The Big Island of Hawaii lives up to its name in every possible way. The largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago by a wide margin and still actively growing thanks to ongoing volcanic activity, Hawaii Island packs more geographic and ecological diversity into a single landmass than almost anywhere else on earth. In the span of a single day you can walk across an active lava field at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the morning, swim in turquoise water off a white sand beach at Hapuna in the afternoon, and stargaze from the summit of Mauna Kea at nearly 14,000 feet above sea level in the evening. The island’s coastline shifts dramatically from one side to the other: the sunny, resort-lined Kohala Coast in the west offers world-class snorkeling, excellent fishing, and some of Hawaii’s finest hotels, while the lush, rain-fed east coast around Hilo and the Waipio Valley feels like a completely different island. Coffee farms, cattle ranches, black and green sand beaches, manta ray night dives, and helicopter tours over active lava flows all add to an experience unlike any other in Hawaii. Our Big Island travel guides cover the best hotels, resorts, beaches, activities, and practical tips to help you plan an extraordinary visit.