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History of Hawaii’s 

Big Island 

The Big Island is the youngest among the islands 

of Hawaii. It is only half a million years old. The 

Big Island is said to have been first discovered 

by travelers from the Marquesas Islands of the 

Polynesian region. This was only about one 

thousand five hundred (1,500) years ago. 

Westerners began coming into the island when 

Captain Cook landed in 1778. After a year, the 

captain was killed at Kealakekua Bay by tribal 

warriors. Regardless, he opened the door for 

other travelers to set foot and settle in the island. 

At around this time, the Big Island had several 

political divisions (or chiefdoms). These chiefdoms 

were constantly at war, until they were united in 

1791. The unification of the Big Island tribes was 

due to the efforts of Kamehameha, who hailed 

from Kohala. He ruled the Big Island as king until 

1804. After that year, he moved to Oahu, only to 

return to the island in 1812, seven years before 

he died. Kamehameha is credited as the greatest 

king to rule Hawaii. 

Western religions first came into the Big Island 

in 1820. This was through the efforts of the first 

missionaries in the island. They landed in Kailua-Kona, where they 

first began their missionary work. 

This was followed by other Western travelers. Some of the early 

voyagers introduced cattle and sugar into the local agriculture. 

This was the roots of Parker Ranch, perhaps one of the oldest and 

definitely one of the largest cattle ranches in the Big Island. Sugar 

plantations also found a home, later on blooming into one of the 

prime industries of Hilo. 

To date, the Big Island is at the forefront of Hawaiian industry and 

culture. The island’s rich culture and history is now the backdrop 

of a very active tourism industry. At the same time, much of the 

island’s ancient practices are kept alive because of the modern 

traveler’s interest in them. 


Kailua Kona 

Kailua Kona is referred to both as “Kailua” and “Kona” by locals. 

The weather on this side of the Big Island is almost always dry and 

sunny and there are many white sand beaches perfect for sunbathing, 

snorkeling and swimming that are easy to reach from Kona. 

Kailua Kona is located where the western slopes of the Hualālai 

volcano meet the ocean. North of the city were the weather gets dryer 

you can find gorgeous beaches, the resort coast, and world- famous 

golf courses. South of Kona you can find our favorite snorkeling spots. 

The climate here is more humid and perfect for lush forests and for 

growing the world-famous Kona coffee. 

Kailua Kona is located where the western slopes of the Hualālai volcano 

meet the ocean. North of the city were the weather gets dryer you 

can find gorgeous beaches, the resort coast, 

and world- famous golf courses. South of Kona 

you can find our favorite snorkeling spots. The 

climate here is more humid and perfect for lush 

forests and for growing the world-famous Kona 

coffee. 

The sunny outdoors capital of the Big Island 

The west coast of Hawaii is known as the “Kona 

Side” and Kailua-Kona is the lively center of it 

all. This historic seaside town sits in the middle 

of the Kona coast, a few miles south of the Kona 

International Airport. Not too long ago Kona 

was a sleepy fishing village. Now, because of 

its central location and great weather it has 

transformed into a lively town that is the activity 

capital of the Big Island. It is the city on the Big 

Island that is best equipped for tourism. 

There are many shops and farmers markets 

selling locally produced items and there is a 

good offering of restaurants. This makes Kona 

a good and central home base to explore the 

west coast of the island. Relax and look at the 

waves crashing over the black lava rocks while 

sipping from a cup of the world-famous Kona 

coffee, or have some freshly caught ahi (tuna) 

while recovering from your busy day. 

Big Island: Essential Facts 

Learn these Big Island factoids and you will know more than most on your dream Hawaii vacation: 

• The Big Island of Hawaii is the youngest of the Hawaiian Islands, at just over one million years old. In fact, the daily lava 

flow keeps the island growing larger every day. 

• Hawaii is the name of the island as well as the state. To reduce confusion, the single island “Hawaii” is referred to as the 

“Big Island” (because it’s so big compared to other islands in the chain). 

• Earth’s most active volcano, Kilauea, is on the Big Island. 

• Mauna Loa, which last erupted in 1984, is the most massive mountain on earth, consists of 10,000 cubic miles of rock, and 

is 13,677 feet high. 

• The Big Island is 4,038 square miles (and still growing). All the other Hawaiian Islands could fit inside the Big Island with 

room left over. 

• From the southern tip to the northern tip the distance is 95 miles. From east to west it is 80 miles. 

• In the 1850s, John Palmer Parker and his Hawaiian princess wife amassed land to form Parker Ranch, which today sprawls 

225,000 acres and is two-thirds the size of the island of Oahu. 

• In 1946, a 56-foot tsunami hit the east side of the island. 

• In 1981, the Ironman Triathlon moved from Oahu to Kona. 

• The Big Island has the most diverse weather of any Hawaiian Island, including tropical, monsoonal, desert, and permafrost. 

• Just below the summit of Mauna Kea, inside a cinder cone, is Lake Waiau, the only glacial lake in the mid-Pacific. At 13,020 

feet above sea level, it is also one of the highest lakes in the world. 

• Hawaii Standard Time is in effect year-round. There is no daylight savings time. Hawaii is 2 hours behind Pacific Standard 

Time and 5 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. When daylight savings time is in effect on the mainland, Hawaii is 3 hours 

behind the West Coast and 6 hours behind the East Coast. 




Things to do in Kona 

Kona is the hot spot for sunny outdoor adventures here on 

the Big Island. 

SNORKELING AT THE KONA COAST 

The Kona coast has hands down the best places on the 

Big Island to go snorkeling. Our favorite snorkeling spots 

are south of Kona, at less than a 1-hour drive from central 

Kona. However, there is even good snorkeling to be found 

in downtown Kona, at the Kailua pier. 

It’s easy to rent snorkeling gear in Kona if you didn’t bring 

your own. 

PERFECT SUNSETS FROM THE KONA COAST 

Since the sun always sets in the west, the Kona (west) coast 

of the island is the place to see sunsets. 

Seeing the sun set below the ocean is one of our favorite 

parts of the day. It’s up to you to choose whether you want to 

see this from the beach or for from a seaside terrace holding 

a Mai Tai. Regardless, sunsets here are pretty spectacular. 

MANTA RAY NIGHT DIVE 

The one activity that is a must-do on the Kona side is the 

manta ray night dive. This is a nightly diving or snorkeling 

excursion where enormous and harmless manta rays are 

attracted by shining a big light onto the water. You can float 

between them as they play and feed and come so close that 

you could touch them if you wanted to. 

You do not have to be a scuba diver to see the manta rays. 

If you join a snorkeling tour very little experience is needed, 

and you still will get to see a very big part of the show. 

RELAX ON THE KONA BEACHES 

Mauna Kea beach and Hapuna beach are two of the most 

popular white sand beaches on the west side of the Big 

Island, but there are more beaches to explore. Don’t forget 

to pick up some snorkeling sets at the local supermarket to 

bring along with you, because everywhere where there is 

water you can snorkel. Many of the snorkeling spots around 

Kailua Kona can be found in our favorite snorkeling spots on 

the Big Island. 

KONA COFFEE 

The slopes of the volcanoes around Kona are home to the 

world famous Kona coffee, so if you are into coffee try to visit 

a Kona coffee farm. You can of course also get a fresh cup of 

Kona coffee in town If you are not that much into coffee but 

still want to know what all the fuzz is about. 

One of our favorite scenic drives takes you through the heart 

of the Kona coffee country. 


Landmarks and Monuments 

AKAKA FALLS / KAHUNA FALLS 

Anyone holidaying on the Big 

Island really should to try and drag 

themselves away from the glorious 

sandy beaches and explore just 

some of the many spectacular 

natural landmarks which are 

scattered all around Hawaii. The 

Akaka Falls is one such site and 

this enormous cascade of water 

is more than 134 metres / 440 feet 

in height, making it the secondhighest 

waterfall on the island, and 

importantly, the most accessible. 

Located just 18 km / 11 miles north 

of Hilo and on the north-eastern 

side of the island, the Akaka Falls is 

one waterfall that you will be glad 

you found. Close by, if you have 

time, do also check out some of the 

other neighboring waterfalls, such 

as the Kahuna Falls, which although 

smaller, is still very quite special. 

The 6-km / 4-mile Pepeekeo Scenic 

Drive between Honomu and Hilo is 

also worth considering. 

Open hours: daily - 24 hours 

Admission: free 

HULIHEE PALACE 

Built during the early 19th century out 

of locally sourced lava rock, Hulihee 

Palace is located within the Kailua- 

Kona area of the Big Island and off 

Alii Drive. The impressive landmark 

was once used by Hawaiian royalty 

as a holiday home, although today 

operates as a museum / attraction. 

Hulihee Palace is now filled with 

memorabilia relating to its past 

regal residents, which include King 

Kalakaua, who gave the palace the 

new title of ‘Hikulani Hale’ after 

himself, since this literally translates 

as the ‘House of the Seventh Leader’. 

During the Big Island’s earthquake 

of 2006, the Hulihee Palace suffered 

minor structural damage, although 

this was little more than cracks in 

some of the walls, with a renovation 

project soon resolving the problems. 

Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 

09:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00 

Admission: charge 

KA LAE (SOUTH POINT) 

BKa Lae is amongst Hawaii’s most 

important landmarks, sine this rocky 

outcrop marks the most southerly 

location no just in Hawaii, but in the 

whole of the USA. Also regularly 

referred to as the ‘South Point’ of 

Big Island, Ka Lae offers nothing 

short of awesome fishing conditions, 

with locals flocking here to catch 

everything from red snapper to giant 

‘ulua’ fish. Ka Lae is also home to an 

extremely old archaeological site, 

where traces of an ancient Hawaiian 

settlement have been discovered. 

Around the beautiful coastal scenery 

of the South Point, look out for the 

contrasting modern wind farms an 

their giant windmills. 

Open hours: daily - 24 hours 

Admission: free 


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The Kilauea’iki crater: 

is our favorite short hike on the Big Island (more about this 

hike). It takes you down into the Kilauea’iki crater across 

the crater floor which was formed only 50 years ago, and 

up again to the parking lot. 

Thurston Lava Tube: 

The Thurston lava tube is an easily accessible and very interesting 

lava tube close to the Kilauea’iki parking lot. A 

20 minute (1/3 mile) walk through a tree fern forest and 

a illuminated cave-like lava tube takes you from the main 

road through the Thurston Lava Tube and back to the parking 

lot. 

During daytime hours there the lava tube is illuminated, 

but between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. there will be no lights on in 

the cave. The cave will remain open overnight for visitors 

that want to experience a pitch black lava tube :). Visitors 

must carry their own light source if planning to explore the 

lava tube in its dark, natural state before 10 a.m. or after 8 

p.m. Park rangers recommend head lamps and flashlights; 

cell phones are not recommended as the only light source. 

Things to do in the 

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park 

It is easy to spend multiple days in the Hawaii Volcanoes National 

Park without getting bored. There are many short and 

long hikes in the park and plenty of interesting spots you 

can easily reach by car. The park also organizes a very interesting 

weekly lecture series called “After Dark in the Park“. 

Park attractions include the following 10 highlights, but 

please remember that here is far more in the park that deserves 

your attention. Below the list you can watch a video 

shows four of our seven favorite things to do in the park 

and find more information about camping in the park and 

seeing lava. 

The Kilauea Visitor Center: 

is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ranger talks and 

guided tours can be scheduled here, and there plays a 

25-minute film to introduce you to the park. Pick up a map, 

learn about the hikes in the park, and get the latest eruption 

updates here. Opening hours are subject to change, find 

the current hours at the national park website. 

Your first stop in the park should always be the visitor center 

to receive an up-to-date report on the park events, closedof 

areas and ranger-led hikes 

The Thomas A. Jaggar Museum 

and Halema’uma’u crater overlook: 

is opened daily from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Thomas A. Jaggar 

pioneered the study of volcanology at Kilauea. You can 

find geologic displays, maps, and videos about the study 

of volcanoes inside. Outside you will find the best overlook 

over the steaming Halema’uma’u crater. Opening hours are 

subject to change, find the current hours at the national 

park website. 

The Chain of Craters road: 

takes you from the park entrance past many scenic points 

and volcanic craters all the way down to the ocean where 

the road finally disappears under a fresh sheet of lava (description 

of the crater rim drive tour on the national park 

website). The chain of craters road is one of our favorite scenic 

drives of the Big Island. The ranger station on the Chain 

of Craters Road is open daily from 10 am to 9 pm. 

Day hikes in the park: 

There are more than 10 day hikes possible inside the park 

for which you can find a description at the park website. The 

100+ miles of hiking trails take you through old lava tubes 

and lush rainforest, and over old and new, still fuming, lava 

flows. The park also organizes daily ranger-led hikes. 

If you are looking for longer and more challenging hikes a 

good place to start is the Big Island Hikes website. 




The Volcano Art Center Gallery: 

is located directly next to the Kilauea Visitor Center and is 

open from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. daily. More info on the Volcano 

Art Center here. 

The Sulphur Banks trail: 

The sulphur banks are an impressive reminder of the volcanic 

activity in the park because of the volcanic gases that 

seep out of the ground along with groundwater steam. It is 

an unusual spot with steaming cracks, colorful mineral deposits 

and the smell of sulfur (think: rotting eggs) in the air. 

The see the sulphur banks you need to hike the easy 1.2 

miles (2 km) round trip Ha’akulamanu (Sulphur Banks) trail 

that starts and ends at the far left of the Kīlauea Visitor Center 

parking lot past the Volcano Art Center Gallery. 

Special activities for kids 

Children up to 12 years old can become junior rangers and 

receive a junior ranger badge. To become a junior ranger 

the kids have to complete a couple of activities while in the 

park. This is a free, fun and educational activity and we highly 

recommend it if you bring any children. There are programs 

for kids aged 7-12, and for those of age 6 and below. 

More information including junior ranger handbooks which 

you can print out at home can be found at the ‘be a junior 

ranger‘ website. 

ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS IN HILO: 

There are plenty of activities to be found in the town of Hilo. 

For example, you can visit the ‘Imiloa astronomy center or 

get a taste of Hawaiian history in the Lyman museum and 

mission house. There is also a tropical zoo and a fantastic 

local farmers market. Hilo also offers many options for the 

culinary or culturally interested visitor. Browse below for 

some activities that can be enjoyed in Hilo! 

RAINBOW FALLS 

The Rainbow Falls within Hilo are a perfect place to visit 

early in the morning for a picnic or perhaps even before 

breakfast. It falls over a lava-cave that is home to the ancient 

Hawaiian goddess Hina, the goddess of the moon. 

IMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER 

The ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center is a good pick if you or your 

kids want to learn about Hawaiian culture and astronomy. 

The ‘Imiloa center offers educational and cultural programs 

for visitors, students, and local residents through exhibits, 

activities and a full-dome planetarium. 

STAY IN THE PARK OVERNIGHT: 

CAMPING AND THE VOLCANO HOUSE 

There is so much to do in the park that many people choose 

to spend at least one night in or close to the park. There are 

two campsites in the park as well as a hotel whose lounge 

offers stunning views of the Halema’uma’u crater. There also 

mare many charming and affordable vacation rental houses 

available in a few miles from the park in Volcano Village. 

Overnight camping is possible in the park on two separate 

campgrounds, one of which also has tent rentals and cabins 

available. The park hotel combines a great location with average 

and somewhat pricey rooms and is called the Volcano 

House (website) . 

If you are an active service member or have served in the 

US military you can also stay in the Kilauea Military Center 

(KMC, website). The KMC is located inside the park and 

offers 90 guest cottages and apartments with one, two, or 

three bedrooms, and a 110-bed dormitory. 

PANA’EWA RAINFOREST ZOO 

The Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo is the only tropical zoo in the 

United States. You can visit a variety of rainforest animals 

and endangered Hawaiian animals, such as spider monkeys, 

lemurs, nene geese (the Hawaiian State bird), and over 

80 other animal species. 

MEHANA BREWING COMPANY 

The Mehana Brewing Company is Hawaii’s largest independently-owned 

craft brewer. Their tasting room and gift 

shop are open from noon on most days. Read more on our 

website about the Mehana Brewing Company or see a current 

listing of the opening hours on their website. 


Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau 

National Historical Park 

Is a United States National 

Historical Park located on the 

west coast of the island of Hawaiʻi 

in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. The 

historical park preserves the site 

where, up until the early 19th 

century, Hawaiians who broke a 

kapu (one of the ancient laws) 

could avoid certain death by 

fleeing to this place of refuge or 

puʻuhonua. The offender would 

be absolved by a priest and 

freed to leave. Defeated warriors 

and non-combatants could also 

find refuge here during times of 

battle. The grounds just outside 

the Great Wall that encloses the 

puʻuhonua were home to several 

generations of powerful chiefs. 

The 420 acre (1.7 km2) site was 

originally established in 1955 

as City of Refuge National 

Historical Park and was renamed 

on November 10, 1978. In 

2000 the name was changed 

by the Hawaiian National Park 

Language Correction Act of 2000 

observing the Hawaiian spelling. 

It includes the puʻuhonua and a 

complex of archeological sites 

including: temple platforms, royal 

fishponds, sledding tracks, and 

some coastal village sites. The 

Hale o Keawe temple and several 

thatched structures have been 

reconstructed. 

Hale o Keawe heiau 

The park contains a reconstruction 

of the Hale o Keawe heiau, which 

was originally built by a Kona chief 

named Kanuha in honor of his father 

King Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku. 

After the death of 

Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku, his 

bones were entombed within the 

heiau. The nobility (ali’i) of Kona 

continued to be buried until the 

abolition of the kapu system. The 

last person buried here was a son 

of Kamehameha I in 1818. 

It was believed that additional 

protection to the place of refuge 

was received from the mana in 

the bones of the chiefs. It survived 

several years after other temples 

were destroyed. It was looted 

by Lord George Byron (cousin of 

the distinguished English poet) 

in 1825. In 1829, High Chiefess 

Kapiʻolani removed the remaining 

bones and hid them in the Pali 

Kapu O Keōua cliffs above nearby 

Kealakekua Bay. She then ordered 

this last temple to be destroyed. 

The bones were later moved to 

the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii in 

1858. 



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