Big Island

Hawaii is known as being one of the most expensive destinations on the planet and the Big Island is no exception. The most popular place to stay on the Big Island is the town of Kona, located on its western side, which offers excellent proximity to the best beaches and water activities on the island. There’s a ton of different lodging options to choose from here, ranging from backpacker hostels to extravagant world-class resorts, so if you’re planning your Big Island getaway, here’s exactly where to stay in Kona, regardless of your budget.

The Big Island of Hawaii is home to some of the most active volcanoes on the planet, which has uniquely shaped its landscape to include stunning fields of volcanic rock, lava tubes, and, of course, black sand beaches. Given the location of the active Kilauea Volcano on the southeastern part of the island, most of the black sand beaches on the Big Island are found along its southern or eastern coastline, conveniently located near its largest city, Hilo. Here’s 6 incredible black sand beaches near Hilo that are worth exploring during your time on the Big Island.

The Big Island of Hawaii is an absolute paradise, combining stunning beaches, massive volcanoes, with incredibly diverse and abundant wildlife. The most popular home base for travelers on the Big Island is the town of Kona on the west side of the island, known for its hot, sunny weather and beautiful beaches. But besides soaking up the sun, what exactly is there to do in Kona? After having personally visited the Big Island four times and diving into almost everything this incredible place has to offer, we’ve compiled the 18 best things to do in Kona.

Steaming volcanoes, swaying palm trees, and coral reefs, teeming with fish—it’s undeniable that the Big Island is a tropical paradise, just waiting to be explored. However, the island is, well, BIG so how are you supposed to get around? Do you need a rental car on the Big Island of Hawaii? Here’s everything you need to know about renting a car on the Big Island, from what kind of traveler should rent one and budget tips to help you save your hard-earned cash.

If you’re visiting the Big Island, you’ve probably noticed that it’s, well, really big. So it can feel a bit overwhelming to pick where to stay, given how huge of an impact this will have on how easily you’re able to explore this slice of paradise. Here’s everything you need to know about where to stay on the Big Island, from the areas’ driveability, proximity to the island’s best beaches and attractions, and how easy (or not!) it’ll be on your wallet.