Hawaii needs better visitors. How to visit Hawaii Island the right way.

• Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, is the largest and youngest in the Hawaiian chain, offering diverse microclimates.
• Travelers are encouraged to practice responsible tourism by supporting local and sustainable businesses.
• The island offers unique activities such as night snorkeling with manta rays, visiting a cloud forest, and exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

KONA, Hawaii – There's only one Hawaiian Island where you can experience a volcanic eruption, snow and a cloud forest, all in a single day.

Welcome to Hawaii Island, affectionately nicknamed the Big Island by locals.

It's the youngest and largest of the island chain. At over 4,000 square miles, Hawaii Island can fit Oahu, Maui and Kauai inside of it, with room to spare. This vastness allows for diverse microclimates to provide a wide range of experiences, from the snowcapped summit of the world's largest mountain (that's Maunakea) to one of the rainiest cities in the world (which is Hilo).

As someone raised on Oahu, and author of the upcoming book "The Conscious Traveller Hawai'i," I always think of Hawaii Island as beckoning truly adventurous travelers, the ones seeking out more than just white-sand beaches. While it has those gorgeous beaches, of course, it also offers some of the most unique activities in the entire state.

This summer, Hawaii could see an influx of travelers. In a small March survey of 300 U.S. adults by travel website Hawaii.com, 54% said they're rethinking their international trips due to recent geopolitical tensions. Of those, 85% said they're interested in pivoting their travel plans to Hawaii. I had the chance to explore the island more and participate in some regenerative tourism activities during a recent visit.

Here's how to travel responsibly to Hawaii Island, according to a local.

How to travel responsibly to Hawaii

As the islands continue to recover from the 2023 Maui wildfires and recent historic flooding, I encourage every visitor to be mindful of their impact on the community. It's not that Hawaii is closed to travelers, but that they should give back to the islands however they can, such as by supporting local businesses dedicated to the islands' well-being and volunteering.

Some minor research when choosing your tour operator or hotel can make a big difference in where your money goes. On Hawaii Island, a popular activity is night-time snorkeling with manta rays, and there are multiple companies to pick from. I chose Anelakai Adventures, owned by a Native Hawaiian family and named after their daughter, for my Dec. visit. The company is also committed to the Hawaii Island Pono Pledge, a set of principles for responsible travel created by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. (Pono means righteousness in Hawaiian.)

"Choosing a local, sustainable business like ours is crucial in Hawaii for preserving our culture, our resources, and for keeping Hawaiians in Hawaii," said Holly Crane, co-owner of Anelakai Adventures. "We are trying to set an example of what truly sustainable tourism can and should be. Buy local, shop local, support local, then go home and live aloha, meaning everything that makes you smile."

Sustainable activities on Hawaii Island

If you're ready to venture beyond the beach, here are some of my favorite regenerative activities on Hawaii Island.

• Anelakai Adventures: Instead of a motorized boat, guests use their arm power to paddle a traditional canoe, or waa, out to the manta ray viewing spot. It provides a deeper connection to Hawaiian culture and a more intimate experience, since the canoe holds fewer people. Life jackets, wetsuit tops and gear are all provided by the family, and they educate you on how to properly enter the water without disturbing the majestic mantas, who swim around you as they feed at night.
• Kona Forest Cloud Sanctuary: Cloud forests comprise less than 1% of all forests in the world, and the only one in the U.S. sits on the slopes of Hualalai volcano. In the 80s, horticulturist Norman Bezona and his family restored the former ranch into the misty, lush 15-acre sanctuary it is today. Tapping into the ancient Japanese wellness practice of forest bathing, I joined one of the 1.5-hour-long guided walking tours on my most recent trip to slow down and immerse myself in nature.
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: A must-do for everyone, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is more than a living landscape shaped by active volcanoes and lava flows. It's also a sacred place in Hawaiian culture, considered to be the home of Pele, the goddess of creation and destruction. Take at least a day to explore the hikes, summits, and views to revel in its sacredness, but also because it may not look the same the next time you visit.
• Greenwell Coffee Farms: If you're a coffee drinker, you've heard of Kona Coffee. As one of the small family-operated coffee farms in the Kona Coffee Belt, the award-winning Greenwell Coffee Farms is currently run by the descendants of Englishman Henry Greenwell, who relocated to Kona in 1850. Here, coffee beans are grown, handpicked and roasted on the 85-acre farm. Guests can take free guided tours and sample the 100% Kona coffee.
• Kona Sea Salt Farm: The ancient Hawaiians harvested sea salt for medicinal and food-preservation purposes. Kona Sea Salt Farm pays tribute to that tradition by naturally evaporating pure ocean water pulled from 2,000 feet below the surface in a rooftop greenhouse. The result is a variety of natural sea salt sold in delicious flavors like lemon rosemary or zest de l'orange, which you can sample during a tasting after a tour.

Where to stay on Hawaii Island

Since Hawaii Island is so large, travelers should choose their accommodation location based on what they want to do, or risk long drives. The island is split into two main areas for visitors: Kona in the west and Hilo in the east. They sit on opposite sides of the island and provide two distinct experiences. Here's what to know:

• Kona - As the sunny coastline of Hawaii Island, Kona is home to the island's most pristine beaches and many of its major resorts. During my Dec. 2025 visit, I stayed at the Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, a luxury property that pays homage to the 1966 off-the-grid resort that was destroyed by a tsunami in 2011. With its LEED Gold certification, the new resort is rooted in sustainability, with initiatives like being made with 80% salvaged materials and being powered by the largest private solar microgrid in the state.
• Hilo - With rainfall for much of the year, Hilo is lush with waterfalls and rainforests. Hilo town itself is charming too, and I always find myself exploring local boutiques and restaurants whenever I'm there. This side provides a quieter experience for travelers and is also closer to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Maunakea.

The reporter on this story was provided access by the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.

Kathleen Wong is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY. She's the author of "The Conscious Traveller Hawai'i" and is based in Hawaii.