Cruise ship passengers face a unique challenge among all visitors to Hawaii: They see much of our coastlines but get to spend precious little time on the Hawaiian islands.
Because many cruise ships stop at both Hilo (city guide) and Kona (city guide), we split this itinerary between these two destinations. We also discuss [1] how to best rent a car for the day and [2] whether it will be possible to spend one night on the island, for example in the rainforests around Volcano Village. In short:
Table of contents
- How to spend the night on the Big Island as a cruise ship passenger
- Renting a car for the day
- Cruise ship activities near Hilo
- Cruise ship activities near Kona
Regardless of your choices *on* the Big Island, one thing is worth timing for: winter is one of Hawaiʻi’s two busy seasons, and it’s prime time for whales. Humpbacks arrive in November and are here in numbers from mid-December through early April, so a winter cruise often means whale watching straight from the deck.
Spend the night on the Big Island
Cruise ships often make consecutive stops on the Big Island: one in Hilo and one in Kona. Consider spending the night on the island and rejoining the cruise at the next port. Most visitors who fly to the Big Island stay several days: only about 4,200 of the roughly 119,000 US air visitors each month spend a day or less here.
A cruise gives you a single day, and the two best after-dark experiences, the manta ray dive off Kona and the lava glow at Kīlauea when it’s erupting, both need a night onshore.
This is a chance to enjoy one of the two activities that usually demand a full holiday to complete: the manta ray night dive or seeing the glow over the lava lake at night. Our favorite is the second option: spending your night in Volcano Village and seeing the glow of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater at night.
The glow from the Halemaʻumaʻu crater at night in the Volcanoes National Park, seen from the (now closed) Jaggar Museum overlook
If you are passionate about stargazing and have lots of energy, you might consider visiting the famous telescopes on the summit of Maunakea for sunset and stargazing before settling in at Volcano Village.
The short version of “how to spend the night on the Big Island” goes as follows:
- Make sure the crew knows you won’t be spending the night on the ship.
- Rent a car that you can pick up in your first port and then drop off in the second port.
- Have a great time!
Important things to consider when trying to spend the night on shore
Depending on the specifics of your cruise, the regulations on board and the willingness of the crew, step 1 (above) could be a deal breaker.
There are many conflicting reports about the possibilities of an overnight stay. The unifying theme of these is that with some research and preparation it should be possible to pull off. Basically, you have to inform the ship you will be “missing” the ship when it leaves port later that day, and that you will be joining it at the other port on the Big Island. There might be a fine associated with this.
Mandatory reading for everyone planning to spend a night onshore is the “Somewhat definitive guide to skipping a port on the POA” on the CruiseCritic website.
If your second day (boarding) is in Kona, you should keep in mind that some car rental companies are at the Kona Airport. Note also that if Kona is your second port there is the possibility waters are too rough to tender. If this is the case you will have to book an interisland flight to your next port in Hawaii.
Most importantly: check with your cruise company to see if it is possible to rejoin the cruise in a different port before doing it.
Renting a car for one day on the Big Island
A rental car is by far the most efficient way to explore the Big Island. Below you can find information on getting from the cruise ship to the rental car agency for both Hilo and Kona. Also see our guide to renting a car on the Big Island.
Hilo: The rental car agencies are at the Hilo Airport, a 10-minute drive from the harbor. Shuttle buses will be waiting at the harbor to bring you to the airport.
Kona: Rental car agencies in Kona are split between two locations:
- Thrifty, Dollar, and Hertz, all have an office in the King Kamehameha hotel, a few 100 yards walking from your landing spot in Kona at the Kailua pier.
- The other rental car agencies are at the Kona Airport. Driving to and from the airport takes ~20 minutes without traffic. During early morning and afternoon rush hour it can take far longer. Few, if any, shuttles are available for transport to and from the airport, and taxis can be expensive. Please consider renting your car at one of the agencies at the King Kamehameha hotel.
Activities near Hilo | Itinerary for one day
By almost every conceivable metric, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park should be your top priority during your ‘Hilo day’. However, there are more ways to enjoy the tropical side of the Big Island.
We split the sightseeing in and around Hilo into three categories:
- Waterfalls and tropical gardens
- Lava and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Black sand beaches, hot ponds, and a scenic drive
Each of these is in a different area, and you are making the best of your stay by picking just one. Driving distances between the categories take away valuable time.
Waterfalls and tropical gardens
Four out of our five favorite waterfalls on the Big Island are in or just north of Hilo. You can combine a few of these with the Onomea scenic drive.
Driving further north takes you to the scenic Hāmākua coast and ultimately to the dramatic cliffs of Waipiʻo valley.
The volume of the rainbow falls (or Waianuenue) changes on a daily basis. This is what the falls look like after a good rain upstream
Flowing Lava and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Whether or not the lava flow is active (visible), a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is worth prioritizing. You can easily spend a full day in the park, so pick up your rental car and drive up the volcano.
If lava is flowing and entering the ocean, you need to make a tough choice. When the flow is accessible from within the park you can combine this with your visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. If it isn’t, you may have to choose between the two.
Of course, this problem disappears if you manage to spend one night on the Big Island. If you do, please consider spending it in Volcano Village, on the doorstep of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
How to see the lava yourself
When visiting the lava we recommend to take a guided lava tour from a reputable company. Depending on local circumstances you can choose between a lava hike and a lava boat tour.
Lava enters the ocean at the Big Island. You can see this yourself either from land by a moderate (5+ mile) hike or bike ride, or from the ocean, by going on a lava boat tour
See the lava with a helicopter tour
Because your time is precious you may want to consider splurging on a helicopter tour to see the lava. These tours take a few hours and can show you a combination of highlights, such as lava and waterfalls.
Black sand beaches, hot ponds, and a scenic drive
The Puna district is famous for its scenic roads and volcanically heated hot ponds.
The stark contrasts between the tropical green, the deep black from the lava, and the deep blue from the ocean make this part of the island home to our all-time favorite scenic drive.
You can combine your road trip with a visit to one of the black sand beaches in Hilo, or with a hike to the lava.
The Kalapana to Kapoho road (also known as red road) is one of our favorite scenic drives on the Big Island.
Activities near Kona, itinerary for one day
The harbor at Kona is not suited for cruise ships. This means that you need to take a tender to the Kailua Pier in downtown Kona get to shore. When planning your activities keep in mind that tendering takes 30 to 90 minutes.
You can probably fit more than one of the activities below in one day. For example, a beach and a snorkel road trip form an excellent combination, and a helicopter tour only takes half a day.
The harbor at Kona is not suited for cruise ships. This means that you need to take a tender to the Kailua Pier in downtown Kona get to shore.
We split the sightseeing in and around Kona into the following activities
- Go beach hopping
- Go snorkeling
- A road trip with coffee and culture
- Seeing the sights with a helicopter
- The manta ray night dive
Visit one of the white sand beaches
All the beaches in Hawaii are free and open to the public. The many beaches on the Kona side are white sand beaches. Some of our favorite beaches are Kua Bay, Hapuna Beach, and Waialea Bay.
Pick up some food and set off in your rental car for a mini road trip to the beaches in north or south Kona.
Map with all Big Island beaches.
Kua Bay is a small beach with good surf in the winter and snorkeling in the summer
Snorkeling on the Kona coast
The Kona coast has the best places on the Big Island to go snorkeling. All 3 of our favorite snorkeling spots are south of Kona, at less than a 1-hour drive from central Kona. By the way, there is also OK snorkeling at the Kailua Pier, your landing spot in Kona.
You can also take in Hawaiian history at the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Park. This park, also known as the City of Refuge, is mere steps away from one of our favorite snorkeling spots.
If you didn’t bring your own snorkeling gear on the cruise, it’s easy to rent some in Kona. For more snorkeling beaches, see our list of all snorkeling spots close to Kona.
The best snorkeling in Kealakekua bay is around the Captain Cook monument, but getting there is difficult. The easiest option is to book a snorkeling cruise.
Culture, coffee, and a great scenic drive
South Kona is also known as coffee country after the many coffee farms you can find up-slope of the volcanoes. This part of the Big Island is where the Kona coffee comes from.
A visit to a Kona Coffee farm is very easy to combine with a visit to for example the Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau National Park, as well as with snorkeling at the fantastic Hōnaunau snorkeling spot. You can string all of this together along one of our favorite scenic drives.
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Park is a good place to take in Hawaiian History. Next door (300 feet from the park entrance) is one of the best places of the island to go snorkeling
Helicopter tours for the bird’s-eye view
Most helicopter tours taken from Kona are more expensive than those from Hilo because the main attractions are further away. However, a helicopter tour is still one of the most efficient ways to see the Big Island.
Helicopter tours can combine many activities into one. For example seeing waterfalls, visiting the lava, crossing the impressive cliffs of the Kohala volcano, or going ziplining.
Read more about booking a helicopter tour.
Manta Ray night Dive (only with an overnight stay)
Diving or snorkeling with the Manta Rays is one of the best things you can do on the Big Island. However, there are two possible downsides to doing this activity as a passenger of a cruise ship:
- This activity is only possible if you spend the night on shore. It is also very difficult (exhausting) to combine it with seeing the lava glow at night. (the other “unmissable” overnight activity).
- Stormy weather and/or rough water conditions can cause the dive to be canceled. Given that you only have one night this is a valid concern.
Read more about the Manta Ray night dive/snorkel on our website.
Two Manta Rays Feeding At Night off Kona, Hawaii. Image credit: Wikipedia.
Specific cruise questions and personal experiences
Our expertise is the Big Island of Hawaii, and this itinerary is meant to guide people that visit either Hilo or Kona with a cruise ship through the possible activities on the island.
If you have more specific cruise-related questions on visiting the Big Island while on a cruise, you should have a look at the Hawaiʻi section (all islands) message board forums of the cruise critic website.