Much of the land on Hawaii’s Big Island that was covered with sugarcane in the 19th and 20th centuries has now given way to diversified farming – flowers, tropical fruit, coffee, nuts, artisan veggies, pulp wood, aquaculture. These farms, using sustainable practices, are supplying local chefs who demand the freshest ingredients for their famous Hawaii Regional Cuisine dishes. Some farmers welcome visitors, and you can also meet them at the many farmers’ markets around the island. Food writers will find all the ingredients they need for good stories.

Though Hawaii Island is the youngest in the island chain, it has the longest human history. At Ka Lae you can see where the very first Polynesian voyagers are thought to have made landfall in Hawaii. At the restored ancient fishing village of Lapakahi you can almost see the ghosts of that long-ago community. Or visit the remains of historic temples – Mookini, a place of human sacrifice, or Puukohola, where King Kamehameha the Great spilled blood to consolidate his power. Or see petroglyphs carved into the lava rock. Learn more here and here.

The Natural Energy Laboratory Hawaii Authority (NELHA) is both an innovation focal point for ocean science and commerce, and a cutting-edge laboratory for the development of alternate and renewable energy resources, harnessing sunlight and cold and warm ocean waters. Here you can also learn about experimental and commercial ventures farming black pearls, seahorses, lobsters, micro-algae and more.

The world-class observatories on the 13,796-foot summit of Maunakea have long been making profound discoveries about our universe. Guided tours to the summit also stop at the 9,300-foot visitors center. And there’s even more to be learned about the stars down at the Imiloa Astronomy Center on the University of Hawai‘i, Hilo campus. For more info on science, go here and stargazing information is available here.

Hawaii’s Big Island is heaven for those who love to stay in bed & breakfast cottages and vacation rentals. There’s a wide variety of accommodations to write about and photograph, whether you’re looking for something near the beach, tucked away in the rainforest, by a winding two-lane in a rural community, or near the rim of the world’s most active volcano, there are rustic cabins, beautifully decorated cottages and handsome inns. Get more info on Hawaii bed and breakfasts and Hawaii vacation rentals.

Sometimes it seems like Hawaii Island is one giant bouquet of colorful tropical plants and flowers. To learn about all the native and exotic flora, visit any of our botanical gardens.

There is superb camping on Hawaii Island, whether you like to set up your tent in a nice civilized campground with hot showers, or trek for two days to a remote cabin on top of Maunaloa. Find out more about park camping or about renting a camper van.

A journey of discovery to the sacred places and historic sites of Hawaii’s Big Island unveil an understanding of the ancient Hawaiian culture and provide the perfect backdrop for restoration and rejuvenation.

Stand in awe at Mookini Heiau (temple) where King Kamehameha the Great was born. Feel the power of Puukohola Heiau, the 224-foot long by 100-foot wide stone heiau platform, the site of King Kamehameha the Great launch to successfully unite all the Hawaiian islands. These just a sampling of the many cultural and historic sites that offer a the look into the rich past of Hawaii’s Big Island.

Additional History, Heritage, and Hawaiian Arts information may be found on our Leisure website.

• Hula & Hula Events
• Brief History of the Big Island
• Our Name and Nicknames
• Many Cultures
• Pau Riders, Traditions, Places to See
• Modern Day Paniolo & Ranches
• History of Paniolo & Ranching on Hawaii’s Big Island
• The Spirit of Aloha
• Language
• Religion
• Hawaii’s World Heritage Site
• Family
• Art Galleries & Museums
• Festivals & Performing Arts

The Big Island is a natural locale for “on-the-road” narrative stories that take readers from place to place – land, sea and sky – over a day or a week. You can plan almost endless itineraries.

Sample Day Trip Itineraries

Food writers love the Big Island because the flavors are fresh and from all over the world. This is where the famous Hawaii Regional Cuisine has really flowered, with local produce, fish and grass-fed beef and lamb going from the farm, ranch, aquaculture tank and ocean to the kitchen and your plate within just hours. This is where the classic local-style “plate lunch” is worthy of a dissertation, and 5-star restaurants wow the most discerning palates. Here too you find that the tried-and-true luau dinner show has been dazzlingly reinvented. Dig in!

Hawaii’s Restaurant Information

With all but two of the world’s climate zones right here, Hawaii Island offers an amazing variety of natural environments to explore. From sun-baked beaches and lava plains to lush rainforests and snow-covered mountain summits, there are countless stories to pursue. Hikers can find hundreds of miles of trails; snorkelers and scuba divers can plunge into clear waters teeming with sealife found nowhere else on the planet. Those who want to give back can participate in voluntourism, like beach clean-ups and removing invasive plant species from native rainforests . And there are lots of knowledgeable tour guides to show you the way.

Sustainable Travel Information

With championship resort courses designed by the likes of Robert Trent Jones and Arnold Palmer, and well-maintained community courses, the Big Island has something to offer every golfer. Especially since our many courses are all set in some of the most stunning scenery anywhere on the planet. Tee it up!

Comprehensive Hawaii golf course information

Hawaii ‘s Big Island is cooled by gentle trade winds and is blessed with a year-round temperate climate, making it the perfect place to golf.

World-renowned golf course architects including Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Palmer, Nicklaus, Weiskopf, Morrish, Seay and Robert Trent Jones, Jr have constructed championship courses from the island’s varied terrain, creating some of the most challenging and visually stunning courses found today.

Additional Hawaii Golf Course information may be found on our Leisure website.

As vacationers seek more substance during their precious leisure time, Hawaii’s Big Island is quickly surfacing as a destination that offers many unique ag-tourism options. “Ag-tourism,” defined as the overlap between agriculture and tourism, is a trend-setting experience within more conventionally known definitions of tourism and is a unique way people can experience more of Hawaii’s Big Island.

Hawaii AgVentures is a program of the Big Island Farm Bureau that combines the people, foods and farms of Hawaii’s Big Island into experiences of diverse cultures, extraordinary produce and natural beauty. A Hawaii AgVenture is like no other tour offering in the islands. Hawaii AgVentures works to coordinate your interests with our participating growers and processors, providing a full range of visits. On-farm visits of Hawaii AgVentures represent a good, balanced variety and diversity of crops, geographic areas, and producers on the Big Island. Phone: 1-800-660-6011

Additional Hawaii Regional Food & Dining information may be found on our Leisure website.

• Food Gifts, Island Specialties
• More Menus and Venues
• Dinner Shows & Cruises
• Hawaii Regional and Pacific Rim Cuisine
• Luaus & Dining Entertainment
• Ag-Tourism Experiences

Additional Agricultural Tourism information may be found on our Leisure website.

• Great Gifts
• Agricultural Tours
• Farmers’ Markets
• A Full Plate
• Part of the Culture
• Hawaii’s Agricultural History

The only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hawaii, this stunningly beautiful park is home to the world’s most active, continuously erupting volcano. With great interpretive programs and miles of trails that range from short strolls through the rainforest to back-country treks over rugged lava plains, the park is a wonderland for anyone wanting to explore Hawaii’s unique flora and fauna and see the volcanic forces that are still forming our planet.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site information

Here are some useful and surprising facts about Hawaii’s Big Island – Hawaii’s Island of Adventure.
Land Mass: 4,028 square miles—twice the combined size of the other Islands (10,473 square km)
Population: 148,677 (2000)

GEOGRAPHY: Hawaii Island is the youngest and largest of the Hawaiian Islands with 4,028 square miles and it’s still growing as long as lava continues to pour out of Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano. It has 266 miles (428 km) of coastline.
The Big Island stretches from sea level to the volcanic peaks of Maunakea, 13,796 feet (4,205 m), and Maunaloa, 13,677 feet (4,169 m). Hawaii’s Big Island has the Islands’ highest lake, Lake Waiau, at 13,020 feet (3,969 m) above sea level; the state’s longest sheer drop waterfall, Akaka Falls, 442 feet (135 m); the southernmost tip of the United States, Ka Lae (South Point) and the tallest mountain measured from the ocean floor, Maunakea.

Of all the islands, Hawaii’s Big Island is the most ecologically diverse, with natural environments ranging from the desert plains of Kau to the rain forests above Hilo, to snowcapped Maunakea. There are said to be 13 climatic regions on earth and the Big Island has all but two, the Arctic and the Saharan.

CLIMATE: Average temperature ranges from 71° – 77° F (22° – 25° C) with cooler climates of 57° – 63° F (14° – 17° C) at the 4,000-foot Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park headquarters, and 62° – 66° F (17° – 19° C) at 2,760-foot Waimea. Rainfall is variable in different sectors, which makes for some beautiful, lush scenery.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Hawaiian coffee, astronomy, tourism & agriculture. Agriculture products include: macadamia nuts, papaya, cattle, anthuriums, orchids, aquaculture, ag-tourism, scientific technology, and tourism. There is an Agriculture Overview and Press Kit available online at www.hvcb.org/media

RECREATION: Deep sea fishing, ocean kayaking, stargazing, snorkeling, sightseeing, National Parks, National Historic Sites, hiking, horseback riding, scuba diving, tennis, golfing, sailing, shopping and agricultural tourism, botanical garden tours and family-run farm tours.

BRIEF HISTORY: Believed to be the first Hawaiian Island discovered and settled by Polynesians, perhaps as early as the fifth century, Hawaii Island has been the scene of many of the state’s historic events. The birthplace of King Kamehameha I, this land was the one from which he launched forays to unify the islands. For a time, it was the capital of the kingdom. Hawaii Island was also the scene of King Kamehameha I’s death, and with it the end of the kapu (laws to protect Hawaiian spirituality) system, abolished by his successor (and son) Kamehameha II in 1819. Kealakekua Bay, Captain Cook’s first Big Island landfall in 1779, and the scene of his death, is the site where the first Christian service (a seaman’s burial) was performed on Hawai‘i’s shores.

Today, much of ancient Hawaii can still be seen throughout the island, where historical sites have been preserved.

Additional Hawaii Island information may be found on our Leisure website.

• Interactive Map with lava zones, districts, rainfall, beaches & parks
• Driving Times & Distances
• Big Island, An Island of Biggest and Boldest
• Puna District
• Kau District
• Waimea Area
• Kona District
• Kohala District
• Hamakua District
• Hilo District
• Kohala Coast Resort Area
• Keauhou Resort Area

Adventure on Hawaii’s Big Island comes in different forms. And the Big Island’s diversity makes it easy to find adventure at every turn — deep-blue ocean and sandy beaches, ancient petroglyph fields and fishponds, rainforest hikes and the active Kilauea volcano. Explore National Parks and historic sites, discover living examples of the Hawaiian culture. Venture into inner space on spiritual adventures, adventures in dining, and adventures into the past.

Additional Island of Adventure ® information may be found on our Leisure website.

Land Adventures
Water Adventures
Air & Sky Adventures
Learning Adventures

World Heritage sites are extraordinary places around the globe that have been recognized by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) for their outstanding natural and cultural value.

There are 851 such sites around the world, but only three in the United States – and only one in the Hawaiian Islands.

In 1987, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was named a World Heritage site because of its amazing diversity of geological, biological and botanical wonders. Its 333,000 acres stretch from sea level to the 13,677-foot summit of Maunaloa, the planet’s most massive volcano. Many rare and endangered native plants and animals thrive in the park, and it is also the traditional home of the volcano goddess, Pele.

With more than 150 miles of hiking trails going through coastal lava plains, lush rainforests and alpine desert—not to mention its own currently erupting volcano, Kilauea—it’s no wonder that UNESCO also tapped the park as an International Biosphere Reserve.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is also a treasure of native Hawaiian culture, both ancient and contemporary. Archeological evidence shows how Hawaiians lived on these lands. And today’s Hawaiians still come to the park to dance hula and chant in honor of Pele, as well as to gather materials for traditional healing, ceremonies and crafts (only native Hawaiians are permitted to take any natural materials from the park).

To help you learn about the many natural and cultural wonders in this World Heritage and International Biosphere site, visit the park’s recently renovated visitors center, where you can also find out about the many guided hikes and outings. More volcanology exhibits are at the park’s Thomas A. Jaggar Museum, with its overlook offering a stunning view of steaming Halemaumau crater. And don’t miss the Volcano Art Center, featuring work inspired by the volcano and the surrounding area. (808) 985-6000. www.nps.gov/havo.

Besides our one official World Heritage site, Hawaii Island has many other places steeped in rich history and heritage. Explore the links at right for lots of heritage adventures.

Explore History Throughout the Island
Sustainable Travel Information
Hawaii Island Parks
History, Heritage and the Arts

No one knows better how truly big and diverse the Big Island is than the adventurous hiker. Hawaii Island is a peripatetic paradise, with a wide variety of trails, from short loops and easy two-hour walks to all-day treks and gnarly expeditions into remote, back-country campgrounds. Hike sun-baked shorelines, dripping rainforests, shimmering lava fields, or snow-covered volcanic peaks. Take your first step here.

The annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival is widely recognized as the preeminent celebration of hula in the world. For a whole week, the town of Hilo hosts festivities that culminate in three nights of hula competition, with halau (hula groups) from all over Hawaii – and the world. And that’s just one place to see authentic ancient and modern hula on Hawaii Island, where hula performances happen all year-round.

More information on annual hula events

The grand-daddy of them all, the Ironman World Championship in Kona is still one of the world’s most popular – and demanding – triathlons.

For more information on the ironman visit our Ironman Page

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the number one visitors attraction in the State of Hawaii, and our only UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also home to the Earth’s longest-ever recorded continuous eruption. Other National Parks on the Big Island include Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, and Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site.

Additional Volcano Update and UNESCO World Heritage information may be found on our Leisure website.

There are lots of angles to the story of world-famous Kona coffee. A number of the beautiful little farms perched on the slopes of Maunaloa volcano welcome visitors. There and at some of the local mills, farmers and staff will explain how these prized coffee beans are grown and roasted. And the latest coffee story isn’t only about Kona, because now, the brew from the neighboring districts of Kau, Hamakua and Puna are making quite a buzz in the coffee world.

Though it may be a little hard to imagine being illuminated about volcanism, biology, medical science and ancient Hawaiian culture while standing in a cave so dark you can’t even see your hand in front of your face, that’s exactly what you can get when you go lava tubing.

Exploring Lava Tubes in Hawaii

Learning things is rarely so exciting – history, the hula, volcanism, gourmet food, organic farming, native culture, astronomy, world-class art, world-class massage.

Comprehensive information on a variety of Big Island learning adventures

You don’t have to go to 5-star restaurants to eat wonderful food on Hawaii Island. Thanks to our population’s rich cultural mix, you can find cafés and lunch wagons offering up delicious local delicacies like chicken longrice, lomilomi salmon, malasadas and pork adobo – all of them influenced by Asian, Polynesian and Western cooking. And it all comes together in that most local of meals, the “plate lunch.”

Plate Lunch Cuisine

The name means “white mountain,” and “mountain of Wakea.” Wakea is the creator god, the ancestor of all people. It is the realm of snow goddess Poliahu, who to this day does battle with volcano goddess Pele. The mountain summit is also home to some of the world’s most advanced astronomical observatories. It is a sacred place to Hawaiians and another key to the universe for scientists.

Maunakea tours and astronomy information

Hawaii’s Big Island is home to a number of intriguing museums. Whether it’s art, astronomy, railroad history, tsunamis, Hawaiian culture, cowboys or coffee, there’s a place to learn about it.

Hawaii Museums and the Arts Information

The Big Island has four national parks, each with its own natural beauty and cultural significance. Of course we have famous Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home of the world’s most active volcano, but also historic “place of refuge” Puuhonua o Honaunau, the imposing temple Puukohola, where family blood was spilled to unite the island, and Kaloko-Honokohau, where aquaculture was practiced in ancient times.

Hawaiian artists and artisans use the elements of the natural world to create a wide variety of works. These include carved bowls from native woods, woven lauhala mats and bowls, shell, flower, feather and seed lei, kapa cloth and exquisite modern re-creations of traditional weapons. Their work is on display around the island at galleries, boutiques and resort shops.

More information:

Great Gift Ideas
Hawaii Art Galleries

Hawaii Island is a mecca for ocean lovers. With winter whale-watching, dozens of world class scuba and snorkeling spots, the most marine life conservation districts in the state, excellent surf breaks, a famous sport-fishing industry, outrigger canoe paddling and sailing charters, it can be hard to find time to step on dry land. Here’s how to get wet.

Ocean Sports and Activity Information

One of the largest (about 150,000 acres) and oldest (founded 1847) ranches in the U.S., this is home to Hawaii’s famous cowboys known as “paniolo.”

Activities for visitors include horseback and ATV rides, hunting, visits to historic homes and an art gallery, and ranch tours.

Hawaii Ranching Information

The Hawaiian volcano goddess is one of the most intriguing and complicated deities in all of world mythology. Both creator and destroyer, known for her fiery passion and generosity, Pele’s story is endlessly fascinating. And these days, the plume of steam rising from Halemaumau Crater on the summit of Kilauea, shows that she is very much in residence at her traditional home.

Information on Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Because Hawaii is the most isolated land mass anywhere on Earth, we have an estimated 10,000 species of flora and fauna found nowhere else. But at least 270 species have gone extinct here just in the last 200 years, and hundreds of species are endangered or threatened. There are many stories to be told about these precious species.

Sustainable Travel and Eco-tourism in Hawaii

There’s always something going on here on the Big Island – Hawaiian cultural events, dance concerts, theater, food festivals, Hawaiian music, astronomy shows, art openings and on and on. It’s easy to keep in touch with what’s coming up.

Hawaii’s Big Island Calendar of Events

When it comes to world-class spas, yoga classes, workout facilities, spiritual retreats and other wellness activities, Hawaii Island has a wealth of choices.

Spa & Wellness Information & Venues

The world-famous Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament takes place each August, and always reels in humongous marlin. But there’s excellent deep-sea fishing off the Kona Coast all year long.

Sport Fishing Information

Nothing matches the 360-degree view afforded by Maunakea. Measured from its base at the ocean floor, Maunakea is the tallest mountain in the world, and sunset at the summit of this majestic peak is something few people experience and no one could forget. As night falls, yet another show begins. Home to 13 of the world’s most powerful telescopes, Maunakea is about as close as a traveler can get to the stars without leaving earth.

Additional Stargazing information may be found on our Leisure website.

Countless weddings have been celebrated beneath the legendary sunsets and hula moons on Hawaii’s Big Island. There are many stories lovers are waiting to hear of romantic secluded beaches, lush forest trails, remote volcano summits, and 5-star resort getaways. They all beckon to lovers on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Brides-to-be planning a destination wedding and honeymoon will find it easier with the Big Island Visitors Bureau’s Happily Ever After romance guide. This planner is filled with information on wedding venues, florists, wedding service planners and the romantic resorts that dot the island.

Additional Hawaii Wedding & Romance information may be found on our Leisure website.

• The Romance of the Lei
• Resort Weddings
• Marriage License Information
• Let Us Count the Ways
• Professional Wedding Planners
• Other Expert Assistance

Learn more by viewing the Big Island Visitors Bureau’s e-brochure, Kiss on Hawaii’s Island of Adventure: An island made for two

Each year from about November to April, humpback whales come to the waters around Hawaii Island to court and give birth. The sight of these leviathans breaching, slapping their huge tails or pectoral fins on the water, or gliding gracefully just beneath the surface is something you will never forget. And there are other cetaceans – pilots, pygmies, sperm, false killer whales, and several dolphin species – in our waters the rest of the year too. The humpbacks can often be seen from shore, but most thrilling is to take one of the boat tours for a close look.

Whale Watching Tours & Information