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•8 min read•from HAWAIʻI Magazine

2026 Readers’ Choice: Hawai‘i Island

Our take

Welcome to the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, where we celebrate the vibrant allure of Hawaiʻi Island, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, this island offers a unique blend of adventure and relaxation, with charming towns, luxurious resorts, and stunning coastlines. Experience the best this island has to offer with our curated list of top beaches, hotels, and restaurants that embody the spirit of exploration and indulgence. For those looking to explore more of the Hawaiian experience, don’t miss our coverage of "2026 Readers’ Choice Awards: Oʻahu," where you can discover the vibrant activities of the Gathering Place.
2026 Readers’ Choice: Hawai‘i Island

Hawaiʻi Island, the largest of the Hawaiian archipelago, continues to captivate travelers seeking both adventure and tranquility. Its unique offerings, from the awe-inspiring volcanic landscapes to charming local towns, provide a rich tapestry for exploration. As highlighted in the recent article on the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, Hawaiʻi Island boasts some of the best hotels, resorts, and dining experiences, making it a prime destination for those looking to indulge in the island lifestyle. For those who have enjoyed the vibrancy of Oʻahu in our piece on the 2026 Readers Choice Awards: Oʻahu, or the lush beauty of Kauaʻi in the 2026 Readers’ Choices Awards: Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island offers a distinctive blend of natural wonder and cultural depth.

The island’s reputation as a haven for both relaxation and adventure makes it an appealing choice for a diverse range of travelers. Visitors can explore the unique ecosystems, from lush rainforests to pristine beaches, while also diving into the local culture through its food, art, and community events. The article emphasizes the allure of the island's best beaches and luxurious accommodations, illustrating that Hawaiʻi Island is not only about its breathtaking landscapes but also about the curated experiences that foster a connection to the local community. For those who appreciate an elevated yet authentic travel experience, the island underscores the essential balance between luxury and cultural immersion.

Furthermore, the mention of Hawaiʻi Island's active volcanoes serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of this destination. The ongoing geological activity not only shapes the landscape but also offers visitors an opportunity to witness the raw power of nature firsthand. This immersive experience aligns with the adventurous spirit that our audience embodies. It invites them to engage with the environment in a meaningful way, enhancing their understanding of the island’s history and culture. In this context, the exploration of local culinary offerings becomes even more significant, as the unique flavors and dishes often draw inspiration from the island's natural resources and traditions.

As we look to the future, the recognition of Hawaiʻi Island in the Readers’ Choice Awards signals an increasing awareness among travelers of the rich, multifaceted experiences available beyond the more commercialized islands. It raises an important question: how will this recognition influence the way visitors interact with the island and its communities? Will there be a shift towards more sustainable and respectful tourism practices that honor the local culture and environment? As travelers become more discerning, they seek out destinations that offer authentic experiences rather than just picturesque views.

In conclusion, Hawaiʻi Island stands as a testament to the beauty and complexity of the Hawaiian Islands. It embodies a vibrant spirit that invites exploration while encouraging visitors to indulge in both relaxation and discovery. As the island continues to gain recognition, the challenge will be to preserve its unique charm and cultural heritage amidst growing interest. This evolving narrative of Hawaiʻi Island promises to shape the future of travel in the region, and we look forward to witnessing how it unfolds.

Nearly twice as big as all the other Hawaiian Islands combined, Hawaiʻi Island earns its nickname. Hawaiʻi Island is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, plus charming towns, sprawling resorts and gorgeous coastlines. Here’s the best beaches, hotels, restaurants on Hawaiʻi Island.

Best Hotels and Resorts on Hawai‘i Island

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The infinity pool overlooks King’s Pond at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai.
Photo: Courtesy of the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

Best Luxury Resort

  1. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
  2. Royal Kona Resort
  3. Hilton Waikōloa Village
  4. Fairmont Orchid
  5. Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort
  6. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
  7. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection
  8. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
  9. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort
  10. Castle Hali‘i Kai at Waikōloa

Best Value Hotel or Resort

  1. Royal Kona Resort
  2. Hilton Waikōloa Village
  3. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
  4. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
  5. Waikōloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
  6. Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
  7. SCP Hilo Hotel
  8. Fairmont Orchid
  9. Aston Kona by the Sea
  10. Pacific 19

Best Hotel or Resort for Families

  1. Royal Kona Resort
  2. Hilton Waikōloa Village
  3. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
  4. Fairmont Orchid
  5. Waikōloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
  6. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
  7. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
  8. Royal Sea Cliff Kona by Outrigger
  9. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection
  10. Castle Hali‘i Kai at Waikōloa

Best Hotel or Resort for Romance

  1. Royal Kona Resort
  2. Fairmont Orchid
  3. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
  4. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
  5. Hilton Waikōloa Village
  6. Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort
  7. Waikōloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
  8. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
  9. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection
  10. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel

Best Hotel or Resort Spa

  1. Hualālai Spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
  2. Mauna Kea Spa by Mandara at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
  3. Kohala Spa by Hilton Waikōloa Village
  4. Spa Without Walls at Fairmont Orchid
  5. Auberge Spa at Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection

Best Hotel or Resort Pool

  1. Royal Kona Resort
  2. Hilton Waikōloa Village
  3. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
  4. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
  5. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort

Best Hotel or Resort for a Wedding

  1. Fairmont Orchid
  2. Hilton Waikōloa Village
  3. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
  4. Waikōloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
  5. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection 

Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn

  1. Volcano Village Lodge
  2. Hilo Bay Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast
  3. Hōlualoa Inn
  4. Ka‘awa Loa Plantation Bed & Breakfast
  5. Honu Kai

Best Food and Drink on Hawai‘i Island

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Two Ladies Kitchen in Hilo is known for its colorful variety of Japanese mochi and manju. It’s voted one of the best bakeries on Hawaiʻi Island.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Best Restaurant

  1. Merriman’s Waimea
  2. Don’s Mai Tai Bar & Restaurant
  3. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill
  4. Island Lava Java
  5. Chubby’s Diner

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant

  1. Don’s Mai Tai Bar & Restaurant at the Royal Kona Resort
  2. CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection
  3. Brown’s Beach House at Fairmont Orchid
  4. ‘Ulu at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
  5. Beach House at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai 

Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant

  1. Merriman’s Waimea
  2. Hilo Bay Café
  3. Moon and Turtle
  4. Foster’s Kitchen
  5. The Theatery

Best Seafood Restaurant

  1. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill
  2. The Fish Hopper
  3. Jackie Rey’s ‘Ohana Grill
  4. The Seaside Restaurant
  5. ‘Ulu Ocean Grill

Best Loco Moco

  1. Big Island Grill
  2. Hawaiian Style Café
  3. Chubby’s Diner
  4. Ken’s House of Pancakes
  5. Café 100

Best Plate Lunch

  1. Big Island Grill
  2. Broke Da Mouth Grindz
  3. Hawaiian Style Café Hilo
  4. Chubby’s Diner
  5. Kaʻaloa’s Super J’s

Best Poke

  1. Da Poke Shack
  2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill
  3. Suisan Fish Market
  4. Poke Market
  5. Kona Grill

Best Shave Ice

  1. Original Big Island Shave Ice Co.
  2. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
  3. Gecko Girlz Shave Ice
  4. Scandinavian Shave Ice
  5. One Aloha Shave Ice Co.

Best Noodle

  1. TK Noodle House
  2. Tetsumen
  3. Nori’s Saimin and Snacks
  4. Ken’s House of Pancakes
  5. Noodle Club

Best Pizza

  1. Kona Brewing Co.
  2. Big Island Pizza Napoletana
  3. Café Pesto
  4. James Angelo’s Underground Pizza
  5. Bianelli’s Gourmet Pizza & Pasta

Best Burger

  1. Hilo Burger Joint
  2. Village Burger Waimea
  3. Ultimate Burger
  4. Chubby’s Diner
  5. Cronies Bar & Grill 

Best Steak House

  1. Merriman’s Waimea
  2. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill
  3. Waimea Butcher Shop
  4. Jackie Rey’s Kona
  5. Miller & Lux

Best Food Truck

  1. Da Braddahz Grindz
  2. Rendezvous Hawaiʻi Food Truck
  3. Califas Mexican Food
  4. Cool Runnings Food Truck
  5. Jaw Jacker Grindz

Best Breakfast or Brunch

  1. Hawaiian Style Café
  2. Island Lava Java
  3. Ken’s House of Pancakes
  4. The Coffee Shack
  5. Chubby’s Diner

Best Bakery

  1. Punalu‘u Bake Shop
  2. Island Lava Java
  3. Two Ladies Kitchen
  4. Tex Drive-In
  5. Patisserie Nanako

Best Coffee Shop

  1. Big Island Coffee Roasters
  2. The Coffee Shack Kona
  3. Puna Chocolate Company & Cafe
  4. Surf Camp Waimea
  5. HiCo Hawaiian Coffee 

Best Bar or Lounge

  1. Don’s Mai Tai Bar & Restaurant
  2. Kona Brewing Co.
  3. Lava Lava Beach Club
  4. Huggo’s On the Rocks
  5. The Hidden Nēnē

Best Happy Hour

  1. Don’s Mai Tai Bar & Restaurant
  2. Huggo’s On the Rocks
  3. Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse
  4. The Temple Bar
  5. Jackie Rey’s Kona 

Best Cheap Eats

  1. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
  2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill
  3. Da Poke Shack
  4. Chubby’s Diner
  5. 808 Grindz Café

Best Outdoor Adventures on Hawai‘i Island

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The best hike on the Big Island is the Kīlauea Iki Trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, according to HAWAIʻI Magazine readers.
Photo: Getty Images/ Greg Vaughn / VWPics

Best Beach

  1. Hāpuna Beach
  2. Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach
  3. Mauna Kea Beach
  4. Kahalu‘u Beach
  5. Makalawena Beach 

Best Snorkeling Spot

  1. Two Step, Hōnaunau Bay
  2. Kealakekua Bay
  3. Mauna Lani Beach
  4. Kahalu‘u Beach Park
  5. La‘aloa Beach (Magic Sands) 

Best Surf Spot

  1. Kahaluʻu Beach Park
  2. Honoliʻi Beach Park
  3. Old Kona Airport State Park
  4. Lyman’s Beach
  5. Banyans

Best Hiking Trail

  1. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Kīlauea Iki Trail
  2. ʻAkaka Falls Loop Trail
  3. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Devastation Trail
  4. Pololū Valley
  5. Papakōlea Green Sand Beach 

Best Botanical Garden

  1. Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
  2. Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens
  3. University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Botanical Gardens
  4. Botanical World Adventures
  5. The Umauma Experience

Best Dinner or Sunset Cruise

  1. Body Glove Cruises
  2. Paradise Sailing Hawai‘i
  3. Fair Wind Cruises
  4. Hawai‘i Nautical
  5. Tom Barefoot Tours

Best Extreme Tour

  1. Epic Lava Tours
  2. Hawaiʻi Forest & Trail
  3. The Umauma Experience
  4. Botanical World Adventures
  5. Aloha Adventure Farms

Best Zipline

  1. Umauma Falls Zipline & Rappel Experience
  2. Hawaiʻi Zipline Tours
  3. Kohala Zipline
  4. Botanical World Adventures
  5. Kapohokine Adventures

Best Helicopter Tour

  1. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
  2. Paradise Helicopters
  3. Mauna Loa Helicopters
  4. Rainbow Helicopters
  5. Safari Helicopters 

Best Farm Tour

  1. Greenwell Farms
  2. Lavaloha Chocolate Farm
  3. Heavenly Hawaiian Farms
  4. Hawaiian Vanilla Co.

Best Guided Tour

  1. Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
  2. Hawai‘i Forest & Trail
  3. Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary
  4. Epic Lava Tours
  5. Greenwell Farms 

Best Golf Course

  1. Mauna Kea Golf Course
  2. Kona Country Club
  3. Hualālai Golf Course at the Four Seasons Hualālai
  4. Mauna Lani Golf Course (South Course)
  5. Hāpuna Golf Course at The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort

Best Lūʻau

  1. Royal Kona Lū‘au, Voyagers of the Pacific
  2. Island Breeze Lū‘au, Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
  3. Legends of Hawai‘i Lū‘au, Hilton Waikoloa Village
  4. The Mauna Kea Lū‘au, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
  5. Sunset Lū‘au, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Best Museum

  1. Pacific Tsunami Museum
  2. Hulihe‘e Palace
  3. Kona Coffee Living History Farm
  4. Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
  5. Lyman Museum

Best Shopping on Hawaiʻi Island

Best Shopping Center or Mall

  1. Queens’ Marketplace
  2. Keauhou Shopping Center
  3. Parker Ranch Center
  4. Prince Kūhiō Plaza
  5. Kea‘au Shopping Center

Best Clothing/Boutique or Store

  1. Hilo Hattie
  2. Tommy Bahama
  3. Sig Zane Designs
  4. Pueo Boutique
  5. Rainbow Jo

Best Store for Souvenirs

  1. ABC Stores
  2. Waimea General Store
  3. Kimura Lauhala Shop
  4. Basically Books
  5. Aloha Pawz

Best Surf Shop

  1. Kona Boys
  2. Kahalu‘u Bay Surf and Sea
  3. Oshima Surf & Skate
  4. Orchid Land Surf Shop
  5. HIC

Best Services on Hawaiʻi Island

Best Surf Instruction

  1. Kona Boys
  2. Kahalu‘u Bay Surf & Sea
  3. Kona Mike’s Surf Adventures
  4. Hawaiʻi Lifeguard Surf Instructors
  5. ʻOhana Surf Lessons

Best Beach Gear or Water Gear Rentals

  1. Snorkel Bob’s
  2. Kona Boys
  3. Boss Frog’s
  4. Kona Snorkel Trips
  5. Orchid Land Surf Shop

Best Snorkeling/Scuba Rental or Instruction

  1. Snorkel Bob’s
  2. Boss Frog’s
  3. Kona Snorkel Trips
  4. Jack’s Diving Locker
  5. Big Island Divers

Best Wedding Venue (Not a Resort)

  1. Volcano House
  2. Liliʻuokalani Gardens
  3. Nani Mau Gardens
  4. Hulihe‘e Palace
  5. Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar

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