A first-time guide to Hawai'i, the Big Island

19.07.2024 - 20:47 / lonelyplanet.com

Jul 19, 2024 • 8 min read

Hawaii’s largest island – Hawai'i the Big Island – is grand in size and scale. Filled with superlative scenery — the world’s most active volcano (Kilauea), some of its newest land (in Puna), the largest mountain when measured from the seafloor (Mauna Loa), and some of the planet’s best night sky star viewing (atop Mauna Kea) — there’s a lot more than just tropical beaches to wow visitors here… though, of course, there are those, too. 

This largely rural island in the central Pacific has been inhabited for millennia by proud and self-sufficient communities sustained by land and sea. That ethos — the island takes care of us, so we take care of the island — still thrums through residents’ daily lives. For the visitor that translates to an expectation that you will also treat the land and its people with respect. Dig in by sampling the island’s literal fruits (including globally recognized Kona coffee) at abundant farmers markets and farm-to-table restaurants island-wide, frolicking with offshore wildlife including massive mantas at night, volunteering to restore native habitats, and immersing yourself in Hawaiian legends and lore at some of the oldest and most sacred sites in all of Hawaii.

Here's what every first time visitor to Hawai'i needs to know.

Buffered by surrounding deep seawater, and at a latitude the affords nearly equal parts night and day year-round, the Big Island enjoys relatively little temperature fluctuation throughout the year. At sea level, most days are between 75 and 85ºF, and nights from 65 to 75ºF. However, because of its varied volcanic topography — from sea level to nearly 3 miles up — it’s possible to experience multiple types of weather within the same day at different locales across the island. The eastern or windward side is usually wetter than the dryer western or leeward side. And higher elevation areas are typically cooler, often with afternoon rains. The highest elevation areas can be downright chilly… during storms it’s not unusual to experience snow atop the highest peaks… even in summer.

Though summer (May to November) brings the Pacific hurricane season with the potential for weather curveballs, winter storms are more likely to cancel scheduled boat charters, which is unfortunate because that’s also when migrating humpback whales from Alaska visit to frolic, mate and give birth in the islands’ warm offshore waters. 

The island experiences high seasons during North American school holidays: spring (February to April), fall (mid-November) and winter breaks (December and January) and fall break are the priciest times to visit. Budget travelers will benefit from discounted hotel and rental car bookings in the shoulder season (September and October),