Go Beyond the Normal Tourist Attractions
The Island of Hawaii is more often called the “Big Island” to avoid confusion. It provides a little bit of what each of the Hawaiian isles boasts, making it a great pick if you only have time to visit one. The terrain is incredibly diverse and, as the largest island in the archipelago by far, there are 4,028 square miles to explore.
Discover everything from black-sand beaches and magnificent waterfalls to powdery, white sands and colorful flowers to tasty cuisine and so much more. If you’re looking for its best-kept secrets, you’ll find them here in this Big Island Hawaii travel guide.
One of the World’s Only Green-Sand Beaches
There’s a reason why Big Island is a great location for a beach Christmas vacation — there are so many lovely stretches of sand to choose from. And unique ones, at that.
At Papakolea Beach, you’ll find one of just three green-sand beaches on the planet. The beach is made up of tiny olivine crystals that washed out of Pu’u Mahana, a 49,000-year-old cinder cone located near the waters of Mahana Bay. It’s those crystals that give the sand its impressive green hue.
Magma is rich in olivine, and it’s generally one of the first crystals to form as the lava cools. You may also hear it referred to as the “Hawaiian diamond.” The crystals are particularly dense which helps them to accumulate on the beach without being washed away.
As with many of the best things, Papakolea isn’t all that easy to get to but it makes for a great adventure. From either Kona or Hilo, it’s about a two-hour drive to the the parking lot and trail head. From there, you’ll take a two-mile trek with a rugged descent before reaching the emerald-colored sands.
These days, there are locals waiting with trucks who are willing to let visitors ride in the back down to the beach for a relatively small fee.
The Volcano Winery
The only winery on the Big Island is the Volcano Winery. It’s the southernmost winery in the United States and is located at an elevation of 4,000 feet on the slopes of an active volcano close to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It’s sandwiched between two volcanoes, the lava-covered landscape allowing the grape vines to really thrive and flourish.
Of course, running a successful Hawaiian vineyard comes with unique challenges, such as the ability to adapt techniques conducive to the climate, the higher costs to import supplies, and the difficulty finding workers who are experienced.
But the winemakers say the setting has inspired them to incorporate local ingredients that aren’t usually found in wine — such as pineapple and macadamia nuts — into their wines, giving them a unique twist.
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Sea Turtles and Punalu’u Black-Sand Beach
The green-sand beach isn’t the only uniquely colored stretch of sand on the shores of the Big Island. Punalu’u black-sand beach is made up of striking jet-black sands that are formed when the lava flows into the ocean nearby. The difference in temperature between the molten lava and the water results in the lava cooling into basalt so rapidly that it explodes.
Waves further pound it into fine grains that wash up here. But it’s not just the unique sand that makes this one of the best beaches on Big Island, it’s also the wildlife you’re likely to spot as this is where dozens of sea turtles come to lounge, snooze and soak up the sunshine.
Between the sea turtles, the jet-black sand, brilliant blue waters and lush green coconut palms, the entire scene is jaw-droppingly surreal.
Kona Coffee Living History Farm
Pure Kona coffee is grown only in north and south Kona on the Big Island, making it relatively rare, so if you’re a coffee enthusiast you’ll definitely want to try some while you’re here. You can also take a tour and learn how it’s grown at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm.
The high elevation, constant cloud cover and rich volcanic soil found in its upland slopes create the ideal environment for harvesting this unique Hawaiian coffee bean. While there are countless coffee farms here, Kona Coffee Living History Farm provides one of the best visitor experiences, offering the chance to learn about locally grown coffee as well as sample lush Hawaiian fruits such as guavas, passion fruit and Kona oranges.
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See Fiery Lava and Brilliant Stars Light up the Sky at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The landscape at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park literally changes right before your very eyes. Home to Kilauea volcano, one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, this is your chance to watch the primal process of creation and destruction as well as to learn more about how the Hawaiian Islands were formed.
It encompasses some 330,000 acres, from the summit of Maunaloa to the sea, with 150 miles of hiking trails that wind through rainforests, desert terrain and volcanic craters. If you have the chance, go after dark and you may be able to see the fiery red lava flow into the sea — an extraordinary sight. Stick around afterward for some of the best stargazing on earth.