Staff Pick
Road Trip Hawaii Big Island – Kona, Hilo, Volcanoes Loop
Kona
Kona (boucle)
430
km
8h
drive
All seasons
season
The Itinerary
Hawaii Island — the Big Island — is the archipelago's largest and the only place to see active volcanoes. Highway 19 (west coast) then 11 (south) form a complete 430 km loop, traversing 11 of the world's 13 climate zones in one day.
Kona, the sunny resort town, is famous for its coffee and night manta ray dives. The Kohala Coast north lines up black- and white-sand beaches (Hapuna, Mauna Kea Beach) and luxury resorts. Waipio Valley on the east coast is "the valley of the kings": 600 m cliffs plunging into the Pacific, waterfalls, taro patches.
Hilo, the rainy east-side tropical capital, gets 5,000 mm of rain/year — hence its lush gardens and waterfalls (Rainbow Falls, 135 m Akaka Falls). Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park southeast holds Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes — lava flows sometimes visible. Mauna Kea (4,207 m) at the centre offers world-class astronomical observatories and an alpine climate above the clouds.
Kona, the sunny resort town, is famous for its coffee and night manta ray dives. The Kohala Coast north lines up black- and white-sand beaches (Hapuna, Mauna Kea Beach) and luxury resorts. Waipio Valley on the east coast is "the valley of the kings": 600 m cliffs plunging into the Pacific, waterfalls, taro patches.
Hilo, the rainy east-side tropical capital, gets 5,000 mm of rain/year — hence its lush gardens and waterfalls (Rainbow Falls, 135 m Akaka Falls). Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park southeast holds Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes — lava flows sometimes visible. Mauna Kea (4,207 m) at the centre offers world-class astronomical observatories and an alpine climate above the clouds.
Points of Interest
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Hawai'i Volcanoes National ParkActive Kilauea, Crater Rim Drive, lava tubes.
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Mauna Kea4,207 m, world astronomy observatories, possible snow.
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Waipio ValleyValley of the kings, 600 m cliffs, dramatic waterfalls.
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✦
Rainbow Falls (Hilo)24 m falls, rainbow guaranteed in the morning.
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Punaluu Black Sand BeachVolcanic black-sand beach, green sea turtles.
Practical info
- Departure Kona
- Destination Kona (boucle)
- Distance 430 km
- Duration 8h
- Category Long (250–500 km)
- Best season All seasons
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