{"id":9387,"date":"2026-07-24T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/?p=9387"},"modified":"2026-07-23T18:32:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T18:32:41","slug":"big-island-hawaii-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/24\/big-island-hawaii-travel-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Island, Hawaii Travel Guide: A Trip Across Hawaii\u2019s Largest Island"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\">Big Island<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii-timeshares\">Hawaii<\/a> is unlike anywhere else in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/12\/ultimate-hawaii-travel-guide\">Hawaiian Islands<\/a>. Home to active volcanoes, black-sand beaches, lush rainforests, and sunny resort communities, it offers an incredible variety of landscapes and experiences in one destination. Whether you&#8217;re planning a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or an outdoor adventure, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\">Big Island<\/a> delivers unforgettable memories around every corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/big-island-hawaii.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9388\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out this travel guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\">Hawaii\u2019s Big Island<\/a> before your trip:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where to Eat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>From fresh seafood to traditional Hawaiian favorites, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\">Big Island<\/a>&#8216;s dining scene showcases the island&#8217;s rich culture and local flavors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merrimanshawaii.com\/location\/big-island\/\"><strong>Merrima<\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merrimanshawaii.com\/location\/big-island\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">n&#8217;s<\/a> (Waimea)<\/strong> \u2013 One of Hawaii&#8217;s most celebrated farm-to-table restaurants, known for locally sourced ingredients and stunning views.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/umekes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Umekes Fish Market Bar &amp; Grill<\/strong><\/a><strong> (Kailua-Kona)<\/strong> \u2013 A local favorite serving fresh poke bowls, seafood plates, and Hawaiian specialties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lavalavabeachclub.com\/bigisland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Lava Lava Beach Club<\/strong><\/a><strong> (Waikoloa)<\/strong> \u2013 Enjoy beachfront dining with tropical cocktails, fresh fish, and spectacular sunset views.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:27px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where to Play<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/hawaii-couple.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9389\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\">Big Island<\/a>&#8216;s diverse landscapes create endless opportunities for exploration, adventure, and family fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaiipacificparks.org\/national-park-partners\/hawaii-volcanoes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Hawai&#8217;i Volcanoes National Park<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Explore volcanic craters, lava fields, scenic drives, and hiking trails in one of Hawaii&#8217;s most iconic natural attractions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gohawaii.com\/islands\/hawaii-big-island\/regions\/kau\/punaluu-black-sand-beach\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Punalu&#8217;u Black Sand Beach<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Visit one of the island&#8217;s most famous beaches, where sea turtles are often spotted resting along the shoreline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.hawaii.edu\/maunakea\/visitor-information\/station\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Mauna Kea Summit &amp; Visitor Information Station<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Experience some of the world&#8217;s best stargazing and breathtaking views from Hawaii&#8217;s highest peak.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:28px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where to Relax<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After a day of sightseeing, slow down and enjoy the island&#8217;s natural beauty and laid-back atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gohawaii.com\/islands\/hawaii-big-island\/regions\/kohala\/hapuna-beach-state-park\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Widely considered one of Hawaii&#8217;s finest white-sand beaches, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing by the ocean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gohawaii.com\/islands\/hawaii-big-island\/things-to-do\/beaches\/anaehoomalu-bay-waikoloa-beach-resort\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Anaeho&#8217;omalu Bay<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 A scenic Waikoloa beach known for calm waters, palm-lined shores, and unforgettable sunsets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/resort\/P5789-kings-land-by-hilton-grand-vacations\"><strong>Kohala Spa by Hilton Waikoloa<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Indulge in natural treatments and stone massages right on the resort.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:28px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where to Stay<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/resort\/P6574-ocean-tower-by-hilton-grand-vacations\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"517\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ocean-Tower-by-HGVC-Large.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9393\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kohala Coast is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\">Big Island<\/a>&#8216;s most popular resort areas; offering sunny weather, beautiful beaches, championship golf, and easy access to many of the island&#8217;s top attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/resort\/P5789-kings-land-by-hilton-grand-vacations\"><strong>Kings&#8217; Land by Hilton Grand Vacations<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Spacious accommodations, multiple pools, family-friendly amenities, and convenient access to the Waikoloa resort area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/resort\/P6574-ocean-tower-by-hilton-grand-vacations\"><strong>Ocean Tower by Hilton Grand Vacations Club<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Located within the renowned Hilton Waikoloa Village, this resort provides access to expansive pools, restaurants, lagoons, and oceanfront scenery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/resort\/P6468-marriotts-waikoloa-ocean-club\"><strong>Marriott&#8217;s Waikoloa Ocean Club<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Situated along the Kohala Coast, this oceanfront resort offers stylish accommodations, resort amenities, and easy access to nearby beaches and activities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tips for Exploring the Big Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Because the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\">Big Island<\/a> is significantly larger than the other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/12\/ultimate-hawaii-travel-guide\">Hawaiian Islands<\/a>, planning ahead can help you make the most of your trip:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Allow extra time for driving between attractions, especially if you&#8217;re visiting both the Kona and Hilo sides of the island.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pack layers for changing weather conditions, particularly if you plan to visit higher elevations like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gohawaii.com\/islands\/hawaii-big-island\/regions\/hilo\/maunakea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Mauna Kea<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leave room in your itinerary for spontaneous stops\u2014you never know when you&#8217;ll discover a hidden beach, scenic overlook, or local food stand worth exploring!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Discover Hawaii&#8217;s Most Diverse Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/hawaii-sunset.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9390\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>From volcanic landscapes and pristine beaches to world-class resorts and unforgettable adventures, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\">Big Island<\/a> offers something for every traveler. Whether you&#8217;re hiking through a national park, relaxing on the Kohala Coast, or watching the sunset over the Pacific, you&#8217;ll quickly understand why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\">Hawaii&#8217;s largest island<\/a> continues to captivate visitors year after year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Hawaii\/Hawaii+(Big+Island)-timeshares\"><strong><em>Start Planning Your Big Island Vacation Today \u2192<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Discover the best things to experience on Hawaii&#8217;s Big Island, from volcanic wonders and beautiful beaches to top resort stays.","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":9389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[359,3795],"tags":[4873,5026,3980,3636,3603,3988,3637,3240,3030,3641,3084,3722,3535,3595,3852],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-9387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hawaii","category-travel-guides","tag-big-island-hawaii","tag-big-island-travel-guide","tag-hawaii-travel-guide","tag-redweek","tag-redweek-rentals","tag-redweek-travel-guide","tag-redweek-vacation-rentals","tag-the-big-island","tag-timeshare-rentals","tag-timeshare-resorts","tag-timeshare-vacation","tag-timeshare-vacation-rentals","tag-vacation-rentals","tag-vacation-rentals-by-owner","tag-vacation-sharing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9387","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9387"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9387\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9394,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9387\/revisions\/9394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9387"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=9387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}