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Big Island
Introduction
Give into the rhythm of the magical! Island Hawaii Island is popularly known as the ‘Big Island’ to avoid confusion with the name of the state. It is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, in fact – it is bigger than all the other islands combined. There is plenty of room to explore, relax and take in the breathtaking scenery. This is an island blessed with natural beauty; cascading waterfalls, wide open spaces, plush rainforests and glorious volcanic mountains. In an effort to conserve and protect the natural heritage: the Big Island promotes ecotourism. This is an outstanding island paradise; it is so unique that it even has black sand beaches!
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Gallery
Attractions
The island is proclaimed as Hawaii’s Island of adventure! So if you like to get your heart racing, this is the place for you! There is every type of activity on offer, particularly nature related activities. There are also ample opportunities for blissful relaxation!
Hilo is the main town on the island; the historic downtown area is packed with historic buildings. Other attractions in Hilo include; East Hawaii Cultural Center, Lyman House Memorial Museum, Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo and Nani Mau Gardens. Kona (Kailua-Kona) is another popular town on the island renowned for its fantastic coffee.
The Big Island has an extensive coastline and is packed with unique beaches; big on personality and color! The beaches don’t just have white sand; there are beaches with black, grey, yellow and even green sand. Panaluu Black Sand Beach is located on the southeastern Kau coast. Apart from the impressive black sand, the beach is also popular for its Hawaiian Green Sea turtles. It is a popular lunch spot with a picnic area and toilet facilities. Hilo Beaches are ideal for swimming and family snorkeling.
There are plenty of ocean adventures to be had. The island offers an abundance of opportunities for whale watching, snorkeling, diving and dolphin spotting. Hawaii’s crystal clear blue waters have a variety of colorful reef fish and sea turtles, making this an ideal location for snorkeling or diving. Other water related activities include; deep-sea fishing, sailing, kayaking and canoeing. The Big Island is also a surfers paradise; kite-surfing, wind-surfing and board surfing are all popular in the island.
For awe-inspiring views of the Big Island – a helicopter tour is a must. It can be an introduction of a sort to the island’s natural wonderland. Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park is the location of Kilauea Volcano – one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The park encompasses 150 miles of hiking trails, a walk-in lava tube and rainforests.
Exhilarating adventures can be great but for some it’s all about unwinding while on a vacation. The Big Island offers plenty of room to relax and rejuvenate – mind, body and spirit. The sheer serenity makes this island one of the most romantic places in the world, attracting a lot of honeymooners. The Island of Hawaii has a number of luxury spas offering couples massages in harmonious settings.
Check some amazing videos of Big Island:
Snorkeling on the Big Island of Hawaii
Restaurants
The culinary scene on the island has everything from the understated to the ultra plush. The dining options are plenty, with a focus on sea food and Asian fusion cuisine. The restaurants on the island tend to use the freshest ingredients that are locally sourced, from delectable fish to luscious vegetables.
Most of the eateries on the island are fuss-free providing a relaxed atmosphere. Downtown Hilo has budding restaurant scene offering everything from Italian to Japanese cuisine. Kailua Village is a charming sea side town with a good selection of restaurants and bars. Most hotels on the island offer dinner and a show. The Luau is traditional Hawaiian feast; with food and traditional Hawaiian entertainment such as the Hula dance.
Kona Beach Restaurant (75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740) provides casual dining with fantastic bay views. Coast Grille (62-100 Kaunaoa Dr., Kamuela, HI 96743) is an American Bistro that uses the freshest organic ingredients. The restaurant is in a great setting with fabulous views of the Pacific Ocean. Donatoni’s (Hilton Waikoloa Village, 425 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa, HI 96738-5710) is marvelous Italian restaurant with celebrity clientele.
Shopping
Shopping In Big Island
The Big Island is a great place to shop for crafts and art related items. Kailua Village has selection of shops and markets. There is even more shopping to be done in Downtown Hilo, with a good mix of boutiques and art galleries. Kamehameha Avenue is one of the main shopping streets in the town.
The shopping malls on the Big Island are more intimate compared to the ones in Oahu and Maui. The King’s Shops at Waikoloa Beach Resort (250 Waikoloa Beach Dr # B10, Waikoloa, HI 96738) is an open air shopping center with a number of mainstream stores and independent boutiques. Macy’s, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co and L’Occitane are among the shops in the mall. Prince Kuhio Plaza (111 East Puainako Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720) has over 80 shops and restaurants including; American Eagle Outfitters, Sears, Sunglass Hut and Claire’s Accessories.
Weather
Big Island Weather
Big Island has a tropical climate, typically having two seasons. Summer is between May and October, while winter is from November to March. There is very little temperature variations between seasons. Even during winter the temperatures are generally warm with a few exceptions. Temperatures are usually in the 22 to 27 oC range throughout the year. Making the Big Island a hot destination year round!
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22° | 22° | 22° | 23° | 23° | 24° | 27° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 23° | 22° |
Average Monthly Temperatures
