Perhaps the most visited place on Big Island, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is unlike any other place found on the planet. With more than 30 destinations and over 100 miles of trails one could easily spend weeks inside the park and not see everything. Because of the sheer volume of things to do in Hawaii […]
The city of Kona sits on the side of the third largest mountain on the island: Hualalai. Its massive face rises high above sea level and hosts many unique environments. One such environment is the cloud forest above Kona which is accessed by one of the most scenic mountain drives in the area. Kaloko drive […]
Every year more than 2000 humpback whales travel to Hawaiian waters in winter to mate and give birth to offspring and about 800 of these animals spend their time in Hawaii around the shores of Big Island. Many people take whale watching charters or paddle kayaks offshore to view these massive underwater beasts, but if […]
Located in the north on the border between Hamakua and Kohala is a valley that many will recognize from posters and magazines – the picturesque Waipio Valley. Waipio is arguably Big Island’s grandest valley, with a black sand beach at the front and two large waterfalls at the back. Waipio is extremely lush and famed […]
Just offshore from Hilo’s famed Lili’uokalani Gardens sits Mokuola, known popularly today as Coconut Island. This is Hilo’s most popular and convenient beach. It offers swimming, a tower to jump from into the ocean, picnic tables, a grassy area, and good sea turtle watching. The island is connected via a wide footbridge. The bridge is […]
Mountain View is a small town south of Hilo on the east side, and most people’s only encounter with it is driving through on the way to the volcano. One wouldn’t expect one of the best bakeries on the island to be hidden here, but Pearl’s Bakery is head and shoulders above anything you’ll find […]
Four miles from downtown Hilo sits the only rainforest zoo in the United States: The Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens. With over 80 animal species and beautifully landscaped park grounds tended by various plant clubs from around east Hawaii, the zoo is a great place to spend an hour or two in a lush rainforest setting. The Pana’ewa […]
By far the most impressive and accessible waterfall in the immediate Hilo area is Rainbow falls. Just a short drive up Waianuenue avenue, this spot is a favorite among both locals and tourists. The 80-foot waterfall sits on Wailuku stream, which forms the northern boundary of Hilo, and is entirely fed by runoff from the […]
East Hawaii isn’t really known for its snorkeling. Strong currents and heavy rainfall tend to make most areas murky and unsuitable for underwater viewing, but there are still a few jewels along the coastline and the Waiopae tidepools, sometimes also referred to as Kapoho tidepools is one of them. These pools are large depressions in the lava that […]
