SIDES OF THE BIG ISLAND

BIG ISLAND’S WEST AND EAST SIDES BOTH HAVE UNIQUE OFFERINGS

Here’s some good information on both sides of the Big Island by Paradise in Hawaiʻi. Kailani Tours Hawaiʻi offers luxury tours on both sides of the Big Island.

SUNNY AND DRY WEST SIDE – KONA AND KOHALA COAST

The massive mountains on the Big Island create a dry side and wet side of the Island.    The prevailing trade winds approach Hawaiʻi from the North East.  When the winds bring humid ocean air up against the mountains it provides lots of rain on the East side of the Island.   The mountains then leave the west side of the Island sunny, dry and warm.

It is said to be “eternal springtime” on the West side of the Island, with almost constant warm and sunny weather. The average high and low in the coolest month (February) is 82˚, and in the warmest month (September) is 88˚.  In the resort areas on the west side of the island the evenings are typically in the mid 70s to low 80s.    It is very rare for the temperature to ever drop below 70 on the coast.

The most popular area to stay is the Kohala Coast. This area is home to the nicest resorts, the most beautiful weather and the best beaches.

THE BIG ISLAND’S MOST POPULAR AREA WITH THE MOST SUNSHINE

The driest and sunniest area of the Island is found on the Kohala Coast. Home to the Kohala Resort Area, the sunny Kohala Coast gets an average of just 10 inches of rainfall per year, making it the most popular part of the Island for vacationers! This area has the highest number of sunny days in the entire state of Hawaiʻi! The trade-off for this dry sunny weather is that there tends to be more wind here. As the lava fields heat up during the day, air from the ocean rushes in and creates convective afternoon breezes.

A huge benefit of the weather and terrain in this area is that the water around the Kohala Coast is the calmest and clearest water in the state! You’ll find the best beaches here as well, some of which have been consistently rated as Top 5 in the US, making this the best place for water sports and activities.

The Kohala Coast has been cultivated with much more greenery than other areas on the West side of the Island. Tropical gardens fill the resorts, and many tropical plants grow around the pristine beaches. There are several golf courses in the resorts as well, each boasting their own beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding area.

The Kohala Resort area is made up of three main resorts: Mauna Lani Resort, Mauna Kea Resort and Waikoloa Beach Resort. All three have their own unique accommodations, amenities and features. Luckily, with them being close by to one another, it’s easy to explore all three during your visit, regardless of where you choose to stay.

ABUNDANT EAST SIDE – PUNA, HILO, VOLCANO AND HAMAKUA COAST

The east side of the Big Island is covered in green, lush, tropical rainforest. This is made possible by the large amount of rain that falls here, averaging around 140 inches of rain per year! This area is home to many of the Islands’ waterfalls, and has interesting terrain, shaped by the rains and winds. Hilo is the only major city on this side of the Island and is the county seat. The water on this side of the Island tends to be cloudier, due to the runoff from the rain, and there are fewer nice beaches to find. Arguably the largest attraction on this side of the Island is Kilauea volcano and Volcanoes National Park, which is found on the southeastern side of the Island.

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Great Tour Guarantee

At Kailani Tours, our top priority is delivering unforgettable Big Island experiences. We’re confident that you’ll find our tours enriching and well worth your time. If for any reason you feel otherwise, please tell us. We’ll make it right, whether that means inviting you on another tour, issuing a refund, or providing a voucher for a future visit. Your time is precious, and we’re honored that you choose to spend it exploring the Big Island with us.

Here’s what we cannot guarantee:

You will see active lava flows

Mother Nature has her own schedule, and while we wish we could promise a spectacular lava show, it’s truly up to the forces of the earth.

You’ll have full access to every part of the parks.

Volcano National Park areas are subject to closures based on safety assessments by park officials. As always, safety is our top priority and we can easily adapt our itinerary to make sure you get the best experience possible.

You’ll experience perfect weather

The Big Island’s weather can be as unpredictable as it is beautiful. We can’t guarantee sunshine and clear skies every day, but the dynamic weather is part of the island’s charm.

We value your decision to discover the Big Island with us, and we’re committed to making your tour a highlight of your Hawaii visit.

FREE CANCELLATIONS

With Trip Protection (Highly Recommended)

For a small fee (15%), Trip Protection allows you to cancel or reschedule your tour at any time – for any reason – up to 1 hour prior to trip departure. You will be reimbursed for the FULL amount of each ticket, less the cost of trip protection and processing fees. 

You may opt in or opt out of Trip Protection at the time of booking, either online or over the phone.

Without Trip Protection

You may cancel or reschedule your tour up to 48 hours before your tour’s scheduled departure to avoid fees or penalties. 

Refunds are not possible within 48 hours of your tour’s departure time, however, we will make every effort to accommodate rescheduling your booking to another date, if you so desire.

Please Note: Our tours operate rain or shine, though itineraries may be adjusted in response to severe weather conditions. Access to certain parts of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, including during events like active lava flows or eruptions, may be restricted or closed by park officials without notice. In such cases, Kailani Tours does not offer partial refunds for any part of the tour affected by these restrictions.

With our vast experience navigating these occasional closures, you can trust that we will make the absolute most of your day with us, no matter the conditions.

Lowest Price Guarantee

We guarantee the absolute lowest price on all experiences we sell. If you find the same product cheaper within three days of booking or while you’re in your destination, we’ll refund the difference.

It’s Easy To Do: 

Gather your information

Assemble your Kailani Tours receipt and the proof of the lower price you found.

Send it to us

Email [email protected] with the documents, your name, and your home address. 

We’ll review 

We’ll examine your materials and get in touch as soon as we can. 

Receive your refund 

If everything checks out, we’ll refund you the difference between the two prices.