Aloha! This post about Hawaii, one of my favorite tropical paradises, comes to you at the request of a good friend. Though Hawaii is one of the 50 United States, it feels like another world, far from home. That's because, in many ways, it is.
Hawaii is located about 2,000 miles southwest of the U.S. mainland and is the country's southernmost state. (Sorry, Florida. You only win if we limit the contest to the 48 contiguous states.) Flying to Hawaii from the closest, U.S. mainland state of California, constitutes the longest over water flight you can take, as there are no airports along the route.
Hawaii is also unique in that it is the only U.S. state completely made up of islands. There are 137 islands in total, but of those, only seven are inhabited. They include: Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and the largest island, known both as Hawai'i and the Big Island.
Incidentally, the state of Hawaii is supposed to be spelled "Hawai'i," however in the 1959 Statehood Act the anglicized spelling "Hawaii" was used, omitting the 'okina between the two "i"s. To correct the spelling would require an Act of Congress which isn't likely to occur. Therefore, our 50th state's name is Hawaii and the largest of the Hawaiian Islands is named Hawai'i.
Old Kona State Beach
That brings us to the specific subject of this post, which is The Big Island, or Hawai'i, my favorite of the six Hawaiian islands that I have visited. The Big Island is so incredibly unique and there is so much to see, that this first post will merely be an introduction to some of its distinctive features. Let's begin.
Hawai'i is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, thus the nickname, "The Big Island." It is so large that it comprises 63% of the Hawaiian archipelago's landmass. Put another way, all the other Hawaiian Islands combined could easily fit within its periphery. That said, you don't have to worry about crowds when you visit Hawai'i because it has a mere 13% of the archipelago's population.
Hawai'i is also the youngest of the Hawaiian Islands and the only one with two airports; one is located in Kona and the other in the capital city of Hilo. Choose either airport and then explore the rest of the island by car to experience what makes Hawai'i so special.
Lava Fields in Pu'u Wa'awa'a
First, you'll notice that Hawai'i has extremely diverse terrains. That is because this one island has all five of the world's climate zones: humid/tropical, arid/semi-arid, temperate, cold and ice/alpine. The landscape is simply wild and breathtaking and never ceases to astound me no matter how many visits I make. Driving around the Big Island, you pass seemingly endless miles of lava fields, as you can see in the video above.
This video was taken at Pu'u Wa'awa'a which means "many furrowed hill." This area of the Big Island provides a commanding view of the Kona Coast, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualālai. If you enjoy hiking, the Cinder Cone Trail in this region, is a great option. The trail takes you through old growth forest and provides beautiful views as well.
Puako
Lava fields on the Big Island will be followed or preceded by green hills. This video was taken in Puako, located on the northwest side of the Big Island. Just off the main road, you will find white sand beaches where many locals go to snorkel and scuba dive.
Pāhoa
In some areas like Pāhoa, located in the Puna district, you will get a mix of both a fertile landscape and lava fields.
Waikoloa
If that isn't spectacular enough for you, you'll usually encounter all of these landscapes up against a backdrop of the sparkling, Pacific Ocean.
Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park
The waves of the Pacific can be quite formidable as they fiercely crash against the rocks on the shore. (Watch until the end of this video to see what I mean.) One place where this is especially true is Laupahoehoe Point where the waters are so rough that swimming is not advised during most of the year, especially during winter months when swells can reach epic proportions.
Pāhoa
Similar to the beach at Laupahoehoe Point, the cliffs of Pāhoa near the Hōlei Sea Arch evidence the terrifying power of the Pacific. Watching the waves crash against the cliffs is mesmerizing. I just suggest keeping a safer distance from the edge than I did.
Ka Lae
In other areas on the island, such as Ka Le or The Point, approaching the edge is perfectly permissible and even encouraged since the waters are a bit more calm, but still deep, making this a popular cliff jumping spot.
Hilo Bay
Elsewhere on the island, like Hilo Bay, you will find shallow, placid waters.
ʻĀpua
There are also places where the ocean feels unreachable and the land resembles a moonscape. One example is ʻĀpua, an ancient village located in the Puna region.
Kīlauea
Another is the area near Kīlauea, the youngest and most active volcano on the island of Hawai'i. Kīlauea is also one of the most active volcanoes in the world. In fact, between 1983 and 2018, Kīlauea's eruptive activity was nearly continuous.
Kilauea Cavern of Fire
As the volcano erupts, the lava flow cools and hardens on the outside, but the molten lava inside remains hot and can continue flowing for miles. When it stops, the space it once occupied stays empty, forming what are called lava tubes. These tubes can be so large that they qualify more as caves than tubes. The Big Island has one so large that you can walk through it.
Akaka Falls
A combination of the volcanic soil, the heavy rainfalls, the warm weather and the island's location near the equator, create areas that are incredibly lush with waterfalls that flow year round.
Farm in Nāʻālehu
The fertile soil is also perfect for vegetation, so don't be surprised when you come across miles of farmland in Hawai'i. The Big Island has ample spaces suitable for grazing and pasture and it boasts the largest agricultural footprint in the state.
Tillandsia
In addition, because The Big Island, and all of the Hawaiian Islands, are some of the most isolated land masses on Earth, you'll find unique plants that have adapted to the environment.
Hibiscus
One example is hibiscus which is native to Hawai'i, as well as other subtropic, coastal regions. This particular species of yellow hibiscus called ma`ohauhele, can be seen all over the Big Island, and is the official flower of the state of Hawaii.
Plumeria
Though plumeria is not native to the Big Island or any of the Hawaiian Islands, it is ubiquitous, because it has been heavily cultivated here. The flower is said to embody the "Spirit of Aloha" or Hawaii's core values of love, kindness, and respect. The flower also has an intoxicating smell that wafts through the island and imprints on one's memory.
Gold Dusted Day Gecko
The vibrant colors seen in Hawai'i's flora and fauna are also seen in some of the native wildlife, like this gecko.
Monkeypod Tree
In addition to the gorgeous plant life, I find the native trees of Hawai'i fascinating.
Banyan Tree
My favorite trees on the islands are the banyan trees. Not only are they majestic and iconic, I find their aerial root system fascinating. In Hawaii the banyan tree is a seen as a symbol of strength and of unity because its intertwining roots and branches symbolize the interconnectedness of all people. It's hard to convey the scale of these trees but hopefully, this video will help.
Ka‘ūpūlehu Beach Sunset
That concludes this first post which has hopefully highlighted some of the features that make the Big Island my favorite. As the sun sets on this post, know that there is so much more to come, including my roadtrip from Kona to Hilo, my time in both cities including suggestions on hotels and restaurants, my visit to an active volcano and to beaches with various colors of sand.
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