Vacation Big Island > Big Island Vacation
Tips
Most of Hawaii visitors who are preparing their
Big Island vacation already know that this Hawaiian island is definitely
different from all the other islands. Visit
our Big Island map for vacation highlights. The facts are that
the Big Island is the largest, the youngest and the least populated
one in the Hawaiian chain. It has the highest peaks in the Pacific
and the most volcanoes, with Mauna Loa still rated as an active
volcano and Kilauea's eruptions and hot lava flow attracting thousands
of visitors from around the world to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
each year for a Big Island vacation.
Hawaii Big Island geography, climate
and weather
Hawaii Big Island
weather has an unmatched diversity of 11 micro climates and
terrain: from white, black & green sand beaches, over tropical
rainforest to upcountry rolling hills of cowbow land and meadows
and snowcapped mountain peaks. Draw a line down the middle of the
Big Island, and you will define the East coast with Hamakua Coast,
Hilo and Puna/ Kapoho area as the wetter part of the island with
lush green tropical rainforest and beautiful black sand beaches.
See our Big Island map for location
of beaches, mountains, towns & sights.
>>>Read more on Big Island
Weather
Big Island West Coast Kona Kohala Coast
The West coast of your line, the Kona and the
Kohala Coast, is associated with very dry, hot tropical weather
all year around. This steady sunny weather on the Kona Kohala Coast
and the existence of stretches of white sand beaches, was the reason
for building big beach resorts like Kona Village, Waikoloa Beach
Resort, Mauna Lani Beach Resort and 5-star Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
(first hotel ever built on the Big Island some 40 years ago) and
Hapuna Beach Hotel.
>>>Read
more on Kona Kohala Coast Resorts
Big Island Activities
There are no limits to your Big
Island activities. The Pacific waters provide a stunning array
of colorful marine life. Watersports like scuba diving, snorkeling,
whale watching and big game fishing are attracting Big Island visitors
all along the West Coast when on their Big Island vacation. Hiking
into remote valleys like Waipio and Pololulu valley or within Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park, mountain-biking or upcountry horse back
riding are favorite Big Island activities as well. A visit to Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park with watching red glowing lava running into
the ocean and a visit to Mauna Kea summit with stargazing through
one of the telescopes at the Visitors Center are probably the two
biggest Big Island attractions and things to do on your Big Island
vacation all year round.
>>>Read
more on Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
>>>Read
more on Mauna Kea Summit Stargazing
>>>Plan
your Big Island Activities with HawaiiActive.com
Big Island Golf Courses
These fancy Kona and Kohala Coast beach resorts
cater to Big Island visitors who have come for a relaxing beach
vacation and maybe playing some rounds of golf occasionally or daily,
provided they are a passionate golfer. Golf courses like Mauna Kea
and Mauna Lani and Hualalai Four Seasons are world championship
golf courses.
>>>Read more on
Big Island Golf
Big Island Events
Big Island Merry Monarch Hula Festival
Hilo
In addition to the regular Big
Island events like Aloha Festival in September, Rodeos in Waimea
or Golf Championships on the Kohala Coast, there are those special
Big Island events which attract the crowds from the Mainland and
from around the world year after year. The annual Merrie Monarch
Hula Festival in Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii, is a week long festival
of cultural events including Hawaii’s most prestigious hula
competitions at Edith Kanaka’ole stadium. The hula festival
takes place the week after Easter.
>>>Read
more on Merrie Monarch Hula Festival
Big Island Ironman Triathlon Championship
Kona
Without any doubt, the biggest Big Island event,
not just for the Big Island but for all Hawaii, is the Hawaii Ironman
Triathlon. Every October, on the Saturday closest to the full moon,
about 1,500 of the world's fittest people tackle one of the toughest
endurance events, the Ford Hawaii Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
The Ironman is a day-long event. It starts with a four-kilometre
swim, followed by a 180-kilometre bike race, topped off with a 42-kilometre
marathon run.
>>>Read
more on Hawaii Ironman Triathlon
Big Island Revealed
Prepare your Big Island vacation with 'Big
Island Revealed' and take this book along for the ride. Still,
don't take everything for granted you read in the book, chefs at
restaurants change and so can many other things, to the positive
or the negative! But the book will be a great help for your Big
Island adventure.
>>>See Big Island Maps
Hawaii Vacation Blog
Last but not least, visit our Hawaii blog Best
Hawaii Vacation which is about Hawaii, Big Island, Maui, Kauai,
Oahu & Kohala Coast: vacation rentals, activities, air fares,
beaches, car rentals, events, golf, hiking, hotels, real estate,
resorts, restaurants, weather, wedding and lots of fun like Hawaii
youtube videos and more. Sign up for email updates. Mahalo!
Big Island Vacation Photos
Much mahalo to Kona
Ocean View Vacation Home for these Big Island photos. Visit
our page Big Island Photos for
viewing more photos of our wonderful Hawaii Big Island.
|
|
Four Seasons Beach, Kona
Coast |
Waipio Valley Lookout
Hamakua Coast |
|
|
Hawaiian Cruise Kona
Big Island |
Hawaii Ironman Triathlon
Kona |
|
|
Kahaluu Bay Beach Park
Best Snorkel |
Resting Hawaii Green
Sea Turtle |
|
|
Mauna Kea Summit Star
Gazing |
Hawaiian regatta outrigger
canoes |
|
|
Waipio Valley Wagon Tour
|
Learn how to hula Keauhou
Kona |
Big Island rental owners are invited to submit
their vacation photos from guests or their own photos. When published
here, we will include a link to your Big Island vacation home. Big
Island visitors are also invited to email
us photos from their Big Island vacation.
Big Island Vacation Tips
5
Best Things to do on Big Island
Best
Big Island Beach
Best
Big Island Luau
Best
Big Island Restaurant?
Big
Island Home for Sale
Save
money on Big Island vacation
When
to visit Volcanoes Park?
Where
to see turtles on the Big Island?
More Big Island Vacation Tips
What to wear on the Big Island
Big Island temperatures
average in the high 70s all your round. The island temperatures
are considerably warmer at sea level, on the Big Island beaches,
and quite coller at higher elevation areas.
Dress code at Big Island resorts or hotels is
always resort casual but we recommend to pack a sweater or light
jacket for trips around the island. Upcountry hiking, visits to
Hawaii Volca-noes National Park and visits to Mauna Kea summit require
even some more extra warm clothes in a backpack. Don't forget a
hat, sunscreen and lots of water. Flipflops are great for the beach
but not for exploring the island.
Don't take lava rocks home
Resist the temptation to take lava rocks from
the volcanoes. The legend is that Madam Pele, the goddess, of the
Volcano, won't like it and taking home lava rocks will bring you
bad luck. The Hawaii Visitor's Bureau receives lava rocks each year,
which were sent back by Big Island visitors, who seemed haunted
by them when back home from vacation.
Rent a car on the Big Island
There is no public transportation on the island
for visitors to get around and explore the island. Big Island car
rental rates are among the lowest in the nation. Call a few Hawaii
car rental companies for quotes to compare before renting a car.
The major Big Island car rental
companies have services at Kona International Airport and Hilo
Airport. Drive with aloha, local style. This is not the mainland.
Stay away from honking the horn at other drivers' or tailgating.
Yield to other drivers by handsigns.
Respect the Ocean
Always respect the ocean and read the warning
signs and ocean conditions on the Big Island beaches. Breaking shore
waves, undercurrents and riptides can put you and your family at
danger for your lives. Don't go swimming where there are no life
guards and you are uncertain about the ocean conditions. Better
be safe than sorry.
Big Island Vacation Accommodations
We are happy you have found our Hawaii Affordable
Vacation Rentals Guide, which offers over 100 Big Island vacation
rentals at different island locations: Kona, Puako, Volcano, Hilo,
Hamakua Coast, Waimea & Kohala Coast. Not everybody can afford
the rates at 5-star beach front Kona or Kohala Coast Hotels. Big
Island hotels can be a great option for a short 1- or 2-night stay.
For longer stay, a fully equipped vacation rental is the way to
go. Believe us there are plenty of great places to stay on your
Big Island vacation.
We have put together this free Big Island accommodation
guide - it's free for Big Island vacation home owners and it's free
for you to use it! We hope you find a nice comfortable and affordable
Big Island rental matching your budget and expectations.
>>>Read more
on Big Island Vacation Rentals
>>>Read more on Big Island
Hotels
You did not find the Big Island Vacation information
you were looking for, search our Big Island Vacation Guide or Google
for more vacation resources on Hawaii Big Island.
When making your reservation with the Big
Island rental owner, please, tell him/her that you found their listing
on Hawaii
Affordable Vacation Rentals. We'd also like to hear from you
about your Big Island vacation experience, what you did, what you
liked best on the Big Island and island places you visited. Please,
email us your
Big Island Trip Report. Have a great Big Island Vacation!
|
