Readers’ Choice: Hawai‘i Island

Hawai‘i Island, affectionately nicknamed the Big Island, is most known as the epicenter of volcanic activity in the Islands. Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet and witnessing its eruption in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a bucket-list experience for travelers. But visitors can also venture into charming neighborhoods like the ever-misty Hilo town or Waimea, which is home a rich paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) history. In neighborhoods across the island, visitors can grab signature specialties like mochi from Two Ladies Kitchen and sample dozens of varieties of loco mocos in Hilo, or grab a cone of shave ice, which Hawaiʻi Island locals call “ice shave.” There’s plenty to see, explore and eat on Hawaiʻi Island.

Hawaiʻi Island Food & Drink 

Hungry travelers will discover a one-of-a-kind dining scene with a fascinating history on Hawaiʻi Island. Manago Hotel and Restaurant is the oldest operating restaurant in the state, and sleepy Hilo town is considered the birth place of the loco moco. And you won’t find gravy burgers readily available on any other island. Among beloved old-school eateries like Ken’s House of Pancakes and Café 100, diners can also sit down at exquisite farm-to-table and seafood restaurants. Whether you’re craving a hearty loco moco or comforting bowl of saimin, here’s the best restaurants on Hawaiʻi Island, according to our readers.

Best Restaurant

1. Merriman’s Waimea
2. Jackie Rey’s ‘Ohana Grill
3. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill
4. ‘ULU Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai
5. Brown’s Beach House at The Fairmont Orchid

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant

1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort
2. Brown’s Beach House at The Fairmont Orchid
3. ‘ULU Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai
4. Beach Tree at the Four Seasons Hualālai

Best Bar or Lounge

1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort
2. Kona Brewing Co.
3. Lava Lava Beach Club
4. Huggo’s
5. Kona Inn Restaurant

Best Cheap Eats

1. Da Poke Shack
2. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
3. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill
4. 808 Grindz Café
5. Café 100

Best Bakery

1. Punalu‘u Bake Shop
2. Two Ladies Kitchen
3. Tex Drive-In
4. Short N SweetBakery & Café
5. Lava Java Bakery

Best Breakfast or Brunch

1. Island Lava Java
2. Ken’s House of Pancakes
3. Hawaiian Style Café
4. The Coffee Shack
5. Don the Beachcomber

Best Burger

1. Hilo Burger Joint
2. Village Burger Waimea
3. Cronies Bar & Grill
4. Ultimate Burger
5. Chubby’s Diner

Best Farm-To-Table Restaurant

1. Merriman’s Waimea
2. Hilo Bay Café
3. Foster’s Kitchen
4. Moon and Turtle
5. Forc Restaurant

Best Loco Moco

1. Big Island Grill
2. Hawaiian Style Café
3. Ken’s House of Pancakes
4. Café 100
5. Pine Tree Café

Best Noodle, Saimin or Ramen

1. TK Noodle House Kona
2. Nori’s Saimin and Snacks
3. Ken’s House of Pancakes
4. Noodle Club
5. Tetsumen

Best Pizza

1. Kona Brewing Co.
2. Big Island Pizza Napoletana
3. Café Pesto
4. Bianelli’s Gourmet Pizza & Pasta
5. James Angelo’s Underground Pizza

Best Plate Lunch

1. Big Island Grill
2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill
3. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
4. Café 100
5. Pine Tree Café

Best Poke

1. Da Poke Shack
2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar and Grill
3. Kona Grill House
4. Suisan Fish Market
5. Poke Market

Best Seafood Restaurant

1. The Fish Hopper
2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar and Grill
3. Jackie Rey’s ‘Ohana Grill
4. The Seaside Restaurant
5. ‘ULU Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai

Best Shave Ice Stand or Store

1. Original Big Island Shave Ice Co.
2. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
3. Scandinavian Shave Ice
4. One Aloha Shave Ice Co.
5. Gecko Girlz Shave Ice

Best Steak House

1. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill
2. Merriman’s Waimea
3. Outback Steakhouse
4. Kamuela Provision Co.
5. Ruth’s Chris

Hawaiʻi Island Hotels & Resorts

Famed for its volcanoes and black-sand beaches, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands is also a great place to get away and experience true tranquility, whether its at luxurious resorts or secluded B&Bs. Here’s where our readers love to stay on Hawaiʻi Island.

Best Luxury Resort

1. Hilton Waikoloa Village
2. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
3. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
4. The Fairmont Orchid
5. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection

Best Value Hotel or Resort

1. Royal Kona Resort
2. Hilton Waikoloa Village
3. SCP Hilo Hotel
4. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
5. Volcano House
6. Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa
7. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort
8. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
9. Royal Sea Cliff House Kona by Outrigger
10. Kona Seaside Hotel

Best Hotel or Resort for Families

1. Royal Kona Resort
2. Hilton Waikoloa Village
3. Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa
4. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
5. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection

Best Hotel or Resort for Romance

1. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
2. Fairmont Orchid
3. Hilton Waikoloa Village
4. Royal Kona Resort
5. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
6. Volcano House
7. Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo
8. Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
9. Kona Seaside Hotel
10. Hale Kona Kai

Best Hotel or Resort Spa

1. Kohala Spa by Hilton Waikoloa Village
2. The Spa at The Fairmont Orchid
3. Hualālai Spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
4. Mauna Kea Spa by Mandara at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
5. Auberge Spa at Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection

Best Hotel or Resort Pool

1. Hilton Waikoloa Village
2. Royal Kona Resort
3. Outrigger KonaResort and Spa
4. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
5. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort

Best Vacation Timeshare Property

1. Waikoloa Beach Villas
2. Club Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort
3. King’s Land, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club
4. The Bay Club, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club
5. WorldMark Kona

Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn

1. Hōlualoa Inn
2. Dragonfly Ranch
3. Hilo Bay Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast
4. Volcano House
5. Aloha Guest House Bed and Breakfast

Hawaiʻi Island Outdoor Adventures

Spanning 10,931 square miles, Hawaiʻi Island is nearly twice as big as all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined. It’s truly an island ripe for exploring, from the rolling hills of Waimea to the jet-black sands of Punaluʻu Beach and the verdant valleys in Hilo. You’ll get lost here—and you won’t mind it at all. Here’s the Big Island’s best beaches, hiking trails, snorkeling spots and more, according to our readers.

Best Beach

1. Hāpuna Beach
2. Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach
3. Mauna Kea Beach
4. Kahalu‘u Beach
5. Makalawena Beach

Best Botanical Garden

1. World Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls
2. Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
3. University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Botanical Gardens
4. The Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens
5. The Umauma Experience

Best Campground

1. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
2. Spencer Beach Park
3. Laupāhoehoe Beach Park
4. Nāmakanipaio Campground
5. Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area

Best Hiking Trail

1. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Kīlauea Iki Trail
2. ‘Akaka Falls Loop Trail
3. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Devastation Trail
4. Pololū Valley
5. Papokōlea Green Sand Beach

Best Surf Spot

1. Kahulu‘u Beach Park
2. Old Kona AirportState Park
3. Banyans
4. Lyman’s Beach
5. Honoli’i Beach Park

Best Snorkeling Spot

1. Kealakekua Bay
2. Two Step, Hōnaunau Bay
3. Kahalu‘u Beach Park
4. Mauna Lani Beach
5. La‘aloa Beach (aka Magic Sands)

Hawaiʻi Island Services

To make sure your adventure go well, learn from the very best. Book a surf lesson with our readers’ favorite surf instructors, dive into the sea with the best scuba team and where to plan your wedding.

Best Surf Instruction Co.

1. Kona Boys
2. Kona Mike’s Surf Adventures
3. Kahalu‘u Bay Surf & Sea

Best Snorkeling/Scuba Rental or Instruction Company

1. Snorkel Bob’s
2. Big Island Divers
3. Body Glove Cruises
4. Jack’s Diving Locker
5. Boss Frog’s

Best Beach Gear or Water Gear Rental

1. Snorkel Bob’s
2. Kona Boys
3. Boss Frog’s

Best Surf Shop

1. Kona Boys
2. Kahalu‘u Bay Surf and Sea
3. Oshima Surf & Skate
4. HIC
5. Orchid Land Surf Shop

Best Resort for a Wedding

1. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
2. The Fairmont Orchid
3. Hilton Waikoloa Village
4. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
5. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Best Wedding Venue (not a beach or resort)

1. Volcano House
2. Hulihe‘e Palace
3. Nani Mau Restaurant and Gardens
4. Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar
5. Gecko Girlz Shave Ice

Hawaiʻi Island Shopping

Here’s where to find stylish apparel, adorable gifts and exquisite art on Hawaiʻi Island.

Best Shopping Center or Mall

1. Queens’ Marketplace
2. Keauhou Shopping Center
3. Parker Ranch Center
4. Prince Kūhiō Plaza
5. Kea‘au Shopping Center

Best Clothing/Fashion Boutique or Store

1. Hilo Hattie
2. Tommy Bahama
3. Sig Zane Designs
4. Jams World
5. Pueo Boutique

Best Store for Souvenirs

1. Waimea General Store
2. Kimura Lauhala Shop
3. Basically Books
4. Aloha Pawz
5. ABC Stores

Best Art Gallery

1. Volcano Art Center Gallery
2. Kailua Village Artists Gallery
3. Genesis Galleries
4. Extreme Exposure Fine Art Gallery
5. One Gallery

Hawaiʻi Island Activities

From the charming coffee farm towns in Honaunau and snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay to experiencing a lūʻau and exploring the island’s museums, adventure awaits on the Big Island. Here’s the best ocean cruises, farm tours, helicopter experiences and more on the Big Island.

Best Dinner Cruise or Sunset Sail

1. Fair Wind Cruises
2. Mauna Lani Sea Adventures
3. Body Glove Cruises
4. Paradise Sailing Hawai‘i
5. Tom Barefoot Tours

Best Farm Tour

1. Greenwell Farms
2. Kona Coffee Living History Farm
3. Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
4. Hawaiian Vanilla Co.
5. Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm

Best Guided Tour

1. Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
2. Epic Lava Tours
3. Hawai‘i Forest & Trail
4. Kona Cloud Forest Guided Walking Tours
5. Greenwell Farms

Best Zipline

1. Umauma Falls Zipline & Rappel Experience
2. Kohala Zipline
3. Botanical World Adventures

Best Helicopter Tour

1. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
2. Paradise Helicopters
3. Safari Helicopters

Best Golf Course

1. Kona Country Club
2. Mauna Kea Golf Course
3. Hualālai Golf Course at the Four Seasons Hualālai
4. Hāpuna Prince Golf Course
5. Makani Golf Club

Best Lū‘au

1. Royal Kona Lū‘au, Voyagers of the Pacific
2. Legends of Hawai‘i Lū‘au, Hilton Waikoloa Village
3. Island Breeze Lū‘au, Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
4. Sunset Lū‘au, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort
& Spa
5. The Mauna Kea Lū‘au, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Best Museum

1. Kona Coffee Living History Farm
2. Hulihe‘e Palace
3. Pacific Tsunami Museum
4. Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
5. Lyman Museum