Hawai'i

Best time to visit Hawai'i

The Big Island of Hawaii, with its diverse microclimates and varied attractions, offers something for everyone year-round. However, similar to the rest of Hawaii, the "best time" to visit depends on your priorities.

The shoulder seasons of spring (April-May) & autumn (September-October) offer excellent weather with consistent warm temperatures 24-31°C with less rain than winter and less intense humidity than mid-summer. The ocean is generally calmer and clearer, making it ideal for snorkelling, swimming, and other water activities on both the Kona (dry) and Hilo (wet) sides.

Summer (June-August) has long, sunny days with average temperatures in the high 20s°C, the Kona side is especially dry and sunny. The generally calm waters on most shores are perfect for all water activities. More families are traveling during this time, so you'll find a lively atmosphere.

Winter (Mid-December to March) is prime season for humpback whales (December to April, peaking from mid-January to mid-April) as they migrate to Hawaii's warm waters to breed and calve. The Kohala Coast is particularly good for sightings. Hawai'i in winter offers the chance to escape the cold, many visitors from colder climates seek out Hawaii's warmth during this period.

Discover Hawai'i

Nearly twice as big as all the other Hawaiian Islands put together, the sheer size, uniqueness and awe-inspiring beauty means the Big Island cannot fail to impress you. The dramatic east coast is dominated by Volcanoes National Park, the islands most visited attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The focal points of the park are Kilauea Volcano, the longest continuously erupting volcano in the world and Mauna Loa, the Earth’s largest active volcano. The scenery here must be seen to be believed with approximately 354,000 acres filled with rugged lava fields, hissing craters, rainforest fauna and flora, lava rocks, cinder cones, ash-covered deserts and even alpine tundra.

Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano and the islands highest peak is the islands centrepiece and is known for being one of the best star gazing spots in the world where you may even get to see the Milky Way. Whilst the west side of the island is known for its coffee plantations, sandy cliffs, white and golden sand beaches and calm waters, perfect for snorkelling.

Things to do on Hawai'i

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Without question one of the islands biggest attractions, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park extends from sea level to nearly 14,000 feet and encompasses the summits of two of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Visitors can enjoy hikes along the volcanic terrain and drive to various vantage points to take in the views of the craters and see bubbling lava and hissing steam sprout from the craters. Walk through Thurston Lava Tube, a massive 500-year-old tunnel, big enough to put a train through created by flowing lava or drive along 11-mile Crater Rim Drive which skirts the entire rim of Kilauea and takes you to various lookouts. To learn more about the geology and history of the park the Jaggar Museum is a worthwhile visit.

Coffee Plantations

The island’s high elevation, tropical climate and rich volcanic soil is the perfect recipe for harvesting coffee beans which make the popular Kona coffee.  There are a multitude of coffee plantations to visit where you can see its orchards, mills where the beans are processed and even get to enjoy a coffee tasting session. Located in the heart of Kona coffee country, Greenwell Farm is one of the oldest coffee producers in Hawaii and offers guided tours, whilst Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation offers visitors free farms tours and tastings.

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Things to do on Hawai'i

Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park

The Kona Coast, located on the islands west coast is where Captain James Cook first set foot on the island of Hawaii in 1778 and then was killed a year later after an attempt to kill the King. In memory of the famous explorer a 27-foot white monument located near to water can be seen as well as a small plaque in the surf. The park is a Marine Life Conservation District and is the perfect spot for snorkelling and seeing colourful tropical fish and maybe even wild dolphins. Please note that some of the park is only accessible by water and not by road.