The Big Island of Hawaii

The Big Island is my personal favorite. There are two main reasons why it is my favorite island. First, the landscape is so diverse which offers so many different attractions. Second, it is wide open and less crowded.


White Sands Beach:

This is a state park on the west side of the island. It is a nice, clean beach. If you are looking to go hang out on the beach for the day this is my pick. We also went para sailing here, which was great.

Punalulu Beach Park - Black Sands Beach:

This beach is on the south east side of the island. This is one of the best places to see turtles. They say that if you get there early enough you can see the turtles up on the beach. We were not able to see this, but we saw turtles in the water the whole time we were there.

Puu Mahana - Green Sands Beach:

This beach is at the southern most tip of the island. It is not the easiest beach to get to. You have to hike about 2.5 miles to the beach. The hike is on flat ground, and offers views of the ocean. You then have to make your way down a small cliff to the beach. It may sound like a lot of work, but I think it is worth it. You get to relax on a secluded green beach with great body surfing waves for the day.

The City of Refuge:

This is a very beautiful historical site on the southern side of the island. It is a great place to learn about the early inhabitants of the island. It has a very peaceful feeling that makes you want to just stroll around and enjoy the scenery. There are also many turtles here to see.

Volcanoes National Park:

This is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island. You can hike on trails and through lava tubes. Probably, the most popular attraction is to drive down to the active lava flow site in the evening. As it gets dark you can see the lava flowing.

Akaka Falls:

These are popular falls near Hilo, and worth seeing. It is just a short easy walk to the falls. The falls plunge down 442 feet.

Captain Cook Monument:

This is a very popular snorkeling area. You can only get there by boat. So, you can take a tour boat or you can kayak. I would definitely recommend the kayak. There are many shops where you can rent your own kayak and snorkel gear. The kayak secures onto the top of your car. You then drive to the Napoopoo area to launch your kayak into Kealakekua Bay. Launching your kayak is the most difficult part. The launching area is up a few feet from the water and it is difficult to do without help. There are locals there that will be happy to help you. Just make sure you tip them. As you kayak across the bay you will probably see spinner dolphins.

Waipio Valley:

This is a valley on the north side of the island that is surrounded by 2,000 foot cliffs. Off the cliffs you will see multiple waterfalls cascading down. Most people just stop at the lookout. If you have the opportunity to go down into the valley do it. The only way into the valley is on a very steep 25% grade road. Believe me it is steep. There are tours that will take you down, or you can walk down. This is not an easy hike at all. The whole time we were there we saw only one other person walking. Once you get down go to your right. There is a black sand beach and a waterfall over that way.

Conclusion:

As you fly into Kona it may not be what you expect of Hawaii. Instead of dense green foliage and palm trees, you see dry land and lava rock. Don't be fooled by this first view of the island. The island is filled with many treasures that has made it one of my favorite destinations.

Hawaii Series Introduction

My family and I love to visit the Hawaiian Islands. Each island is unique, and offers something different. There is not one island that is every one's favorite. It seems like each person has a favorite island for their own reasons.

The purpose of this series is to highlight each of the Hawaiian islands to give you an idea of what each one has to offer. My reviews will be based on personal experience. My hope is that by reading this series you will have an idea of what each island can offer you, and you can plan your visit to get the best Hawaiian experience possible.

I have not visited Molokai. I have only been to Maui for 3 days, and most of that was without luggage. For these reasons, these two islands will not be reviewed yet. I will hopefully visit them this year. I will then include them in the series.