All over the A shopper’s paradise can be found here from picturesque shops, artist’s studios to stylish art galleries, and large shopping centres, You'll find many exclusive items, from T-shirts dyed with Hawaiian red dirt, to macadamia nut cookies, music CDs by local musicians, coffee, books, designer clothing, traditional jewellery, and fine handmade gifts. The If you want to view the underwater Marine life without getting wet, why not take a submarine trip in a 65’ vessel. There are plenty of large viewing windows and a narrator to talk you through information about the Island and Marine life. Glass bottomed boats explore the reefs and sea life in the beautiful clear waters of Kailua Bay or the coral gardens in Anaeho’omalu Bay.
The Big Island offers a tempting range of kayaking opportunities, from easy-going to the daring. Guided tours are available; they range from a drift down the Kohala Sugar Plantation Irrigation Ditch, to relaxing tours of the peaceful North Kohala Coast and more audacious tours along the South Kona coast, where sea caves and secluded beaches can be found. A number of companies offer overnight camping trips from two to five days.
Whale watching tours can be taken in a variety of different vessels, for an awe inspiring trip to see these amazing creatures in action. Waikoloa is one of the most perfect whale watching locations on the Big Island. Biking is popular on the Big Island, as there are ample sights to see and the roads are fairly good. You can cycle the Island on your own, or join a bike tour available with numerous tour operators and bike shops. There are a variety of tours, including effortless half day downhill trips, picturesque all day tours that travel through rain forests, along beaches, and through undulating ranch country. Guided Horseback riding tours are available on the Kahua Ranch which is a 12,000 acre working ranch, or enjoy a trip into the depths of the beautiful Waipio Valley, with jungle trails, waterfalls, and historical sites. Hiking on Big Island have some very different trails, with some of them quite a challenge. The Island has many trails from the beaches to the mountaintops, and lots of places besides. There are many guided hikes to different locations available including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, for half or full day tours. On occasions, when it has a blanket of snow, it is possible to go skiing and snowboarding on the summit of Mauna Kea which is 13,796’ above sea level. There aren’t any chair lifts or other facilities usually associated with skiing, but there is a road that leads to the summit – due to the observatories up there.
To get to the top of Mauna Kea will require a four wheel drive vehicle. Weather Conditions at the summit can vary considerably, with winter temperatures ranging from -4˚ to 4˚ C, although wind chill factors and high altitude can make it feel a good deal colder. The weather is milder between April and November with daytime temperatures that vary from 0˚ to 15˚ C.
To explore the Island from the air, airplane tours are available, ranging from one hour for Kilauea volcano area, two hours cover the complete Island and four hour flights which take in Neighbouring Islands too. Airplane tours depart from Hilo and Kona airports. Helicopter tours leave from the Kona area and from Volcano and Hilo, and offer an incredible way to see the Island panorama more directly than from a plane. Hilo is the Capital of the Big Island and serves as the gateway to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Known as the wettest City in the United States, Hilo receives an average of 130 inches of rainfall yearly; it usually rains in the afternoon or at night. The upside of this rain is the wild orchids and many types of tropical plants whose scent permeates the air. The 1960 Chilean tsunami in Hilo caused the loss of 61 lives and over 250 badly injured. The City of Hilo has in the past been most affected by tsunamis and is reflected by the shape of the Bay from the influx of the rushing water. The Pacific Tsunami Museum is located at 130 Kamehameha Avenue in Downtown Hilo. This museum is a living testament to those who lost their lives in past tsunamis, and has many exhibits and public programs that explain the tsunami phenomenon, with verbal testimonies of tsunami survivors and provide some history of tsunamis in the Pacific Basin. The Panaewa Zoo is located on Mamaki Street in Hilo and is the only natural tropical rainforest in the United States. There are over eighty different species of animals and birds. Take a walk in the zoo grounds which are considered a botanical garden and the where the peacocks roam. With over a hundred varieties of palm trees, finding a shaded picnic area is easy.
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