BIG ISLAND'S BEST Top 10 Tours
Waikoloa Marriott Sunset Luau
The Big Island's best luau overlooks an ancient fishpond lined with palm trees. Great food, beautiful sunsets, engaging Polynesian show!
From $190.05 /per person
The Big Island of Hawaii
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The Big Island of Hawaii … is called that because ... well, it's a big island. As a matter of fact, it is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands PUT TOGETHER, making up 62% of the total land area of the state. It is a little confusing to some folks that this island is also known as "Hawaii Island" and the state is called Hawaii. A lot of first-time visitors make the mistake of thinking that the Big Island is the "main island" and the location of the City of Honolulu. That's the island of Oahu. The Big Island ... AKA Hawaii Island, is large, but it is MUCH less densely populated than the island of Oahu with a total population of around 185,000.
The Big Island is also the youngest island, and is the one island that is still volcanically active. As a matter of fact, Kilauea Volcano is the most active volcano anywhere in the world! The current eruptive phase started in 1983 and lava has been oozing out almost continuously with very few breaks in during that 40 year span! There are fewer beaches here, but the few that have formed are incredibly beautiful. The Big Island offers fantastic snorkeling along the Kona coast, with a lot of marine life.
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DON'T MISS THIS
You must see Kilauea Volcano during your vacation! It is the most approachable active volcano in the world! Even when there is a lull in current activity, there is so much to see and evidence of the activity is everywhere with steaming cracks and crumbling craters!
MOST UNIQUE ADVENTURE
Without question the Manta Ray Night Snorkel is the most unique adventure on the Big Island ... and probably the whole state! Snorkel at night with bright lights shining down into the water that attracts plankton, and the plankton attracts the manta rays. Sometimes a dozen of these giants with wing spans of 14 feet will put on an underwater ballet dance for you as they swoop in and scoop up the plankton just inches away from you! It is an otherworldly experience you will never forget!
- Major airports are in Kailua-Kona (KOA) and Hilo (ITO) ... Kona is where most tourists stay, but Hilo is the county seat.
- Population - 186,700
- It is the by far the largest island in the Hawaiian chain.
- Honolulu isn't on the Big Island ... it's on Oahu.
- Kilauea Volcano is the world's most active volcano and has been erupting constantly since 1983.
- Measured from it's base on the ocean floor, Mauna Kea is the largest land mass on the planet, rising over 33,000 feet tall and dwarfing Mount Everest in sheer volume.
- The summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea are almost 14,000 feet above sea level and often receive snow in the wintertime.
- The Big Island is made up of 5 volcanos that overlap into one giant island.
- A new island called Lo'ihi is forming off the southeat coast and is expected to break the ocean's surface in 10,000 years or so.
- South Point is the southernmost spot in the United States.