Big Island itinerary: 5 days for a first trip
A 5-day Big Island itinerary for a first trip, one part of the island a day: Aliʻi Drive, a Kona coffee farm and Magic Sands on day 1; Kīlauea's crater, the Thurston lava tube and the Chain of Craters Road in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on day 2; Punaluʻu's black sand and turtles, then ʻAkaka and Rainbow Falls around Hilo on day 3; the Hāmākua coast, the Waipiʻo Valley lookout and sunset on Maunakea on day 4; and Hāpuna Beach, Puʻukoholā Heiau and a Keauhou Bay sunset on day 5.
Every stop sits on one map, colored by day, so you can see how far apart Kona and Hilo really are. It's one of the sample trips inside the Wanderjoy app, so you can open this exact plan on your iPhone with code SHAKA and change anything. Maunakea's summit closes to visitors after sunset, so plan to stargaze lower down, and check the national and state park sites for eruption and trail updates before you go.
The whole plan on one map
One color per day. Pick a day to see just its route.
Day by day
Day 1Ali'i Drive · Holualoa · Magic Sands Beach Park
Kona Historic District9:00 AM
Walk the oceanfront Ali'i Drive past Hulihe'e Palace and Mokuaikaua Church. Great shops and cafés along the strip.
Kona Coffee Farm Tour12:00 PM
Visit a working farm in the Holualoa coffee belt. Learn about hand-picking and sun-drying.
Magic Sands Beach3:30 PM
Sand literally disappears in winter swells and returns in summer. Great bodyboarding spot.
Day 2Hawaii Volcanoes National Park · Nahuku (Thurston Lava Tube) · Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Kilauea Crater Overlook8:00 AM
Stop at the Visitor Center first for eruption updates. Walk the Crater Rim Trail for jaw-dropping views into Halema'uma'u.
Thurston Lava Tube11:00 AM
Walk through a 500-year-old lava tube surrounded by tree ferns. Short loop trail—about 20 minutes.
Chain of Craters Road2:00 PM
Petroglyphs at Pu'u Loa, sea arch at road's end. Allow 2-3 hours.
Day 3Ka'u · Akaka Falls State Park · Wailuku River State Park
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach8:30 AM
Jet-black volcanic sand beach where green sea turtles bask onshore.
Akaka Falls12:30 PM
Stunning 442-foot waterfall via an easy 0.4-mile loop through tropical rainforest. Usually misty—bring a rain layer.
Rainbow Falls3:00 PM
80-foot waterfall right in Hilo town. Visit in the morning for the best rainbow in the mist.
Day 4Hamakua Coast · Honokaa · Mauna Kea Summit
Hamakua Coast Drive9:00 AM
Lush scenic drive along dramatic sea cliffs. Old sugar plantation towns, botanical gardens, and hidden waterfalls.
Waipio Valley Lookout1:00 PM
Breathtaking view of the Valley of Kings—1,300 ft deep with a black sand beach.
Mauna Kea Summit Stargazing5:00 PM
Acclimate at the Visitor Center (9,200 ft) first.
Day 5Hapuna Beach State Park · Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site · Keauhou Bay
Hapuna Beach8:30 AM
Consistently rated Hawaii's best white sand beach. Crystal-clear water, great bodysurfing.
Pu'ukohola Heiau12:00 PM
Massive temple built by Kamehameha the Great in 1790-91 to unify the Hawaiian Islands.
Keauhou Bay Sunset5:30 PM
Plan your own Big Island trip
Different dates or a different pace? Wanderjoy drafts a plan around yours.
Get this trip on a map in the app
Install Wanderjoy and import trip code SHAKA: this exact plan opens in the app, ready to change.
On a computer? Open the trip page for a QR code to scan with your iPhone.
Questions
- How do I open this Big Island plan in Wanderjoy?
- Install Wanderjoy, then import trip code SHAKA. The same 5-day plan opens in the app with every stop on the map, and you can change it from there.
- Can I change the plan?
- Yes. Add, edit or reorder stops, switch days around, and keep trip notes next to the plan.
- Can Wanderjoy make a different Big Island plan for me?
- Yes. Give Wanderjoy your dates and how you like to travel, and it drafts a day-by-day Big Island itinerary on a map for you.
