January 24, 2023
WHITE-, BLACK- and even GREEN- SAND BEACHES abound along Hawai‘i Island’s 266-MILE COASTLINE. Check out some of these popular spots: KAUNA‘OA BEACH: At Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, this beach was named one of Travel + Leisure ’s Best Beaches in…
January 24, 2023
SNORKELING Big Island’s crystal-clear waters is an easy way to spot marine life. KEALAKEKUA BAY, an UNDER- WATER MARINE PRESERVE that is a resting area for dolphins and the site of the Captain Cook Monument, is a popular destination. So…
January 24, 2023
LU-‘AU Loosely translated, a LŪ‘AU IS A BIG FEAST with a lot of singing, dancing and fun. Lū‘au often feature homegrown ENTERTAINMENT, complete with traditional hula and POLYNESIAN FESTIVITIES. Served with a main course of kālua pig — tender, shredded…
January 24, 2023
While the hike to ‘AKAKA FALLS takes less than half an hour, the view — which attracts an estimated one million visitors a year — and fun you will experience along the way make this destination a worthwhile excursion. Start…
January 24, 2023
Anyone who climbs aboard a vessel this time of the year and heads for the open ocean off Hawai‘i Island can expect to see HUMPBACK WHALES. There are so many of them that most boat companies don’t hesitate to guarantee…
April 6, 2022
Curving gracefully around the rim of Hilo Bay, the TOWN OF HILO is nestled on the slopes of three volcanoes, and is home to nearly 41,000 residents. One of the WETTEST TOWNS in the United States, Hilo boasts a rainfall…
February 14, 2022
British CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, thought to be the first Westerner to set sight on the Hawaiian Islands, spotted the islands of O‘ahu and Kaua‘i on Jan. 18, 1778. Almost a year later, on Jan. 17, 1779, the explorer found his…
February 14, 2022
Centuries ago, Native Hawaiians carved images of humans, canoes, turtles and other forms into lava rock. And though the true meanings behind these ki‘i pōhaku , or PETROGLYPHS, are unknown, it is widely believed that these ANCIENT CARVINGS are records…
February 14, 2022
Two centuries ago, Hawaiian rulers worshipped a powerful war god named Kū . King Kamehameha the Great, who fought numerous battles to unify all the Hawaiian Islands, sought Kū’s support by building a massive stone temple 400 feet above KAWAIHAE…
January 15, 2015
PU‘UHONUA O HŌNAUNAU 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 kāhuna , or priests, were…
January 15, 2015
A slight detour off Highway 11 leads to the funky upcountry village of HŌLUALOA. You’ll know you’ve reached this eclectic little town when you see a fluorescent-pink building called KONA HOTEL . Built in 1926, the hotel is still maintained…
January 15, 2015
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…