The Adventure of Hawaii

Hawaii is often called “The Big Island” for a reason- when compared to the other islands in the Hawaiian Islands chain it’s huge.  In fact, you could fit all of the other islands (Maui, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai and Kaho’olawe) into the Big Island and still have room to spare. 

The Big Island was created from five volcanoes.  The oldest, Kohala, is in the north.  Then came Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Mauna Loa and finally Kilauea.  Located in the Volcano National Park, Kilauea is the one everyone visits to see lava spewing into the ocean.  Two of the mountains are over 13,000 feet (Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea) and, when measured from its base, Mauna Kea is the world’s tallest mountain; taller than both Mount Everest and K-2.

There are three main areas where tourists predominantly stay when vacationing on the Big Island.  Hilo is located on the east coast and is the closest town to the Volcano National Park and on the west side of the island you have the upscale Kohala Coast resorts and the sea village-type atmosphere of Kailua-Kona to the south.

While you won’t find any deluxe accommodations in Hilo, the location is more than convenient if you plan on spending a couple of days exploring the volcano and/or the eastern side of the island.  Deluxe 4- and 5-star resorts are located northwest side of the island in Waikoloa, Mauna Lani and Mauna Kea (all part of the Kohala Coast).  On the southwest side of the island you can expect to find more budget-minded accommodations in the fishing village of Kona.

The weather on the Big Island is by far the most diverse of any of the Hawaiian Islands.  The Big Island actually has 10 of the 15 types of climatic zones in the world, including tropical, monsoonal, desert and periglacial (among others). Hilo tends to be very rainy.  In fact, it’s the rainiest city in the United States.  Despite that fact, there are dry times in Hilo.  Most of the rain falls at night and daytime showers are usually brief. 

The Kohala resort area is the driest part of the island.  It’s almost always sunny here; part of the reason why it’s so popular.  There does tend to be a fair bit of wind, though.  Air from the ocean comes in to fill the space left by the air from the nearby lava fields which heats and rises.  This creates strong afternoon breezes.  Usually, the warmer it is during the day the stronger the breezes will be in the afternoon.

Kailua-Kona's weather is like eternal springtime.  It’s almost always warm and sunny.  Offshore breezes keep this area pretty comfortable.  Normal conditions in Kona mean clear skies in the morning followed by afternoon clouds, so keep this in mind when scheduling activities.

The Big Island has a reputation of being the island without beaches.  This couldn’t be farther from the truth.  While it may have the fewest beaches per square mile of the other islands, what beaches it does have are among the best in all the islands.  The water of the west coast of the island is the clearest, cleanest and often calmest water in all the islands.  Since there are no streams on the west side, there is no cloudy river runoff to muddy the water.  An array of white sand, black sand, salt-and-pepper sand even green sand beaches make for an interesting variety.  Hapuna Beach, a pristine white-sand beach located on the Kohala Coast, is often named the best beach in the entire country by travel magazines.

Hawaii has some of the most direct sun on the planet.  Those who are not usually susceptible to sun burns can get one within half an hour if not protected. Use suntan lotion whenever you’re going to be outside for an extended amount of time.  It’s also smart to plan outdoor activities for the mid-to-late afternoon or early morning when the sun is least intense. Also, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and planning well for extended day trips hiking through the jungles.  Always bring more water than you think you’ll need.

Activities abound on Hawaii.Watching the world be created at the Volcano National Park is an incredible experience.  Where else can you snorkel in the morning and ski at night?  There are a plethora of activities available to you on Hawaii, including:

• ATV Off Roading
• Dinner Cruises
• Diving and Scuba
• Dolphin Excursions
• Fishing
• Golf
• Helicopter Tours
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Kayaking
• Guided Land Tours
• Luaus and Shows
• Parasail and Jet Ski
• Sailing
• Snorkeling
• Submarines
• Sunset Sails and Cruises
• Surfing and Watersports
• Whale Watching

With its incredible diversity, opportunities for adventure and some of the best beaches in the world, the Big Island is a great choice for anyone looking to experience the magic of Hawaii.