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I recently got back from my second trip to Hawaii, and my second time visiting the Big Island! My first trip to Hawaii was a few years ago with my family. We visited Kauai and the Big Island. If you want information about a Kauai, Hawaii itinerary, check out this post! Today’s post is going to focus entirely on the Big Island. Between my two trips, I’ve spent about 2 weeks here so I have a lot of good recommendations to share, including things to do in Kona, Hawaii and where to stay on the Big Island in Hawaii. Let’s dive in!
Disclaimer: This blog post is written in partnership with the Mango Sunset B&B. The boutique hotel recently hosted my friend and I for our trip for the Big Island, but everything written below is my own opinion!
This post contains affiliate links. If you click and book through any of these links, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for reading and supporting my little corner of the internet!
Basic Info About The Big Island
The Big Island of Hawaii, also known as the island of Hawaii, is the third most popular Hawaiian island among visitors, hosting over 1.5 million travelers annually. As the name suggests, it is the largest island of the 6 major Hawaiian islands. Although Hawaii is made up of over 100+ volcanic islands, the most visited ones are: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and the island of Hawaii. Each has its own distinct personality, adventures, activities, and sights.
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Pro-tip: If you want more information about the Hawaiian islands in general, such as how to travel to the islands, what to pack, and what to expect in terms of weather / culture, check out my Kauai post.
Sitting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the landmass of the Big Island is approximately the size of Connecticut, and is still growing daily thanks to the Kilauea Volcano on the eastern coast of the island. Speaking of volcanoes — the Big Island is composed of five major volcanoes, and is home to the famous Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — a MUST SEE! I’ll share more about this below.
Getting To The Big Island
To arrive on the Big Island, you’ll want to fly into the Kona International Airport in Kona on the west, or Hilo International Airport in the east. Most visitors arrive in Kona, as this is the best place to stay on the Big Island. You can travel from island to island via Hawaiian Airlines. If you’re traveling from the continental US, many of the major airlines (American Airlines, United, etc.) offer direct flights from the west coast. I personally flew from Phoenix on my most recent trip, and had a layover in San Francisco on the way back.
Where To Stay On The Big Island
When it comes to visiting the Big Island, there are dozens of things to do. My first trip to the Big Island was about 4-5 days, which was the perfect amount of time if you are looking to visit more than one island. This trip was 8 nights, as the Big Island was the only island I visited and I wanted to make my time in Hawaii worthwhile (long flight!).
Most visitors stay in the Kailua-Kona area because of its fantastic weather, abundant shopping, and array of dining options. On the other side of the island are the Hilo and Puna regions. This side is the best for visiting the national park, which will require at least one full day, however, generally speaking — Kona has much more to do. Check out this guide for a complete list of things to do in Kona, Hawaii!
Kona, Hawaii (West Coast)
To visit Kona, you can conveniently fly into Kona International Airport, which is the primary airport on the island. My top accommodation recommendation for the Kona area (and the Big Island in general!) is Mango Sunset B&B. This quaint bed & breakfast is located just a 15 minute drive from the airport, making it a convenient place to stay. It’s also about 15 minutes from downtown Kailua-Kona and its plethora of restaurants, bars, and shops.
Downtown Kona Area: Mango Sunset B&B
Mango Sunset B&B is a newly restored and rebranded boutique hotel in Kona. Located up a hill on a lush, private farm, this BnB provides a tranquil escape from the tourist crowds. The BnB offers 5 Hawaiian-inspired suites for guests to choose from — 3 face a lush, tropical garden and 2 face the ocean.
All guests can enjoy a two course, homemade, unique breakfast included each morning. This was the highlight of the stay for me! The innkeepers and owners themselves come up with all recipes served at Mango Sunset B&B, and each of the meals are sourced with local ingredients from the farm. Some of my favorite meals included banana pancakes, the omelet, and a delicious French toast casserole. Guests can also enjoy several cups of Kona coffee each morning at breakfast, which is served in a lush tropical garden.
Upon request, guests can also enjoy a private tour of the farm! The innkeepers can walk you through the various florals, exotic fruits, and vegetables grown on the farm, and will point out the animals that call the farm home — including a few chickens and cats. Maybe you can even pick some fruit yourself! I picked some cocoa pods, which the owner occasionally uses to create artisan chocolate in the on-site kitchen.
Booking a trip to Hawaii in the next year or two? Mango Sunset B&B plans to open a coffee mill on the property so that coffee can be fully harvested and roasted right on-site! The owners plan to open a boutique coffee shop as well, so stay tuned — exciting things to come here! I really couldn’t recommend a stay here more; it’s the best option when considering where to stay on the Big Island.
Hapuna Beach Area
Want to stay a bit more north on the west side? The Hapuna Beach area, located about 30 minutes from the airport and about 45 minutes from downtown Kona, is a lovely beach area. Here, you can find several, larger scale resorts, if that is what you’re looking for! I loved the Westin here. Even if you aren’t a guest, you can still enjoy a meal at the pool side restaurant.
Hilo, Hawaii (East Coast)
Hilo is the largest city on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s located on the eastern side of the island, and also has its own airport — Hilo International Airport, which serves the districts of Hilo, Hāmākua and Kaʻū, and Puna.
Hilo is located about 1.5-3 hours from Kona by car, depending on which route you drive. For this reason, I recommend flying into the Hilo airport if you want to stay in Hilo. I’ll be honest, I liked the Kona side a lot more than Hilo, but there is a lot to see on this side if you wanted to stay here for a night or two.
If you want to stay near Hilo, I recommend the Inn at Kulaniapia Falls. This stunning, eco-friendly property sits on 22 lush acres of land and is near Hawaii’s largest, privately accessibly waterfall. Breakfast is provided daily here with locally sourced ingredients. If you want to take advantage of the waterfall, guests can enjoy guided rappelling tours, in addition to nearby hiking trails, bamboo gardens, swimming, and kayaking. This property is perfect for couples. It’s also beautiful… check it out!
Volcanoes National Park (Central)
Visiting Volcanoes National Park is a MUST during your time on the Big Island! While it’s possible to see the highlights of the park in just one day (which include the Visitor Center, Thurston Lava Tube, etc.), I would stay here for a night or two to enjoy a relaxing stay within the park! The most historic, beautiful hotel in the park is the Hawaii Volcano House. Here, guests can enjoy crater views from the on-site restaurants and bars, shop in the two gift shops, and enjoy a buffet breakfast, in addition to free bike rentals.
The hotel is closer to Hilo than Kona. The Hilo International Airport is 29 miles away. The hotel is located in the town of Volcano and is also only 8.8 miles from Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes on the island.
That brings us to the end of this complete guide all about where to stay on the Big Island of Hawaii! Thank you again to the Mango Sunset B&B for hosting me during my recent visit — I highly recommend you check it out for your own trip too! If you want more information about another island, read more about a Kauai itinerary here!
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