Big Island Picnic Spots: 9 Free Parks With Tables and Views

All picnic areas on this page are free and open year-round. A few have full facilities: covered pavilions, BBQ grills, restrooms. Others are more basic: a table, a view, and not much else. Most visitors don’t know about them until they’re already planning lunch mid-itinerary, which is a shame because several are genuinely worth planning around.

The food section below covers local things worth picking up before you go. The map shows where all areas sit relative to each other, which makes it easy to match one to whatever else you have planned that day.

Hawaii is one big picnic area. Make sure to take your cooler and some good local grinds!

Big Island Picnic Areas: Map and Amenities

The map below shows all nine areas. Most are on the east side of the island (Hilo and Hamakua), where rain keeps things green year-round. The Kohala and Kona picks tend to be drier and sunnier.

The Best Big Island Picnic Spots, With Directions

The entries below range from a rugged Kohala bay where sugar workers used to retreat, to a two-thousand-foot forest reserve on the Hamakua coast. All are free and open to the public. A few are worth a stop on their own. Others work better as add-ons to something else you’re already doing nearby.

Keokea Beach Park

Keokea Bay used to be a retreat for sugar cane workers. Nowadays, this 7-acre site has been transformed into a beach park with an elevated pavilion that facilitates good picnics. There is also a small pool on the right of the bay that is safe for swimming, and you can also take along your snorkeling gear, although this is probably not one of the best spots for that on the island.

To get here, turn Ma Kai (towards the ocean) at mile marker 27.5 on highway 270 onto the Keokea Beach Road, and continue for a mile until you reach the rugged Keokea Bay.

More information on the County of Hawaii website.

Holoholokai Beach Park

Next to an ocean view and picnic tables shaded by palms, this beach park also gives access to a large petroglyph field that is great for a before or after picnic stroll. Look for the Puako petroglyph trail (30 minutes roundtrip).

To get here, turn ‘Ma Kai‘ (towards the ocean) between mile marker 74 and 75 on Hwy 19 north of Kona. The entrance to the beach park is just right of the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii Resort.

More information on the GoHawaii website.

Manuka State Park

The Manuka State Park has an arboretum (a botanical garden for trees) that surrounds a lawn and a serene and expansive picnic area. The surrounding native and exotic forest hosts some hikes and serves well for an after-picnic stroll.

To get here, turn Ma Uka (towards the mountain) between mile marker 82 and 81 on Hwy 11, into the Manuka State Park.

Read more about the Manuka State Park on our website.

Waiakea Fishpond

This huge fishpond is a point of tranquility in Hilo. It is also known as the “Royal pond’ because it served as a fishpond for three generations of Kamehameha’s. You can find picnic tables scattered through the park surrounded by a lawn and a variety of huge trees. For an after-picnic stroll you can try to find the Kamahamea Statue.

To get here, park your car at the parking lot on the end of Piilani street in Hilo.

More information on the Division of State Parks website.

Liliʻuokalani Gardens (and Coconut Island)

These gardens are built on tiny islands on the east side of Hilo Bay, Coconut Island is attached to the gardens by a 75 meter (250 ft) bridge. From both the gardens and the island you get a clear view across Hilo Bay to Mauna Kea on clear mornings, making it one of the better sunrise spots in the city. If you are an early bird and manage to get here very early, the sunrises from this spot are some of the best on the island.

The gardens are named after Hawaii’s last ruling monarch, Queen Liliʻuokalani, and have a serene quality. Next to picnic tables, you can also find the shortest river of the United states (Wailoa river, 1/3 mile) in these gardens, as well as good swimming and snorkeling spots.

More information on the County of Hawaii website.

Coconut Island not accessible

The bridge to coconut island has collapsed and access to coconut island is not possible until at least mid 2028.

Coconut Island has as added bonus over the gardens that you can take a swim from either of the two very small but sandy beaches! Read more about Coconut Island on our website.

Annotated map (from Google) showing the now-collapsed pedestrian bridge, two white sand beaches, the tower and parking area.

Kealakomo Overlook (inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park)

Kealakomo viewing and picnic area sits along Chain of Craters Road, with direct views of the Pacific and the lava field that buried portions of the ancient village below. A good place to stop for lunch if you’re spending the day in the park. Note: the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park entrance fee applies ($35/vehicle, or free with an America the Beautiful pass).

Hold onto your hat, sometimes it can be quite windy – read more about the overlook and how to get there on the National Park website.

From Kealakomo Overlook you can have a panoramic vista of the Pacific Ocean and the vast lava field that covered portions of the ancient village of Kealakomo. Image credit: NPS Photo/J. Wei

Waikaumalo Park

There are some picnic tables next to a scenic river in Waikaumalo Park. Part of the Hamakua Coast, this can be a good spot for a picnic if you are touring the scenic coast.

More information on the County of Hawaii website.

Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park

Laupahoehoe beach park is halfway between Honokaʻa and Hilo, on the Hamakua coast. It offers picnic tables and tide pools between stacks of lava rocks at the ocean that are definitely worth exploring!

To get here, turn Ma Kai (to the ocean) just north of Laupahoehoe town onto Laupahoehoe point road. Follow this road for 1.25 miles to the parking lot and park entry at the end.

More information on the County of Hawaii website.

Kalopa State Park

Kalopa State Park sits at 2,000 feet on the Hamakua coast, which means it runs cooler and wetter than most of what visitors see. Tourists mostly overlook this large forest reserve which also houses a pretty park with picnic facilities. The park is at 2000ft elevation and has some great hikes such as an easy family nature hike (0.7-mile loop trail) in a native Ohiʻa forest.

To get here, coming from Hilo follow Hwy 19 and turn Ma Uka (towards the mountains) after mile marker 39 onto Papalele road. From here you can follow the signs for 2.5 miles. Read more about the Kalopa State Park on our website.

Suggested pū-pū’s (food)

If you want to give your picnic a Hawaiian flavor, consider taking some of these foods along. These foods can be bought at almost all supermarkets (with the exception of the strawberry mochi and the wine). For more information on these dishes, have a look at our local specialties page.

• Poke (marinated raw fish)
• Take out sushi or Spam musubi
• A bottle of wine from the Volcano Winery or some good microbrews from the Big Island
• Lomilomi salmon
• Hulihuli Chicken
• If you are driving through Hilo, pick up strawberry mochi at Two Ladies Kitchen
• Cold water