Vacations to the Big Island of Hawaii
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Vacations to the Big Island of Hawaii offer you practically every climate the world possesses compressed into one place, and the thrill you get when walking up snow-capped mountains is magnified as you look down on the black beaches made of sand formed of the erosion of black volcanic rock. With 11 of the 13 different world climates, this island enables you to visit dry dusty deserts and tropical rainforests within a very short drive of each other. Active volcanoes can be visited safely on the Big Island because they are not of the familiar cone shape that can be dangerous to climb, but are what are referred to as 'shield volcanoes', covering a very large area with gently sloping sides. In fact the Big Island of Hawaii offers you four volcanoes, but only three to visit. These are contained within the boundary of the Big Island Volcanoes Nation Park, namely the Mauna Kea, currently active Kilauea and the famous Mauna Loa that last erupted in 1984. The other is Loihi, lying under water, just off the southern coast that one day well into the future might become the ninth major Hawaiian island. The Waipio Valley, otherwise known as Hawaii's Valley of the Kings, was the childhood home of King Kamehameha and is an important part of Hawaii's history. It is extremely beautiful, as befits a king, and there are now fewer than 100 people living here. There are a number of large waterfalls in the valley, including the 1300 foot Hiilawe Falls. Not to be missed! Another historical place on the Big Island of Hawaii is the Puukohola Heiau temple, used as a place of worship by the Hawaiians of yesteryear. It was built around 1790 and dedicated to King Kamehameha in the hope that it would help to politically unite the various islands. This eventually came about in 1810, and was about the last one that was built before the missionaries arrived from the west to change their pagan ways. The three volcanoes Mauna Kea, the tallest of the world's volcanoes, Manua Loa the biggest by volume in the world, and Kilauea which is the most active in the world, overlook the town of Hilo which is the largest settlement in the Big Island, and the second largest in Hawaii. Hilo was also hit by two large tsunamis, one in 1946 and the other in 1960, and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park here is by far the most popular Hawaiian attraction. Hilo also boasts some 1800s wooden storefronts that now home modern galleries, stores and restaurants. Hilo Bay that it nestles on offers wonderful views of the ocean, and this is a very popular area for Hawaiian residents. It also makes a great vacation destination. It can take you more than 45 minutes to drive along the Kona coastline, and this is where you will come across the famous Kona Coffee farms in addition to a number of historic and ancient landmarks. The aforementioned King Kamehameha lived here during the last years of his life. South Kona is famous for more than the coffee, although the fresh bean smells fabulous. You must visit some of the plantations and taste the real freshly brewed coffee - you will never forget it! It's also a great place for scuba diving or snorkeling in the clear calm water, and fabulous for deep sea fishing. Many come here just for the blue marlin. You can also swim alongside the green turtles, or Honu, dolphins and the manta rays. Hawaii Big Island Vacation PackagesAny time of the year is a superb time to visit the islands and it is easy to find Hawaii Big Island vacation packages. Summer time is warmer and drier while winters are cooler with more rain. However, there isn't a bad time to plan a vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii. For vacations to the Big Island of Hawaii you can land at one of two airports on the island: one at Hilo and the other in Kona. However, although you can get flights direct from the USA to these airports, the majority come from Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The following links provide specific information to Hawaii Big Island vacation packages, discounts and specials: |
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