Big Island Town Guide

Big Island Towns

Find Big Island towns for beach stays, historic districts, coffee country, rainforest villages, ranchland, lava landscapes and local culture, from Kailua-Kona and Hilo to Waimea, Volcano, Hawi, Honoka'a, Pahoa, Captain Cook and the Hamakua Coast.

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Town directory

Big Island Towns

Browse Big Island towns, from lively visitor hubs and historic communities to quiet local areas with island character.

Captain Cook

Captain Cook is a quiet South Kona town above Kealakekua Bay, known for coffee farms, ocean views, snorkeling access and nearby cultural sites.

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Hakalau

Hakalau is a quiet Hamakua Coast village with plantation history, green gulch scenery, coastal views and nearby waterfall drives north of Hilo.

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Hawi

Hawi is a small North Kohala town known for plantation history, local galleries, cafes, shops and scenic drives toward Kapaau and Pololu Valley.

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Hilo

Hilo is East Hawaii's main town, known for Hilo Bay, waterfalls, gardens, museums, rainforests, local culture and easy access to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

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Holualoa

Holualoa is a hillside Kona village known for coffee farms, local art galleries, historic storefronts and cooler upcountry views above Kailua-Kona.

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Honaunau

Honaunau is a South Kona village known for Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Honaunau Bay, snorkeling and coastal cultural history.

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Honoka'a

Honoka'a is a historic Hamakua Coast town known for Mamane Street, plantation-era character, Honoka'a People's Theatre and nearby Waipio Valley scenery.

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Honomu

Honomu is a small Hamakua Coast town known as the gateway to Akaka Falls, with plantation-era storefronts, shops and lush East Hawaii scenery.

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Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona is the main town on the Big Island's sunny west side, known for Alii Drive, Kailua Bay, historic sites, ocean tours and Kona Coast sunsets.

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Kainaliu

Kainaliu is a small South Kona village known for plantation-era shops, Aloha Theatre, cafes, galleries and coffee-country drives above the Kona Coast.

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Kalapana

Kalapana is a lava-shaped Puna District community known for the 1990 lava flows, Kaimu Beach Eco Path, New Kaimu Black Sand Beach and coastal volcanic scenery.

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Kapa'au

Kapa'au is a small North Kohala village known for the original King Kamehameha I Statue, local history, quiet shops and the scenic road toward Pololu Valley.

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Kawaihae

Kawaihae is a Kohala Coast harbor town known for its working port, nearby Pu'ukohola Heiau, boat tours, beaches and North Kohala access.

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Kea'au

Kea'au is an East Hawaii service town and Puna gateway near Hilo, known for its Ola'a plantation roots, local shops, commuter traffic and access to Puna roads.

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Kealakekua

Kealakekua is a South Kona town above Kealakekua Bay, known for Captain Cook history, coffee country, marine conservation and snorkeling access.

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Kurtistown

Kurtistown is a rural East Hawaii community in the Puna District, known for agriculture, plant nurseries, green countryside and access to Hilo, Puna and Volcano routes.

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Laupahoehoe

Laupahoehoe is a Hamakua Coast village known for rugged ocean views, Laupahoehoe Point, railroad history and the 1946 tsunami memorial.

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Mountain View

Mountain View is a rural East Hawaii community along Highway 11, known for cooler upland weather, coffee, nurseries and access to Hilo, Puna and Volcano routes.

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Na'alehu

Na'alehu is a quiet Ka'u District town known for its southernmost-town identity, plantation-era charm, local food stops and South Big Island road access.

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O'okala

O'okala is a tiny rural Hamakua Coast community north of Laupahoehoe, known for plantation-era roots, quiet roads and lush windward scenery.

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Ocean View

Ocean View is a remote Ka'u District community known for lava-field landscapes, wide ocean views, rural subdivisions and South Big Island road access.

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Pa'auhau

Pa'auhau is a tiny Hamakua Coast community near Honoka'a, known for sugar plantation history, gravity tramway stories, ocean views and quiet rural roads.

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Pa'auilo

Pa'auilo is a quiet Hamakua Coast community known for sugar plantation history, rural scenery, small local food stops and ocean-view roads.

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Pahala

Pahala is a quiet Ka'u District town known for former sugar plantation history, Ka'u coffee farms, local services and access to South Big Island drives.

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Pahoa

Pahoa is an eclectic Puna District town known for wooden sidewalks, older storefronts, local restaurants, practical services and nearby Lava Tree State Monument.

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Papa'aloa

Papa'aloa is a small Hamakua Coast village known for plantation-era roots, quiet rural roads, green scenery and access to nearby Laupahoehoe and Hilo-area drives.

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Papa'ikou

Papa'ikou is a quiet Hamakua Coast town north of Hilo, known for Old Mamalahoa Highway, tropical gardens, Onomea scenery and lush East Hawaii drives.

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Pepe'ekeo

Pepe'ekeo is a quiet former sugar town north of Hilo, known for Hamakua Coast greenery, Old Mamalahoa Highway and nearby Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.

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Puako

Puako is a quiet Kohala Coast community known for tide pools, snorkeling, scuba diving, ancient petroglyphs and oceanfront vacation homes.

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Volcano

Volcano is a cool rainforest village near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, known for cottages, art studios, park access, hiking and volcanic scenery.

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Wai'ohinu

Wai'ohinu is a quiet Ka'u village on the southern Big Island, known for the Mark Twain monkeypod tree story, Wong Yuen Store and rural Highway 11 scenery.

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Waikoloa Village

Waikoloa Village is an inland Kohala Coast community known for breezy weather, golf, mountain views and easy access to nearby beaches and resorts.

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Waimea (Kamuela)

Waimea, also called Kamuela, is a cool upland Big Island town known for Parker Ranch, paniolo culture, farmers markets, ranchland and North Hawaii scenery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main towns on the Big Island?

Main Big Island towns include Kailua-Kona, Hilo, Waimea, Volcano, Honoka'a, Hawi, Pahoa, Captain Cook, Kealakekua, Honaunau and several smaller rural communities.

Which Big Island town is best for first-time visitors?

Kailua-Kona is popular for sunny west-side stays, ocean tours, restaurants and historic sites, while Hilo works well for waterfalls, gardens and Volcano-area day trips.

Which Big Island towns are known for coffee country?

Holualoa, Kainaliu, Captain Cook and Kealakekua are South Kona and Kona-area towns known for coffee farms, galleries, small shops and hillside ocean views.

Which Big Island town is closest to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

Volcano is the closest village to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and is known for rainforest scenery, cottages, art studios, hiking access and cooler upland weather.

Which Big Island towns are on the Hamakua Coast?

Honoka'a, Honomu, Laupahoehoe, Papaikou, Pepeekeo, Hakalau, Paauilo and O'okala are among the Hamakua Coast communities north of Hilo.