5 Day Hawaii Island Itinerary - Follow The Fischers

The island of Hawaii is the biggest of the 7 major Hawaiian islands. Just like the other islands, it has a unique landscape and excursions! Can’t miss activities include snorkeling with manta rays and seeing active lava at Volcanoes National Park. When deciding on which side of an island to stay on, I usually make my decision based on which side gets the sunset and which one is the most central to popular activities. We decided to stay on the Kona side, so this itinerary is assuming you will be leaving from and returning to Kona every day.

Check out our hotel: https://sheraton-kona-resort.hotels-island-of-hawaii.com/en/

Day 1

Arrive in late afternoon

Dinner at Kona Brewery and Pub

Manta Ray Snorkeling

We booked through Kona Style and they were great. If you tend to get seasick maybe try to book a company that leaves from closer to the manta ray location. The snorkeling spot is right by the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa. We did the 9 PM start time which they said is nice because the mantas are more active. But if you do the earlier time you get to see the sunset on the water.

Day 2

Breakfast at Basik Açaí

Drive to Hilo

Lunch at Suisan Fish Market

Walk through Akaka Falls State Park

Beautiful waterfall, 0.5-mile loop hike, you do have to pay $10 pp for entry, plus a parking fee if you use the parking lot. Instead, park on the street and walk in then you won’t have to pay for parking

Try shave ice at Kula Shave Ice

Drive back to Kona and spend some time at the pool

Dinner at Huggo’s

Day 3

Breakfast at Island Lava Java

Hike to Papakolea Beach (Green Sand Beach)

This is 5.6 miles total and is a very hot hike so I would go first thing in the morning. At the end is an amazing green sand beach that you can swim at. There is an option to pay a local to drive you there and back, we didn’t do this, and technically it’s illegal.

Stop by the “Southernmost Point in the United States”

Try cliff jumping here!

Lunch at Aloha Mix Food Truck Café (closed Mondays)

Get malasadas for dessert at Punalu’u Bake Shop

Drive to Punalu’u Beach (Black Sand Beach)

If you haven’t seen a sea turtle yet this is the place to see them on the big island. Otherwise, probably OK to skip this stop.

Snorkeling at Two Step

If you aren’t too tired from your hike this morning, you can take the 2-mile hike down (and 2 miles straight back up) to Two Step for some snorkeling. Follow the Ka’Awaloa Captain Cook Monument Trail on AllTrails. You can also pay for a snorkeling trip and most places will bring you here. You do need to jump off a small concrete pad into the water and the only way back up is by the ladders that the snorkeling companies have out. Otherwise, you have to walk through the coral which is highly frowned upon!