An Amazing 5 Days on Hawaii Big Island – a 5 Day Itinerary

Larger than all the other Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii truly deserves its nickname, the Big Island. Hawaii covers a lot of miles, and contains 11 of the world’s 13 climate zones from tropical rainforests, verdant valleys and misty uplands to lava-covered deserts and chilling summits. There are few places in the world where you can snorkel in pristine tropical waters and hike on a snowcapped volcano all in the same day. Spending 5 days on the Big Island can be the perfect vacation, and we have put together this Big Island 5 day itinerary to ensure that is the case!

With a multitude of stunning multi-hued beaches, hidden coves, and one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Hawaii has so much to explore. Because it is so “big,” (twice the size of all other Hawaiian Islands combined), it can seem overwhelming to a first-time visitor. Even veteran visitors of the other Hawaiian Islands hoping to experience all the island’s magic are surprised by its vastness. But it’s expansive size certainly offers some amazing road trips.

Planning ahead makes all the difference in having a memorable vacation to this piece of Hawaiian paradise. So, let’s look at an 5 day Big Island itinerary we found works well for enjoying all the Big Island has to offer its guests.

If you’re like my family, you never count your arrival date as day one of vacation. Traveling is exhausting. Even living on the west coast, a flight to Hawaii is easily five plus hours. So, when we arrive in Kona, we pick up our rental car, settle in to our resort, unpack and relax. Waking up refreshed the next morning, we hit the deck running.

If you think you may want to double up your 5 days on the Big Island with another island, you may be interested in our Maui 5 day itinerary, or our Oahu 7 day itinerary. On the other hand, if you don’t have 5 days to spend, you might prefer our Big Island 3 day itinerary.

Big Island 5 day Itinerary Day 1- Exploring Waikoloa 

Hawaii’s Big Island has two very distinct sides. Kona, the leeward or sunny side of the island with sunsets and magnificent beaches, and Hilo, the wet side, with more rainfall, tropical gardens, and waterfalls.  

Waikoloa is a beautiful resort town nestled among the black lava fields of South Kohala with some of the most beautiful beaches. Our home away from home at Marriott’s Waikoloa Ocean Club, a beachfront vacation resort from which we would begin our exploration of the Big Island. The resort itself is fascinating with its series of ancient fish ponds and Hawaiian ruins fronting the beach.

You can reserve your room at Marriott’s Waikola Ocean Club now. You’ll be glad you did!

Discovering Ancient Petroglyphs

Many visitors to the Big Island come searching for volcanoes and waterfalls. But there’s a true hidden treasure in the story of its ancient ruins and petroglyph fields. Puako Petroglyph Archeological Preserve is located just a short walk from the stunning grounds of the Fairmont Orchid Resort. 

Our 1.1-mile roundtrip morning trek led us to carvings of humans, canoes, sailing ships, turtles, chickens, and even family groups left in more than 2,000 pieces of volcanic rock. With no official written language, these messages were the way ancient Hawaiians passed stories on to future generations.

N Kaniku Dr, Kamuela, HI  

Lunch at Lava Lava Beach Club

It’s toes in the sand and a laid-back open-air vibe at Lava Lava Beach Club, the place for island-inspired cuisine and creative cocktails accompanied by swaying coconut palms and stunning bay views. Not sure what to order? Go for a pupu platter to get a little taste of everything aloha. It really sets the mood and it’s such a fun place to dine.

69-1081 Kuulanii Place, Waikoloa

Relaxing on Beautiful Hapuna Beach

Known for its expansive stretch of white sand and waves perfect for boogie boarding and body surfing, Hapuna Beach has been often listed as one of the best beaches in the U.S. The breathtaking beach is also great for snorkeling, swimming, and sunbathing. Those visiting in the early part of the year like us can easily spot migrating whales spouting in the distance. Parking fees run $5 per car, and so worth the price of admission.

Dinner at Hawaii Calls

After a wonderful afternoon at the beach, we headed back to the resort to shower, change, and enjoy a relaxing dinner in paradise at Hawaii Calls at the Marriott Waikoloa. The oceanfront restaurant features Hawaiian regional cuisine and their fresh daily catches of opakapaka and mahi-mahi are simply magnificent.

69-275 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa, HI

Big Island 5 Day Itinerary Day 2- Lava Tubes, Volcanoes, and Black Sand Beach

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

One of the reasons visitors flock to the island is to witness some of the most unique geological, biological, and cultural landscapes in the world. No 5 day Big Island itinerary is complete without a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This involves an eastward trek across the southern part of the island and into the interior. 

The park encompasses two of the world’s most active volcanoes– Kilauea and Mauna Loa and being here is a journey for the soul. Powerful gods and goddesses believed to control volcanic forces play a rich role in Hawaiian ancient religion and culture.

A stop at the visitor’s center is a must before hiking out to get views of the constant smoldering activity at the massive moonlike Kilauea Crater and the surrounding area.

1 Crater Rim Drive, Hawaii National Park, HI

Thurston Lava Tube

Nāhuku, better known as the Thurston Lava Tube is another amazing geologic phenomenon located within the park. A trailhead leads though a stunning lush, dense canopied fern-filled rainforest. The verdant tropical path feels like a step back into the Jurassic period before visitors enter a massive hollow feeder tube created by an ancient lava flow. It’s an incredible experience to say the least.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Just south of Volcanoes National Park is one of the world’s most popular black sand beaches and a perfect place to view Honu (Hawaii’s sacred Green Sea Turtles). It’s also the most easily accessible black sand beach on the island.

The sand made up of small course fragments of lava is truly black. Though swimming isn’t recommended due to strong ocean currents, it’s a beautiful place to relax under coconut palms and snap photos of sea turtles sunning on the beach.

Dinner at The Volcano House

With the Kilauea Caldera and billowing Halema’uma’u Crater as our backdrop, we enjoyed dinner at The Rim at The Volcano House, a throwback national park hotel. The restaurant features tantalizing traditional Hawaiian specialties. As the night sky turns dark, the caldera puts on quite a show as it flaming in vibrant colors of yellow and red as it spews molten lava into the air. Every dinner during our 5 days on the Big Island has dramatic scenery, but this one is quite the spectacle!

Big Island 5 Day Itinerary Day 3- Venturing to Cowboy Country

Hawaiians call the Waimea area (also known as Kamuela) – on the northernmost part of the island “upland.” Waimea is home to the island’s paniolos (cowboys) and massive cattle ranches. If you wanted an entirely different experience, you could even plan a farm stay vacation here!

The coastline drive is stunning along the route with panoramic ocean views and hilly green pastures providing a myriad of “honey, stop the car” moments. But it’s not at all what you expect to see as part of a Big Island 5 day itinerary!

Lunch at Hawaiian Style Café in Waimea

The charming historic cowboy town of Waimea is filled with eclectic shops and delightful eateries. Lunch at the Hawaiian Style Café is a must-do. This family owned and operated hidden gem specializes in authentic homestyle Polynesian and Hawaiian dishes. Highly touted for their big breakfasts, we can attest to their incredible lunch choices as well, like the mix plates, a combination of delectable treats like Pulehu ribs and Korean pork.

65-1290 Kawaihae Rd, Kamuela, HI

Waipi’o Valley Overlook

Another of our favorite must-see on the eastern edge of this region is the magnificent Waipi’o Valley, home to ancient Hawaiian kings. This is one of the most beautiful and secluded places on the Big Island and we couldn’t get enough of the majesty of this lush region. A mystical narrow valley nestled between towering cliffs is said to possess mana (divine powers passed down from ancient gods).

Big Island Sunset Sail

Upon returning to our resort on the western coast, we headed to the harbor for a sunset sail. Nothing beats the tranquility of an ocean sail and watching the sun disappear on the horizon than on a catamaran along the Kona coast. Our Paradise Sailing cruise only had a handful of guests, so each of us had private spaces to take in the breathtaking views along with some delightful appetizers and refreshments. 

Big Island 5 Day Itinerary Day 4- Spending the Day on the Kona Coast

Snorkeling Kahaluu Beach

This is a day to kick back and stay local. Kahaluu Beach Park is a tiny sheltered cove near the town of Kailua Kona, a sunny white-sand beach with good swimming, lots of shaded areas, and superb snorkeling. The instant we put our masks into the water, we were surrounded by so many types of fish it felt like we were in an aquarium. The calm waters make this area popular with families, and at night the cove is filled with manta rays, an added thrill for those who love night snorkeling.

Lunch at Fish Hopper  

After a quick shower and change, of clothes, we headed to Kona Town, a lively historic sun-drenched coastal community for a bite of lunch. Fish Hopper is a hopping, bopping, friendly place with a laid-back vibe, great libations and excellent cuisine. The view overlooking Kailua Bay is fabulous, and we love their local fresh catches like yellow fin ahi tuna, Hawaiian ono, and mahi-mahi.

75-5683 Alii Dr, Kailua Kona, HI

Pool Time at Marriott Waikoloa Ocean Club

Vacationing is all about building in relaxation time. The glorious pool at the Marriott Waikoloa fronts the sparkling azure waters of the Pacific. After finding a nice shady spot with an umbrella, we headed into the pool for some swim time surrounding by warm ocean breezes, swaying palms, and bluebird skies.

Hawaiian Sunset Luau 

No visit to the Hawaiian Islands is complete without having the luau experience –the true spirit of aloha. The Legends of Hawaii Luau at the nearby Hilton Waikoloa Village is one of the most spectacularly popular shows on the Big Island, and we loved everything about it.

Ancestral song (mele) and dance (hula) retells epic stories of Hawaii and her remarkable people in a captivating manner. A highlight of the luau is the ceremonial removal of a roasted pig from an imu (underground volcanic rock fire pit).  

Accompanied by stunning coastal sunsets, this Hawaiian feast is fit for the royals. The luau is something no visitor to the islands should miss. It is a quintessential part of any trip to Hawaii, including a 5 day Big Island itinerary.

69-425 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa, HI

Big Island 5 Day Itinerary Day 5- Chasing Waterfalls on the Hilo Side

On the last of our 5 days on the Big Island, we had to check off yet one remaining bucket list item, and that was to see the splendorous waterfalls on the Hilo side of the island. And they did not disappoint. While Kona receives a little over 18 inches of rainfall per year, Hilo averages nearly 130 inches–perfect for tropical forests and spectacular water flow.

The drive to Hilo from Waikoloa takes about 1.5 hours, so we started out early to fit in as much waterfall viewing as possible. It was a good plan. We knew it would be impossible to see them all, but these are a few of our favorites.

Akaka Falls

One of Hawaii’s most recognizable waterfalls can be viewed during a half-mile hike through Akaka State Falls Park, which follows a slightly-sloped circular path weaving through a lush tropical fern-covered rainforest. Often called the “Crown Jewel” of Hawaii’s waterfalls, the impressively tall and narrow 420-foot flume thunders into a massive gorge below with Niagara-like mist rising hundreds of feet into the air. When the area’s seen good rainfall, a half-mile, somewhat obstructed circular path above the falls leads to Kahuna Falls, one that is often overlooked but amazing. 

875 Akaka Falls Rd, Honomu, HI

Onomea Falls

These multi-tiered falls located within the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden on the magnificent Hamakua Coast are stunningly beautiful. There’s a nominal fee to enter the garden and nature preserve, but it’s well worth it to see not only the cascades, but almost unaltered landscape of this tropical paradise. We came to see the falls, but were very taken in by the gardens too. 

27-717 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Papaikou, HI

Lunch at Hilo Bay Café

With a lovely combination of starters, salads, sushi rolls, sandwiches, and main dishes, Hilo Bay Café is an ideal place for a lunch break before heading out to chase more picturesque waterfalls. We recommend the sushi rolls for their freshness and delightful flavors. Our favorites– the tempura lobster and California twist, made with soft-shelled crab.

123 Lihiwai St, Hilo, HI

Rainbow Falls, Boiling Pots, and Pe’epe’e

Located near the town of Hilo, Rainbow Falls are so named for the magical combination of rain and sunlight that fills the river’s chasm with stunning rainbow colors as the powerful falls drop 80 feet into a large pool of water.

Parts of the rushing Wailuku River above the falls can be viewed at Boiling Pots—the massive bowl-shaped indentations in the riverbed that churn and boil as the roiling waters tumble downstream. Boiling Pots are especially impressive when heavy rains increase the flow from the five-spouted Pe’epe’e Falls, just a short uphill climb away.

Waianeunue Ave, Hilo, HI

Romantic Dinner at Manta

Returning back to the western coast, we headed for dinner at Manta, the magnificent signature restaurant at Mauna Kea Beach Resort just north of Waikoloa.

It was if we ordered the most epic of sunsets on our last night of our Big Island 5 day itinerary. The picturesque restaurant is named after the manta rays that frolic in its waters. This unforgettable restaurant offers unparalleled panoramic views, spectacular service, and delectable cuisine made from Hawaii’s local farms, fields, and waters. 

If the candlelight dinner wasn’t incredible enough, we were treated to the sinuous underwater show of scores of manta rays gliding along the lighted water’s edge. This is one of the most popular evening traditions of the resort.

62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Drive, Kohala Coast, HI

Wrapping Up 5 Days on the Big Island

This 5 day Big Island itinerary highlights some of the best places to stay, play, and dine while visiting Hawaii’s Big Island. We think it is a plan you will love. You’ll have plenty of time for every activity, and enough down time to get some relaxation in. You’ll also find there’s plenty more to do for return visits, for this island is truly a remarkable place. Filled with so much diversity and magical experiences, the Big Island is absolutely unforgettable. 

Maikai’I ke ola-life is good on Hawaii’s Big Island. We can’t wait to get back!

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About the Author

Noreen is a member of the International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance (ITWPA), International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and the San Diego Press Club. You can find samples of her published stories on her website  https://whatsinyoursuitcase.com/.