Things to Do

Staying beachside? You’re definitely in luck!

The Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is convenient to many of the island’s top activities. Golf over lava fields. See an active volcano. Go whale-watching or snorkeling. Hike or horseback-ride on miles of trails. See petroglyphs as old as time. Hawaii’s Big Island is one huge non-stop adventure. Don’t worry if you can’t do it all – you can always return next year.

• Stargaze on Mauna Kea – 9,300 feet up Mauna Kea, The Ellison S. Onizuka Center for International Astronomy welcomes visitors to peer through its telescopes at the stars. Dress warmly. It’s a very cool experience.
• See the goddess Pele in action - Hawaii’s volcano goddess is said to live inside the Kilauea Crater at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. One thing we know for certain – the world’s most active volcano is an awe-inspiring sight.
• Snorkel at Puuhonua O Honaunau Park – It may be a long name, but it’s a short jaunt from your Hawaii resort. Just outside the park entrance, the 20- to 30-foot waters offer a clear view of the beautiful reefs, teeming with fish. Also excellent – Kealakekua Bay near Captain Cook’s monument. Both are located in Kona.
• Hop aboard a whale-watching cruise –More than 10,000 humpback whales migrate here from Alaska each year to mate, nurse their newborn calves and cavort in the warm Hawaiian waters. Can you blame them?
• Discover an ancient sanctuary – If ancient temples could talk, Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park would have some amazing stories to tell. A place of refuge for Hawaiians who violated a kapu (law), today the park is a peaceful, tranquil sanctuary for visitors and native wildlife.
• Watch giant turtles sunbathe – Located south of Volcano, Punaluu Black Sand Beach is easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. But the green sea turtles are impossible to miss. Please keep your distance – they’re on the protected list of endangered species.
• Browse Hilo’s Farmers Market – You can find just about anything here, from local foods, clothing and crafts to tarot card readings. Our cards tell us you’ll have fun.
• Cool off in Holualoa – A charming village on Mount Hualalai, just ten miles from Kailua-Kona. Known for its art galleries, exotic fruit trees and, of course, Kona Coffee.
• Go horseback riding in Waimea – The trails are gentle and the scenery is spectacular. Ride on a ranch in Waimea, or on the lush and beautiful Hamakua Coast.
• Sunbathe on Hapuna Beach – A half-mile long and up to 200 feet wide, it’s frequently rated America’s best beach. Need we say more?

Golf in Hawaii with Parker McLachlin.

PGA TOUR golfer Parker McLachlin talks about growing up in Hawaii, his first hole-in-one, and what makes the golf courses in Hawaii so unique.

See more "Stories of Hawaii" at gohawaii.com/stories

 
Photo Credits: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Kirk Lee Aeder
Video Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority