Two centuries ago, Hawaiian rulers worshiped a powerful war god called Ku. King Kamehameha I, who fought numerous battles to unify all the Hawaiian islands, sought Ku’s support by building a massive stone temple 400 feet above Kawaihae Harbor in North Kohala. Construction of the 20-foot-high lava rock temple, or heiau, began in 1790 and… Continue »
Not far from Hilo, two public gardens are laid out in exquisite natural environments: the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden and the World Botanical Gardens & Waterfalls. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, opened in 1984, is nestled in a 40-acre valley edged by the Pacific Ocean. Here you’ll find a vast variety of orchids, palms, heliconias, gingers,… Continue »
Located north of Honoka‘a on the Hamakua Coast, Waipi‘o valley is the largest and southernmost of the seven valleys on the windward side of the Kohala Mountains. Measuring 1 mile wide at the coast and almost 6 miles deep, the Eden-like valley is sheltered by cliffs reaching almost 2,000 feet. Waterfalls and flowers cascade from… Continue »
Festivals abound on the Big Island and make for great day-long excursions that don’t require spending big bucks. Instead, sample mango, listen to a variety of Hawaiian music, or take part in honoring King Kamehameha, who united the Hawaiian Islands in the early 1800s. All you will need is a small amount of cash, sunscreen,… Continue »
More than a century ago, a Big Island sugar plantation manager introduced macadamia nuts to the island. Although native to Australian rainforests, mac nuts thrived in Hawai‘i, and the state became the site of the world’s first commercial plantations. Today, these delicious, hard-shelled nuts are one of the Big Island’s largest crops. Macadamia nuts aren’t… Continue »
Get up-close and personal with fascinating Sea Horses and Sea Dragons at Ocean Rider. The world’s only living a breeding gene bank of Sea Horses and Sea Dragons provides an experience that combines science, education and conservation. Ocean Rider’s founders wanted to inspire ocean awareness and “eliminate the need to take wild seahorses” as people… Continue »
Located at Keahole Point, 1 mile south of the Kona International Airport, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Authority is a sprawling, 800-acre complex populated by entrepreneurs engaged in innovative technology and product development. Here, the State of Hawai‘i is developing an array of renewable energy sources that are uniquely available at this location. Here,… Continue »
Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau was, in ancient times, the destination for people seeking asylum from severe penalties imposed on all who broke kapu (taboo) laws. Once inside the compound’s 10-foot walls, sanctuary was guaranteed. The resident kahuna, or priests, were obligated to offer absolution to all fugitives no matter how great or small the infraction. Refuges… Continue »
Early Hawaiians used a system of land management that was defined by wedge-shaped land divisions that stretched from the uplands to the ocean. Called ahupua‘a, these land divisions were environmentally sound and fostered good stewardship practices among the occupants of each division. One of the best ways to grasp ahupua‘a land management is to visit… Continue »
The largest astronomical observatory in the world is located at the 13,796-foot summit of Mauna Kea. Here, international scientists work with a sophisticated array of telescopes to gather data about the vast celestial universe. The mountain currently houses 13 working telescopes and plans have been announced to build another – slated to be the largest… Continue »
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