5-Day Big Island Itinerary: The Best of Hawaii's Big Island

Hawaiʻi’s Big Island is one of those places where you can walk across a crater in the morning, snorkel over coral gardens after lunch, and end the day under some of the clearest stars you will ever see. In just five days you can fit in volcanoes, waterfalls, black lava coastlines, and some of the best snorkeling in the world.

If you like the idea of staying at one resort but still seeing a lot of the island, this outline shows what feels realistic without turning every day into a marathon drive.

---

Where We Stayed: Hilton Waikoloa Village

We stayed all five nights at Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Kohala Coast.

The big draw for us was the saltwater lagoon on the property. The resort has an ocean-fed lagoon where you can swim and snorkel in calm water, which is especially nice for kids or anyone who prefers easier conditions to open ocean.

The hotel describes the lagoon as home to fish and sea turtles, which lined up with our experience. We saw all kinds of fish, turtles in the lagoon more than once during our stay, and even a manta ray, which was a highlight.

Because the lagoon is protected and gets a lot of use, we noticed that at busier times the water would sometimes get a bit cloudy from sunscreen film and oils. It was not a huge issue, but it is something to expect.

If you want a single base with a beach, pools, restaurants, and a built-in snorkel spot, this setup works well.

---

Other Areas and Hotels to Consider on the Big Island

If you want a different location, or to split your stay, there are good options elsewhere on the island.

Kailua Kona

If you like being able to walk to restaurants, bars, and shops, Kailua Kona on Aliʻi Drive is a natural choice. Examples:

• Royal Kona Resort – oceanfront on Aliʻi Drive, walking distance to cafés and shops.
• OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa – south of town at Keauhou Bay, known for its Feast and Fire Lūʻau.
• Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel – central Kona, right by the pier and main strip.

Hilo

On the Hilo side, the bayfront and Banyan Drive area puts you near the farmers market, Rainbow Falls, and Kaumana Caves:

• Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo – on Hilo Bay with easy access to town and waterfront parks.
• Hilo Hawaiian Hotel – long-running Banyan Drive hotel with bay and Maunakea views.

Volcano Village

If you want to spend more time in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, a night or two in Volcano Village or at Volcano House inside the park is convenient.

---

Do You Need a Car on the Big Island?

Yes.

Distances on the Big Island are long, and having a car means you can do activities at your own pace, stop at viewpoints and fruit stands, and not be tied to tour or bus timelines.

We did this entire 5-day itinerary with a standard rental car, which was enough for everything we did.

If you are thinking about going beyond the Maunakea Visitor Information Station to the summit, you will need a 4WD vehicle, and many rental companies do not allow their vehicles on the summit road due to steep grades and conditions.

For this itinerary, we only went as far as the visitor center.

---

Our 5 Day Big Island Itinerary From Waikoloa

Day 1 – Arrival in Kona → Waikoloa

We landed at Kona in the evening, picked up the rental car, and drove about 30 minutes up to Waikoloa.

By the time we checked in at Hilton Waikoloa it was dark, so Day 1 was simple: walk around the lagoon and pools once, grab something quick to eat, and go to bed.

If you land earlier, this can easily become a pool or lagoon afternoon instead of just a travel day.

---

Day 2 – Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: Kīlauea Iki, Chain of Craters Road and Panaʻewa Zoo

We spent our first full day at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

We drove part of Chain of Craters Road toward the coast, stopping at overlooks to see older lava flows and dramatic sea cliffs.

Then, we did the Kīlauea Iki and Crater Rim Trail loop, roughly a 3–4 mile hike. You will see lush rainforest at the rim, the solidified lava lake at the bottom, open crater floor with cracks and steam vents, and sweeping views of Kīlauea from the Crater Rim Trail.

After the hike, we added a short detour to Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube), which is right in the same area. It is a walk through a lava tube with a maintained path and lighting, quick to do and worth the few extra minutes.

In the afternoon we continued toward Hilo and stopped at Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens. When we went, admission was donation-based; Hawaiʻi County is now rolling out small admission fees for many visitors, so it is worth checking the latest rates before you go. It is still a low key stop with shaded paths and peacocks roaming around.

After that, we drove back to Waikoloa.

---

Day 3 – Two Step Snorkeling, Turtles and Maunakea Visitor Center

In the morning we watched the dolphin show at Hilton Waikoloa, and then drove south to Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, next to the well known Two Step snorkel entry.

The park itself is a historic place of refuge and worth a quick walk; we spent most of our time in the water snorkeling.

Two Step lived up to its reputation: clear water, beautiful coral, and plenty of fish close to shore. We brought snorkel gear, reef-safe sunscreen, and snacks so we could stay as long as we felt like without leaving to find food. This was one of the best snorkel spots because of the coral gardens and clear water. You might see turtles here, so give them about 10 feet (3 metres) of space and enjoy from a distance as they are protected in Hawaiʻi. And since the reef is alive under your feet, float or swim over to a patch of rock or sand if you need to stand.

On the way back north, we stopped at Kaloko Honokōhau National Historical Park just outside Kona. A short walk takes you out toward old fishponds and a stretch of coastline where sea turtles are often resting on the rocks.

Later that afternoon, we drove up Saddle Road to the Maunakea Visitor Information Station at about 9,200 feet to catch the sunset and stargaze. We didn't go to the summit since the road was blocked.

ʻMaunakea Visitor Center

Even at the visitor center, it is cooler and the air feels thinner, so layers like long pants, a jacket, and socks are worth bringing. The sky gets dark quickly, and you can get very good stargazing from this level without dealing with summit altitude or rental car limitations. Official guidance also notes that the road above the visitor center is steep and requires proper 4WD, and many rental companies do not allow their vehicles on that section.

For us, the visitor center level was enough and we felt like we did not miss out by not going to the summit.

---

Day 4 – Hilo Side: Market, ʻAkaka Falls and Kaumana Caves

Day 4 was our Hilo loop.

We started at Hilo Farmers Market, which is straightforward but worth it. We picked up fresh fruit, whatever was in season, and snacks for the rest of the day.

From there we drove the Pepeʻekeo scenic area, a short coastal stretch with rainforest, ocean views, and streams heading down to the sea. In places you can see where freshwater meets salt water and creates brackish pockets. We did not follow a specific trail, just pulled over where it looked interesting.

Pepeʻekeo Scenic Drive

Next, we went to ʻAkaka Falls State Park. The loop trail is short and paved with some stairs, and it takes you to a clear viewpoint of ʻAkaka Falls. The trail is a quick low effort stop that I would do again if I were already on that side.

ʻAkaka Falls

On the way back toward Hilo, we passed through the Papaikou and Alakahi area and stopped at Wailuku River State Park to see Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots from the official viewpoints. The river is known for flash flooding, so we stayed on the viewing platforms and did not try to get closer.

Our last stop was Kaumana Caves State Park, which is basically a skylight into a lava tube. You go down a metal staircase into a large opening and can then walk into the tube itself. Definitely wear closed toe shoes and a headlamp or bright flashlight; the ground is uneven and it gets completely dark once you move away from the entrance. We walked in far enough to get a sense of it and then turned around since it is pretty much pitch black in there. Kaumana Caves

We drove back toward Waikoloa afterward, grabbed açaí bowls, and ended the day at Hāpuna Beach, the big white sand beach just up the coast from Waikoloa, which was a nice, easy sunset stop.

---

Day 5 – Captain Cook Morning and Resort Afternoon

We saved Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook Monument for our last full day and did it early in the morning on purpose.

We drove to the trailhead and started down while it was still relatively cool. The trail is steep both down and back up, so going early helps. When we reached the shoreline at the Captain Cook Monument, the water was calm and extremely clear, with excellent coral and fish life right offshore. Between this and Two Step, we felt like we got two very solid snorkel experiences without booking any tours.

Kealakekua Bay is also a resting spot for spinner dolphins. They feed offshore at night and often come into bays like this to rest during the day, typically arriving in the early to mid morning. If a pod cruises through while you are in the water, the nicest thing you can do is keep a generous buffer of 50 yards (45 metres) , and watch from afar.

After snorkeling and hiking back up, we returned to the hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon in the lagoon and by the pools as a low key end to the trip.

---

Other Things To Do on the Big Island If You Have More Time

If you have extra days or want to swap things around, here are some simple additions:

• Visit the Big Island's different colored beaches, like Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach and Papakōlea Green Sand Beach, if you are up for longer drives and, in the case of Papakōlea, a hike.
• Manta ray night snorkel from Kona, especially if you have not seen a manta during the day.
• Surf lessons near Kona if you want to try surfing for the first time.
• Coffee farm tours; many farms offer tours and tastings.
• Farm tours, including macadamia nuts, tropical fruit, and cacao, around Hilo and the Hāmākua Coast.
• Attend a lūʻau; many resorts host one.
• Kayaking in Kealakekua Bay. Instead of hiking, you can join a guided kayak and snorkel tour or rent kayaks from permitted operators to cross the bay to the Captain Cook area.
• Splitting your stay between Waikoloa or Kona and Hilo or Volcano Village so you are not doing as many long drives in a single day.

---

What I Would Always Keep in the Car

For this kind of Big Island itinerary, I was glad we always had:

• Swimsuits and towels
• A change of clothes
• Snacks and plenty of water
• Closed toe shoes and a headlamp on days with caves or rougher trails

It makes it much easier to say yes to unplanned swims and stops.

---

If You Are Planning a Trip to Big Island

If this sounds like a good outline but you don't want to be the one stitching everything together, you can plan your trip with Hudson.

---