{"id":22537,"date":"2018-02-02T09:00:03","date_gmt":"2018-02-02T09:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/?p=22537"},"modified":"2021-10-13T21:43:35","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T21:43:35","slug":"5-unique-reasons-we-love-hawaii-big-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/5-unique-reasons-we-love-hawaii-big-island\/","title":{"rendered":"5 unique reasons we love Hawaii’s Big Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

Note:<\/strong> All travel is subject to frequently-changing governmental restrictions\u2014please check federal, state, and local advisories before scheduling trips. This article was last updated October 2021.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

When it comes to Hawaii travel, you really can\u2019t go wrong with whichever island, or islands, you choose to visit. Enticing beaches, clear waters, lush rainforests, and arid landscapes \u2014 most islands have them all! But they also each have their own distinct personalities, which makes discovering them even more fun. Here, we say aloha<\/em> to the Island of Hawaii<\/a>, the youngest of all the islands, yet the largest (hence its nickname).<\/p>\n

Active volcanoes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\"5\n

The Big Island is indeed the largest of all the Hawaiian Islands, and it\u2019s still growing! The star of the show at aptly named Hawai\u2019i Volcanoes National Park<\/strong><\/a> is Kilauea and its active lava flow. Once inside the park, follow the Chain of Craters Road<\/strong><\/a> to its end, where you\u2019ll likely see steam rising from the active flow. From there, walk the road to see the flow up-close, but be forewarned, it\u2019s quite a hike, and steam may prevent views, so be prepared. If you\u2019d rather try and catch the ocean entry, take a boat tour from Kamokuna and take your chances there. For a definite lava glow, head to the K\u012blauea Overlook where stunning views of the K\u012blauea Caldera<\/strong> and the main crater Halema\u2019uma\u2019u<\/strong> await.<\/p>\n

Where to stay:<\/strong> Kilauea Lodge<\/a><\/p>\n

Hot swimming ponds<\/strong><\/h2>\n\"5\n

With its geothermal energy, it\u2019s not surprising that a couple of hot ponds are found around the island, and they\u2019re perfect for warming up. After all, temperatures on the Hilo side of the Big Island can dip substantially as night falls. One that\u2019s easy to visit is the pond found within Ahalanui Park<\/strong>, near Puna. The water\u2019s temperature is in the mid-90s, but saying you went swimming in a volcano-heated natural pond next to the Pacific Ocean is a pretty cool story to tell back home.<\/p>\n

Where to stay:<\/strong> Hawaiian Sanctuary<\/a><\/p>\n

Sea turtle sightings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\"5\n

Majestic sea turtles can oftentimes be seen when snorkeling off of nearly all of the Hawaiian Islands. But like all wildlife, sightings are never guaranteed. While the turtles are mostly spotted underwater, there are two places on the Big Island on which they haul themselves out onto the beaches \u2014 not to lay their eggs, but rather to simply take a break from their undersea lives. Just a short drive from Kona, Hawaiian green sea turtles can be spotted on the quiet beaches of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park<\/strong><\/a>. On a recent visit, we watched as a small turtle hauled himself onto the beach to bask in the sun, while other turtles swam and fed in the shallow waters along the shoreline. En route from Kona to Volcanoes National Park, stop by the black sand Punalu\u2019u Beach<\/strong><\/a>, where you may just see the endangered sea turtles resting ashore. If not, the black sand is an attraction of its own.<\/p>\n

Where to stay: <\/strong>Holua Resort<\/a><\/p>\n

Magical manta rays <\/strong><\/h2>\n\"5\n

As the sun sets over the Big Island, the underwater show begins when boards light up, attracting plankton and their photosynthesis processes. While the eerie blue lights are kind of cool, it\u2019s when the stars of the show\u2014massive manta rays\u2014arrive that things really get exciting. These gentle, filter-feeding fish open their mouths wide and scoop up the plankton as if it\u2019s a smorgasbord set out just for them (which it is). The ballet the manta rays perform whilst eating is mesmerizing, they do barrel rolls for the best vantage point, coming within inches of snorkelers’ faces. Our guides with Hawaii Oceanic<\/strong> mentioned that there are just three spots in the world in which it\u2019s legal to snorkel with these gentle giants\u2014two are on the Big Island, the other is the Maldives.<\/p>\n

Where to stay:<\/strong> Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel<\/a><\/p>\n

Extraordinary sweets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\"5\n

There are just some foods you have to sample when visiting Hawaii, like Mai Tais, Hawaiian shave ice (one to try is Scandinavian Shave Ice<\/strong> in Kona) and traditional poi<\/em>. On the Big Island, another must-taste are the malasadas (donuts) at Punalu\u2019u Bake Sho<\/strong>p<\/strong>, the southernmost bakery in the USA. Plain or filled with tropical flavors such as mango and guava, it\u2019s easy to get carried away when ordering. On a recent visit, we also snagged a box of macadamia nut shortbread cookies. When in Hawaii, right?
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Where to stay:<\/strong> Hawaii Island Resort<\/a><\/p>\n

What’s your favorite reason to love the Big Island? Let us know in the comments below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Note: All travel is subject to frequently-changing governmental restrictions\u2014please check federal, state, and local advisories before scheduling trips. This article was last updated October 2021. When it comes to Hawaii travel, you really can\u2019t go wrong with whichever island, or islands, you choose to visit. Enticing beaches, clear waters, lush rainforests, and arid landscapes \u2014 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":24368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[159],"tags":[20,1088,277,1092,1089,448,1090,86,1091,117,131,143],"class_list":["post-22537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beach","tag-beach","tag-big-island","tag-hawaii","tag-hawaii-hotels","tag-hawaiian-islands","tag-island","tag-mai-tai","tag-nature","tag-sea-turtle","tag-snorkeling","tag-swimming","tag-volcanoes"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 Unique Reasons We Love Hawaii's Big Island ? | Travelocity<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Which Hawaiian island should you visit next? We've been known to enjoy them all, but Hawaii's Big Island holds a special place in our hearts. 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