Big Island of Hawaii

Full of superlatives, the Big Island of Hawaii is the largest in the tropical Pacific, youngest, least populated, and little explored. Hawaii has America's wettest city, southernmost point, most volcanoes (5), two of the biggest sea mountains on Earth (Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea), plus Loihi, a wannabe island bubbling up underwater. The world's biggest telescope crowns Mauna Kea. And Kona coffee is America's only home-grown brew. Beaches come in red, black, white, gold, and green. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home of fire goddess Pele, is America's only park that grows bigger daily with each eruption. With 12 different climates, the Ka'u ...

Full of superlatives, the Big Island of Hawaii is the largest in the tropical Pacific, youngest, least populated, and little explored. Hawaii has America's wettest city, southernmost point, most volcanoes (5), two of the biggest sea mountains on Earth (Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea), plus Loihi, a wannabe island bubbling up underwater. The world's biggest telescope crowns Mauna Kea. And Kona coffee is America's only home-grown brew. Beaches come in red, black, white, gold, and green. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home of fire goddess Pele, is America's only park that grows bigger daily with each eruption. With 12 different climates, the Ka'u desert and Ola'a rainforest are only miles apart. Misty Hilo, home of Merrie Monarch hula fete, gets 128-inches of rain a year, sun struck Kailua-Kona prays for rain. In black lava lands of Kohala, five unique hotels attract folks who can: Ski Mauna Kea's snowy summit. Hook a 1,000-pound blue marlin. Visit Puuhonua O Honaunau, the ancient City of Refuge. Spot apapane and nukupuu, Hawaii's native honeycreeper birds. Or, snorkel Kealakekua Bay, site of Capt. James Cook's "fatal encounter," and- here's a wrinkle- set foot on a spot of England at his monument, deeded to Great Britain by Princess Likelike in 1877, a mea culpa from one kingdom to another.

About the Expert

Rick Carroll has written dozens of articles on Hawaii and the Pacific. His books include Great Outdoor Adventures of Hawaii, Madame Pele: True Encounters with Hawaii's Fire Goddess, and Travelers' Tales Hawaii.