Wondering what sights to see while you’re in Hawaii? Read this Hawaii Travel Guide.

I decided to write this Hawaii Travel Guide because there are lots of tour companies out there trying to get you to spend a ton of money when you can easily plan your own affordable Hawaii travel adventure on your own schedule.

Hawaii Travel Guide: The Big Island

We were used to seeing an entire Caribbean Island in a single day. Hawaii sightseeing can be quite different—if you are on the Big Island. It took us a week to loop around the entire island; we clocked more than 200 miles of driving!

Here is what you can see if you are lucky enough to have seven days on the Big Island. The tour starts in Kailua-Kona on the west coast and proceeds counterclockwise around the island.

If you have less than a week here are some general travel tips. If you want to see the volcano, it’s worth flying into Hilo airport (30 minutes from the volcano) rather than Kona airport (2.5 hours to the volcano). It’s best to allow three days if you really want to explore the volcano. If you only have a day, take a helicopter tour out of Hilo.

Sights to see on the Big Island

Place of Refuge (Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park) is a great place to learn some Hawaiian history, have a picnic lunch, do some snorkeling and just enjoy the vistas.

As we headed toward South Point (Ka Lae), we passed scenic macadamia nut orchards and then a ton of windmills, cattle, and horses. At the end of the road we stood on the Southern most tip of the U.S. where the first Polynesian voyagers landed, settled, and enjoyed breath taking views.

After seeing South Point we went off the beaten path to Papakolea Beach (Green Sand Beach) . The olive green sand is really cool! The beach is at the bottom of Pu’ u o Mahana, an old cinder cone formed by an eruption of Mauna Loa. It is a long hot walk but in my opinion is well worth the trip. It's not every day you get to feel green sand between your toes!

As we headed toward the volcano, we stopped to visit Punalu’ u Harbor Beach Park a black sand beach where the turtles nest and lay their eggs. As I say to my boys, "look with your eyes, not with your hands". The turtles are on the endagered species list. It is against the law to touch or harass them in any way.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park was our next stop. This is a view of the lava entering the ocean. You can see the large steam cloud in the glow of the lava. Pretty cool, huh?

There are incredible views of the ocean, lava tubes, cinder cones, steam vents, petroglyphs, tropical plants, vast amounts of barren lava, miles and miles of hiking trails, and if you are lucky fiery lava flows.

After you leave the park you can visit the Volcano Winery as you head toward Hilo. Don't get me wrong. I'm not condoning drinking and driving.

Hilo is on the rainy eastern side of the island. That sounds like a negative but actually it generates gorgeous rainbows, spectacular rainforests, gigantic banyan trees, and beautiful tropical flowers. This city has been hit twice by tsunamis. The center of town is now a wonderful park designed to absorb any future tidal waves.

Continuing past Hilo you can enjoy Akaka falls and Rainbow falls, sugarcane fields along the Hamakua Coast,

and the beauty of Waipio Valley.

Next you’ll drive across the Parker Ranch (the world’s biggest private ranch) past ironwood trees to some unforgettable views of lush hills gently sloping down to the ocean below and waves crashing against the brilliant green cliffs of the Hamakua Coast.

As you head back to Kona, you’ll drive across an 1859 lava flow where you will find graffiti spelled out using white rocks and an excellent petroglyphs field at the Waikaloa Beach golf course.

Hawaii Travel Guide: Kaua'i

Hawaii Travel Guide: Maui

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