5 Best Ways to Watch Sunset on the Big Island
Are you wondering where the best place to watch the sunset on the Big Island is?
I don’t think a trip to Hawaii is complete without catching a colorful, sherbet sky after a day of adventuring the island. And if you’re lucky like me, you might even catch the elusive green flash!
There are different ways I like experiencing sunset on the Big Island:
Which way will you be catching sunset?
💸 My Favorite Ways to Save on Travel
My go-to travel booking links for saving time, money, and sanity
🚗 Car Rental: Discount Hawaii Car Rental – often best prices; two FREE extra drivers included
🪂 Tours: Viator – book now, pay later options
🛏️ Hotels: Expedia – exclusive discounts & earn rewards
🚑 Travel Insurance: VisitorsCoverage – compare multiple plans in one place
🧳Packing: Amazon – this is my personal list of items I travel with
1. Tours to Watch Sunset
Yes, I know watching the sunset is free, but why not upgrade the experience by pairing it with an experience like a dinner cruise or informative guided tour to a volcano summit?!
Body Glove Historical Sunset Dinner Cruise
⭐Stars: 4.5/5 | ⏳Length: 3hrs | 📍Departure: Kailua Kona Pier
photo credit: Body Glove
Body Glove Historical Sunset Dinner Cruise takes you down the Kona Coast to Kealakekua Bay in a catamaran where you can take in the stunning views, marine life, and learn about Hawaii’s history along the way.
Enjoy live entertainment with a complimentary cocktail and I can attest that the food is delicious as you watch the sun dip below the horizon.
⭐ Past guest review: “The dinner was delicious, the crew was awesome and we really enjoyed the dancing at the end, the sunset was beautiful. We had a great time.” – Steve
Hawaii Nautical Catamaran Sunset Cruise
⭐ Stars: 4.5/5 | ⏳Length: 1.5hrs |📍Departure: Anaehoomalu Bay
Kick back, shoes off (literally), on a power catamaran onboard a Hawaii Nautical Catamaran Sunset Cruise.
Take in magnificent North Kona Coast views, learn about Hawaiian culture and history with live commentary on board, and sip on up to two complimentary cocktails with snacks as the sun sets on yet another beautiful day in paradise.
⭐ Past guest review: “It was a beautiful sunset and we saw several whales which made the evening even better. The crew was knowledgeable and very nice. The drinks and food were very good too!” – Dorinda
Hawaii Island Holidays Mauna Kea Sunset and Stargazing Tour
⭐Stars: 5/5 | ⏳Length: 7-8hrs | 📍Departure: Hotel Pickup
Get a two-for-one experience, where you get both sunset and stargazing in the same tour on Hawaii Island Holidays’ Mauna Kea Sunset and Stargazing Tour. This unique experience whisks you up to the summit of Mauna Kea, the world’s tallest mountains from base to tip, where you can watch a stunning Hawaiian sunset from 13,000 feet above sea level.
As night falls, your guide will lead a fascinating lesson on astronomy while helping you spot constellations in the sky using powerful telescopes at this special location.
I appreciate that warm jackets and gloves are provided, as well as hot drinks, to make sure you stay cozy.
Professional photos will also be taken during the tour so that you can remember this night for years to come.
⭐ Past guest review: “Sunset was breathtaking. The Tour Guide -Blaze was very friendly and informative. He gave an excellent Star talk with Hawaiian lore.” – Richard
Voyagers of the Pacific Luau
⭐Stars: 4/5 | ⏳Length: 3hrs | 📍Location: Royal Kona Resort
Another quintessential Hawaiian experience is attending a luau, a traditional Hawaiian festivity held at sunset.
There are many luaus to choose from on the Big Island and most of them are comparable. I recommend attending the one at or nearest to your hotel.
However, I can vouch for the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau. I attended it and thoroughly enjoyed the unlimited cocktails, the dinner buffet with surprisingly good dishes, and the dancers were fun to watch!
⭐ Past guest review: “So happy we experienced this luau! The food was delicious, the host and dancers were all delightful! The fire dancer at the end was phenomenal! The wait staff were on top of their game throughout the evening! Highly recommend this event!!” – Vikki
Join thousands of other visitors and locals to discover the best things to do on the Big Island!
🌺 New activities posted daily
🌺 Upcoming events not to miss
🌺 Ask questions about your trip
2. Beaches to Watch Sunset
🌅 Picture This:
You’re sitting on a beach with your toes massaging white sand, listening to the comforting crash of waves, feeling the warm tropical air blow across your face, and watching an orange sun dip below the ocean’s horizon.
Is this your Hawaiian dream?!
If so, here are some of the best sunset beaches on the Big Island to make that dream a reality!
🚗 You’ll need a vehicle to access Big Island beaches. Discount Hawaii gives you two FREE extra drivers!
Find a car rental here >>
- Anaeho’omalu Bay – this is Waikoloa’s main beach, featuring a restaurant, hotel, water sport rentals, and boat tours. Despite being a popular spot, its wide stretch of white sand and rows of shady palm trees provide plenty of space for everyone to find their own spot.
- Hapuna Beach – the most famous white sand beach on the island is the biggest and longest, fulfilling all your Hawaiian beach ideals.
- Holoholokai Beach – while technically a beach, instead of sand you will find white coral lining the shoreline. Take a walk along the beachside path or find a large lava rock to sit on.
- Honokohau Beach – take a short hike to access this long, white sand beach that doesn’t get too crowded. You can almost guarantee green sea turtle sightings as well along the Aiopio fishtrap area.
- Kauna’oa Beach – managed by the Mauna Kea resort, the beach cove has white sands, shady palm trees, and a manicured lawn. Ask the guard at gate for public beach access, or hike over from Hapuna Beach.
- Kekaha Kai State Beach – down a long, dusty 4×4-advised gravel road is a white sand beach that often has monk seal sightings.
- Kua Bay Beach – a busy but easily accessible white sand beach with blue water waves and frequent whale sightings.
- Magic Sands Beach – a popular beach for tourists, its magic trick is making the white sands “disappear” during certain times of the year.
- Makalawena Beach – if you made it to Kakaha Kai State Beach, then I highly advise you walk the mile to this oasis of white sand that doesn’t see a lot of people due to the extra (rewarding) effort. (make sure you have a flashlight to walk back in the dark)
- Old Kona Airport Beach – a convenient beach made up of a mixture of white sand and black lava rock close to downtown Kona. Good tidepooling. Popular hangout for homeless but they don’t cause much trouble.
- Pine Trees Beach – find a spot that looks good along Kohanaiki Rd, park, and enjoy an entangled stretch of white sand, trees, lava rocks, coral. This a popular location for surfers.
- South Point – while not a beach, cliffs can count as ocean edges. At the southernmost point in the U.S. you can watch the sun go down from atop 40ft rocky cliffs, and perhaps time a jump into the ocean in sync with it.
- Spencer Beach – white sands, shallow waters and occasional shade trees line this beach is a local hangout. Giant heiau next door.
- Waialea Beach (Beach 69) – find your own nook amongst the treelined beach overlooking lava rock crags at this not-so-hidden-anymore beach.
- Wawaloli Beach – not the most comfortable beach, but it’s also not too busy. Lava rocks and white sand patches line the shore
3. Volcanoes to Watch Sunset
The Big Island is made up of multiple volcanoes. Watching a sunset from a volcano is combining two Hawaiian natural beauties into one epic experience.
Mauna Kea
A popular Big Island activity is to drive up to Mauna Kea to watch the sunset.
Most people stop at the Mauna Kea Visitor Center as only 4x4s are allowed past that point.
Park and hike the small butte across the street to catch the sunset.
But beware of altitude sickness! I was surprised that I was affected by it.
If you’ve rented a 4×4 or Jeep, continue on to the summit, where you can park for an even more epic view.
💁♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: It may sound counterintuitive to pack a jacket to Hawaii, but you’re going to want warm layers up there cuz it gets COLD (like 40-50°F)!
Kilauea
Located in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea is an active volcano with lava often filling up the caldera. You can hike a mile to see the lava lake from the Devastation Trail parking lot on the Old Crate Rim Road trail.
While technically you can’t see the sun set on the horizon, you can watch it settle behind Mauna Loa creating a majestic silhouette. And there’s something magical about watching the sunset colors illuminate the sky above a boiling lake of lava.
Be sure to bring a flashlight to walk back to the car in the dark.
Please Note: Kilauea can “turn on or off” at any point. Please check current conditions here.
4. Restaurants to Watch Sunset
Looking to catch a multi-colored sky with dinner? Here are some restaurant options to consider:
- Brown’s Beach House – AAA Four Diamond signature restaurant with oceanfront dining serving Hawaii regional cuisine and live music plays nightly.
- Canoe House – patio seating overlooking a manicured lawn towards the ocean while savoring Japanese-inspired dishes.
- Foster’s Kitchen Kona (temp closed) – dining on the second story above Ali’i Drive in an open-air seafoam green bungalow-type setting serving island inspired dishes. Personally, one of the best meals I’ve had on the Big Island.
- Huggo’s – casual dining serving seafood, steak, and pasta with the ocean practically at your feet.
- Kona Inn Restaurant – seating out on the lanai with views looking down Ali’i Drive serving seafood, sandwiches, and salads
- Magic Sands Beach Grill – with Magic Sands Beach next door, the ocean crashing below your table, and cooking up playful and refined Hawaiian fusion food
- Lava Lava Beach Club – probably the most popular sunset restaurant on the island serving everything from tacos and burgers to steaks and seafood. Sit beneath palm trees with sand literally between your toes. My personal opinion, drinks were tasteless and food underwhelming – you’re paying for the view.
- Sunset Kai Lanai – restaurant boasting a 230-degree view of the Pacific Ocean with Hawaiian heritage cuisine
- ‘Ulu Ocean Grill – front row sunset seating with a strip of white sand between you and the ocean waves serving Hawaiian flavors using Pan-Asian techniques
📍 Feeling overwhelmed planning your Big Island trip?
Let’s work on it together! ➡️
5. Hotels to Watch Sunset From Your Room
If you are looking to stay in the comforts of your own room to watch a golden Big Island sunset, these hotels offer just that!
Always double check with the resort with your actual room view
- Fairmont Orchid – book the Oceanfront Room
- Hilton Waikoloa Village – book a Makai Ocean Front Room or Palace Ocean View Room
- Mauna Kea Beach Hotel – book an Ocean View, Ocean Front, or Deluxe Ocean Front Room
- Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection – book an Oceanfront Guestroom, Oceanfront Residence, or Lani Estate
- Outrigger Kona Resort – book an Oceanfront Room, Club Oceanfront Room, Club Ocean View Suite, or Club Deluxe Oceanfront Suite
- Royal Kona Resort – book a Deluxe Oceanfront Room or Deluxe Oceanfront Corner Room
- Waikoloa Beach Marriott – book an Oceanfront Room, Kukui Ocean View Suite, or Na Hale Oceanfront Suite
- Westin Hapuna Beach – book an Ocean Room, Premier Ocean View, or Premier Ocean Suite
Big Island Sunset FAQs
What Time is Sunset on the Big Island?
Depending the time of year, sunset on the Big Island is somewhere between 6:00pm and 7:00pm.
Hawaii is about 20-degrees, or about 1,470 miles, north of the equator, so daylight hours are not as dramatically different throughout the year as in other parts of the world. There is only about a 1 hour and 15 minute difference in sunset times between winter solstice and summer solstice.
Check here for accurate sunset times when you visit the Big Island.
Where Does the Sun Set on the Big Island?
The sun sets on the west side, or leeward side, of the Big Island.
Kona and the Kohala Coast are the best places to catch sunset but you can also see it all the way down in the Ka’u District as well.
Can You See the Sunset in Hilo?
Hilo is on the east side of the Big Island, so you won’t be able to see the sun dip below the horizon.
You can, however, catch some oranges and pinks as it lights up the sky as a backdrop against Mauna Kea.
Will You See the Green Flash?
The Green Flash is a brief flash of green light that can be seen for just a second at the very top edge of the sun as it dips below the horizon caused by atmospheric refraction.
It doesn’t happen at every sunset. Even if it does happen, blink and you might miss it. I’ve been lucky enough to catch it twice.
