There’s so much to do and see on the Big Island. Come with us as we take you down breathtaking ziplines to the base of a private waterfall with Hawaii Forest & Trail, to a Greenwell Farms tasting tour of one of the Big Island’s most famous products, Kona coffee. Finally, relax with us oceanside […]
Along the Big Island’s Kona-Kohala coastline, a lava field formed more than 200 years ago separates a unique jagged property from the glistening waters of Maniniowali Beach at Kua Bay. While many homes within the Kukio Golf and Beach Club are built upon rectangular lots, this particular property presented a unique challenge, with jaws from
I first spot them as I rumble along the long gravel road. The soft, bristled flowers are like mini red fireworks dotting the forest. I’m in Mountain View, a small town about 15 miles east of Hilo, visiting a tucked-away property called the Lyons Estate. True to its name, Mountain View is known for its scenic
Inside each tank is an adult day octopus—called hee in Hawaiian—native to Hawaii waters and active during the daytime. At Kanaloa Octopus Farm, it’s a look and touch kind of experience. It’s a sunny Friday afternoon and I’m on a tour with 20 other people. Kanaloa Octopus Farm is located at scenic Keahole Point, about 10
The Kahuku Unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is perhaps one of the park’s most underrated areas. Open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., this grassy section was once a historic ranch and spans 116,000 acres. Guests can expect to see remnants of ohia lehua forests, unique plant and
It’s been a rough few months of the Island of Hawaii. With the ongoing eruptions at Kilauea affecting the remote eastern region of the island, reports indicate that the economy, which strives on tourism and visitors, has taken a noticeable dive. With local businesses feeling the brunt of this decline in foot traffic, now is
Peering over the edge of Kilauea Caldera, I instantly feel dwarfed by the mammoth landscape in front of me. I’m at the Jaggar Museum Overlook and the sun has just set, turning the puffs of smoke and ash emanating out of the 3-mile-long Halemaumau Crater into pretty hues of pink and orange. Now huddled with
We wanted to reach Haena before the noon tide swamped the beach, hiding its photogenic black and white sand, the only sandy stretch for miles on a coast known for its imposing cliffs and currents. My friend Andrew and I were alone at the beginning of the Old Puna Trail, where the tidy grid of
Living in Hawaii Island’s Puna district is hard. Most of the subdivisions are off the county water line and many still lack paved roads. There’s also the fact of living on an active volcano with a history of suddenly disrupting everyday life. Puna residents have long needed to adapt to the unforgiving landscape in whatever
Driving down a one-lane road with no cell signal, I worry that I may have rented the wrong car for this adventure. I’ve already taken two wrong turns (thanks to Siri) and am now on Upolu Airport Road, cutting through farms on my left and windmills on my right. The airport at the end of
Nestled along the slopes of the dormant Hualalai volcano on Hawaii Island, a traditional stone forno (Portuguese for “oven”) burns with sweet anticipation. Master baker Laurie Westrich, her hair wrapped up in a palaka (checkered) bandana and wearing a matching apron dusted with white flour, rakes the hot kiawe coals heating up the forno’s domed
Traditional hula practices thrive on Hawaii Island, particularly during Merrie Monarch. We asked lunar calendar expert and researcher Kalei Nuuhiwa for her insights on how to respectfully approach people who are practicing their traditions. Picture this: It’s a perfectly beautiful day at the Kilauea crater. The smoke is rising above Halemaumau. The wind is blowing softly
