2025 Readers’ Choice: Hawai‘i Island

Hawaiʻi Island is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, plus charming towns, sprawling resorts and gorgeous coastlines. 
HAWAII Magazine Staff,
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Hawaiʻi Island is the largest Hawaiian Island, and it's dotted with cascading waterfalls, volcanic terrain. Photo: Getty Images/MNStudio

Nearly twice as big as all the other Hawaiian Islands combined—hence its nickname, Big Island—Hawaiʻi Island is truly awe-inspiring. It’s home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes and all but four of the world’s different climate zones, plus charming towns, sprawling resorts and gorgeous coastlines. 

Best Hotels and Resorts on Hawai‘i Island

01 Spa Without Walls Fairmont Orchid

The Spa Without Walls at Fairmont Orchid.
Photo: Courtesy of Fairmont Orchid

Best Luxury Resort 

  1. Royal Kona Resort 
  2. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai 
  3. Hilton Waikoloa Village 
  4. Fairmont Orchid 
  5. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection 
  6. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection 
  7. Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort 
  8. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort 
  9. Outrigger Kona Resort 
  10. Castle Hali‘i Kai at Waikōloa

Best Value Hotel or Resort 

  1. Royal Kona Resort 
  2. Hilton Waikoloa Village 
  3. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa 
  4. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel 
  5. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa 

Best Hotel or Resort for Families 

  1. Royal Kona Resort 
  2. Hilton Waikoloa Village 
  3. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa 
  4. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection 
  5. Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa 
  6. Fairmont Orchid 
  7. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel 
  8. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection 
  9. Royal Sea Cliff Kona by Outrigger 
  10. Castle Hali‘i Kai at Waikōloa 

Best Hotel for Romance 

  1. Royal Kona Resort 
  2. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai 
  3. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection 
  4. Fairmont Orchid 
  5. Hilton Waikoloa Village  
  6. Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort 
  7. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection 
  8. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa 
  9. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa 
  10. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel

Best Hotel or Resort Spa 

  1. Kohala Spa by Hilton Waikoloa Village 
  2. Hualālai Spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai 
  3. Spa Without Walls at Fairmont Orchid 
  4. Mauna Kea Spa by Mandara at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection 
  5. Auberge Spa at Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection 

Best Hotel or Resort Pool 

  1. Royal Kona Resort 
  2. Hilton Waikoloa Village 
  3. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai 
  4. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort 
  5. Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa 

Best Vacation Timeshare 

  1. Waikoloa Beach Villas 
  2. King’s Land, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club 
  3. Club Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort 
  4. The Bay Club, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club 
  5. WorldMark Kona 

Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn 

  1. Hilo Bay Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast 
  2. Hōlualoa Inn 
  3. Castle Waimea Country Lodge 
  4. Dragonfly Ranch 
  5. My Island Bed & Breakfast 

Best Food and Drink on Hawai‘i Island

Texdriveinhta

Tex Drive-In lures travelers to Honokaʻa with its fresh malasadas.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Ben Ono

Best Restaurant 

  1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort 
  2. Merriman’s Waimea 
  3. Island Lava Java 
  4. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill 
  5. Chubby’s Diner 

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant 

  1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort 
  2. CanoeHouse at The Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection 
  3. ‘Ulu Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai 
  4. Beach Tree at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai 
  5. Brown’s Beach House at Fairmont Orchid 

Best Bar or Lounge 

  1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort 
  2. Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi 
  3. Lava Lava Beach Club 
  4. Huggo’s 
  5. The Hidden Nēnē 
  6. KBXtreme Family Entertainment Center

Best Cheap Eats 

  1. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue 
  2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill 
  3. Da Poke Shack 
  4. Chubby’s Diner 
  5. 808 Grindz Café 

Best Bakery 

  1. Punalu‘u Bake Shop 
  2. Two Ladies Kitchen 
  3. Island Lava Java 
  4. Tex Drive-In 
  5. Short N Sweet Bakery & Café 

Best Breakfast or Brunch 

  1. Ken’s House of Pancakes 
  2. Hawaiian Style Café 
  3. Island Lava Java 
  4. The Coffee Shack 
  5. Chubby’s Diner 

Best Coffee Shop 

  1. Big Island Coffee Roasters 
  2. The Coffee Shack Kona 
  3. Puna Chocolate Company & Cafe 
  4. Surf Camp Waimea 
  5. HiCo Hawaiian Coffee 

Best Burger 

  1. Hilo Burger Joint 
  2. Village Burger Waimea 
  3. Chubby’s Diner 
  4. Ultimate Burger 
  5. Cronies Bar & Grill

Best Loco Moco 

  1. Hawaiian Style Café 
  2. Big Island Grill 
  3. Ken’s House of Pancakes 
  4. Chubby’s Diner 
  5. Café 100 

Best Farm-To-Table Restaurant 

  1. Merriman’s Waimea 
  2. Hilo Bay Café 
  3. Moon and Turtle 
  4. Foster’s Kitchen 
  5. FORC 

Best Noodle, Saimin or Ramen 

  1. TK Noodle House Kona 
  2. Tetsumen 
  3. Nori’s Saimin and Snacks 
  4. Ken’s House of Pancakes 
  5. Noodle Club 

Best Pizza 

  1. Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi
  2. Café Pesto 
  3. Big Island Pizza Napoletana 
  4. Bianelli’s Gourmet Pizza & Pasta 
  5. James Angelo’s Underground Pizza 

Best Poke 

  1. Da Poke Shack 
  2. Umeke’s Fish Market Bar and Grill 
  3. Suisan Fish Market 
  4. Kona Grill House 
  5. Poke Market 

Best Seafood Restaurant 

  1. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar and Grill 
  2. The Fish Hopper 
  3. ‘Ulu Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai 
  4. Jackie Rey’s ‘Ohana Grill 
  5. The Seaside Restaurant 

Best Shave Ice Stand or Store 

  1. Original Big Island Shave Ice Co. 
  2. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice 
  3. Scandinavian Shave Ice 
  4. One Aloha Shave Ice Co. 
  5. Gecko Girlz Shave Ice 

Best Steak House 

  1. Merriman’s Waimea 
  2. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill 
  3. Waimea Butcher Shop 
  4. Wrangler’s Steakhouse & Saddle Room Bar 
  5. Kamuela Provision Co. 

Best Outdoor Adventures on Hawai‘i Island

Hapuna Beach State Park Aerial View

Year after year, Hāpuna Beach is voted as the best beach on Hawaiʻi Island.
Photo: Getty Images/Kris S

Best Beach 

  1. Hāpuna Beach 
  2. Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach 
  3. Mauna Kea Beach 
  4. Makalawena Beach 
  5. Kahalu‘u Beach 

Best Snorkeling Spot 

  1. Kealakekua Bay 
  2. Two Step, Hōnaunau Bay 
  3. Kahalu‘u Beach Park 
  4. Mauna Lani Beach 
  5. La‘aloa Beach (aka Magic Sands) 

Best Surf Spot 

  1. Kahulu‘u Beach Park 
  2. Honoli‘i Beach park 
  3. Old Kona Airport State Park 
  4. Lyman’s Beach 
  5. Banyans

Best Botanical Garden 

  1. World Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls 
  2. Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden 
  3. University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Botanical Gardens 
  4. The Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens 
  5. The Umauma Experience 

Best Campground 

  1. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park 
  2. Spencer Beach Park 
  3. Hāpuna Campground 
  4. Laupāhoehoe Beach Park 
  5. Nāmakanipaio Campground 

Best Activities on Hawai‘i Island

Hawaiian Vanilla Co Tour Hawaii Magazine

Learn about the arduous task of growing vanilla on a tour at Hawaiian Vanilla Co.
Photo: Sarah Anderson

Best Dinner Cruise or Sunset Sail 

  1. Fair Wind Cruises 
  2. Body Glove Cruises 
  3. Paradise Sailing Hawai‘i 
  4. Hawai‘i Nautical
  5. Tom Barefoot Tours 

Best Zipline 

  1. Hawaiʻi Zipline Tours 
  2. Botanical World Adventures 
  3. Kohala Zipline 
  4. Umauma Falls Zipline & Rappel Experience 

Best Farm Tour 

  1. Greenwell Farms 
  2. Lavaloha Chocolate Farm 
  3. Hawaiian Vanilla Co. 
  4. Heavenly Hawaiian Farms 
  5. Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm 

Best Helicopter Tour 

  1. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters 
  2. Paradise Helicopters 
  3. Mauna Loa Helicopter 
  4. Jack Harter Helicopter 
  5. Safari Helicopters 

Best Golf Course 

  1. Mauna Kea Golf Course 
  2. Kona Country Club 
  3. Hualālai Golf Course at the Four Seasons Hualālai 
  4. Mauna Lani South 
  5. Hāpuna Prince Golf Course 

Best Hiking Trail 

  1. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Kīlauea Iki Trail 
  2. ‘Akaka Falls Loop Trail 
  3. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Devastation Trail 
  4. Papokōlea Green Sand Beach 
  5. Pololū Valley

Best Lūʻau 

  1. Royal Kona Lū‘au, Voyagers of the Pacific 
  2. Island Breeze Lū‘au, Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel 
  3. The Mauna Kea Lū‘au, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection 
  4. Legends of Hawai‘i Lū‘au, Hilton Waikoloa Village 
  5. Sunset Lū‘au, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa 

Best Museum 

  1. Hulihe‘e Palace 
  2. Kona Coffee Living History Farm 
  3. Pacific Tsunami Museum 
  4. Lyman Museum 
  5. Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Best Fishing Charter 

  1. Bite Me Sportfishing 
  2. Marlin Magic 
  3. A‘u Struck Sportfishing 
  4. Camelot Sport Fishing 
  5. Fire Hatt Sportfishing Charter 

Best Guided Tour 

  1. Mauna Kea Summit Adventures 
  2. Hawai‘i Forest & Trail 
  3. Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary 
  4. Greenwell Farms 
  5. Epic Lava Tours

Best Shopping on Hawai‘i Island

Best Art Gallery 

  1. Volcano Art Center Gallery 
  2. Kailua Village Artists Gallery 
  3. Extreme Exposure Fine Art Gallery 
  4. One Gallery 
  5. Genesis Galleries

Best Shopping Center or Mall 

  1. Queens’ Marketplace 
  2. Prince Kūhiō Plaza 
  3. Keauhou Shopping Center 
  4. Parker Ranch Center 
  5. Kea‘au Shopping Center 

Best Clothing/Fashion Boutique or Store 

  1. Hilo Hattie 
  2. Tommy Bahama 
  3. Sig Zane Designs 
  4. Jams World 
  5. Pueo Boutique 

Best Store for Souvenirs 

  1. ABC Stores 
  2. Waimea General Store 
  3. Kimura Lauhala Shop 
  4. Basically Books 
  5. Aloha Pawz 

Best Surf Shop 

  1. Kona Boys 
  2. Kahalu‘u Bay Surf and Sea 
  3. Orchid Land Surf Shop 
  4. Oshima Surf & Skate 
  5. HIC

Best Services on Hawai‘i Island

Best Surf Instruction Co. 

  1. Kona Boys 
  2. Kahalu‘u Bay Surf & Sea 
  3. Kona Mike’s Surf Adventures 
  4. Jacks Dive Locker 
  5. Hypernalu 

Best Snorkeling/SCUBA Rental or Instruction 

  1. Snorkel Bob’s 
  2. Big Island Divers 
  3. Boss Frog’s 
  4. Jack’s Diving Locker 
  5. Body Glove Cruises 

Best Beach Gear or Water Gear Rental 

  1. Snorkel Bob’s 
  2. Kona Boys 
  3. Orchid Land Surf Shop 
  4. Boss Frog’s 
  5. Miller’s Surf Shop 

Best Resort for a Wedding 

  1. Fairmont Orchid 
  2. Hilton Waikoloa Village 
  3. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection 
  4. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection 
  5. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa 

Best Wedding Venue (Not a Beach or Resort) 

  1. Volcano House 
  2. Liliʻuokalani Gardens Hilo 
  3. Hulihe‘e Palace 
  4. Nani Mau Restaurant and Gardens 
  5. Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar 
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