NATIONAL MONUMENTS & SITES
Explore the Big Island’s jaw-dropping cultural treasures
Hawaii’s largest island is home to some truly captivating natural monuments and sites.
The Big Island is the only Hawaiian island with four fascinating National Parks, fourteen beautiful State Parks and one unique National Historic Trail. Each one features its very own cultural treasures and natural beauty unlike anywhere else in Hawaii, or the world!
There are also a number of breathtaking waterfalls including Akaka Falls, Kahuna Falls and Hiilawe Falls located inside the awe-inspiring landscapes of the tropical Hilo side of the island. The Kona side has some of the most historically significant ancient Hawaiian sites in all of Hawaii. Be sure to set aside some time on your vacation to explore these stunning examples of Hawaiian culture and nature including two of the earth’s most active volcanoes – Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
A visit to the Big Island’s wonders of nature promises education and exploration as you learn all about the national monuments and sites here on the Big Island.
Join us for a daytime adventure by taking our Afternoon Volcano Tour from Hilo where you will get to explore the Big Island’s natural monument, Kilauea, one of the two active volcanoes which last erupted in 2018. This tour will also include fabulous wine tasting on the slopes of the volcano, along with hiking through a lava field. Here you will get to see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Want to see everything on the Big Island from above the clouds? Take our Big Island Helicopter & Volcano Tour and spend the day exploring the Big Island from inside a helicopter where you will have the chance to see dazzling waterfalls such as Rainbow Falls, and jaw-dropping views from Kilauea’s aerial perspective. On this tour you will also see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Volcano House, dramatic views of Halema’uma’u Crater and have a chance to look around the Kilauea Visitors Center.
The Ala Kahakai trail was designated for the preservation and protection of the Native Hawaiian culture and natural resources. It is made up of a structure of trails and follows a coastline path stretching more than 175 miles from Upolu Point on the northern point of the Big Island, west along the Kona coast and around South Point at Ka Lae to the eastern boundary of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The trail itself can be accessed through sections within the four National Parks including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park and Pu’ukohola National Historic Site.
The trail passes through hundreds of important historical sites in Hawaiian culture such as temples, housing settlements, fishponds and petroglyph fields. The section of the trail that is open to the public is located between Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site and Anaeho’omalu Bay.