| About 1,200 years ago, Polynesian voyagers | | | | Air tours abound on the island, offering a bird's |
| navigated the Pacific Ocean paddling canoes, using | | | | eye view of the awesome power of an erupting |
| the stars as their guide, and arrived on these | | | | volcano. Small planes offer a quieter view from |
| rocky shores. Bringing with them foods like taro, | | | | above while helicopter flights for most visitors are |
| chickens, pigs, bananas and coconut, fishing skills | | | | considered a must. Departures from Hilo, Waikoloa |
| and knowledge of canoe building, these new | | | | and Kona allow a variety of options and assure |
| settlers thrived. By 1779, when legendary explorer | | | | something for every activity level, age and |
| Captain James Cook arrived in the waters of | | | | budget. For the photographer, there are doors-off |
| Kealakekua Bay, the population of the island was | | | | flights and tours including a landing within the park. |
| about 80,000 strong! | | | | Have a picnic lunch before exploring this remote |
| Hawaii Island was the home of one of the most | | | | area and getting safely close to the lava. |
| prominent figures in the history of the state, King | | | | Not to be forgotten, Mauna Kea plays host to |
| Kamehameha the Great. Born around 1753, | | | | snowboarders, skiers and nightly stargazing tours. |
| Kamehameha is considered one of Hawaii's | | | | Most car rental companies prohibit driving on the |
| greatest leaders. By conquering all the islands and | | | | road to the summit and it can be a bit scary for |
| bringing them under one rule, it is believed that | | | | the novice; luckily, it's not difficult to join a guided |
| this great warrior was actually able to end the | | | | group outing. |
| warring between the islands by uniting them under | | | | Big Island Tourism & Leisure |
| one rule with laws created to preserve peace. | | | | While Kilauea may be the most well known |
| King Kamehameha Day is an annual celebration | | | | attraction, there is certainly no shortage of things |
| dedicated to this beloved leader. While celebrated | | | | to do. With geographical diversity including vast, |
| state wide, the Big Island plays is considered the | | | | arid desert, lush, tropical rainforests, sandy |
| "most special place to pay tribute" to the great | | | | beaches, and even snow-capped mountains, |
| King. | | | | Hawaii Island is an adventure lover's paradise! ATV |
| The youngest of the Hawaiian island chains, the | | | | and horseback tours offer panoramic views, |
| Big Island is also the largest. Already covering | | | | waterfalls and historic trails while leisurely |
| about 4038 square miles, about 2/3 of the land | | | | sightseeing tours explore the Hamakua Coast, |
| mass of the entire state of Hawaii, the island is | | | | Paniolo Country, and Waimea. |
| growing daily, thanks to the eruptions Hawaii's two | | | | The island is still relatively young and does not |
| active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. The | | | | offer a great many sandy beaches but the ones |
| summit at another of the Big Island's volcanoes, | | | | you'll find are stunning. As in most of the state, |
| Mauna Kea, reaches a staggering 13,796 feet, and | | | | the best beaches are usually found near resorts |
| is the tallest mountain in the world. | | | | and are fairly easy to find; however, if you |
| Hawaii Volcano Tours | | | | venture off the beaten path, a little leg work will |
| Kilauea volcano draws thousands of visitors from | | | | reveal striking stretches of black sand at Punalu'u |
| around the globe and is probably the biggest | | | | Beach and even green sands at Papakolea. |
| attraction on the island. A number of eco-tour and | | | | Snorkeling from shore is not the greatest, so |
| hiking companies offer daily treks into Volcanoes | | | | visitors would do well to consider a guided snorkel |
| National Park, as Naturalists and Hawaii Certified | | | | tour. There are a number of boat and kayak |
| Guides lead the way on foot and on guided driving | | | | tours heading out daily to places like Kealakekua |
| tours, allowing visitors to discover extinct craters, | | | | Bay and Pawai Bay Marine Preserve, allowing |
| ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs, lava tubes, steam | | | | visitors to experience gorgeous reef areas |
| vents, and the arid desert landscape of Kilauea in | | | | teeming with tropical fish and Hawaiian sea turtles. |
| relative safety. While not always a guarantee (for | | | | There are even a good number of family-owned |
| safety reasons), this is one of the few places in | | | | companies that take small groups out to look for, |
| the world that allows you to walk right up to a | | | | and swim with Wild Dolphins; talk about connecting |
| flow of molten lava! | | | | with nature! |