island make it possible for you to pack more excitement into your Hawaiian vacation. Whether you're interested in seeing a volcano up close or visiting the exotic black sand beaches of the big island, you're in for a wonderful time. The big island is full of interesting and diverse activities, including waterfalls, mountain hiking and tropical gardens.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Drive through the Chain of Craters Road to see enormous calderas from past eruptions, plumes of smoke in the distance and black lava fields that spread for miles. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to 2 of the world's most active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
Hike through the striking lava fields that make this an otherworldly landscape. Thrill seekers should book a lava viewing tour to get a close look at the molten lava as it oozes down the volcano.
Kona
Explore the ocean on the Kona coast.
Kona is a beautiful place to explore the ocean. Big-game fishing is a popular sport there and you can easily find surfboard, kayak, jet skis and snorkel gear rentals at the pier on Alii Drive.
Take a Captain Zodiac Raft, Snorkel and Dolphin Adventure tour and you're guaranteed to have an amazing time. Make sure to visit the Ahuena Heiau, a favorite temple of King Kamehameha, which is located close to the pier.
Mauna Kea Observatories
Mauna Kea Observatories are a stargazers dream.
Mauna Kea is a great place to visit for many reasons. At over 33,000 feet, Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world and it's peak is constantly covered by snow. While this is not exactly the place to go skiing, you can take advantage of the free nightly star gazing tours that take place at the Visitor's Information Station (9,000 feet above sea level). Commercial tours are recommended for people who want to drive up to the summit.
Black Sand Beaches of Puna
Black sand beaches of Puna are truly remarkable.
The black sand beaches of Puna are exotic and a delight for the eyes. The sand is made of black lava that is slowly pulverized and deposited on the beach by the surf. Kehena Beach is an impressively stunning beach that reminds you of what unspoiled paradise looks like.
Akaka Falls State Park
Akaka Falls drops 442 ft into a gorge.
You can hike hike through the tropical Akaka Falls State Park in less than an hour, but you'll always remember the gorgeous 100 ft Kahuna Falls, and the powerful and famous 442 ft Akaka Falls.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
Fire torch ginger displaying its beauty.
A nature preserve housing over 2,000 exotic tropical plants, this garden is not to be missed. Impeccably maintained and beloved by many, it even has an ethereal 3-tiered waterfall. Although not completely wheelchair accessible, there is no reason why people with mobility issues can't enjoy a large part of this heavenly garden.
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