Stefan Verbano

LavaTreeStatePark BurntTrees Culture

Lava Tree State Park – Black Rock Monuments Formed Around Ancient Tree Trunks

Culture, Picnic / By

Big Island’s habitual volcanic activity has created some truly unique geological formations, from Papakolea Green Sand Beach in South Point to Halemaumau Crater at the summit of Kilauea Volcano to the newest addition to the list: “Ahuaila’au”, also known as Fissure 8, which cropped up during the 2018 Lower Puna Eruption and has towered over …

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ShipmanBeach2 Culture

Shipman Beach Hike: Deep Jungle and White Sand, Ancient Ruins and Endangered Species 

Hiking / By

Some Hawaii guidebooks rank the 5-mile-roundtrip trek to Shipman Beach, otherwise known as Haena Beach, outside the town of Keaau to be the most underrated hike on all of Big Island. This might be because its often a muddy tromp through jungles as dense as they get in Puna District, rewarded at the end with …

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Punalu’u Bake Shop: A Classic Hawaiian Bakery With A Claim To Fame

Food, Shopping, Tours / By

A trip to Big Island isn’t complete without sampling some local delicacies, and the legendary Hawaiian sweet roll is a great place to start. These are baked in staggering amounts at Punalu’u Bake Shop, an immensely popular roadside bakery, restaurant, ice-cream shop and rest stop found beside the country highway in the small town of …

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TwoStepHawaii Culture

Two Step at Honaunau Bay – Big Island’s Premiere Snorkeling Spot

Water and Sport, Activities, Snorkeling / By

Two naturally-formed lava rocks platforms lead snorkelers into the electric-turquoise waters of Honaunau Bay, which give way to reveal a colorful, rugged seafloor bustling with all sorts of marine life. This is hands-down the best snorkeling spot on the island, dubbed by locals as simply “Two Step” after the two giant stairs found at the …

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Honolii Header Culture

Honoli’i Beach Park – Hilo’s Premiere Surfing Spot

Beaches, Water and Sport / By

From the bustling, colorful shops of Hilo’s Bayfront, it’s only a short two-mile drive north to Honoli’i Beach Park to watch the surfers. Honoli’i is without a doubt the most important surf break for the Hilo surfing community – a small but dedicated tribe, who can be spotted from the park’s cliffside parking lot lined …

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Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site – The Stone Castle By The Sea

Culture, Hiking / By

When the ancient Hawaiian historical site of Pu’ukohola Heiau comes into view for the first time, it looks like a massive fortress of stacked reddish-black lava stones built atop a gently sloping hill. It slightly brings to mind the castles of Europe, with their high walls and stacked ramparts. But it’s not a castle; it’s …

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2nnd Hawaii Gardens, Hilo Gardens Culture

Liliuokalani Park and Gardens – Hilo’s Leafy, Seaside Recreation Spot

Culture, Hiking, Picnic / By

Just a short walk down Hilo’s Bayfront brings Big Island locals and visitors to Waiakea Peninsula and its verdant and immaculately manicured epicenter, Liliuokalani Park and Gardens.  The gardens comprise a portion of the 24-acre county park jutting out into Hilo Bay, which seems to have a little something for everyone; placid fishponds where colorful …

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IMG 20210503 132256108 Culture

Lava Tubes on Big Island The Kaumana Caves – The Most Spectacular (and Easiest to Access)

Scenic Views, Hiking / By

In the hills above the City of Hilo, near the approach to the inter-island highway known as “Saddle Road” which links East and West Hawaii on the Big Island, there’s a massive lava tube beside the road that goes unnoticed by most drivers. A portion of the tube’s ceiling collapsed many decades ago, creating entrances …

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Beach69 3 1 Culture

Puako’s Beach 69: A Shady, Secluded Swimming Spot Very Different From Its Neighbors

Beaches, Water and Sport / By

Roughly 30 miles north of Kona town on Big Island’s west side, along a sun-beaten highway with vast black lavafields stretching out on either side, lies the stunning white sands of Puako and its well-hidden gem of a swimming spot, Beach 69. Its official name is Waialea Beach, but hardly anyone calls it this. For …

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GreenSand3 Culture

Papakolea Green Sand Beach – An Idyllic, Isolated Geological Rarity

Beaches, Scenic Views / By

Fifty thousands years ago, flowing underground magma from Hawai’i Island’s second most important volcano – Mauna Loa – collided with groundwater, causing an violent explosion of volcanic ash and creating what is known among today’s volcanologists as a “tuff ring”. This was a massive mound of mineral rich ash and other volcanic products which grew …

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