The Big Island

The Big Island

Nicknamed the Big Island, Hawai’i is the largest island located in the US state of Hawaii, and is the largest, most south-eastern of the islands. It is said to have been names after the legendary Polynesian navigator who discovered it.

The island is built from five separate shield volcanoes, Kohala which is extinct, Muana Kea which is dormant, Hualalai which is active, Mauna Loa which is active and partly lies within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and Kilauea which is active and has been continuously erupting since 1983, this volcano is also part of Hawai’i Volcanoes National park.

The island offers diverse terrains from coloured sandy beaches, such as Papakolea which is green and Punalu’u which is black, and lush rainforest. It is also popular with tourists interested in snorkelling due to the variety of marine life and coral reefs, with the most popular sites being Hapuna Beach and Kahalu’u Beach Park, located in the west of the island.

There are 8 National Protected areas on the island, with the most popular being Hawai’i Volcanoes national park, as it offers dramatic volcanic landscapes, as well as glimpses of rare flora and fauna. The park was designated as an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980, and a World Heritage site in 1987.

The Hawaiian Islands have a tropical climate, with the best time to travel from May to September.