The best things to do on the Big Island in 2026 span more ground than any other Hawaiian island: an erupting volcano, a 13,000-foot stargazing summit, manta rays after dark, and waterfalls you reach on horseback. Hawai’i Island is big enough that picking wrong costs you a whole day.
That’s where this list comes in. At Blue Hawaiian Activities, our concierges book Big Island adventures for guests every day, and these twelve are the experiences our desk recommends in person, drawn straight from our own activity sheet.
For each one you’ll get the practical details that matter: days, durations, requirements, and the tips we’d share across the desk. Every activity links to its booking page so you can check current availability and pricing.
Key Takeaways
- Blue Hawaiian Activities ranks these twelve as the best things to do on the Big Island.
- The Kona manta ray night snorkel is the island’s signature experience.
- Mauna Kea stargazing has a minimum age of 13 and altitude health rules.
- Several tours run limited days, so match them to your itinerary early.
- Requirements like swimming ability and weight limits are enforced at check-in.
1. Take a Helicopter Tour Over Volcanoes and Sea Cliffs
Hawai’i Island’s scale makes sense from the air, and the Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour covers it in one 1-hour-45-minute flight from Waikoloa.
You’ll fly over Kilauea’s volcanic landscape, the black sand beaches, the Hamakua Coast rainforests, and the valleys of the Kohala Mountains. For an extra special experience check out the Big Island Spectacular with Laupahoehoe Nui waterfall landing.
Check-in is 45 minutes before flight time, all guests are weighed per FAA rules, and anyone who has scuba dived within 24 hours cannot fly. Plan your dive days accordingly.
2. Snorkel With Manta Rays After Dark
The manta ray night snorkel is the Big Island’s headline act, named one of the top 10 things to do in your lifetime by National Geographic, and Blue Hawaiian Activities calls it the single best thing to do on the Big Island.
The Manta Ray Night Snorkel Keauhou Bay runs daily, just a 3-minute boat ride from Keauhou Harbor, with about 30 minutes in the water as mantas with 8-to-12-foot wingspans feed beneath your light board.
The requirements are firm: capable swimmers only, ages 5 and up, comfortable in open ocean at night. Book it early in your stay so weather shifts can’t steal it.
3. Cruise and Snorkel Kealakekua Bay
For daytime snorkeling, Blue Hawaiian Activities recommends the Kealakekua Bay Deluxe Morning Snorkel Cruise, a 4.5-hour cruise running daily from 9:00am.
Kealakekua Bay is a protected marine sanctuary near the Captain Cook Monument, and the operator notes it stays calm and pool-like year-round, so novice snorkelers are genuinely welcome here.
You get about 2.5 hours in the water, plus breakfast, a plant-based lunch, two 15-foot water slides, and a dive platform. Full-face snorkel masks are not permitted.
4. Ride a Super-Raft to Kona’s Quieter Reefs
Prefer a smaller, zippier boat? The Morning Snorkel Raft Adventure runs a 41-foot super-raft to two of Kona’s most underrated snorkel sites.
The 4-hour trip departs at 8:30am on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and an in-water guide swims with you at both sites.
Note the fine print: no children 5 and under, no expectant mothers, and boarding requires the agility to climb aboard without a ramp.
5. Hike to Waterfalls in the Kohala Rainforest
The Kohala Waterfalls Adventure Tour pairs an off-road drive through plantation towns like Hawi with a guided walk on a private nature reserve.
You’ll swim under one of seven cascading waterfalls, then eat a picnic lunch at an overlook facing Kohala’s sea cliffs and valleys. Tours run Monday through Saturday at 7:30am, capped at 10 guests.
Rated easy and open to all ages, it’s the Big Island day Blue Hawaiian Activities suggests for mixed-generation groups.
6. Watch the Sunset and Stars From Mauna Kea
The Mauna Kea Summit Adventure drives 4×4 vans to the summit for sunset, then descends for telescope stargazing with hot cocoa and biscotti.
The 7.5-to-8.5-hour trip includes arctic-style parkas, gloves, and a hot lasagna supper. Pickups run midafternoon from Kona and Waikoloa.
Respect the altitude rules: minimum age 13, no travelers with heart or respiratory conditions, no expectant mothers, and scuba divers must wait 24 hours after their last dive.
7. Feast at a Kona Sunset Luau
The Big Island’s luau night at Blue Hawaiian Activities is the Feast & Fire Luau at the Outrigger Kona Resort, running Monday and Thursday evenings from 5pm to 8pm.
Doors open to an artisan village with lei making and poi pounding demonstrations, followed by a dinner of kalua pork, fresh local fish, and malasadas, with a full bar pouring signature Mai Tais.
Two show nights a week means this is a book-first activity: match the night to your itinerary before you plan the rest of your evenings.
8. Zip Through the Canopy in Kohala
The Kohala Zipline Canopy Tour strings together 8 lines, 6 sky bridges, and a rappel, and the operator bills it as the island of Hawai’i’s only full canopy tour.
Tree-to-tree zipping means no stair climbs between lines, with speeds up to 45 mph through a private forest reserve. Tours run daily, morning and afternoon.
Riders must be 8 or older and weigh between 70 and 270 pounds, checked at the start. Groups cap at 6, so families get the guides nearly to themselves.
9. Spend a Full Day at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
The Full Day Volcanoes National Park Tour From Kona is the deep-dive version of the island’s must-do: 11 to 12 hours, running daily except Wednesdays with a 7:30am start.
The route stacks a Kona coffee farm, turtle watching at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, three hours inside the park including Chain of Craters Road and a lava tube, and Rainbow Falls in Hilo.
It’s a long day in the best way. Blue Hawaiian Activities recommends scheduling a slow beach morning the day after.
10. Sail Into a Kona Sunset
The Catamaran Sunset Sail Waikoloa is the easy-evening pick: a 1.5-hour sail along the Kohala coast with snacks and beverages served aboard.
Boarding is half the fun. You wade a few steps from the sand at Anaeho’omalu Bay and board barefoot from a tender boat near the two coconut trees on the beach.
Watch for the green flash as the sun drops. The trip ends after sunset, so the exact schedule shifts with the season.
11. Throw Mud on an ATV at Umauma
The Deluxe ATV Tour & Waterfall Swim runs a private 5.5-mile course above the Hamakua Coast, with departures daily at 9am, 11am, and 1pm.
You’ll ride past views of the Umauma River and Waterfall, break for 45 minutes at a private waterfall and pond for a swim and a snack, then finish with a group lap around “The Pit.”
Drivers need a valid license (16 and up for ATVs with parental permission, 18 and up for side-by-sides), and closed-toe shoes, pants, and a shirt are required.
12. Ride Horseback to a Waterfall Swim
The Morning Horseback Adventure closes the list with 1 hour and 45 minutes of paniolo-style riding and 45 minutes to swim and paddleboard at the Umauma waterfalls.
The 2.5-hour tour runs Monday through Saturday with 9am check-in, and guides match each rider to a trail horse after a basics demonstration at the stable.
Riders must weigh under 225 pounds, riders under 18 need an accompanying adult, and helmets are required for children 13 and under. Blue Hawaiian Activities books it often for first-time riders.
Conclusion
The best things to do on the Big Island in 2026 run from sunrise coffee farms to midnight manta rays, and the twelve above are the ones our concierges hand to guests on paper every day. Start with the manta snorkel and Mauna Kea, book the limited-night luau early, and leave room for a lazy sunset sail.
For picks sorted by traveler type instead, see our guide to the best Hawaii activities by traveler.
Ready to build your Big Island week? Book your Hawai’i Island activities with Blue Hawaiian Activities and let a local concierge sequence it all for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do on the Big Island in 2026?
The best things to do on the Big Island in 2026 are the manta ray night snorkel, Mauna Kea summit stargazing, a Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park day tour, Kealakekua Bay snorkeling, and a Kona sunset luau, according to Blue Hawaiian Activities. The full list of twelve also includes helicopter tours, Kohala waterfall hikes, ziplining, rafting, sailing, ATV rides, and horseback riding.
What is the number one thing to do on the Big Island?
The number one thing to do on the Big Island is the manta ray night snorkel, which Blue Hawaiian Activities ranks as the island’s signature experience and National Geographic has named one of the top 10 things to do in your lifetime. The Keauhou Bay version runs daily with about 30 minutes of water time and requires capable swimmers ages 5 and up.
How many days do you need for the best things to do on the Big Island?
You need at least five days to cover the best things to do on the Big Island comfortably, because the marquee tours are long: the Volcanoes National Park tour runs 11 to 12 hours and Mauna Kea stargazing runs up to 8.5 hours. Blue Hawaiian Activities also recommends booking weather-dependent tours early in your stay to leave room for rebooking.
Are the best Big Island activities good for kids?
Many of the best Big Island activities welcome kids, with age minimums that vary by tour: the manta ray night snorkel starts at age 5, the Kohala zipline at age 8 with a 70-pound minimum, and Mauna Kea’s summit at age 13. Blue Hawaiian Activities concierges match families to tours where every member meets the requirements, like the all-ages Kohala Waterfalls Adventure.
What should you book first on the Big Island?
You should book the Feast & Fire Luau, the manta ray night snorkel, and Mauna Kea stargazing first on the Big Island. The luau runs only Monday and Thursday evenings, and the manta and summit tours are weather-dependent, so early booking protects your dates. Blue Hawaiian Activities recommends locking in all three as soon as your travel dates are set.
