Lookouts, viewpoints, and scenic stops already featured on BigIsland.org.
The sands of West Hawaii beaches are predominantly white, made of finely pulverized coral built up over millennia. But on the eastern shores, Punalu’u Beach the sands are black; a testament to its active volcanic heritage, where rivers of lava from the massive volcano Mauna Loa and its smaller offshoot, Kilauea Volcano, charge downhill to …
Punalu’u Beach – The Best Black Sand on the Big Island Read More »
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 …
Lava Tree State Park – Black Rock Monuments Formed Around Ancient Tree Trunks Read More »
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 …
Liliuokalani Park and Gardens – Hilo’s Leafy, Seaside Recreation Spot Read More »
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 …
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 …
Papakolea Green Sand Beach – An Idyllic, Isolated Geological Rarity Read More »
Rainbow Falls: Two Hawaiian Natural Wonders At Once What could make the sight of an 80-foot-high waterfall cascading out of a curtain of lush green jungle into a pool of turquoise water even more eye-popping? What if there was a rainbow forming out of the mist churned up by the crashing water? To catch a …
Rainbow Falls AND Boiling Pots: Wailuku River State Park’s Best Sights: Read More »
Halemaumau Crater Overlook There are few places on planet Earth where casual visitors can come face to face with a real, active volcano. And in Hawaii, the sight of such an immensely destructive force is tempered by the realization that it’s also life-creating: not one part of this idyllic island chain cast smack dab in …
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – A Truly Once-in-a-Lifetime Sight Read More »
Just offshore of Liliuokalani Park and Gardens along Hilo’s Waiakea Peninsula lies Coconut Island, arguably the best place in town to see the iconic panorama of downtown’s colorful waterfront shops and palm tree-lined boulevard. The island lies across the bay from Hilo’s main commercial center and world-famous bayfront beaches, and gives its visitors a unique …
Known as the “Valley of the Kings, Waipo Valley is a dozen miles north of the small, rustic, windswept town of Honoka’a along Hawai’i Island’s Hamakua Coast, the highway comes to a dead-end approaching the cliff of a massive valley. This is the Waipio Valley Overlook, where visitors can catch a glimpse of one of …
Waipo Valley Overlook- One of the Big Island’s Best Views Read More »
When you think of the perfect vacation on Big Island, you might picture luaus, beautiful sandy beaches, and ukuleles, but you may not be aware of the incredible opportunities for whale watching tours on Big Island of Hawaii. During the winter months of December through April, over a dozen distinct species of whales, from melon-headed …