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Hawaiʻi the Big Island

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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Humpback wales, Big Island of Hawaii

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Overview

Indulge your spirit of adventure on the biggest Hawaiian island. It's still a vast frontier, full of unexpected wonders.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Smoke plumes from the Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

    Kilauea

    Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

    Kilauea volcano lies at the center of activity in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The unassuming bump on Mauna Loa's southeast flank would be easily…

  • Gemini North Observatory on top of Mauna Kea mountain peak on Big Island of Hawaii, United States with deep blue sky and volcanic landscape. 1327459248

    Mauna Kea's Summit Area

    Maunakea

    At 13,796ft in the air, you are above 40% of the atmosphere and 90% of its water vapor – apparently perfect conditions for growing the giant mushroom-like…

  • Kilauea crater fumarole expelling fumes. 467882084 Cloudscape, Pele, Kilauea, Geology, Fumes, Exploding, Wide Angle, Big Island, Hawaii Islands, Day, Island, Volcanic Crater, Fumarole, Volcano, Earth, Cloud, Fog, hot spot, sulfide, Gas, Crater, Halemaʻumaʻu

    Halemaʻumaʻu Crater

    Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

    The original Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook off Crater Rim Dr was closed in 2008 due to volcanic activity and the very real threat of death. For the next decade,…

  • Punaluu Black Sand Beach, a beach in the southeastern part of the Hawaiian coast of Kau 1738359710 beach, beautiful, big island, black sand, black sand coast, blue, coast, exotic, famous place, hawaii, hawaii volcanoes national park, holiday, island, island of hawaii, kilauea, landscape, lava, nature, ocean, outdoor, palm, paradise, punaluu, punaluu black sand coast, sand beach, sea, sky, southeastern kau coast, summer, sun, sunny, tourism, tourist attractions, travel, tree, tropical, vacation, volcano, water

    Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach Park

    Hawaiʻi the Big Island

    Beyond the nearly omnipresent green sea turtles basking in the sun, or the rare hawksbill turtles that lay their eggs here (be careful where you walk),…

  • Green sand beach is located near South Point on the island of Hawaii. It is one of the only four green sand beaches in the world.

    Green Sand Beach

    Hawaiʻi the Big Island

    This legendary beach on Mahana Bay isn't really that green, but it is a rare and beautiful sight. Its color comes from crystals of olivine, the mineral…

  • Makalawena Beach on Big Island Hawaii, USA, a beautiful remote white sand beach and turquoise water.; Shutterstock ID 1583199166; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI 1583199166

    Makalawena Beach

    Kona Coast

    If what you're after is an almost deserted, postcard-perfect scoop of soft, white-sand beach cupping brilliant blue-green waters, head to 'Maks.' Although…

  • Shot in Hawaii on Big Island at Ka Lae the southermostpoint in all USA 226095067 big, blue, cliffs, coastline, foam, horizon, island, movement, ocean, rocks, seascape, waves

    Ka Lae

    Hawaiʻi the Big Island

    Ka Lae, the southernmost point of the Big Island, feels palpably unwelcoming, yet hauntingly peaceful. It is mostly an empty grassland fringed by restless…

  • At 13,020 ft. one of the highest freshwater lakes in the USA. 1056080528 lake waiau

    Lake Waiʻau

    Maunakea

    On an island with a conspicuous dearth of surface water, tiny Lake Waiʻau's existence on a porous lava mountain is something of an enigma. Hawaiian…

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