The Big Island of Hawaii has many fun and exciting activities for families. Here are the five best family activities on the Big Island.
1. Visit a Working Sheep and Cattle Ranch near Waimea Town
At Kahua Ranch near Waimea town visitors can enjoy a horseback ride or an ATV excursion. Tours explore the ranch’s 8,500 acres including the Kehena Rainforest and the Pohakuloa Desert areas. Once evening rolls around a barbecue provides sumptuous food as you enjoy paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) style entertainment.
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While you are in the area take a tour of Waimea town. This whole area is picturesque and you will see beautiful horses roaming over the ranchlands including thoroughbreds and Arabians in the roadside paddocks.
Also enjoyable is the Parker Ranch Visitor Center & Museum in Waimea. Drive by Church Lane to see the historic Imiola Church built in 1832. Head up to Kapaau to see the famous statue of King Kamehameha I, and nearby is Lapakahi State Historical Park which offers a self-guided tour of an ancient Hawaiian fishing village.
2. Explore the Hamakua Coast
One of the Big Island’s most scenic drives is the Hamakua Heritage Corridor which includes waterfalls and botanical gardens. The route winds its way along the island’s northeast shore taking in expansive ocean and mountain views as well as historic towns with nice shops and places to eat.
Along the route is the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden featuring thousands of exotic species. A slight detour leads to the 442-foot Akaka Falls set amidst a jungle-like terrain including bamboo and huge, draping vines.
Another detour takes you out to the point at Laupahoehoe which was the site of a devastating tsunami. Here you can visit the Laupahoehoe Train Museum which features a restored and fully functional narrow-gauge diesel engine. Nearby are tidepools and a grass lawn for relaxing.
The charming town of Honokaa along the Hamakua Coast has an Old West feel on its main street lined with historic buildings. Stop in for a visit to Hamakua’s World Botanical Garden which is Hawaii’s largest, containing more than 5,000 tropical species.
At the end of the Hamakua Heritage Corridor drive is the Waipio Valley Lookout where you can gaze thousands of feet down into this “Valley of the Kings.” If you have time enjoy a tour of the valley.
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3. Descend Down Into Historic Waipio Valley
Home to thousands of Hawaiians in ancient times, Waipio Valley is known as the Valley of the Kings. A steep, paved road leads down into the valley which is best visited in a tour van that will navigate the descent as you listen to narration about this amazing valley.
The steep cliffs of Waipio Valley are about 2,000 feet high on both sides yet the valley is only about one mile across. In the valley you can visit the black sand Waipio Beach, see taro fields still cultivated in the traditional way and take a horseback ride through the lush terrain.
A short hike in Waipio Valley provides a view of Hiilawe Falls, the Big Island’s tallest waterfall plunging more than 1,400 feet down the mountain. You can also enjoy a great view of Waipio Valley from above at the Waipio Valley Lookout.
4. Visit the Summit of Kilauea Volcano
A can’t miss Big Island family activity is seeing the summit of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. First stop in at the Kilauea Visitor Center to get an introduction to the area and see about special programs such as ranger-guided hikes.
At the summit you can see the amazing Halemaumau Crater and hike down into the Kilauea Iki Crater. A short walk takes you through an subterranean cave known as Thurston Lava Tube which was once a conduit for rivers of lava.
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The 11-mile-long Crater Rim Drive at 4,000 feet above sea level takes you to the Jagger Museum which has more exhibits and is perched right on the rim of the huge steep-walled summit crater. This is said to be the place where the volcano goddess Pele protects her sacred fires. Along the route are sulfur banks, steam vents and pit craters.
From the summit the Chain of Craters Road leads to the Puu Loa Petroglyph Area where hundreds of ancient carvings in the rock depict the lives of ancient Hawaiians. The road descends about 3,700 feet down the mountain in a twisting and winding route. Due to eruptive activity in this area make sure and check in first at the Kilauea Visitor Center to see if it is safe to drive on Chain of Craters Road.
5. Hike to Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots
Just above Hilo town is the waterfall known as Waianuenue, also called Rainbow Falls, which plunge 80 feet down the mountain amidst the tropical foliage. The name of the waterfall comes from the rainbows that form in the mists.
A short walk leads to the viewing platform for Rainbow Falls. See if you can spot the cave beneath the waterfall where the Hawaiian goddess Hina is said to live. A hike upstream brings you to the area known as Boiling Pots where the river water rushes through a series of pools.