A vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii is an exercise in choosing your own adventure.
Enjoy the wonder of the Pacific from exotic, scenic beaches of green, black, or white sands. Discover the natural marvels of lush green forests teeming with beautiful flora and fauna and highlighted by the geologic wonderland created across the volcanic landscape.
Explore the history of a land that celebrates its unique cultural heritage while acknowledging the traditions of others who have made their way to the islands.
Bask in the rich culinary traditions, an epicurean melting pot of Island, Asian and American flavors that dazzle the palette and create amazing new paths for foodies to traverse.
Relax and reenergize in one of our area spas or simply by taking your time and embracing the Hawaiian lifestyle at our Volcano vacation rental. Whether you’re drawn to the volcanic landscapes, vibrant beaches, or rich cultural heritage, there’s something here for everyone. Join us as we explore the best activities and sights this island paradise has to offer.
Explore Volcanoes National Park
If you’ve never been to the Big Island of Hawaii, it’s hard to imagine the sheer scale of astonishing beauty that awaits you.
Within a five-minute drive from your front door on 5th Street, you can be in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a massive sanctuary that’s home to the world’s most active volcanoes. Open 24 hours a day, all year round, the park is home to a pair of volcanoes – Kilauea and Mauna Loa – and with six different climate zones it is a fascinating study in contrasting environments
When you get to Volcanes National Park Visitors Center, which is the main entrance to the park, take a walk to see Halema‘uma‘u Crater, which doubled in size following seismic activity in 2018. There are a number of viewing options in the park. The easiest is from Volcano House, you can find the crater view on the path that goes to the back of the hotel, you do not need to be a guest to take this walk.
You can get a bird’s eye view from Kīlauea Overlook where visitors can park and see the crater after a short walk. It is also visible from the Chain of Craters Road – one of two main roads in the park – that offers views of some of the park’s other natural wonders. If you drive the road at night, and are lucky, you may see the glow over the crater, it will depend if lava is flowing or not. Viewing is best early in the morning or in the evening.
There are several options for hikers, the Devastation Trail – which was once a rainforest and then was decimated by the volcano – or the Haʻakulamanu trail to see the Sulphur Banks with its billowing vapers. A short hike of 1.2 miles round trip from the visitor’s center, the Haʻakulamanu is known for its steam vents where volcanic gases escape.
The Kahuku Unit, Mauna Loa, is also part of the park but is an hour away from the main entrance. It has rolling green hills and rich, deep grasses – if you squint you might think yourself in Ireland or maybe J.R.R. Tolkien’s Shire except for the red soil – located on the “shoulders” of Mauna Loa. At one time, the Kahuku was home to a massive cattle ranch operation and looking across the vast green pastures, it’s evident why. Check the website to see if there are any closures.
The Kahuku Unit is open Thursdays thru Sundays from 8 am to 4 pm and is located in the district of Kaʻū, near mile-marker 70.5 on Highway 11, a one-hour drive from Kīlauea Visitor Center. It is the perfect stopping point on your way to Volcanoes National Park when coming from or going to Kona on Highway 11. Whether driving the park or hiking the trails, be sure to stop by the Kīlauea Visitor Center for the latest information and maps.
Water Adventures
No visit to the Big Island is complete without visiting the spectacular water attractions.
Consider Punalu’u Beach. A 34-minute drive from Volcano Village, Punalu’u Beach is a black sand beach that is better for basking than swimming. The rocky swimming area can be dangerous, but it is a popular spot for both tourists and endangered sea turtles – both of whom enjoy the warm sands.
Another option is Papkolea Beach, an exceptionally rare green sand beach. It’s a further drive – more than an hour – but it’s one of only four green beaches in the world. You need to arrive early in the day to beat the heat as the best way to experience the Green Sand Beach is to hike to 2 or so miles from the entrance to the cliff tops and down to the beach below. Take lots of water and snacks. This is also a great stopping point to and from Kona.
Cultural and Historic Sights
Volcano Village is rooted in the deep cultural heritage of the Big Island and its people. The Volcanoes National Park is home to the Pu‘uloa Petroglyphs, a sacred place where the ancient people carved various works of art into the hardened lava. There are more than 23,000 images carved into the rock, in a variety of styles – mostly holes or geometric shapes. The National Park Service believes the Petroglyphs were travel records, communicating events, marking history and recognizing boundaries or trails. There is a parking area at milepost 16.5 on the Chain of Craters Road. It’s less than a mile walk to the boardwalk and elevated path from which visitors can examine the glyphs without disturbing them.
In its long history, Volcano Village has been home to spirits who march to the beat of their own drummers. The people of Volcano Village have been farmers and scientists, artists and creative thinkers. A stop at the farmer’s market at Cooper’s Center on a Sunday morning will yield fresh flowers, fruit and vegetables as well as baked goods. Don’t sleep in. The good stuff goes quickly.
Be sure to check out the Volcano Art Center – which develops and celebrates local arts and has two facilities in Volcano. The Gallery is home to a variety of works by local artists as well as Hula performances and cultural demonstrations. Every Monday, the center offers guided tours of the Niaulani rain forest.
And as beautiful as the Big Island is above ground, there is something to be said for what lurks below as well. The Kilauea Caverns of Fire, a guided tour of underground lava tubes and the Kazamura Lava Tube System, is a spectacular way to see the beauty that an underground lava flow can leave behind. Located about 33 minutes from Volcano Village, the tour takes you down into a system of lava tubes created nearly 500 years ago.
If you are short on time you can easily visit the Thurston Lave Tube located a short walk from the parking lot in Volcanoes National Park. Lava tubes are created from the flow of lava under the ground that carve out a tunnel system when the lava stops flowing or gets diverted it leaves behind an empty cave.
Dining and local cuisine
No trip to the Big Island is complete without a thorough examination of the local food scene. With Volcano Village’s history as a haven for artists and creative types, there’s no shortage of interesting dining options that range from the classic to the rare and unique.
The first rule of great eating in Volcano Village? It doesn’t need to be fancy to be good and always check if the place is open, before heading out. Many close early so place to eat around 5pm – 6pm.
A couple of food trucks that you can find at Cooper Center. Aunty Pon’s Thai Food Truck offers amazing Thai food at reasonable prices. Choose from Pad Thai, stir fry and a variety of curries, everything is good. Another option is Hooper’s BBQ and Smokehouse. Indulge in pork ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and a grilled Mahi Mahi sandwich that will make you want to move to Hawaii.
If a more exotic restaurant experience is what you’re after, consider Café Ono, a vegetarian dining experience in an old Hawaiian Garden estate. The menu is plant-based and prepared with locally grown foods daily. The home-style baked lasagna – with zucchini, onions, garlic, spinach, and ricotta cheese is out of this world. Open from 11 am to 2 pm for lunch, Thursday thru Sunday.
For a more traditional dining experience, consider Ohelo Café – open noon to 7pm – Thursday thru Monday offering local dishes and wood-fired pizzas. On the dinner menu, start with the Hamachi Kama – Japanese Yellow Tail Tuna broiled and served over a bed of arugula, lemon wedges with ponzu sauce. For your entrée, consider the Kaua’i Shrimp Risotto seasoned with lemon, butter, shallots, thyme and a rosemary spice mix with tomatoes, citrus zest and five large Kaua’i Shrimp. Other offerings include steak, pasta, rack of lamb and Ka’u Fish caught fresh from Hawaiian waters that day.
If you are arriving on weekday, options are limited for dining out in Volcano, we suggest picking up groceries on the way and enjoying a nice meal at the property. The kitchens at the property have everything you need to create a quick meal.
Relaxation and Wellness
However, if you’re looking for other ways to relax, the Village has options for that as well.
In fact, Hawaii is – if anything – a place where cultures come to meet and be explored. The Lotus Buddhist Monastery is a 15-minute drive from Volcano Village and is open visitors who will be greeted by the monks and laypeople there. It is a functioning facility so respect should be shown. Ask about photos, remove your shoes and hat before entering and dress modestly. It is a place of deep meditation and thinking. If you are someone who meditates, this is one of the best locations in the world.
For a more traditional spa experience, consider Hale Ho‘ōla which offers body treatments, Hawaiian treatments and rejuvenation packages. Of course, you don’t have to leave the comfort of 5th Street Ohana to get a relaxing treatment. We offer in-room massages among our special services.
A Hawaiian vacation can be as versatile as you want to make it. Explore the Big Island’s many-colored beaches, its rich, lush forests, and the wonders of Volcanoes National Park. Relaxation, if you seek it, awaits around every corner as do local wonders that you must see to believe.
Book your stay today and start planning your adventure on the Big Island at our Hawaiian vacation rental today.