Hidden Gems on Hawaii's Big Island

Not new to the Big Island? Seen all the highlights already? Don't let that stop you visiting this paradise: there are plenty of secret gems to uncover.

Covering about two-thirds of the Hawaiian archipelago's combined landmass, the Big Island of Hawaii still leaves plenty of room for new discoveries.

Leave Highway 11 and the tourist trail behind to experience "ohana" (the family feeling) during intimate forest, volcano and farm tours with local experts in small groups.

Here to rest? Take your cue from the turtles and seals and bask on the warm sands of the island's less visited beaches.

Image: Hawaii Tourism Authority by Tor Johnson

Mystical Landscapes and Secluded Beaches

  • Grab your hiking boots and follow the scenic trails of the Kahuku Unit in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
  • Explore the Ka'ū Preserve, part of a massive native forest in Hawaii on the southwest flank of the active Mauna Loa volcano.
  • Take a scenic, 2-hour drive to rugged South Point to see the olive-green sands of Papakolea Beach.
  • See endangered hawksbill turtles and green turtles on Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach in the Ka'ū district.

Image: Hawaii Tourism Authority by Nancy Erger

Remote Farms and Sleepy Villages

  • Visit a ranch in the Big Island's interior to experience the cowboy culture of Hawaii.
  • Love a good coffee? Follow your nose to the fertile slopes of the Hualalai and Mauna Loa volcanoes to see where Kona Joe is grown.
  • Base yourself in Hilo with its farmers markets, brewing company, quirky shops and fascinating museums.
  • Take day trips to see the hidden waterfalls and bays of the Hamakua Coast or hop over to secluded Coconut Island.

Created in partnership with Hawaii Tourism Authority