The Big Island – Hawaii's Island of Adventure

Aloha and Welcome to Hawaii's Big Island

www.bigisland.org

Big Island – click to enlarge

While you are here, we very much hope that you will take the time to experience the island's incredible range of striking natural beauty and encourage your clients to take in some of the highlights that this spectacular island has to offer, from the Volcanoes National Park, horseback riding along the Waipio Naalapa Trail and star gazing from Mauna Kea to swimming off the Green Sand Beach, game fishing off the Kailua Kona Coast and admiring the waterfalls along the Hamakua Coast.

Few other places in the world can match Hawaii's Big Island for its wealth of adventure opportunities and devotion to eco-tourism. Whether you're interested in adrenalin-rich activities or exciting day trips on land or at sea, Hawaii's Big Island promises travel experiences that truly highlight its natural beauty:

• With 266 miles of coastline, the Big Island is twice the combined size of the other islands.
• The Big Island boasts the Islands' highest lake (Lake Waiau at 3,969m above sea level), the state's longest sheer drop waterfall (Akaka Falls,135m) the US' southernmost tip (Ka Lae, South Point) and the tallest mountain from below sea level.
• It is one the most ecologically diverse islands in the world. There are said to be 13 climatic regions on earth and the Big Island has all but two – the Artic and the Sahara! You can drive through a half dozen of them in just a few hours.

   

  © Big Island   Visitors Bureau /   David O. Baldwin

• Kïlauea is the world's most active volcano and has been continually erupting since 1983.
• Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world (measured from its base at the ocean floor).
• Hawaii's Big Island has 12 spas, making it the perfect destination to renew the spirit.
• Hawaii's Big Island is the Golf Capital of Hawaii, with 18 golf courses.
• Such is the contrast of the island's scenery that it is frequently used by Hollywood film directors. Movies filmed on the Big Island include James Bond: Day After Tomorrow, Planet of the Apes and Waterworld.
• The 13,796-foot Mauna Kea is generally snow-capped from December to May. Its summit is regarded as the world's best site for astronomical observations and is home to the world's greatest concentration of observatories, with 13 telescopes operated by eight countries.

The Big Island Hot Spots

The Kona Coast: Kona is synonymous with the region's world famous coffee and the big fish which are both found in great abundance along the 70-mile coastal stretch.

The sun-blessed leeward side is dotted with a collection of small farming and fishing communities, including the quaint oceanfront fishing village of Kailua-Kona, which these days caters as much for tourists as boat captains.

© Hawaii Tourism   Japan

The Kona Coast has an amazingly diverse geography and climate, ranging from black coastal desert to the cooler temperate slopes of the in-country whose fertile slopes are home to green coffee, macadamia nuts plus tropical fruits and beautiful exotic flowers. Nearby is the resort area of Keauhou which has a more modern feel thanks to its upmarket condominiums, shopping and luxury homes.

Coffee was introduced to Kona around 1828 and it is now Hawaii's coffee capital and the only place in the US where gourmet coffee is grown. The Kona Coffee Country Driving Tour connects Kailua up through the slopes of Hualalai Mountain, taking you past coffee shops, plantations, mills and museums, making it a caffeine-lover's ideal day out!

Keauhou is an area offering a number of B&Bs and hotels, including the luxurious Four Seasons at Hualalai.

The South Kona Coast's rural landscape is home to coffee farmers and macadamia-nut growers, making it an ideal spot for those looking to escape the tourist hot-spots. There are numerous bays dotted along this quiet coast, with the accommodation options mostly comprising of inexpensive B&Bs.

The beaches along the Kohala Coast were once famed as the favourite spot for Hawaii's royalty and they remain a favourite for the rich and famous today. And with the dramatic black lava coast punctuated by pockets of lush vegetation, world-class beaches and luxury resorts, it's easy to see why. North Kohala is located at the northernmost part of the Island and offers one of Hawaii's most spectacular country backdrops.

© Hawaii Tourism Japan

Waimea (Kamuela) is set in the Kohala Mountains and is typified by rolling countryside, farms, ranches and, more recently, new shopping boutiques and gourmet restaurants. Nearby at the world famous “Parker Ranch” you can see Hawaiian cowboys in action as they tend their cattle. One of the world's biggest cattle ranches, you may even be lucky enough to catch one of the wild rodeos which are regularly held there, although the Parker Ranch Visitor Center and Museum is an excellent alternative and provides a great overview of Hawaii's ‘Paniolo' tradition.

The lush Hamakua Coast is one of the Island's most stunning regions and covers 52 miles between from Honokaa to Hilo on the Northeastern side of the island. Honokaa has several interesting antique shops and smaller sized properties, with very few major resorts to be found. Although there are no beaches here, the area has other amazing attractions such as the Waipio Valley, an area of rainforest encircled by 2,000ft cliffs, as well as the famous Akaka Falls – your reward at the end of a half mile hike through the splendid Akaka Falls State Park.

Hilo is the cultural heart of the Big Island, offering visitors a completely different type of island experience. An historic waterfront town, Hilo offers something for everyone from budget to premium travelers, with galleries, garden nurseries and cultural attractions, and is also the gateway to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

© Big Island Visitors   Bureau / Robert J. Abraham

Just one hour from Hilo lies the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the most popular visitor attraction on the island and one of the archipelago's most dramatic must-see attractions. Covering 344 square miles it is home to Kilauea volcano which has been erupting since 1983, spewing lava down a 4,000 feet slope to the sea. This means that Hawaii – the youngest of the six main islands – is actually still growing. You can walk or drive through the park, past the hardened rivers of lava, steaming calderas, fantastic lava tubes and lush jungle. There are also good camping facilities for those seeking more adventurous accommodation while Volcano House even offers you the unusual option of a crater-view room.

Ka Lae, also known as South Point, is the southernmost point of the US and home to Green Sand Beach (aka Papakolea Beach), the only beach of its kind across the islands. This means that the Big Island is one of only a handful of places in the world where you can visit a white, black or green sand beach in one day! Ka Lae, meanwhile, is recognised as the point where the first Polynesian settlers landed sometime between AD 150 and AD 750

Things not to be missed

• A visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is to enjoy a natural history lesson and journey back in time to the beginning of creation. The islands that make up the Hawaiian archipelago are actually the tips of giant mountains pushed up from the seabed by upwelling lava. The Big Island is the youngest as well as the largest of the chain, created by five volcanoes of which two are still active. And, with its constant lave production, it is still growing!
• The national park is centred on Kilauea, the world's most active volcano which has been erupting continuously since 1983. Its name actually means “much spewing” which is especially apt given that, as the hottest show on earth, this active crater still regularly spews sulphur and steam. Since the eruption began, Kilauea has actually created enough molten lava to pave a two-lane road which would encircle the world 50 times! Highlights include the Thurston Lava Tube, steam vents and the Halemaumau Overlook on the southern part of Crater Rim Drive.
• Visitors should be sure to stop at the helpful visitor centre at the park's headquarters to pick up guide books and maps. Hourly films show some of the most explosive eruptions, while park rangers give updates on volcanic activity and – more importantly – where to travel to see active lava flow that day. Alternatively, as the status changes daily, check online to find out the latest update of the lava flow as you'll need the most current information to best plan your hunt for the red stuff.
  © Hawaii Tourism Japan
• Get Active – the island is also a diverse and rewarding place to go hiking, from the lava fields of its south-west coast to the slopes of its volcanic mountains and the rainforests on the east coast. Miles of underground caverns formed by lava tubes riddle the slopes of the still-active Mauna Loa volcano, while hiking and caving tours take visitors where molten lava once flowed – or, indeed, continues to flow – to the sea. Visitors can choose between a number of daily biking tours, including a 10-12 hour Ring of Fire exploration of Kilauea and the Chain of Craters Road. Alternatively they can explore sea caves in Keauhou Bay on a kayak and snorkel tour.
• Ka Lae, South point: Stray from the beaten track and head off to see the amazing Green Sand beach for yourself. This world-famous anomaly is best accessed by a 3-mile walk or four-wheel-drive so your reward is unlikely to be spoilt by the presence of fellow travellers.
• The Akaka Falls are a truly breathtaking spectacle. Surrounded by tropical rainforest, the falls descend 400 feet over a volcanic cliff into a beautiful valley filled with thick rain forest, banyan trees, banana plants and wild flowers. A walking trail winds through the rain forest, with plenty of rest stops along the way to allow you to fully appreciate your stunning surrounds.
• South of Kona, you can explore Hawaii's ancient culture at Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, once a refuge for defeated warriors who broke sacred laws and were seeking to be absolved. The 182-acre site includes recreations of a former royal compound along with thatched houses enclosed by an ancient stone wall.
• Snorkel the famous Kohala Coast rich with marine life, shallow reefs and blessed with great visibility.
  © HVCB / Kirk Lee Aeder
• The 13,796-foot Mauna Kea summit is regarded as the world's best site for astronomical observations amongst professionals and amateurs alike! It is therefore home to the greatest concentration of scientific observatories on the planet, with 13 professional telescopes operated by eight countries.
• The Visitor Information Station offers free summit tours every Saturday and Sunday at 1pm, weather permitting, and sunset and stargazing tours are also available. The guides set up their own telescopes and provide you with hot drinks and warm clothes, given the high altitude, so that you can experience the most incredible views in the world of our night sky.

© Big Island   Visitors Bureau /   Current Events   © Big Island   Visitors Bureau /   Kirk Lee Aeder

Festivals:

The festival is considered the world's premier forum for people of all ages to display their skills and appreciation of the art of ancient and modern hula. This is a full-on Hawaiian spectacle and a wonderful cultural event that provides a great insight into the history of the islands' people. Be sure to plan ahead if you want to go as tickets are usually sold out by the first week in January and the hotels within a 30 mile radius are usually fully booked.

Aloha Festivals Big Island of Hawaii events are a wonderful opportunity to experience the very essence of Hawaiian customs, cultures & tradition.

Perhaps the ultimate endurance event, the Ironman event involves a 2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run, attracting thousands of the world's best athletes every year.

Hawaii's oldest food festival incorporates over 30 events, kicking off with the International Lantern Parade. Events include art exhibitions, tastings, a cupping competition judging the coffee on everything from fragrance to aftertaste, a coffee picking competition and even a coffee recipe cooking contest.

Hilton Waikoloa Village^®

Rich in history and mythology, the Big Island of Hawai‘i is a land of striking contrasts. A land where fiery volcanoes co-exist with snow capped mountains and ancient stone alters stand alongside modern luxury. One of the most beautiful treasures on an island that boasts many, is the Kohala Coast.

Salt water lagoon

This nine-mile stretch of sunny coast is one of those rare places on earth where reality surpasses expectation. Here, Hilton provides the ultimate luxury resort, The Hilton Waikoloa Village^® – more Hawai‘i than you can imagine.

This magnificent resort is a destination in itself. Once you experience its sun-drenched beach, wide variety of dining amongst 9 restaurants and endless array of activities – you won't want to go anywhere else.

Mahogany canal boats

Hilton Waikoloa Village's guest rooms are divided among three low-rise towers, over 62 acres of unparalleled beauty and luxury, superb service amid virtually a Polynesian playground of selections available – Golf, Tennis, Kohala Sports Club & Spa, Camp Menehune (children's program), 175 foot twisting waterslide in the Kona Pool, floating in the meandering Kohala River Pool, snorkeling or swimming in the open salt water lagoon and a completely unique adventure: Dolphin Quest* – an educational encounter with bottlenose dolphins.

Come to this tropical island paradise and enjoy staff who define the spirit of Aloha for which Hawai‘i is renowned and where cherished memories will be of a visit to the Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Please visit our website: www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com

* Dolphin Quest is independently owned

You'll find the answers to the following questions on this page or on www.hawaii-tourism.co.uk. Good luck!

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Header images, left to right: 1: Lava, © Big Island Visitors Bureau / David O. Baldwin | 2: Kaneohe Bay, © Oahu Visitors Bureau | 3: Kokee State Park, © HVCB / Ron Dahlquist | 4: Molokini, © HVCB / Ron Dahlquist