The Big Island of Hawai‘i
The sleepy little city of Hilo. It rains even when there is a drought. Tsunamis caused terrible destruction but now there is a beautiful bay front park. The Pacific Tsunami Museum is fascinating. Pana‘ewa Zoo has a white tiger. ‘Imaloa is the Astronomy Center with the story of the Universe through the island telescopes atop Mauna Kea. Do not miss the planetarium. And I recommend these Thai restaurants, The New Chiang Mai in Downtown and Sombats Fresh Thai Cuisine by the hotels.
If you want to learn about the excitement of Hilo listen to a song by Hawai‘i comedian and entertainer Frank DeLima.
A Skylight is an Opening over an Active Lava Tube
Hawai‘i Island
The Big Island of Hawai‘i is special because of the uniqueness. The only place in the world where a volcano eruption is a tourist attraction, not a danger. Hawai‘i is laid back, even the volcanoes. From the newest land in the world to old valleys and cliffs filled with waterfalls and amazing vistas. There are world-class resorts, smaller hotels and areas that almost never see tourists. You can lie in almost endless sunny days or be cleansed with daily rain. The past is revered while technology is space aged.
Hawai‘i the unique.
Keahole Airport
Hilo
Kailua-Kona
Royal Gardens
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Mauna Kea
Waimea
Hawi
Mauna Loa
Volcano Winery
New Land
South Point
Green Sand Beach
‘Akaka Falls
Ellison Onizuka Center
Kohala
Hamakua Coast
Hamakua Coast
North of Hilo are many waterfalls. A short drive and a nice little walk through the rain forest reveals a lovely tropical setting including two large falls.
On the way to the falls in the small town of Honomu is a store that sells jams, jellies and butter made of every fruit grown on the island, native or not. Mr Ed’s Bakery also sells regular baked goods including passion fruit tarts. They mail order.
P O Box 54
Honomu, HI 96728
808 963-5000
The North end of the coast ends at Waipi‘o Valley. Almost 2000 feet deep, frequent rains cause numerous waterfalls. Formerly a center for agriculture, the 1946 tsunami and the 1979 floods have reduced the population to 50 taro farmers. It’s better natural. Access is four-wheel drive or hiking, only.
Waimea
The town at the top of the hill between the East side and the West side. Home of the Parker Ranch and the scientists for the telescopes, so paniolos (Hawai‘ian cowboys) and nerds. The East side is wet, the West dry. You can cross the street into the rain. Cross back where it is dry. As there is a Waimea on Kaua‘i the Post Office calls this Kamuela.
North Kohala
Hawi at the North tip of the island is quiet and away from the tourist areas of the rest of the state. It is the oldest part of the island. Here you can hike behind a waterfall or go Flumin’ da Ditch.
South Point
Besides the wind farms there is not much here. But you can say that you have been to the Southern most place in the United States. The beaches do have olivine crystals that are green but they are few and far between.
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Click here to see a video of Kilauea
Everywhere else in the world volcanoes violently erupt from material pushed down into the mantel by plate tectonics. But Hawai‘i is over a hot spot in the Earth’s crust. The ocean floor is pushed to the Northwest and it creates the island chain. This lava is direct from deep inside the Earth and flows smoothly. So even the volcanoes in Hawai‘i are laid back.
New land is created all of the time. The current flow extends beyond the boundaries of the National Park. A subdivision known as Royal Gardens has been replaced by new lava. But people owning this land are trying to move back. Nothing else in the world like new living land.
While watching a flow up close one time I saw rocks swimming out to sea. Uh, swimming rocks? They are very hot and porous so they are light weight. The lava makes the water very hot, hot water stays above the cool ocean water and moves away from the shore. So the floating rocks move with the water through the waves out to sea.
Some of the photos are courtesy of Lava’s End. He has a large collection, many taken from his boat right next to flows entering ocean. You may browse or purchase these or many other photos.
Located West of the Park entrance, stop by and sample local made wine along with special varieties including a mead, wine made from macadamia blossom honey.
Mauna Kea
The Ellison Onizuka Center is named after the Hawai‘i astronaut lost in the Challenger disaster. He was from the Big Island.
Mauna Kea is the highest point in the state at 13,796 feet. As the island is 30,000 feet above the ocean floor this is the tallest mountain in the world. Near the Equator and in the middle of the Pacific with no atmospheric dust this the finest place for observatories in the world.
There is a visitor center at the Keck Observatory. If you go up there a four-wheel drive is recommended. Make sure you take time to acclimate to the altitude at the Onizuka Center. And remember, you lose a degree (F) of temperature for every 300 feet above sea level.
Directly South of Kona’s Keahole Airport is Ocean Rider. They are raising Seahorses commercially. Many different breeds in multiple colors. Order a pair if you like. They are also raising Clown fish and Banggai Cardinal from Indonesia.
South Kohala
South Kohala is old dry lava fields. Ocean-front property is being transformed into world-class resorts. Anything green, especially the golf courses are totally man made. We stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa and swam with the dolphins. Late evening offers boat trips to swim with manta rays.
Flumin’ da Ditch .
Ride kayaks along an irrigation channel through cliff tunnels and above valleys. Currently closed by earthquake damage.
