When you’re planning your Big Island vacation, it can be hard to decide what parts of the island you want to see. But driving around the island can be a great way to see it all!
The Big Island is so big (4,000+ square miles) that it doesn’t get crowded, even during peak season. And if you’re traveling with kids, the western side is a good option because it has more family-friendly attractions and hotels.
Why Choose Automatic Driving Lessons?
Automatic Texas online drivers education under 18 offers several advantages over manual transmission:
- Simplicity: Automatic vehicles eliminate the need for manual gear changes, making driving simpler and less stressful, especially for beginners.
- Reduced Anxiety: Without the distraction of gear changes, learners often find automatic driving lessons less anxiety-inducing, allowing them to focus on developing essential driving skills.
- Smoothing Out Learning Curve: Automatic transmission vehicles provide a smoother driving experience, allowing learners to focus on mastering steering, braking, and observation without the added complexity of gear changes.
- Easier Hill Starts: Many automatic vehicles come equipped with hill-start assist, making it easier for learners to start on inclines without rolling back or stalling—a common challenge for manual transmission drivers.
1. Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site
The ruins of the last great Hawaiian temple, Pu’ukohola Heiau, sits on a hilltop overlooking the Kohala Coast north of Kona. Built by the king Kamehameha I in 1790-91, it was a huge offering to Kuka’ilimoku, the war god, as part of his plan to unite all Hawaiian islands under one rule.
It’s a massive, 224 by 100 foot structure built without mortar and surrounded by 16-to 20-foot walls. It’s also a spectacular place to look for humpback whales during the winter and spring months, especially at low tide.
A new visitor center offers short videos and fascinating exhibits, along with a small museum. There’s also a short hiking trail to the remaining walls of Pu’ukohola Heiau, which is a great way to see this incredible piece of ancient history.
In addition to Pu’ukohola Heiau, the park is home to a number of other historical sites. Mailekini Heiau, which was a military temple, and Hale o Kapuni Heiau, dedicated to shark gods, are both nearby.
2. Hamakua Coast
The sparsely populated Hamakua Coast of the Big Island offers lush rainforests, immense waterfalls, and seaside vistas like no other area of Hawaii. Travelers who visit this part of the island find themselves drawn to adventures that range from horseback riding through Waipio Valley to ziplining over Akaka Falls.
The curvy road that hugs the coast winds through verdant valleys and quaint inland towns. It’s the perfect way to explore a region that is often overlooked by travelers.
Known as the “Hamakua Heritage Corridor,” this scenic drive is one of the most popular routes in all of Hawaii, showcasing the rugged beauty of the island’s windward coastline.
The drive is framed by high erosional cliffs and the ocean below and dotted with tiny hamlets and sugar plantation towns through big island jeep rentals. In addition to stunning mountain vistas and lush landscapes, the Hamakua Coast is dotted with botanical gardens that attract botanists and nature lovers worldwide.
3. Pepe’ekeo Scenic Drive
If you only have one day to explore the Big Island, we suggest either driving your own vehicle or booking a circle-island tour. Both will help you focus on the highlights without the stress of planning your route.
The most famous scenic routes on the island are Pepe’ekeo Scenic Drive and ‘The Road to Hana’, both offer amazing views of lava coastlines, cascading waterfalls, deep forests and gushing brooks. Neither will be easy to do in one day, so plan your itinerary carefully and take your time.
Pepe’ekeo Scenic drive is a 4-mile remnant of the Old Mamalahoa Highway, a narrow, winding and beautiful road that parallels the modern highway. It’s worlds removed from the traffic and hustle along the main road and gives you a chance to see the real Hawai’i.
4. Isaac Hale Beach Park
The Big Island is known for its otherworldly beauty. From secluded black sand beaches to lush rainforests and bubbling lava fields, it’s an incredible place to explore.
While some roads were covered with lava during the 2018 eruption, you can still drive through the eastern part of Puna on Highway 130 (if you start in Pahoa). The road was opened in November, and it’s now one of the easiest ways to get to Pohoiki and Isaac Hale Beach Park.
A recent lava-meets-water phenomenon that happened along the coast of Kilauea created an entirely new beach landscape at Isaac Hale Beach Park. The shards of lava that met the ocean’s much cooler water quickly formed into deep, rich black sand.
This is an ideal spot for an afternoon swim and snorkel. The waters are teeming with tropical fish and turtles, but if you’re lucky, you might also catch a glimpse of the island’s gentle giants – the manta rays.
