EPIC 4-Day Hawaii Big Island Itinerary

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The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the most beautiful islands in the world, and it’s also one of the most diverse. You’ll find mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls, and beaches on every corner! This 4-day Big Island itinerary will give you a taste of everything that makes this island so special.

This itinerary is for the traveler who wants to see and do it all. We will be experiencing both sides of the island, which are both very different. Hilo is on the rainy side of the island (although we lucked out with no rain during our trip), and because of that has a more tropical feel. Kona is a little more touristy. It’s also the drier side of the island.

4-Day Big Island Itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Kona to Hilo

We flew Southwest from Maui to Kona and then drove to Hilo. Flights were insanely cheap using points (like 5,000 points cheap!). Hilo does have an airport, so check for direct flights if you can—unfortunately, we couldn’t.

Once we landed, we grabbed food in Kona since there weren’t many options on the drive. There’s a little area right by the airport with all kinds of food—poke, sushi, Kona Brewing, hot chicken, you name it. We went for Willie’s Hot Chicken, but we came back to this area later in the trip to try more spots.

Our VRBO was between Hilo and Volcanoes National Park, which was perfect for our plans. After the 2-hour drive, we got in around 8 PM, crashed, and got ready for our first full day on the Big Island!

Day 2: Hilo, Waterfalls, + Volcanoes National Park

Morning: Coffee, Waterfalls, + Lava Tubes

Coffee

This day is not for the weak! We crammed sooo much into this day, I’m honestly shocked. Many of these mini-adventures are pretty close to one another as you’ll see, making it easy to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time!

We woke up and started our morning with Just Cruisin Coffee (I love a good Hawaiian coffee shop). It’s a drive-thru, and the line may be a little long, but it was certainly worth the wait. We tried their cappuccino and cold brew and both were so full of flavor! A little on the sweet side, which is exactly what I prefer. Their breakfast sandwiches were also great.

Akaka Falls State Park

Next, take a 30-minute drive to Akaka Falls State Park. If you park within the park it costs $10 and is $5 per person. There did seem to be parking just outside that you could utilize to save a few bucks, but we didn’t realize it until it was too late.

This is a short paved trail (0.4 miles) and you can plan to spend a little over half an hour here. The trail is tropical and surrounds you with rainforests, wild orchids, bamboo, and a few waterfalls.

The most impressive waterfall is Akaka Falls. Akaka Falls is a 442 ft waterfall, and Kahuna Falls which is also on the trail is 100 ft. Akaka Falls was our favorite waterfall of the day, and if you plan to only squeeze in one out of the ones that I mention, I suggest it be this one.

Farmers Market

After this, we headed back towards Hilo. We decided to make a pit stop at the Hilo Farmers Market which is open 7 days a week. We popped in to get some fresh fruit and they even cut it for us so we could eat it on our walk.

Wailuku River State Park

From there drive about 10 minutes to Rainbow Falls. Rainbow Falls is an 80-foot waterfall that cascades over a lava tube and is a part of Wailuku River State Park. This isn’t even a trail, you just pop out of your car and you’ll see an overlook and viewpoint of the falls.

It’s great if you have people with you who aren’t able to hike but want to experience some waterfalls! You can plan to spend around 5-10 minutes here before heading to your next spot.

Boiling Pots and Pe’epe’e Falls are also a part of Wailuku River State Park and are just a little over five minutes away. Similar to Rainbow Falls it’s just a quick little stop and overlook. When we went the waterfall seemed a little dry, but I can imagine during rainier seasons it probably looks much cooler.

Boiling Pots is a series of several pools along a river that when heavy rainfall occurs appear to be boiling because of how turbulent the waters become.

Kaumana Caves

After the Boiling Pots, you’ll hop back in your car for an 8-minute drive over to Kaumana Caves. Kaumana Caves allows you to explore a huge lava-tube cave that Mauna Loa created in 1881. It’s pretty insane! And another great thing to do on the Big Island for free.

We checked out a lava tube on the Road to Hana in Maui, and this one was on a much larger scale.

Afternoon: Winery, Thai Food, + Volcanoes National Park

Volcano Winery

The next stretch of the road trip was a bit longer—about 45 minutes to the entrance of Volcanoes National Park. Since we knew we’d be exploring for a few hours, we grabbed lunch beforehand. And, of course, we had to make a stop at Volcano Winery… best decision ever.

Volcano Winery has some unique wines and even a couple of meads. Naturally, we did a tasting so we could try them all—pinot noir, Volcano red, Hawaiian guava-grape, macadamia nut honey mead, and even an infusion tea wine mead.

I usually like meads in small doses since they can be thick and syrupy, but these were surprisingly light! The macadamia nut honey mead was hands down my favorite—so good that we had to grab two bottles to take home.

Lunch

After you enjoy your samples, head over to Thai Thai Bistro & Bar. As with most Thai restaurants, the portions are plentiful. Remi and I shared an order of their Thai Thai special curry with shrimp. It was stellar! And it kept us full for several hours, even after splitting it.

Volcanoes National Park

Now that we’re full, and had a few sips of wine, it’s finally time for Volcanoes National Park! Entry typically costs $30 per vehicle and is good for 7 days. However, if you have the National Parks Pass it’s free! There are two National Parks on Big Island and one on Maui. If you plan to visit all three it’s definitely worth getting the pass (snag it here).

Some of the most distinctive geological, natural, and treasured cultural landscapes in the world are protected by Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The park includes the peaks of two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, and stretches from sea level to 13,681 feet!

Prior to heading here I highly recommend downloading the Shaka Guide app and purchasing the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tour. It’s less than $20, and is so helpful and informative! We loved having our own personal local tour guide in the car with us.

The app goes off of your GPS, and you can download it so it works offline. It tells you the best stops, and which ones you can maybe skip if you’re in a rush or getting tired.

In case you don’t want to purchase the app, here are a few of our favorite stops:

• Volcano steam vents
• Sulfur banks hike
• Devil’s Throat Crater
• Pauahi Crater
• Kilauea Iki Overlook
• Muliwai O Pele

Evening: Volcanoes National Park Take Two

Unfortunately, the Thurston Lava Tube and Puhimau Crater were closed when we visited which are two of the most popular parts of the park. So if they are open during your visit, be sure to check them out.

We ended up going back to our rental for a little nap. We were so beat from a full morning and afternoon of exploring, and honestly, once we laid down it was pretty hard to get back out. But I will say experiencing Volcanoes National Park at night is an absolute must.

This National Park is open 24 hours. There are a few eruption viewpoints the park rangers discussed for viewing the lava. The stop right past Devastation Trail was our favorite viewpoint, but it includes a 1-mile hike (it took us 20 minutes to walk there). Bring a headlamp or flashlight if you have one (it’s one of the musts on my Hawaii packing list!).

We went around 9:30 PM on a Tuesday and it was still a little crowded. So surely the later you can manage to go, the better.

If you only want to make the trip to the park once, I suggest going for sunrise so you can see the lava flow while it’s still dark, and then check out the rest of the park once the sun is up, or just go at night. Witnessing it at night was such a “WOW” moment that I will truly never forget.

On your walk to the eruption site, turn off your light for a moment and look up to enjoy the magic of the night sky without all of the light pollution. It’s so beautiful and clear that you can actually see the Milky Way!

Day 3: Drive from Hilo to Kona + Relax

Morning: Coffee + Drive

For the start of day 3 of your Big Island itinerary, you can either finish up whatever you couldn’t get to from yesterday’s road trip or just hit the road and start making your way to Kona.

Before the 2-hour drive (2 hours from our VRBO in Keaau, 1 ½ hours from Hilo) we made a pit stop at The Sippin Siren for some coffee and breakfast. It really hits the spot if you’re looking for an easy stop on the way out.

Afternoon: Eat + Relax

Lunch + Brewery

Once we got to Kona, we checked into the Holiday Inn Express (booked with points!) and took some time to explore. If you’re looking for a place to stay, check out all the options in Kailua-Kona here!

First stop: Ola Brew for a cider flight. Their Kona Gold Pineapple and Dragonfruit Lemonade ciders were so good!

For lunch, we hit up Umekes, and WOW. The seafood was so fresh we ate here twice! Poke is a must-eat food in Hawaii, and this was some of the best I’ve ever had! Remi and I split the Big Boy plate—two types of poke, two servings of rice, and two sides—for just $26.

They had tons of poke options, but we went with Da Avo, Hottie, and the poke of the day—no bad choices here. Oh, and their cocktails? The Fake Crack mezcal drink was a winner!

Relax with Oceanfront Happy Hours

If yesterday wore you out (same), this day is all about relaxing. We took a nap in our suite before heading out for some happy hour deals.

Huggo’s on the Rocks is the first stop! Waterfront views, chill vibes, and $6 mai tais—yes, please! They also had a $6 Hawaiian Rainbow, but it was a little too sweet for me.

Next up: Don’s Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Kona Resort. We sipped $10 lava flows (piña coladas with mango, strawberry, guava, or lilikoi) and snacked on coconut shrimp—vacation mode activated.

Not ready to call it a night? I’ve got more recs for you at the end!

Day 4: Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, Snorkeling, + Manta Rays

Morning: Coffee, National Park, + Snorkel

Coffee

Wake up and get your morning started with an ube latte or cold brew from HICO Coffee. These drinks are lovely, but if you like sweet drinks you’re going to want an additional flavor. Ube is a purple yam, and it’s very popular in Hawaii, so I’d say it’s worth trying.

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park

From here you can begin to make your way to Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park. Bring your snorkel gear because there’s a solid spot right next door to check out after!

This place has been sacred for centuries, serving as a refuge for those who broke kapu (taboo) laws or were exiled from their home islands. It was also a safe haven for families displaced by famine or natural disasters.

We spent about an hour here, but you can take as much time as you need. There’s parking on-site, and we just left our car there while we headed over to Two Step for some snorkeling!

It costs $20 per vehicle to enter the park, but again if you have the National Parks Pass it’s free!

Snorkeling at Two Step

Right next door to Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park is Two Step. It’s a pretty popular snorkeling spot with hardly any sand, but that doesn’t stop visitors from setting up camp and laying out right on the lava rocks.

There are plenty of tropical fish to check out, and if you go early in the mornings you can often expect to encounter sea turtles and even dolphins!

Kona Restaurants + Bars

On your way back to your hotel you can stop at Kona Grill House for a snack. Remi and I just split a lobster crab cake meal, and a slice of lilikoi strawberry cheesecake to hold us over until Kona Brewing later.

Refresh + Kona Brewing

Head back to your place and refresh so you can head to Kona Brewing! Kona Brewing is an absolute must for your Big Island itinerary. They have great beers, and the food is so much more than your average pub fare.

We did their roasted garlic and pizza rolls with homemade ranch, but everything from their wings to pizza looked and sounded amazing.

They have a great selection of brews from IPAs to light, crisp ales. The brewery itself is gorgeous, and if you have the time they offer 1-hour tours Tuesday through Saturday for $20.

Evening: Night Swimming with Manta Rays

Now it’s time for one of the coolest experiences you can possibly have— swimming with giant manta rays! Hawaii is one of the best places in the world to have this opportunity. While there are a few areas you can up your odds, off of the Kona Coast at night gives you the best chance. If you go with a tour group, you have a 99.9% chance of seeing them.

The mantas come here for the plankton, which is their main food source. Plankton is drawn to light, which is their food source. So when you go with these tour groups you are holding onto a board that has a light in the center which draws the plankton, which then in return draws in the manta rays.

This experience was truly so epic (peep some of the experience in my Big Island recap video)! For your tour, you will hop on a boat ride that gives you just a short 5-minute ride out to your snorkeling spot. You will hop in the water with your guide and you will have around 25 minutes to be in the water with these gentle giants.

If you are nervous about snorkeling at night, the water is not too deep here at all! Plus, there are several other tour groups in the same area so dozens of other people are around you.

This experience was as exciting and less terrifying than swimming with sharks on Oahu’s North Shore.

Additional Recs For Your Hawaii Big Island Itinerary

These next few additional suggestions are all for Kona. So if you plan on spending more time in Kona, or want to do something more exciting than relaxing and happy hours here are a few bonus top-rated tours in Kona:

• Atlantis submarine— Ever wanted to experience what it’s like being in a submarine? This is your chance! You’ll get to descend 100 feet below the crystal clear waters of Kona and watch marine life enjoy a 25-acre natural coral reef. From fishies to dolphins, this is an aquatic adventure you’ll be sure to remember.

• Kona coast helicopter tour— Seeing any of the islands from an aerial view is going to be a breathtaking, magical experience. Kona’s helicopter tour takes you over beaches and bays for a lovely 30-minute ride. Big Island tours are typically over $100 cheaper than the tours on Kauai! That being said, if you are island hopping and the price difference doesn’t matter to you, save this experience for Kauai.

• Whale watching tour— If we were visiting during whale season this would’ve been on our itinerary! This catamaran tour only takes place from December through March, but they guarantee you whale sightings, or you get to ride again for free.

• Kona snorkeling tour— In case you want to beat the crowds of some of the offshore snorkeling spots this tour provides transportation via Zodiac raft. Because it’s smaller than most boats it allows you to get to places other boats can’t. They take you to Kealakekua Bay where they provide snorkeling gear, reef-safe sunscreen, lunch, water, and soft drinks. Plus, these tour guides know the best spots, and typically even encounter dolphins (and whales in season!).

Are you ready to experience this epic 4-day Big Island itinerary for yourself?!

Four days on the Big Island flew by, and I already can’t wait to go back! From chasing waterfalls and exploring volcanoes to sipping local wine and devouring fresh poke, this island seriously has it all. Whether you’re here for adventure, relaxation, or a little of both, I hope this 4-day Big Island itinerary helps you make the most of your trip. Let me know what you’re most excited about or if you have any Big Island favorites I should check out next time!

Before you go, be sure to follow me on Insta @guidedbydestiny and check out some of my other Hawaii posts:

2 weeks island hopping in Hawaii

Free things to do on Oahu

Things to do in Lahaina