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Island History
Akaka
Falls |
The Big Island is overlaid with scores of ancient lava flows
and trimmed with dozens of beaches in a spectrum from white,
to amber, to gray, to black, to olive green. Diversity best
describes the geology and climate. In fact, 11 of the world's
13 climatic zones are found here, from tropical rain forests
and sparkling waterfalls, to snowcapped mountains and desolate
moonscapes, to sprawling ranch land and rolling meadows.
Hulihee
Palace |
The Big Island is also rich in history. Here is where King
Kamehameha, who united all the islands under one leader, spent
the last seven years of his life. Here is where the first
missionaries landed and where the very first Christian church
in Hawaii was constructed. Here is where Captain James Cook
met his untimely death. A visit to the Big Island will fill
you with wonder and awe as you experience this place of beauty,
history, and extremes.
A few of our
favorite spots…
Puuhonua
O Honaunau |
Take a couple days to drive around the island (perhaps spending
the night at a B&B), instead of trying to squeeze it all
into one day. You can start by heading on a southern (counterclockwise)
course around the island. First stop may be the National Historic
Park, Puuhonua O Honaunau (place of refuge), Farther along
is South Point; its claim to fame is being the southernmost
tip of the U.S. (see the beaches description for this one
and if you are a hiker, just do it)
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Thurston
Lava Tube
Lava
Enters The Sea
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Take a break at the charming community of Naalehu before
continuing on to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where the
visitor center highlights the history of one of the world's
few "visitor-friendly" active volcanoes. Where else
in the world might you view a molten lava field trekking relentlessly
onward in its path to the sea? This can be as much as a seven
mile hike to the lava, bring lots of water in your backpack
and flashlights for evening viewing. If you don’t have
flashlights be sure to get back to your car before dusk. It
is so dark you can not see where you are going. Plan on spending
the day at the volcano park…so much to see and do.
The
Hilo Zoo's Star of the Show! |
After leaving the park you will come to Hilo, you can visit
a rain forest zoo or snorkel at Kapoho tide pools. Or go to
the Macadamia Nut Factory, this is a little tricky to find.
Heading north from Hilo on Highway 19, you are now halfway
around the island. As you make your way along the Hamakua
Coast, take the left at Highway 220. A short drive plus a
half-mile hike will let you witness, up close, breathtaking
Akaka Falls.
Waipio
Valley Overlook |
Continue north on Highway 19 to the turnoff for Honokaa/Waipio.
About 10 miles down, Highway 240 brings you to the Waipio
Valley Lookout. Its sheer cliffs and awe-inspiring beauty
make it hard to believe that places like this exist on Earth.
Explore the valley floor by foot, horseback, or four-wheel
drive. As you leave there and work your way around the top
of the island and through Parker Ranch, this is some of the
best country you will ever see.
Enjoying
a Green Sea Turtle
at the Mauna Lani Beach |
Before returning to Kailua-Kona, consider a visit to the
Kohala resorts, home to some of the most extensive stretches
of white sand beach the Big Island has to offer. If you're
looking for fine dining or premier golf courses, the "gold
coast" of Kohala is the place!
Use your maps, books and best jugement, try to see as much
as possible but save some for next time!
Snorkel Spots
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Kahaluu Beach Park ~ Go
south on Alii Drive from the condo about 3 miles. This
is one of the best snorkel spots on the Island with
a huge variety of fish and sea turtles.
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Ho'okena Beach Park ~
Located 40 miles south of Kona on Highway 11. Look for
turn off sign and take a right turn down towards the
ocean. Snorkeling is best on left side of the cove.
Very scenic.
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Honaunau (Place of Refuge)
~ 15 miles south of Keauhou on Highway 11. Look for
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau turn off. Take turn off of Highway
160 to Place of Refuge. Great snorkeling and scuba diving.
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Kealakekua Bay ~ Location
of Captain Cook Monument. Some of the best snorkeling
in the islands are located here. Underwater marine sanctuary
with Dolphins and Sea Turtles. Accessable by water only!
I recommend Fair Wind Cruises or by kayak. Phone 323-3329
for kayak rentals.
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Pawai Bay ~ Underwater
marine sanctuary with Dolphins, Sea Turtles and Manta
Rays. Great snorkeling and diving. Best snorkeling and
diving throughout the island. Access only by catamaran
or kayak.
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Hapuna Beach Park ~ 40
minutes north of Kona on Highway 19. Beautiful white
sand beaches. Mild surf. Best snorkeling is off to the
right.
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Mauna Kea Beach ~ Just
beyond Hapuna Beach Park on Highway 19. Go in entrance
and stop at security gate for parking pass. Golden sand
beach and good snorkeling. Pretty and upscale.
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Hawaiian
Hawkfish |
PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL - The reef is a living animal. What
may look like just rocks or plants is most likely thousands
of tiny organisms, trying to build a home. Therefore, enter,
exit and rest only on sandy bottoms and bare lava, and never
dive in! Approach fish slowly, you'll find they respond best
to the passive viewer, not the fish chaser! Green sea turtles
are protected by law, so do not touch or disturb them and
they will probably swim to you. Also be careful not to stand
on the coral, as it can be very fragile. Take away only pictures
and leave the shells and lava there for the next visitor.
Please do not feed them peas or any other human food, they
are wonderful at catching their own dinner!
"Where
are da’ beaches?"
Isolated
Kohala Beach |
This is perhaps the number one question asked by the thousands
of visitors to the Big Island each year. You know they're
here, but finding the best beaches the island has to offer
can involve somewhat of a learning process. The most important
thing about finding the right beach for you is understanding
the way the beaches differ, namely, by the color and texture
of the sand. Be sure to study Hawaii Revealed before coming
and bring the book with you!
Kona
Coast State Park |
The white sand beaches are probably the most popular and
among the biggest beaches the island has to offer, although
there are some smaller white sand beaches also. The white
sand is soft and fine and it is gentle on the bottoms of bare
feet. White sand beaches can be ideal for certain types of
activities, like sun bathing, swimming and body boarding,
but sometimes not so hot for SCUBA diving or snorkeling, as
the sand may cover the reef. Of course, if there's no reef,
there are no reef fish.
If you want to swim and have some fun in the waves don’t
miss Magic Sands Beach just south of the condos right next
to Jamison’s Restaurant, about 1 1/2 miles.
Punaluu
Black Sand Beach |
Black sand beaches are rare in the world and fascinating.
Like white sand beaches the sand you find there is usually
very fine and easy to walk on, if not too hot. Black sand
is created either from the natural erosion of volcanic rock,
or the instantaneous shattering of molten lava hitting cold
seawater. These beaches can take literally thousands of years
to form or less than a year. You can find these beaches on
South facing shores of the Big Island.
Green
Sand Beach |
Saving the best for last, there is the famous green sand
beach that lies just East of South Point. Accessible only
by four wheel drive (or 3-mile hike) you may find the olive
green sand of this beach amazing.
There are so many more beaches to visit on the island but
you will need your copy of Hawaii Revealed to catch them all
~ remember you can always come back and continue to discover
the island!
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