Hawaii, The Big Island 

Twice the size of all the other Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii (The Big Island) is twice the size of all the other Hawaiian Islands put together. It covers an area of over 4,000 sqm and is the youngest Island in the Hawaiian chain. The Big Island was created from five volcanoes, two of these - Mauna Loa and Kilauea are frequently active. The Island is still increasing in size, due to the Kilauea volcano which has been ejecting molten lava since January 1983, constantly adding land to the Island.

The other active volcano, Mauna Loa, last erupted in March 1984; it is the World’s largest volcano and covers around half of the Island. The three other volcanoes on the Island, Mauna Kea and Kohala are extinct, and Hualalai is believed to be dormant, the last eruption was recorded in 1801.

The Island’s topography varies from towering mountains to sandy beaches and thick tropical rainforests to dry pasturelands. In addition to the volcanoes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Big Island is renowned for its orchids, macadamia nuts and Kona coffee.

The beaches average daytime high in summer is around 85˚, while in winter it is around 78˚ with temperatures dropping by around ten degrees at night. With cooler, wetter weather prevailing in the higher elevations such as the Volcano National Park, you should take a light jacket or sweater. During the winter months, Hilo, Volcano, and Waimea can drop to the 50s - 60s with profound snow falls on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

West Hawaii covers an area of around one hundred miles down the western side of the Island, from the northern fringe at Pololu in North Kohala to Ocean View Estates in South Kona. The landscape is normally level or softly inclined along the coast, but once inland, it starts sloping steeply upwards. This coastal region, from sea level to around 2,700 feet houses virtually all of West Hawaii's residents.

The highland landscape which includes the Kohala Mountains, the flanks of Mauna Kea, Mount Hualalai in Kona and further south Mauna Loa - blocks most of the strong North-easterly trade winds and creates several ‘microclimates’ in West Hawaii. Inland higher elevations are generally visibly cooler than the coast, so wind, rain and sunshine can differ significantly according to the particular landscape.

The two International airports on Big Island are: Hilo International Airport is located around two miles east of Hilo, on the eastern shore of the Island. Kona International Airport at Keahole is around seven miles northwest of Kailua-Kona.

Accommodation on Big Island is available to suit all budgets from Bed & Breakfasts, Hostels, holiday home rentals and luxury Resorts. Nightlife on the Big Island is rather sedate, there are a few discos offering dancing in Hilo and some enjoyable clubs on the Kona/Kohala coast. Seek out a sunset dinner cruise along the coast or a luau at one of the Kona/Kohala resorts.

 
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