Hiking on the Big Island of Hawaii: Trails for Every Level

When I travel I love to hike. Watching a sunrise from a trail, getting some real exercise in a beautiful place, earning a view that most people never see — it is just a great use of your time on vacation. When I am on the Big Island it is no exception.

I stay at Kona Landing on Alii Drive and some of the best hikes on the island are within easy driving distance. I have done the Captain Cook Monument hike more than once and it never gets old, even when it absolutely destroys my legs. I have also walked the waterfall trails near Hilo on a day trip east, which could not be more different — easy, lush, and genuinely magical.

The Big Island has something for every kind of hiker. Here is how I think about it, along with everything I have learned about what to bring.

What to Pack for Hiking on the Big Island

Before we get into the trails, let me save you from a few mistakes I have made personally.

Sunscreen and lip protection are non-negotiable. I have burned my lips hiking in Hawaii more than once and it is not a great way to start a vacation. Get a reef-safe SPF lip balm and bring a full-size reef-safe sunscreen. You will be out in the open, often with no shade, and the Hawaiian sun is no joke.

Bring more water than you think you need. Two liters minimum on anything over an hour. Seriously.

Watch out for the grass. Some trails on the Big Island have long grass along the path that will cut and irritate your legs. I wear leggings or tall hiking socks on those trails. It sounds dramatic until it happens to you.

You do not need hiking boots for most of these trails. I hike in regular sneakers almost always. Just make sure they are comfortable enough for lava rock terrain and check the trail difficulty before you go.

A small backpack is essential so you can be hands-free and carry snacks, water, sunscreen, and any snorkel gear you need. I bring a compact pack on every hike.

Easy Hikes: Beautiful Views, Minimal Effort

Akaka Falls Loop Trail Near Hilo

This is the waterfall hike near Hilo that I always mention and it is genuinely one of the easiest and most beautiful walks on the entire island. The loop is only 0.4 miles and it is paved, so it is accessible for almost everyone including kids. You walk through a lush rainforest of bamboo groves, hanging ferns, and tropical flowers, and the trail leads to two spectacular waterfalls: Kahuna Falls at 100 feet and the famous Akaka Falls at 442 feet.

It is completely worth stopping here if you are doing a Hilo day trip. I talk about Hilo in detail in the Hilo Hawaii restaurant guide which pairs perfectly with this stop.

Distance: 0.4 miles loop

Difficulty: Easy, paved

Kid-friendly: Yes

Time: 30 to 45 minutes

Official info:Akaka Falls State Park

Pololu Valley Lookout and Trail — North Kohala

Drive to the very northern tip of the island and you will find one of the most dramatic viewpoints on the Big Island. The lookout itself requires no hiking at all and gives you sweeping views of the Pololu Valley, green cliffs, and the Pacific Ocean. If you want to hike down, the trail descends steeply about half a mile to a black sand beach at the valley floor. The hike back up is a real workout but the views are worth every step.

This is a great add-on if you are driving the scenic Kohala Coast route north from Kona.

Distance: 1 mile round trip to the beach Difficulty: Easy to moderate (steep descent) Kid-friendly: Lookout yes, trail depends on age Time: 1 to 1.5 hours Trail info:Pololu Valley Trail on AllTrails

Steam Vents and Sulphur Banks at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

These are park walks rather than hikes but they are worth including because the experience is unlike anything else. Both are short, mostly flat, and completely surreal. The sulphur banks steam and smell like eggs. The steam vents release hot water vapor from the earth. Walking through them feels like another planet.

I cover both in detail in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park guide.

Distance: Under 1 mile each

Difficulty: Easy

Kid-friendly: Yes

Moderate Hikes: A Little More Effort, A Lot More Reward

Kilauea Iki Trail — Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

This is one of the most unique hikes anywhere in the world. You walk across the solidified floor of a lava lake inside a crater. The contrast between the lush rainforest at the rim and the barren, cracked lava below is completely disorienting in the best way. It is not a difficult hike but it is long enough to feel like an accomplishment.

More details in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park guide.

Distance: 4 miles round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Kid-friendly: Older kids yes

Time: 2 to 3 hours

Trail info:Kilauea Iki Trail on AllTrails

Pololu Valley to Waipio Valley Coastal Trail

One of the most dramatic hikes on the island, this trail connects two of the Big Island's most striking valleys along the north Kohala coast. The descent into Waipio Valley is steep and the hike back out is genuinely hard, but the views of the valley walls, the black sand beach, and the Pacific are extraordinary.

Distance: Varies, 2 to 4 miles

Difficulty: Moderate to hard

Kid-friendly: Older kids only

Trail info:Waipio Valley on AllTrails

Difficult Hikes: For the Adventurous

Captain Cook Monument Hike — My Favorite and Hardest

This one is personal. I have done this hike multiple times and it is my absolute favorite on the island even though it is brutal.

The trail, officially called the Ka'awaloa Trail at Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park, starts at the end of Napoopoo Road and drops steeply down through open lava fields and overgrown grass to Kealakekua Bay, where the Captain Cook Monument sits at the water's edge. At the bottom is one of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island — crystal clear water, coral, tropical fish, sea turtles, and spinner dolphins if you are lucky.

Here is what I always bring: water shoes, a compact inflatable float so I can relax in the water after the hike down, a snorkel mask, a protein bar, and at least 2 liters of water. The hike out is hot and hard and you will want both.

The mongoose situation is real. They will literally unzip your backpack and eat your food while you are snorkeling. I am not exaggerating. Either eat everything before you get in the water, hang your bag in a tree, or zip everything into a hard-to-open compartment. It has happened to me multiple times and it never gets less annoying.

Leave as early as possible in the morning, ideally at sunrise, because this hike in full afternoon sun is something else entirely. The trail is sometimes overgrown and the tall grass can irritate your skin, so wear long pants or tall hiking socks. There are long stretches with zero shade.

After this hike I always stop at HiCO Hawaiian Coffee Company for a chai latte and avocado toast. You have earned it.

Distance: 3.8 miles round trip

Difficulty: Hard Elevation gain: 1,269 feet

Kid-friendly: No

Best time: Leave at sunrise

Time: 3 to 4 hours including snorkeling

Trail info:Captain Cook Monument Trail on AllTrails

Plan Your Full Big Island Trip

The free things to do in Kona guide has more outdoor adventures including coffee farm tours and beach parks. And the 5-day Big Island itinerary builds hiking into a full trip alongside all the eating and beach days.

The Big Island rewards the people who get off the resort and explore it on foot. These trails are the reason I keep coming back.