Hawaii’s Big Island is a landscape of polar opposites. The youngest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, it is not the most populous, but has the most diverse geography, according to Let’s Go Hawaii. Despite its earthy uniqueness and lush ecosystems, Hawaii’s Big Island hasn’t been congested with the tourist traffic that has suffocated other Hawaiian isles. Roughly the size of Connecticut, the island is a diverse, tropical playground.
Cultural
After arriving in 1820, Christian missionaries successfully urged native leaders to ban the ‘heathen’ hula dance. It was practiced in secret until 1874, when King David Kalakaua took the throne and used his title to patron indigenous arts. Every year during the month of April, Hilo, Hawaii, hosts the Merrie Monarch Festival that spotlights local arts and crafts as well as hula performances.
Sky
Professional and novice astronomers alike can revel in the vast view of the sky atop Mauna Kea, a volcanic summit that rises 13,796 feet above sea level. Home to the largest observatory, the area is equipped with 13 telescopes from 11 nations that include France, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. Thanks to clear weather conditions and height, the dormant volcano lets stargazers roughly see 90 percent of the sky. Another celestial phenomenon is the green flash, especially visible off the Kona Coast on the island’s western side. When the sun sets on clear evenings, the melting light hits the ocean in such a way that observers can spy the flash of green across the horizon.
Volcanos
The Hawaiian Volcano National Park is composed of solidified volcanic rock and tectonic debris as old as 70 million years. Recognized as a national park in 1916, the area treats tourists to a variegated landscape of dry wooded areas, rainforests, lava formations and steam rising from fissures in the earth. Other sites include the Crater Rim Drive, an 11-mile asphalt stretch that bracelets volcano Kilauea’s crater, and the Volcano House Hotel and Restaurant. The oldest continually operated hotel in Hawaii, it is famous for its fireplace that is made out of lava.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
POB 52
Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
808-985-6000
nps.gov/havo
Whale Watching
Whale watching is major Big Island draw. In addition to sperm whales, other species that can be spotted are melon-headed whales, pilot whales and the elusive beaked whale. Because Beaked whales dive for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, they are rarely spotted above the water. The Humpbacked whale is the most commonly spotted, typically between December and April. Morning is always the best time of day to catch glimpses of whales.
Coffee Tours
Java Junkies can tour Kona coffee plantations that cover 1,200 island acres. Since the first bean was planted in 1828 or 1829 by missionary Samuel Ruggles, coffee has thrived thanks to the area’s high elevation and rich, volcanic soil. There are hundreds of coffee orchards, and tourists can choose between small, boutique farms to large, world-renowned production sites. The coffee bean’s importance is recognized at the annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, the only coffee festival in America. The annual festival kicks off every year in November.
Asides from individual farms, tourists can visit the Kona Coffee Living History Farm. Originally built in 1900 by Japanese immigrants, the establishment traces the history of coffee cultivation and shows how coffee was originally processed and dried.
Kona Historical Society
P.O. Box 398
Captain Cook, HI 96704
808-323-3222
konahistorical.org
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