Big Island Hawaii Pictures
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Hawaii's Big Island is both big and different!
Big Island Travel Guide | Weather | Hawaii Map | Big Island Map
A light sand beach on the Kohala coast, though many of Big Island's beaches are...
Hawai'i - aka the Big Island - is bigger than all the other Hawaiian islands put together. This natural wonder is home to the world's most active volcano (Kilauea), rainforest jungle, deserts and even snow, but less spectacular soft-sand beaches. Big Island offers the best hiking opportunities in the state of Hawaii in addition to interestingly reconstructed remnants of ancient Hawaiian culture, fantastic deep sea fishing and good snorkeling. More.
...black volcanic sand, such as Punalu'u Beach
Photo by Mila Zinkova
Kona coast: the sunny western side is the island's main resort area, such as Kailua-Kona, with good beaches, snorkelling - especially Kealakekua Bay - and terrific deep-sea fishing. Kailua is the main town with a church built from lava.
Hale-o-Keawe temple, Puuhonua, the Place of Refuge.
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park on Big Island's west coast is the best traditional religious site in the Hawaiian islands, with reconstructed houses, temples and wooden effigies. Self-guide tours are cheap, efficient and entertaining.
Green Sea Turtles hang out in the waters and on the black sand beaches nearby. Kayakers and snorkelers also enjoy the area due to easy access and clear waters. In winter it's possible to watch whales from the shore. It's located on Honaunau Bay in south Kona.
Hot, fresh lava, rollin'.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: the south of the island holds two active volcanoes, with hot headed Kilauea Caldera constantly threatening to wreck the peace, while Mauna Loa is of somewhat cooler, all set in a gorgeous and wildly varied terrain. More.
Hapuna beach.
Hapuna Beach is one of the most popular and biggest sandy beaches on Hawai'i, and much loved by body surfers and body boarders for its high surf in winter months. Hapuna offers excellent facilities and lifeguards on duty every day. It is along Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
A Hula ceremony in Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i.
1200ft (400m) Hi'ilawe Falls, Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawai'i
Photo by Paul Hirst
Big Island's best things to do - apart from beaches - are:
- Wander the dramatic black deserts, lava tubes and burning seas of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
- Take a hike in the
most attractive part of the island, the Hamakua Heritage Corridor, looking for flora, fauna and waterfalls in the rainforest, such as the Akaka Falls or Kahuna Falls in Akaka State Falls Park. The sacred Waipio Valley, 'the Valley of the Kings'- is a tropical
paradise and home to the island's tallest waterfall. You can see a view of the valley from an overlook; hiking into the valley is stunning but demanding...
- If you don't already have enough cowboys in your life the rolling meadows of Waimea (not to be confused with the rolling waves of Oahu's Waimea) are cowboy country and offer superb horseback riding and other attractions.
- Snorkellers, scuba divers, kayakers and other marine sports aficionados need check the Keauhou resort area, home to the best water life forms, with manta rays and green sea turtles on the menu du jour,
so to speak. Alternatively there's Kealakekua Bay Marine Conservation District for brilliant wet life experiences.
- For a solid dose of Hawaiian history and relics Puuhonua o Honaaunau National Historic Park will do the job.
- Those who need some shopping (welcome Japanese!) could head for historic Kailua-Kona or Hilo for city culture, museums, galleries, Hawaiian culture, good eating and of course shopping!
A Big Island hotel. The Kohala Coast is where most of the beach resorts collide. Next, Kauai Island Pictures.
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