Breakfast
Kona coffee and fresh papaya
A cup of coffee grown on the slopes above town, with sweet papaya, pineapple and a squeeze of lime. A gentle start.
Local tip Look for 100 percent Kona coffee, because blends can be mostly something else.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. The Big Island is big, so plan the distances, the car and the weather first.Details
- Getting here
- Most visitors fly into Kona on the dry west side, and some fly into Hilo on the wet east side. You need a car, because public transport is thin and the sights are far apart.
- The distances
- Plan on long drives. Kona to the volcano park is about two hours each way, Kona to Hilo about two, and the south point is a long loop. Leave early and do not try to see everything in a day.
- Where to sleep
- Sleep in Kona for the first two nights, then near Hilo or the volcano for the middle of the trip, so you do not drive across the island twice in a day. The last night can be back in Kona for the flight.
- Weather and care
- Kona is usually dry and sunny, while Hilo and the east are very wet. The summits are cold and can have snow. The sea can have strong currents and surf, so swim where others swim and ask a lifeguard. Bring sun protection and a rain jacket. Day 1 is an easy coast day, so there is no need to rush the first morning.
Day 1. Kailua-Kona and the Kona coast
4 stops · 32.0 miA gentle first day on the dry side. A royal palace in the town, a bay with a white monument and clear water, a place of refuge beside the sea, then a calm evening on the waterfront.
- 1MorningWorth a short visit
Huliheʻe Palace
A small stone palace on the waterfront, built in the 1830s as a retreat for Hawaiian royalty, now a museum. A calm look at the island's monarchy before the day heats up.
Go when Morning, before the heat and the cruise crowds.
Local tip A small museum, so an hour is plenty. Check ahead on opening and on tours.
Photo: Calbear22 at English Wiki… on Wikimedia Commons About 34 min by car or transit12.1 mi - 2MiddayWorth the time
Kealakekua Bay
A sheltered bay of deep, clear water with a reef and a white monument on the far shore where Captain Cook died in 1779. A marine life conservation district and a sacred place, so give turtles and dolphins plenty of room.
Go when Morning, when the water is calmest and clearest.
Local tip The bay is a protected area. Give turtles and dolphins plenty of room, never touch the coral and check ahead on how access to the monument works.
Photo: Nnachappa64, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
A poke bowl
Cubes of raw fish dressed with soy sauce, sesame and seaweed over rice, a Hawaiian classic. Eat it on the shore after a swim.
Local tip Look for a counter with a queue of locals, because the fish is freshest.
About 17 min by car or transit3.9 mi - 3AfternoonWorth the time
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
A walled place of refuge beside the sea, where people who broke sacred laws could be safe, with carved wooden figures and fishponds. A powerful, peaceful place. Walk slowly and do not move or climb on the stones.
Go when Afternoon, when the light is soft on the stones.
Local tip It is a sacred place. Do not climb on the walls or move stones, and check ahead on opening. Turtles sometimes rest on the nearby shore, so keep away from them.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith on Wikimedia Commons About 39 min by car16.0 mi - 4EveningAn evening stop
Kamakahonu
The bay and pier at the heart of Kailua-Kona, where Kamehameha the Great lived at the end of his life, with a rebuilt temple beside the beach. A good place to watch the evening light on the water.
Go when Early evening, as the light fades (about 6:52 PM).
Local tip The pier and the beach are part of the town. The rebuilt temple is sacred, so look from the path and respect any signs.
Photo: W Nowicki, CC BY 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
Fresh fish at sunset
A plate of the day's catch, grilled with butter and lime, with rice and salad, at a table by the water.
Local tip Ask what was caught that day. Tables by the water fill early.
If it rains. The Kona side is the dry side, so rain is rare. The palace and the museum suit a shower, and the bay is best in clear water, so wait for a dry day.
Day 2. Kohala and the green north
4 stops · 52.8 miA day on the north shore. A great temple of a warrior king, one of the island's best beaches, a statue of Kamehameha in the town where he was born nearby, then a deep valley ending at the sea.
- Drive from KamakahonuAbout 54 min by car29.2 miWhere Day 1 ended.
- Breakfast
A loco moco
A bowl of rice with a hamburger patty, a fried egg and brown gravy, a hearty Hawaiian breakfast.
Local tip It is a big plate, so you will not need lunch early.
- 1MorningWorth the time
Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
A large stone temple on a hill above the coast, built by Kamehameha the Great around 1790 to bring the islands together. A calm and moving place in the morning light. Keep to the paths.
Go when Morning, when it is cool and quiet.
Local tip Stay on the paths and do not touch the stones, because the temple is still sacred. Check ahead on opening.
Photo: Bamse, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 12 min by car or transit2.5 mi - 2MiddayWorth the time
Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area
A long white-sand beach with clear water, one of the finest on the island. Swim in the calm cove when the sea is gentle and heed the signs, because winter surf can be strong.
Go when Midday, for a swim when the sun is high.
Local tip Winter surf can be strong, so check the flags and ask a lifeguard before you swim. Bring shade and water.
Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
A plate lunch
Two scoops of rice, macaroni salad and a main dish such as grilled chicken or kalua pork, the island's everyday lunch.
Local tip A plate lunch is meant to be shared, so order one to split if you are not very hungry.
About 39 min by car16.6 mi - 3AfternoonWorth a short stop
Statue of Kamehameha I
The original statue of Kamehameha the Great, in the village of Kapaʻau, near where he is said to have been born. It stands in front of an old courthouse, with a view over green hills.
Go when Afternoon, between the beach and the valley.
Local tip Park in the village and walk the short distance. Check ahead on any events or restoration work.
Photo by Roman Jauch on Unsplash - Dinner
A small-town supper
A simple supper at a family spot in one of the small towns of the north shore, with local beef or fish.
Local tip Kitchens close early in these villages, so check ahead.
About 19 min by car or transit4.6 mi - 4EveningWorth the time
Pololū Valley
A deep green valley that ends in a black-sand beach and a wild coast. Most visitors only look from the lookout at the end of the road. The trail down is steep and slippery, so check conditions first.
Go when Late afternoon, with a view and the sunset behind you (about 6:52 PM).
Local tip The lookout is easy, but the trail to the beach is steep and slippery. Turn back if it has rained, and do not swim in rough surf.
Photo by Kyler on Unsplash
If it rains. Showers pass quickly on the north shore. The temple and the statue are fine in drizzle, but the valley trail is slippery, so skip the descent after rain.
Day 3. The Hamakua coast and Hilo
4 stops · 57.2 miA day across the island to the wet side. A valley lookout over a cliff-lined coast, a tall waterfall in the rain forest, a second fall in the town, then a garden by the bay as the day ends.
- Travel from Pololū ValleyAbout 32 min by car or transit10.8 miWhere Day 2 ended.
- Breakfast
Fresh baked bread and macadamia nuts
A warm loaf or a pastry with coffee, and a handful of macadamia nuts, grown on the island.
Local tip Buy nuts straight from a local farm stand if you see one.
- 1MorningWorth the time
Waipiʻo Valley
A steep, lush valley on the Hamakua coast, with cliffs, waterfalls and a black-sand beach at the bottom. Enjoy it from the lookout. The road down is very steep and restricted, so check ahead on access.
Go when Morning, from the lookout.
Local tip The road down is among the steepest in the country and is restricted, so enjoy the view from the lookout. Check ahead on access.
Photo by Mark Brule on Unsplash About 1 h by car33.9 mi - 2MiddayWorth the time
ʻAkaka Falls State Park
A short paved loop through rain forest to a tall waterfall that drops into a gorge. Orchids, ferns and bamboo line the path. It is wet, so bring a light jacket.
Go when Midday, when the light reaches the gorge.
Local tip Wear shoes with a grip, because the path is wet. Stay on the path and behind the rails.
Photo: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Saimin in Hilo
A bowl of noodle soup with a clear broth and small toppings, a comfort food that mixes the island's many cultures.
Local tip Add a dash of chilli oil if you like it hot.
About 31 min by car or transit9.8 mi - 3AfternoonA quick stop
Rainbow Falls (Hawaii)
A waterfall right in Hilo, falling over a lava cave into a pool. Rainbows form in the mist in the morning, but it is a short stop at any time. Keep to the viewing area.
Go when Morning, when rainbows form in the mist.
Local tip Look from the platform, because the rocks and the pool are dangerous. Do not swim.
Photo: Gr0ph0n, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 13 min by car or transit2.7 mi - 4EveningWorth the time
Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens
A Japanese-style garden on Hilo Bay, with bridges, ponds and a view of the snowy summit of Mauna Kea on a clear day. A calm place to end a long day.
Go when Late afternoon, for a calm walk by the bay (about 6:52 PM).
Local tip It rains often in Hilo, so keep a light jacket. On a clear day the summit of Mauna Kea may show across the bay.
Photo: AlaskaDave, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
Shave ice and a light dinner
Finely shaved ice with fruit syrups, then a light dinner of rice and fish, after a long and wet day.
Local tip Ask for ice cream at the bottom, a local way to do it.
If it rains. This is the wet side, so rain is likely and the waterfalls run strong. Wear a jacket, enjoy the falls and save the gardens for a gap in the weather.
Day 4. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
4 stops · 44.4 miThe big day. A lava tube in a rain forest, the floor of a crater that erupted in 1959, a long road that drops to the sea across old lava flows, then the rim of the summit crater as the light fades.
- Drive from Liliʻuokalani Park and GardensAbout 48 min by car24.2 miWhere Day 3 ended.
- Breakfast
A big breakfast before the park
Eggs, rice and sausage, the best fuel for a long day at the volcano. Pack a lunch while you are there.
Local tip There is little food in the park, so bring water and snacks.
- 1MorningWorth the time
Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku)
A lava tube you can walk through, in a fern forest. Get here early to avoid the crowds and feel the cool, dripping dark. Check ahead on whether the tube is open.
Go when Early morning, before the tour buses.
Local tip The tube is dark and wet underfoot, so bring a small light and shoes with a grip. Check ahead on whether it is open.
About 24 min walk1.2 mi - 2MiddayA half day on foot
Kīlauea Iki
A crater whose floor was a lake of lava in 1959, now a crust you can cross on a trail. A good, long walk if you have the time. Check ahead on the trail, because the park changes what is open.
Go when Morning, before the heat and the cloud.
Local tip The trail crosses a crater floor on a lava crust. Bring water and rain gear, and check ahead on the trail and on air quality.
Photo: VitaleBaby ( talk · contr… on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
A trail picnic
A sandwich, fruit and a handful of nuts, eaten at a picnic table in a cool fern forest.
Local tip Carry your rubbish out with you.
About 30 min by car or transit8.6 mi - 3AfternoonA drive of its own
Chain of Craters Road
A long road that drops from the summit to the sea over old lava flows, past craters and steam vents. Allow a good part of the afternoon. Parts of the road have been closed by lava and rockfall, so check ahead.
Go when Afternoon, with time to stop at the pull-outs.
Local tip There is no fuel or food along the way, so top up first. Stay on the roadside and off fresh lava, and check ahead on closures from lava or rockfall.
Photo: Jos-uit-boston at Dutch W…, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 32 min by car or transit10.3 mi - 4EveningWorth the time
Kīlauea summit caldera
The rim of the great crater at the top of the volcano, with steam vents and a wide view. What you see depends on the volcano's activity, which changes, so check the park's notices before you go.
Go when Early evening, as the light changes (about 6:52 PM).
Local tip What you see depends on the volcano's activity, which changes. Heed the park's notices, keep behind the rails and watch for volcanic gas, which can be harmful.
Photo: USGS/K. Lynn on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
A warm dinner in Volcano village
A warm bowl of soup or a hearty plate in the cool village near the park, after an evening on the rim.
Local tip It gets cold at this height at night, so bring a jacket.
If it rains. Rain is common at the volcano, and the cloud can hide the view. The lava tube and the road still work, but the crater trail is best on a clear day. Check the park's notices.
Day 5. The south coast and Kona coffee
4 stops · 94.5 miA long day on the way back. A beach of black sand with resting turtles, the southernmost point of the United States, then a coffee farm in the cool hills above Kona and a last evening swim.
- Drive from Kīlauea summit calderaAbout 49 min by car24.3 miWhere Day 4 ended.
- Breakfast
Malasadas
Hot, sugary doughnuts without a hole, brought to the islands by Portuguese workers, still warm from the fryer.
Local tip Eat them while they are hot.
Photo: Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons - 1MorningWorth the time
Punaluʻu Beach
A black-sand beach made of crushed lava, where green sea turtles often rest on the shore. Keep well back from them and never touch them. Swimming here can be rough, so be careful.
Go when Morning, when turtles are often on the sand.
Local tip Stay well back from resting turtles, and never touch them. Swimming here can be rough, with currents, so be careful.
Photo by Colin + Meg on Unsplash About 43 min by car19.4 mi - 2MiddayWindswept and remote
Ka Lae
The southernmost point of the United States, a windswept cliff with old fishing canoe moorings cut into the rock. It is rugged, very windy and exposed. Keep back from the edge.
Go when Midday, as a pause on the long drive.
Local tip It is exposed and very windy, with sheer cliffs. Keep back from the edge and take water. The nearby green sand beach needs a long hike, so check ahead.
Photo: Holly Cheng, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
A roadside snack
Fruit, a sandwich or a plate lunch from a small stand on the long road, with a cold drink.
Local tip Stops are few on this stretch, so keep water and snacks in the car.
About 1 h 11 min by car42.8 mi - 3AfternoonWorth the time
Kona Coffee Living History Farm
A preserved coffee farm of the 1920s to 1940s, on the cool slopes above Kona, that tells the story of the Japanese families who grew the crop. Check ahead on opening.
Go when Afternoon, in the cool of the hills.
Local tip A small farm, so an hour is enough. Check ahead on opening and on the harvest season, when the cherries are red.
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 29 min by car or transit8.1 mi - 4EveningA last swim
Laʻaloa Bay
A small beach of white sand just south of Kailua-Kona, with a view of the sunset. Swim when the sea is calm. The sand comes and goes with the seasons.
Go when Evening, for a swim and the sunset (about 6:52 PM).
Local tip The sand comes and goes with the seasons, and the surf can be strong, so ask a lifeguard before you swim.
Photo: TripOfALifestyle.com, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
A last kalua pork supper
Slow-cooked pork, rice and a bright salad, a fine way to end the trip.
Local tip Ask whether there is a luau or a similar evening, because shows come and go.
If it rains. Showers are possible on the south coast, but the coffee farm is a good wet-day stop. The beaches are best in the sun, so keep the swim for the end of the day.
Departure day
After the last day. The Kona airport is close to the town, but check the roads if you are crossing the island.Details
- The way to the airport
- The Kona airport is a short drive from town. If you are flying out of Hilo, allow two hours from Kona and extra time for road work.
- Your flight
- Return the car on time, and allow for the check at the agricultural inspection if you are carrying fruit or plants to another island.
- If you have a few hours
- Take one more swim at a calm beach near Kona, or have a coffee on the waterfront before the flight.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Kailua-Kona?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, October to December are the best months for a beach trip to Kailua-Kona. This plan is built for mid May, which is a good month. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 5 days in Kailua-Kona, planned for mid May. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Each day has about 20.2 to 70.3 miles between its stops, and 192.5 miles in all across 5 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Keep exploring
Nearby trips
9 days on MauiAbout 100 miles awayAn easy add-on
4 days in HonoluluAbout 190 miles away.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_Hawaii_Christmas.jpg){kind=link}
More like this
Make this plan yours
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated November 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.