The Big Island holds the most surviving endemic Hawaiian forest birds of any island, and Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on the east slope of Mauna Kea is the finest single site for seeing them. The iiwi — a scarlet honeycreeper with a curved salmon bill used to probe native lobelias — is here, along with the apapane, the Hawaii amakihi, the akiapolaau, and the Hawaii creeper. These birds exist nowhere else on earth.
Access to Hakalau is limited — the refuge has restricted public access and is best visited through permitted guided tour operators. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is more accessible and supports a resident nene population visible most mornings along the Devastation Trail and crater area. The Palila, a critically endangered honeycreeper found only on the western slope of Mauna Kea above 6,500 feet in mamane forest, is one of the most sought-after birds in the Pacific for serious birders — sighting it requires a guide with current knowledge of bird locations and the willingness to hike in potentially foggy conditions above 7,000 feet.
| Month | High / Low | Rain Days | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80° / 65°F | 10 | Good |
| Feb | 80° / 65°F | 9 | Good |
| Mar | 81° / 66°F | 8 | Good |
| Apr | 82° / 67°F | 6 | Peak |
| May | 84° / 69°F | 4 | Peak |
| Jun | 86° / 71°F | 3 | Peak |
| Jul | 87° / 72°F | 3 | Peak |
| Aug | 88° / 73°F | 4 | Peak |
| Sep | 88° / 72°F | 4 | Peak |
| Oct | 86° / 71°F | 6 | Peak |
| Nov | 83° / 68°F | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 81° / 66°F | 10 | Good |
Main town on the west side. Restaurants, dive operators, manta ray tours. Airport 15 minutes north.
Driest area on the island — 9 inches of rain annually. Resort area. Waikoloa, Mauna Kea Resort, Mauna Lani.
Kīlauea crater, Crater Rim Drive, lava tube. Kīlauea erupting episodically since December 2024. 2hr from KOA, 45min from Hilo.
Halemaʻumaʻu crater — active eruption since Dec 23, 2024. Lava fountaining episodes visible from multiple overlooks at night.
13,796 feet. Finest stargazing on earth. Visitor Information Station at 9,200ft — no 4WD required. Summit requires 4WD. 13 observatories.
Manta Ray Village — primary launch point for manta ray night dives and snorkel tours. Year-round resident mantas.
Best snorkeling in Hawaii. Protected Marine Life Conservation District. Captain Cook Monument. Accessible by boat tour from Kona.
Wettest city in the US. Botanical gardens, farmers market, waterfalls. Gateway to Volcanoes National Park. ITO airport.
2,670-foot elevation. Cool green ranching country. Gateway to Mauna Kea and the Hamakua Coast.
Best native forest birding on the island. Iiwi, apapane, Hawaii creeper, akiapolaau. East slope of Mauna Kea.
Sacred valley on the Hamakua Coast. 2,000-foot walls, black sand beach, taro fields. Steep road requires 4WD.
Most famous black sand beach on the island. Green sea turtles haul out here regularly. Between Volcanoes NP and Hilo.
Manta ray night dive and snorkel tours from Keauhou Bay are cancelled on nights when ocean swell or wind makes conditions unsafe. Summer delivers the calmest conditions and lowest cancellation rates. Stay multiple nights near Kona if the manta dive is a priority — a single-night booking that gets cancelled leaves no options. Operators post same-day conditions online and most offer rebooking when tours cancel for weather.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is 2 hours from Kona and 45 minutes from Hilo. The Kīlauea eruption status changes day to day — a fountaining episode at night is dramatically different from the same overlooks during a pause between episodes. Check the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website (usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea) the morning of your visit. If an episode is forecast, evening and night visits to the park deliver the best experience. Vog levels also vary — check vog.hi.gov for air quality.
Driving from the Kohala Coast to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park takes 2 hours each way. From Hilo to Kona is 1.5 to 2 hours via the Saddle Road. Most visitors underestimate the distances and overload their itineraries. Pick a base that matches your primary activities — Kona or Kohala for diving and the manta ray dive, Hilo or Volcano Village for the national park and east side waterfalls — and plan day trips accordingly.
Wildist-vetted hotels for Big Island, Hawaii coming soon.