DESCRIPTION:
Hawaii, the Big Island, is not only big in size, it’s big in fun, too. Hawaii is a tropical adventure, retreat and paradise all rolled up into one great place to visit!
With an active volcano and mountains that reach nearly 14,000 feet above sea level, you’ll find an incredible array of sights and activities to suit anyone’s vacation tastes. Whether you are looking for a romantic honeymoon destination or a memorable family vacation, the Big Island of Hawaii is an excellent choice.
Best Times to Visit:
here’s really not a bad time to visit the Big Island of Hawaii. We wouldn’t hesitate visiting Hawaii, the Big Island any day of the year. One of our favorite times to visit Hawaii is during humpback whale season that generally runs from January through March, plus or minus a couple of weeks. The peak month is February.
For low crowds and usually good deals, we like traveling to Hawaii in mid/late April, May, early June and then in the autumn months of September, October, and even into November.
The busiest time to visit the Big Island is around any holiday, especially Christmas, New Years Eve, Valentines Day, Easter and Independence Day (July 4th). Summer months (from mid-June through August) are also popular as families come to the island for summer vacations. These busy times are also some of the more expensive times to visit Hawaii. So, it’s not terrible, but try to schedule around them if you can.
We Do it Island style, Hawaii!
The Big Island, Hawaii
Places to visit:
Explore Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii Island -
From desolate swaths of black lava to dazzling, cloud-kissed rain forests, the glory of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park lies in its impossibly diverse landscapes. With 333,086 acres and seven ecosystems to cover, the challenge is in the planning—but two roads can steer you to the most essential sights. The 11-mile Crater Rim Drive circles the summit caldera of Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Worthwhile stops include Steam Vents, where you can watch steam rise from the Earth’s interior, and 500-year-old Thurston Lava Tube, a natural—and walkable—tunnel that once housed a violent river of molten lava. (To hear songs of native apapane, a crimson Hawaiian honeycreeper, keep quiet on your walk to the tube.) For those with four to five hours to spare, explore the East Rift Zone by traveling Chain of Craters Road, a 20-mile drive that descends 3,700 feet to the pounding coast. Along the way, pull over for a two-mile round-trip hike to Puu Loa Petroglyphs—an unforgettable site where ancient Hawaiians carved some 23,000 images into stone.
Travel Tip: Depending on conditions, the end of the road may offer a chance to see active lava flows.
Go Face-to-Face With Manta Rays, Hawaii Island - Manta rays lack stingers—a fact that’s worth remembering if you encounter them off the Big Island's Kona Coast. At night, they gulp down plankton by executing multiple backflips using their broad 6- to 12-foot wingspans. For a front-row seat, strap on a tank with Jack’s Diving Locker. When the sun drops into the sea, divers follow, kneeling on the ocean floor—on sand and rubble, away from coral—and pointing lights toward the surface, which attract the manta’s dinner. Though they get close enough to touch, don’t forget what you learned in preschool: Keep your hands to yourself. So how many will stop by? “All it takes is one for a good show, but four to eight is typical,” says Keller Laros, a scuba instructor and dive guide with Jack’s and co-founder of the nonprofit Manta Pacific Research Foundation. “The most ever identified in one night is 42.” Over 200 of the local creatures have been named, including Big Bertha, Stephen Colbert, and Lefty, a female who’s been coming around since the late 1970s.
Akaka Falls State Park - Hilo's Akaka Falls State Park is a short, low-intensity hike in northeastern Hawai'i. Its payoff comes in the form of two consecutive waterfalls — cascading Kahuna Falls and the spectacular free-falling Akaka Falls, which earned the park its name. Those who've hiked the flat, paved trail say it's more of a "walk" that's easy enough for just about anyone — even young children. You'll most likely be able to make the loop through the park in less than 30 minutes, and considering Akaka is a free, short-on-time experience, travelers suggest it's one you can't miss.