It was a grey and drizzling day last September when scientists on the island of Niihau discovered an emaciated female Hawaiian monk seal pup still sporting its black lanugo coat. She was, they thought at first glance, a newborn. But instead of trying to suckle her mother for milk, the hungry seal, named Kilo, approached […]
When you step inside the Kilauea visitor center, the first sign you notice is the one on everyone’s mind: “How do I see lava?” This burning question draws more than 1.5 million visitors annually from around the world, myself included, to this very spot at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HVNP) atop Kilauea’s caldera. Among other lava-seekers on this
Wander north of Kailua-Kona and you’ll quickly wonder where the buildings are. Vast lava flows, the ancient remnants from Hualalai volcano, are pocked by tufts of golden grass and extend for miles along the coast before meandering toward the resorts at Waikoloa. In front of you is Kohala, the oldest and only truly extinct volcano
If you’re heading to Mauna Kea for some star gazing and have a few hours to kill before sunset, head to Hawaii Island’s newest public trail amid the mountain’s dry forest. There, at 7,000 feet and within dwindling strands of native mamane forest, is your only chance to spot the critically endangered palila, a chubby yellow bird that is
Sometimes the best dining experiences are the ones you least expect, which is what I encountered when I visited Holuakoa Gardens and Café on my visit to Hawaii Island. I was only there for brunch, after taking a leisurely mid-morning drive about 15 minutes up the mountain from Keauhou Bay. This was the first time
Whether you’re dreaming of crystal-clear waters, authentic cuisines or sunny, tropical weather, it’s safe to say that Hawaii makes the perfect living destination for the entire family. It’s so great, in fact, that many visitors think about making the Islands home. When looking for that new home, location and cost are often buyers’ top priorities,
As you’re probably well aware (along with the thousands currently embarking on their Pele pilgrimages to the southeast side of Hawaii Island), lava is currently spilling into the ocean there and it’s epic. 1. So much epicness. A photo posted by Brandon & Katie (@adventureisoutthere_kb) on Aug 3, 2016 at 9:27pm PDT 2.
Many of Kona’s most popular resorts—including Hilton Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows and the Fairmont Orchid—are tucked along the coast around Waikoloa. Surrounded for miles by empty black lava flows 19 miles north of the airport and 27 miles north of Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa’s location offers a
What an awesome and intense sight. The current lava flow extending southeast from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaii Island met the ocean yesterday in the early morning. Official point of contact: 1:12 a.m. HST, according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. It poses no threat to any neighboring communities, they also report. The lava
Though I’ve lived within walking distance of Kona Boys’ headquarters in Kealakekua’s high-elevation coffee country for almost a year, it was only recently, prompted by visiting family, that I popped in and signed up for its Morning Magic tour to the Captain Cook Monument. I’m so glad I did. The iconic monument, nestled into the
Kilauea’s latest lava flow—dubbed 61G, a 5-mile-long flow from Kilauea’s Puu Oo Cone to the southeast on Hawaii Island—has been causing quite a stir. The fiery lava finger points toward the sea within view of two relatively accessible viewing stations in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Kalapana. Hundreds, if not thousands, have flocked to see
It’s not often that I get to stay in hotels on my home Island, but when my husband’s work sent him to a conference at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, I jumped at the chance to join. I spent three leisurely days “working” by the pool, wandering the grounds and exploring surrounding Waikoloa. To call the
