Are you looking for fun things to do on the Big Island for a honeymoon? Keep scrolling for this list of the most romantic things to do on the Big Island for a Hawaii honeymoon.
This list of romantic things to do on the Big Island Hawaii was written by Marcie Cheung (a Hawaii travel expert) and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
I’ve never done the Big Island with my husband. He’s never been to Hawaii Island at all. And honestly, that’s part of why I wanted to write this post.
After visiting Hawaii 40+ times over 20 years and spending real time on the Big Island with my mom and each of my kids separately, I know this island well enough to tell you exactly what works for couples and what doesn’t.
I’ve watched honeymooners make the same planning mistakes over and over.
The biggest one?
Not grasping how enormous this island actually is. Couples staying on the Kohala Coast routinely underestimate the drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
It’s not a quick afternoon detour. It’s roughly two hours each way from Kona or Waikoloa, and if you don’t plan for that, the volcano ends up either rushed or skipped entirely.
The Big Island is almost twice the size of all the other Hawaiian islands combined. That’s not a fun fact. That’s a warning.
So here’s what I’d actually book, what to skip, and how to make the logistics work so you’re not spending your honeymoon in a rental car.
Before you start booking anything, listen to episode 51 of Hawaii Travel Made Easy: How to Plan a Trip to the Big Island. It covers the logistics in detail and will save you a lot of back-and-forth.
The One Daytime Water Activity Worth Booking
If you snorkel at all, do the Hula Kai Deluxe Kona Coast Snorkel Cruise. Five hours, small group, fast catamaran, departing from Keauhou Bay.
They take you to remote spots along the South Kona coast that you’d never find on your own.
Breakfast and lunch are included, the crew are lifeguard-certified and in the water with you, and you’ll typically see sea turtles, spinner dolphins, and if conditions cooperate, pilot whales.
Two things I’d steer you away from: the glass-bottom boat and the Atlantis Submarine.
The glass-bottom boat sounds romantic but you’re looking straight down through a hull panel, which makes a lot of people nauseous, and the view doesn’t compare to actually being in the water.
The submarine has the same problem: small portholes, passive experience. If you can snorkel, snorkel.
The Night You’ll Still Be Talking About at Your 10th Anniversary
The manta ray night snorkel. Book it early in your trip so if conditions cancel it one night, you have time to reschedule.
You go out after dark, get in the water, hold onto a float board, and watch manta rays glide beneath you. They come up nightly to feed on plankton attracted by the boat’s lights.
Wingspans can reach 15 feet. No teeth, no stingers, no barbs. Just enormous, graceful creatures doing their thing a few feet below you while you try to remember to breathe.
If snorkeling in the dark feels intimidating, book the earliest available slot. More light, less anxiety, same mantas. My friends who’ve done this say it’s the single activity they’d never skip on a return trip.
Book the Manta Ray Night Snorkel here.
Zipline Over a 250-Foot Waterfall
The KoleKole Falls Zipline near Akaka Falls is the best zipline in Hawaii, and it’s not particularly close.
Seven lines, starting easy, building to a half-mile grand finale directly above a 250-foot waterfall at 450 feet of elevation. No experience needed. About 2.5 hours total.
It runs rain or shine, rain jackets are provided, and the Hamakua Coast honestly looks better when it’s a little moody.
Closed-toe shoes are required and weight limits are strictly enforced at check-in (40 to 260 lbs), so don’t show up in sandals or assume they’ll make exceptions.
This is on the east side near Hilo, which is about 90 minutes from the Kohala Coast.
Plan it as a dedicated day, maybe pair it with Rainbow Falls in the morning on your way through Hilo, and don’t try to cram it in with five other things. Check rates and book here.
The Helicopter Tour (Especially Right Now)
Kilauea is actively erupting as of June 2026, in Episode 48 with lava fountaining at the summit caldera. If there is ever a time to book a helicopter tour over this island, it is now.
The Circle of Fire helicopter tour takes you over both Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Blue Hawaiian and Rainbow Helicopters are the operators I’d point you toward. Both fly with official authorizations inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and have strong safety records.
One honest caveat: eruption episodes can pause without warning, so book the flight and treat active lava as a bonus rather than a guarantee.
Even when Kilauea is quiet, the aerial views of the sea cliffs, lava fields, and Hamakua coastline are extraordinary. This is not a tour you’ll regret regardless of what the volcano is doing that day.
And while we’re talking about the volcano: plan your ground visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as a full day trip from the Kona side, not an afternoon add-on. The drive alone is nearly two hours each way.
Mauna Kea at Sunset and After Dark
If you do one evening activity on your honeymoon and you have any interest in the night sky, this is it.
The Mauna Kea Summit and Stargazing tours pick you up in a 4WD van, drive you up to nearly 14,000 feet for sunset, then bring you down slightly for a proper stargazing session with a telescope.
Groups are small. The guides know what they’re doing. Stars from up there are something you genuinely cannot replicate anywhere closer to sea level.
What people don’t warn you about enough: it is significantly colder than most visitors expect, colder than Haleakala on Maui, and the wind at the summit has real bite.
Warm parkas and gloves are provided, but if you have hand warmers, bring them. I was glad to have them.
You’ll also feel the altitude when you first step out of the van, a little lightheaded, maybe slightly short of breath. Drink water on the drive up, take it slow, and it passes quickly.
Tours run around $259/person, departing from Kona, Waikoloa, or Hilo. Book ahead, especially May through October.
Book a Hawaii Photo Shoot
Whenever we travel to Hawaii, we almost always book a photo shoot with Flytographer. They are super easy, affordable, AND it guarantees that I’ll have more than just selfies. You can get $20 off if you book through this link.
One Romantic Evening on the Water
The Body Glove Kona Sunset Dinner Cruise to Kealakekua Bay is a three-hour narrated cruise from Kailua-Kona Pier down to Captain Cook’s monument, with dinner served in the bay as the sun sets and live music on the way back.
Around $175/person, one complimentary cocktail included, departs daily except Monday.
Honest caveat: the waves on this stretch of coast can be choppier than people expect.
It’s open ocean, and if you tend to get seasick, the conditions make it hard to fully relax. Take something before you board and you’ll be fine. Don’t skip it, just go prepared.
A Couples’ Massage
Don’t skip this. The Fairmont Orchid’s Spa Without Walls has open-air treatment hale overlooking the ocean and garden. The Four Seasons Hualalai and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel both have excellent spas too.
If you’re staying at any of these, check the couples’ packages when you book your room and mention it’s your honeymoon.
Properties often add small touches, sparkling wine, chocolate-covered strawberries, late checkout, when you flag the occasion at the time of booking rather than at check-in.
The Beach Question
Hapuna Beach is one of the best swimming beaches in the state but it gets busy. For something quieter with good shade, Waialea Bay (69s Beach) is worth knowing about.
If you’re willing to put in a little effort, Green Sand Beach (Papakolea) is one of only four green sand beaches in the world. You’ll need a 4WD or a local truck shuttle from the parking area.
Swimming isn’t safe there, but standing on that beach looking at that water is genuinely one of those “I can’t believe this is a real place” moments.
The Kohala Coast in the late afternoon has this warm, glowy light that’s perfect for photos.
If you’re thinking about hiring a photographer for even a couple of hours, that’s your window.
Flytographer does a great job matching you with local photographers who know exactly where to take you. You can save $20 on your session through that link.
On Luaus: A Specific Recommendation
The Big Island is home to the Merrie Monarch Festival, the most prestigious hula competition in the world, which tells you something about how deeply rooted Hawaiian culture is here.
But it’s not particularly known for its luaus the way Maui and Oahu are.
If you’re doing a split stay, save the luau for whichever other island you’re visiting. If the Big Island is your only stop and you’ve never been to a luau, go ahead and do one. Just know it’s not where the best ones are.
Rainbow Falls: 45 Minutes, Free, Worth It
Easy to overlook because it sounds minor, but Rainbow Falls in Hilo is seriously beautiful.
Go early morning for the best chance of rainbows in the mist. Park, walk two minutes, be amazed, leave. Pairs perfectly with a zipline day since you’re already on the east side.
Where to Stay
I’ve stayed at the Fairmont Orchid and it’s my personal pick for honeymooners.
When you walk in, you can hear the ocean before you even reach the lobby. It’s bright, clean, and smells like a tropical paradise in the best possible way.
The resort sits on 30-plus oceanfront acres on the Kohala Coast with a protected snorkeling cove where sea turtles show up regularly.
Some of the bathrooms are due for an update, so temper your expectations there, but the overall experience is warm and genuinely special in a way that the photos actually undersell.
For the ultimate splurge, Four Seasons Hualalai is in its own category. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has real history and character and one of the best natural beaches on the island.
Browse current rates on Expedia or read my full breakdown of romantic Big Island resorts here.
One more thing: you need a car on the Big Island. Rideshare options are limited outside Kona. Discount Hawaii Car Rental consistently has the best rates I’ve found and is my go-to recommendation.
Big Island Honeymoon FAQ
How many days do you need on the Big Island for a honeymoon?
Seven nights minimum, and ten is better. Less than a week and you’ll either rush the volcano day or skip it, and that’s one of the main reasons to choose this island.
The distances here are real. Give yourself enough time to not feel like you’re always behind schedule.
What’s the best time of year for a Big Island honeymoon?
April, May, September, and October are the sweet spot: fewer crowds, lower resort rates than winter peak, and reliable weather.
December through March is peak season with the best whale watching (humpbacks come through November to April off the Kohala Coast), but also the highest prices.
Summer is warm, slightly less rainy on the Kona side, and a solid option if that’s when you can travel.
What side of the island should honeymooners stay on?
The Kohala Coast on the west side for most couples. That’s where the major resorts are, the calmest ocean conditions for swimming and snorkeling, and the best sunset cruises.
The Hilo side is lush and dramatic but significantly wetter and doesn’t have the same resort infrastructure. Most honeymooners base on the Kohala Coast and make day trips east.
Is the Big Island better for a honeymoon than Maui or Kauai?
It depends entirely on what you want. The Big Island wins if adventure, variety, and fewer resort crowds matter to you.
Volcanoes, stargazing, green sand beaches, manta rays, and a helicopter tour over active lava are experiences you can’t replicate anywhere else.
Maui tends to win for classic beach-and-dining romance. Kauai for drama and seclusion. I break this down in detail in my Hawaii island comparison guide if you’re still deciding.
Do we need a rental car?
Yes, without question. Book in advance through Discount Hawaii Car Rental. Last-minute rentals on the Big Island are expensive and inventory runs thin during peak periods.
What should we pack that people forget?
Reef-safe sunscreen (required by Hawaii state law and cheaper to buy before you fly), layers for Mauna Kea (it’s genuinely cold up there), hand warmers if you run cold, and closed-toe shoes for the zipline. Flip flops won’t get you on the KoleKole Falls tour.
Need Help Planning?
Building a Big Island itinerary that actually makes geographic sense is harder than it looks.
Activities need to be grouped by location, the resort options vary more than the photos suggest, and there are decisions couples don’t realize they need to make until it’s too late to change them.
I do one-on-one Hawaii travel consultations for exactly this. We build out your itinerary together based on your actual priorities, not a generic template. Most couples leave the call with a real plan they feel confident about.
You can also browse my Big Island travel guide and the Hawaii island hopping guide if you’re considering more than one island.
The couples who have the best Big Island honeymoons plan with intention, choose fewer things and do them well, and don’t underestimate the distances.
Get the manta ray snorkel on the calendar before it fills. Book the helicopter while Kilauea is putting on a show. Pick a resort that fits your actual vibe.
Then put your phone down and let Hawaii do the rest.
