Big Island Offers Island Adventures and Tropical Retreats
Named for its size relative to the other Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii’s Big Island is a popular travel destination because of the island’s unparalleled natural beauty and active volcano. Hawaii’s Big Island offers big adventures with exhilarating activities and unforgettable attractions. The island’s diverse surroundings let you witness the Kilauea Volcano push lava into the ocean one day and scuba dive with dolphins the next. Unwind on the pristine white sands of Kaunaoa Beach and experience the unmatched beauty of the Kohala coastline with an exciting round of golf. All of this and more can be experienced on Hawaii’s largest island which is one of Mother Nature’s greatest accomplishments.
Depending on which area of Big Island you’re on visitors can experience white, black and green sand beaches. Kaunaoa Beach is a beautiful white sand beach that is home to the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Consistently rated as one of America’s Top Resorts the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel features beachfront rooms that have direct ocean access, signature restaurants and an 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. One of the many interesting attractions on Hawaii’s Big Island is its black sand beaches which are formed from cooled lava. Punaluu is a black sand beach that can be found near the island’s southern tip. It offers great swimming spots as well as a small shop to purchase Hawaiian souvenirs for friends and family. Puu Mahana is a green sand beach that is located on the slopes of Mauna Loa, the earth’s largest volcano. Located at the southernmost tip of the United States, Puu Mahana is an amazing sight but can be difficult to get to.
Big Island is considered the golf capital of the Hawaiian Islands and provides a great selection of golf courses to choose from. Offering every level of play the golf courses on Hawaii’s Big Island feature breathtaking views of lava lined fairways, tropical palm trees, sparkling blue waters and the picturesque Kohala coastline. Most of Big Island’s golf courses can be found on the west side of the island. Kailua-Kona is the main western city where many of the island’s most luxurious resorts can be found including the Mauna Loa Village, the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort and the Royal Kona Resort. Once home to Hawaiian royalty this historic area also provides excellent shopping and dining opportunities. Guests of the elegant resorts in Big Island will be treated like royalty with plenty of massage and spa options. Let yourself be pampered with body wraps, facials, yoga and more.
The east side of Big Island is home to Hilo, the island’s capital city. Known as the nation’s orchid capital, Hilo is a charming bayside town overflowing with colorful orchids, lush gardens and is also the gateway to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. From Hilo continue to the island’s south side to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where visitors can witness Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano. From the Ranger Station visitors can walk along a paved road and then continue along rough uneven lava to the Steam Plume Viewing Area. This viewing area provides guests with the magnificent sight of lava entering the ocean and new land forming making Hawaii’s Big Island even bigger. Big Island is also made up of the waterfalls and exotic plants on the Hamakua Coast and the sacred Hawaiian religious sites and the Parker Ranch on the north side.
Adventure can be found all over Big Island with a variety of exciting options on land, in the water and in the air. Start your day with some amazing snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay and then enjoy an afternoon of horseback riding with Paniolo’s, Hawaiian cowboys, in Parker Ranch. Hike through the Hurston Lava Tube at the Volcanoes National Park and then head to the top of Mauna Kea to watch an incredible Big Island sunset and the sparkling stars. For a thrilling adventure visitors can experience skiing on Hawaii’s Big Island. Mauna Kea, or White Mountain offers some of the world’s highest skiing and finest snow. Skiing Mauna Kea is recommended only for expert skiers since it offers no lifts or grooming, frequently changing weather conditions and occasional strong winds.Known as “The Island of Adventure” Hawaii’s Big Island offers endless possibilities. With its numerous climatic zones Big Island offers everything from towering volcanoes and cascading waterfalls to black sand beaches and tropical gardens. With so much to explore it’s easy to see why so many people return year after year to Hawaii’s Big Island.