BIG ISLAND FAMILY VACATION
BY PAULA HUGHES COURT
Some call it the "Orchid Island due to the 100,000 plus species of orchids
grown here. Others refer to it as the "Volcano Island" because of its active
volcano. “The Big Island”, however, is what most people call this beautiful
island that is more than twice the size of the rest of the Hawaiian Islands
combined. This island has the strongest native Hawaiian presence of all the
islands
BIG ISLAND HAWAII HOTELS
The Big Island is diverse in that it has rocky deserts, lush rainforests, peaceful
bays and rolling pastureland. With exotic orchids and waterfalls on the
windward side and plantations growing famed Kona coffee on the western
slopes, the Big Island of Hawaii offers an island paradise for vacationers each
year. Not only is this island a wonderful vacation spot but people actually make
their homes here. They work, tend their gardens, go to school and meet with
family and friends for picnics at the beach.
BIG ISLAND HOTELS
The Big Island is unique in that it has an active volcano, a green sand beach,
the world's tallest mountain and the world's biggest mountain. Most visitor's
stay on the dry Kona side of the island known for the best beaches, but the
Hilo side has its own wild beauty for the adventurous. Like all the islands, the
Big Island has a rainy (windward) side with lush jungles and a dry (leeward)
side with desert and cacti. Responsible for creating the island are the massive
twin mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa where snow falls on the peaks
during the winter months.
Home to five volcanoes – The five volcanoes on the Big Island are Mauna Loa,
Kilauea, Hualalai, Kohala and Mauna Kea. Mauna Loa and Kilauea have been
the most active recently. The world's most important observatories reside on
Mauna Kea, the 13,700 feet peak that is the highest in Hawaiian Islands. From
this point, visitors enjoy the spectacular views and splendid stargazing.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - One of the most magnificent National Parks
in the country, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park boasts the world's longest
continually erupting volcano, Kilauea. During this volcano’s 20-year history, it
has been known to be gentle and ferocious as well as destructive and
constructive. Nicknamed “the drive-in volcano” because visitors can almost
drive their cars to the hot molten lava, Kilauea is one of the world´s most active
volcanoes as it continues to pour lava into the sea. A great place for hiking,
visitors are allowed to cross a still-steaming crater floor, circle a crater on
gorgeous rim trails and explore lava tunnels.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden - Spectacular Garden in a Valley on the
Ocean. Located
8 ½ miles north of Hilo, this is one of the most beautiful areas in all Hawaii. In
this garden valley, you will enjoy some of the nature trails that wind through the
tropical rainforest, along bubbling streams and beautiful waterfalls and
breathtaking ocean vistas of the rugged Pacific coast.
Kula Kai Caverns - Take a tour into Kula Kai Caverns located down slope of
Mauna Loa near South Point. These caverns offer a spectacular adventure
inside 1000-year-old lava tubes. Situated on the Southwest rift, the caverns
consist of several miles of braided lava tube systems.
Beaches of Many Colors - There are few sandy beaches on the Big Island,
however, the beaches are beautiful with varied colors such as black, green,
white and salt & pepper. Some of the beaches are off the beaten path and can
only be reached by 4-wheel. Hapuna Beach with its beautiful sand and grassy
knolls has been rated one of the best beaches in the world.
Akaka Falls - Akaka Falls (twin waterfalls) just North of Hilo along the Hamakua
coast of the Big Island. Here water tumbles 442 feet into a stream-eroded
gorge. This place is considered a "must see"! A moderately challenging 0.4-
mile loop takes visitors through a lush rain forest of philodendron vines, wild
orchids, bamboo groves and hanging heliconia. The 100-foot Kahuna Falls
come into view first, and it is impressive, but Akaka Falls is breathtaking! The
stream has cut through a layer of ash to the more resistant lava below. As the
falls retreat, they leave a deep gorge.
Waimea - A picturesque, quaint town high in the hills between Hilo and Kailua.
Waimea lies in the rolling green foothills above the Kohala Coast and offers
hiking, biking, tennis, and horseback riding. Waimea is home to nine golf
courses and seven world class hotels. Just a short drive takes you to some of
the island’s most beautiful beaches, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking,
snorkeling, diving and more. The town boosts some of the best restaurants on
the island. View the green Parker Ranch, the largest working ranch of its kind in
the U.S., where cowboys will work and live as their ancestors did. Art galleries
and specialty shops line the main street of town. The spectacular Kohala
Coast offers a peaceful, country setting for visitors - a good place to rest a few
minutes on your drive to the other side of the island.
Coconut Island and Queen Liliuokalani Gardens - Next to each other at the top
of Hilo Bay. Coconut Island is a perfect spot to picnic and swim with a
panoramic view of the bay. Queen Liliuokalani Gardens is a beautiful
Japanese garden located right off of the waters of Hilo Bay.
Golf - The Big Island is known as the Golf Capital of Hawaii with eighteen
spectacular golf courses and several more now in the making.
Fishing, Scuba Diving and Snorkeling - The Big Island is also home of the
Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament held in Kona, the Billfish Capital of
the world. The best snorkeling and scuba diving is found along the Kona Coast
where there are more species of tropical fish than can be found anywhere else.
Hilo Farmers Market - Homegrown and homemade bargains. Here you can
find beautiful flowers, crafts, and fresh produce.
Waipio Valley - Has been described as a “tropical Grand Canyon.” A region of
valleys and steep cliffs that roll into the sea. Waipio Valley is considered by
many to be the most beautiful place on Earth. Known as “The Valley of the
Kings,” because it was at one time the home of the rulers of Hawaii. Accessed
only by four-wheel drive or horseback, the ride down is magnificent as you
pass many streams and gulches, waterfalls and lush vegetation and finally
arrive to find a long stretch of black sand beach, steep cliffs and waterfalls
tumbling into the ocean. You may be visited by one of the many wild horses that
live in the valley.
Pololu Valley is at the northern tip of the Kohala Coast and curves to the
dramatic Pololu Valley Lookout. A short hike takes you to the bottom of the
forested valley where the black sand beach meets the crashing ocean waves.
Petroglyphs - Ancient Hawaiian lava rock carvings can be found in several
locations on the Big Island. The largest concentration of these rare pictographs
can be found here.
Among other great attractions and activities on the Big Island are the beautiful
tropical gardens, the Rainforest Zoo, Cruises, Sailing, Whale Watching, Bike
Tours, Fishing Trips, Glass Bottom Boats and Submarines for viewing colorful
marine life, Horseback Tours, Museums and last of all, one of the best and
most thrilling - a helicopter ride over the volcanic activity of Kilauea!
BY PAULA HUGHES COURT
Some call it the "Orchid Island due to the 100,000 plus species of orchids
grown here. Others refer to it as the "Volcano Island" because of its active
volcano. “The Big Island”, however, is what most people call this beautiful
island that is more than twice the size of the rest of the Hawaiian Islands
combined. This island has the strongest native Hawaiian presence of all the
islands
BIG ISLAND HAWAII HOTELS
The Big Island is diverse in that it has rocky deserts, lush rainforests, peaceful
bays and rolling pastureland. With exotic orchids and waterfalls on the
windward side and plantations growing famed Kona coffee on the western
slopes, the Big Island of Hawaii offers an island paradise for vacationers each
year. Not only is this island a wonderful vacation spot but people actually make
their homes here. They work, tend their gardens, go to school and meet with
family and friends for picnics at the beach.
BIG ISLAND HOTELS
The Big Island is unique in that it has an active volcano, a green sand beach,
the world's tallest mountain and the world's biggest mountain. Most visitor's
stay on the dry Kona side of the island known for the best beaches, but the
Hilo side has its own wild beauty for the adventurous. Like all the islands, the
Big Island has a rainy (windward) side with lush jungles and a dry (leeward)
side with desert and cacti. Responsible for creating the island are the massive
twin mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa where snow falls on the peaks
during the winter months.
Home to five volcanoes – The five volcanoes on the Big Island are Mauna Loa,
Kilauea, Hualalai, Kohala and Mauna Kea. Mauna Loa and Kilauea have been
the most active recently. The world's most important observatories reside on
Mauna Kea, the 13,700 feet peak that is the highest in Hawaiian Islands. From
this point, visitors enjoy the spectacular views and splendid stargazing.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - One of the most magnificent National Parks
in the country, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park boasts the world's longest
continually erupting volcano, Kilauea. During this volcano’s 20-year history, it
has been known to be gentle and ferocious as well as destructive and
constructive. Nicknamed “the drive-in volcano” because visitors can almost
drive their cars to the hot molten lava, Kilauea is one of the world´s most active
volcanoes as it continues to pour lava into the sea. A great place for hiking,
visitors are allowed to cross a still-steaming crater floor, circle a crater on
gorgeous rim trails and explore lava tunnels.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden - Spectacular Garden in a Valley on the
Ocean. Located
8 ½ miles north of Hilo, this is one of the most beautiful areas in all Hawaii. In
this garden valley, you will enjoy some of the nature trails that wind through the
tropical rainforest, along bubbling streams and beautiful waterfalls and
breathtaking ocean vistas of the rugged Pacific coast.
Kula Kai Caverns - Take a tour into Kula Kai Caverns located down slope of
Mauna Loa near South Point. These caverns offer a spectacular adventure
inside 1000-year-old lava tubes. Situated on the Southwest rift, the caverns
consist of several miles of braided lava tube systems.
Beaches of Many Colors - There are few sandy beaches on the Big Island,
however, the beaches are beautiful with varied colors such as black, green,
white and salt & pepper. Some of the beaches are off the beaten path and can
only be reached by 4-wheel. Hapuna Beach with its beautiful sand and grassy
knolls has been rated one of the best beaches in the world.
Akaka Falls - Akaka Falls (twin waterfalls) just North of Hilo along the Hamakua
coast of the Big Island. Here water tumbles 442 feet into a stream-eroded
gorge. This place is considered a "must see"! A moderately challenging 0.4-
mile loop takes visitors through a lush rain forest of philodendron vines, wild
orchids, bamboo groves and hanging heliconia. The 100-foot Kahuna Falls
come into view first, and it is impressive, but Akaka Falls is breathtaking! The
stream has cut through a layer of ash to the more resistant lava below. As the
falls retreat, they leave a deep gorge.
Waimea - A picturesque, quaint town high in the hills between Hilo and Kailua.
Waimea lies in the rolling green foothills above the Kohala Coast and offers
hiking, biking, tennis, and horseback riding. Waimea is home to nine golf
courses and seven world class hotels. Just a short drive takes you to some of
the island’s most beautiful beaches, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking,
snorkeling, diving and more. The town boosts some of the best restaurants on
the island. View the green Parker Ranch, the largest working ranch of its kind in
the U.S., where cowboys will work and live as their ancestors did. Art galleries
and specialty shops line the main street of town. The spectacular Kohala
Coast offers a peaceful, country setting for visitors - a good place to rest a few
minutes on your drive to the other side of the island.
Coconut Island and Queen Liliuokalani Gardens - Next to each other at the top
of Hilo Bay. Coconut Island is a perfect spot to picnic and swim with a
panoramic view of the bay. Queen Liliuokalani Gardens is a beautiful
Japanese garden located right off of the waters of Hilo Bay.
Golf - The Big Island is known as the Golf Capital of Hawaii with eighteen
spectacular golf courses and several more now in the making.
Fishing, Scuba Diving and Snorkeling - The Big Island is also home of the
Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament held in Kona, the Billfish Capital of
the world. The best snorkeling and scuba diving is found along the Kona Coast
where there are more species of tropical fish than can be found anywhere else.
Hilo Farmers Market - Homegrown and homemade bargains. Here you can
find beautiful flowers, crafts, and fresh produce.
Waipio Valley - Has been described as a “tropical Grand Canyon.” A region of
valleys and steep cliffs that roll into the sea. Waipio Valley is considered by
many to be the most beautiful place on Earth. Known as “The Valley of the
Kings,” because it was at one time the home of the rulers of Hawaii. Accessed
only by four-wheel drive or horseback, the ride down is magnificent as you
pass many streams and gulches, waterfalls and lush vegetation and finally
arrive to find a long stretch of black sand beach, steep cliffs and waterfalls
tumbling into the ocean. You may be visited by one of the many wild horses that
live in the valley.
Pololu Valley is at the northern tip of the Kohala Coast and curves to the
dramatic Pololu Valley Lookout. A short hike takes you to the bottom of the
forested valley where the black sand beach meets the crashing ocean waves.
Petroglyphs - Ancient Hawaiian lava rock carvings can be found in several
locations on the Big Island. The largest concentration of these rare pictographs
can be found here.
Among other great attractions and activities on the Big Island are the beautiful
tropical gardens, the Rainforest Zoo, Cruises, Sailing, Whale Watching, Bike
Tours, Fishing Trips, Glass Bottom Boats and Submarines for viewing colorful
marine life, Horseback Tours, Museums and last of all, one of the best and
most thrilling - a helicopter ride over the volcanic activity of Kilauea!
BIG ISLAND HAWAII HOTELS
BIG ISLAND HOTELS
HOTELS IN BIG ISLAND HAWAII
KONA COAST HAWAII HOTELS
BIG ISLAND HOTEL
BIG ISLAND HOTELS
HOTELS IN BIG ISLAND HAWAII
KONA COAST HAWAII HOTELS
BIG ISLAND HOTEL
FAMILY TRAVEL FUN.COM
BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII
BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII
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