Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins are the smallest dolphin species in the world and are about as close to the human scale as dolphins get. Adults max out at around 200lbs and don’t grow longer than 6 feet. These playful and inquisitive cetaceans can be found in all Hawaiian waters, but are extremely common along big island’s […]
Tidepools are a common sight around Hawaii, especially on Big Island which has more rocky coastline and fewer sandy beaches. An astonishing variety of life can be found in these small pools that sit in the grey area between the land and the sea. A lava shoreline is porous and in many places pockets of […]
Located 1 mile up the road from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the quiet village of Volcano, Hawaii. As small Hawaiian towns go, Volcano is fairly large, but that’s not really saying much. Volcano is more a place of residence than anything else. There’s not much here, but one thing that is plentiful are Bed […]
Located along the road to Akaka Falls, this charming roadside stand is colorful and inviting. Try a slice of sugar cane, or a taste of fresh coconut for a mere pittance. The stand also offers a grand selection of papayas or bananas for the condo kitchen and even a few exotic tropical fruits for the […]
Standing at 13,796 feet, the summit of Big Island’s Mauna Kea is the highest point in the state of Hawaii as well as the central pacific. With its last eruption more than 4,600 years ago, Hawaii’s most recoginized mountain is now home to some of the most technologically advanced astronomy equipment on the planet. Until […]
The Puna coastline is vast and rugged. With rocky cliffs and crashing waves, there aren’t many places to access the ocean in Puna, but Pohoiki makes up for that by having just about everything right in one place. Pohoiki, also known as Isaac Hale Beach Park, is the only surf spot in Puna and the […]
“Kipuka” is a Hawaiian word that has become a commonly used volcanic term. It refers to an area of vegetation surrounded but spared by lava. An island of forest in a sea of lifeless rock. Often these areas contain life not found in the surrounding area, and trees found here may be hundreds of years […]
Far away from everything except Ocean View, Manuka State Wayside is an area that’s rather secluded. It offers a nice hike through lava forest and a great view of a large forest pit crater. Manuka (pronounced “manu-KAH”) is located just west of mile 81 on highway 11. There is no advance signage so keep an […]
The southernmost point of the United States of America is Big Island’s South Point. It’s believed that it was here approximately 1200 years ago that Polynesian voyagers first landed in Hawaii upon discovering the untouched islands. You may be surprised at how many guidebooks skip over this place, but south point has a lot to […]
The Big Island is the youngest of all the Hawaiian islands. Older islands like Oahu and Maui have had time to erode, filling their surrounding waters with sand and silt which can limit visibility. Big Island’s Kona coastline is mostly rocky shore, and desert land conditions produce very little runoff. This make’s Kona’s waters some […]
