Hawaii's Big Island Vacation Travel Guide - Trip Advisor & Booking
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00:00Hawaii's Big Island Vacation Guide
00:04The Big Island truly lives up to its name as the world's largest island.
00:08You could put the entire major Hawaiian chain twice inside just one island.
00:13The Big Island, amid the Pacific Ocean, is about the same area as the state of Connecticut
00:19at around 4,050 square miles and is constantly increasing because of the Kilauea volcano
00:26on the island's eastern coast.
00:28Geographically unique, the Big Island boasts everything from black sand beaches to snow-covered
00:33peaks from hardened lava deserts to steamy and lush rainforests.
00:39Choosing which part of the island to explore can be challenging as it spans various climates
00:44and features multiple landscapes.
00:48Explore our guide of Hawaii's Big Island to learn more about some of the best activities,
00:53sights and experiences that await you there.
00:56Hey there!
00:57If you're new here, welcome to our channel.
01:00We provide vacation travel guides for some of the most adventurous regions around the
01:04world.
01:05In this video, we'll be providing a travel guide for anyone planning to explore the Big
01:09Island of Hawaii.
01:11Before we begin, please hit those like and subscribe buttons below to help our channel
01:15grow.
01:16The Big Island of Hawaii is the most substantial of the eight major islands and 124 smaller
01:22islands that make up the Hawaiian archipelago.
01:26Various volcanic islands make up the archipelago which stretches in a crescent shape across
01:31the central Pacific Ocean from Kerr Island in the northwest to the Big Island of Hawaii
01:37in the east.
01:39The only problem with enjoying island life is that there are usually too many unmissable
01:43activities to fit into the average visitor's stay of eight days on the Big Island.
01:49You can walk through moss-green rainforests to see wispy waterfalls and exotic birds,
01:55drive along its coastline for views over sheer cliffs and turquoise waves, or venture
02:01underwater to swim among kaleidoscopic marine life.
02:05Today's guide will make getting the most of your visit a little easier by reviewing all
02:10of your options.
02:12Things to do on the Big Island
02:15Snorkeling
02:17The warm tropical waters and incredibly diverse marine life that may be found in Hawaii have
02:22made the state famous.
02:24Snorkeling is one of the best ways to explore the breathtaking underwater world surrounding
02:29the Big Island, which is filled with tropical fish of varying sizes and hues.
02:34The waters around the Big Island are teeming with tropical fish.
02:38Take a manta ray night snorkeling tour for a truly unforgettable experience.
02:44The guides use specially designed diving lights that are safe for manta rays and attract plankton.
02:49Although these ghostly but elegant creatures can be seen during daylight hours, they feed
02:54most actively after dark when plankton rise towards the surface.
03:00Sunset summits and stargazing tours
03:04Most of Mauna Kea is underwater, and if you measure it from its base on the ocean floor,
03:09it's the world's tallest mountain at more than 33,000 feet.
03:13It's considered by many Hawaiians to be the most sacred place in all the islands.
03:18The peak is also the home of an array of advanced telescopes.
03:23High on the summit of Mauna Kea, the average temperature drops to around freezing, so bring
03:28winter clothes.
03:30We recommend taking an official tour so your expert guide can explain Hawaii's remarkable
03:35natural, cultural, and geological history.
03:39After watching the sunset from the peak, descend to the Visitor's Information Station.
03:43Here you can gaze through telescopes and marvel at the brilliance of the Hawaiian night sky
03:48as you enjoy hot beverages and cookies.
03:51You may notice the strange orange and pink hues put out by streetlights on the big island.
03:57They are sodium lights used to ensure that the views from Mauna Kea are unpolluted.
04:01Your guide will share information and stories, providing a personal and educational look
04:05at the heavens.
04:08Dolphin watching tours
04:11Many tour companies now offer dolphin swimming and snorkeling experiences, as swimming with
04:16dolphins and snorkeling are a natural pairing.
04:18However, as of October 2021, dropping people into the sea near dolphins is illegal or approaching
04:25them deliberately.
04:26So, if you want to see dolphins in a way that doesn't harm them, one option is to go on
04:31a snorkeling cruise that visits areas with thriving dolphin populations.
04:36These dolphins frequently swim alongside boats and enjoy playing in the wake.
04:42Top Places to Visit on the Big Island
04:45Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
04:48The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, is a living, breathing witness to
04:55the incredible force of nature.
04:57This charcoal-gray, volatile landscape is constantly changing.
05:02There aren't many other places where you can walk past cinder cones, bubbling lava,
05:07and vents angrily puffing out steam.
05:09The national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve in
05:16recognition of its unique natural value.
05:20The park is situated 30 miles southwest of Hilo and 96 miles southeast of Kona.
05:26The park is about 4,000 feet above sea level and spans 333,000 acres of natural beauty.
05:33You should spend a minimum of two days exploring the park because there is so much to see and
05:38do there.
05:39The establishment is available all year round at any hour.
05:43Explore the park with a private local guide who will tailor the day to your interests
05:47and tell you about the powerful volcanic forces that helped to create the island.
05:52You might drive down Chain of Craters Road to see where flowing lava crossed the road
05:56in 2003, or take a walk through rainforest to see a lava tube.
06:02You also have the option to fly above the park on a one-hour helicopter ride.
06:07You'll pass over lava flows, black sand beaches, tropical rainforests, and Kilauea, the USA's
06:13only constantly erupting volcano.
06:16Palolo Valley is the most northern of the impressive valleys that are carved into the
06:23Kohala Volcano at the lush green pastures of the Kohala region on the Big Island.
06:29The spectacular views of the valley and the steep cliffs that end in the ocean are worth
06:34a trip of their own, but the real thing to do here is hiking to the black sand beach
06:39at the valley floor.
06:41On a clear day, the valley's rich green carpet of flora contrasts with the brilliant
06:46blue and green of the ocean as it crashes against the rocks.
06:50The valley's internal creases and folds are easily seen after a short hike to the
06:55overlook, where they descend to the valley floor in a lush, verdant carpet.
07:01Ironwood trees stand in neat rows, creating a natural barrier between the green valley
07:07and the beach of coarse black sand that leads directly into the water.
07:12The Palolo Lookout gives you a magnificent view over Palolo Valley and the impressive
07:17sea cliffs that slowly crumble into the ocean.
07:20If you are visiting in the winter months, this is a great place to try and sea hunt
07:24back whales.
07:27Akaka Falls State Park
07:29Akaka Falls State Park is a beautiful tropical oasis with two stunning waterfalls located
07:35on the Hamakua Coast in the northeast.
07:38The path leading up to the Akaka Falls is almost as picturesque as the waterfall.
07:43Take a left after a short flight of stairs and you'll find yourself surrounded by
07:47lush vegetation and little waterfalls that feed into babbling streams.
07:53The pleasant 0.4-mile uphill hike will take you through a lush rainforest filled with
07:58wild orchids, bamboo groves, and draping ferns.
08:02The waterfall's muted roar will greet you long before you see it.
08:06After a short turn, you'll see Akaka Falls, plunging 442 feet into a verdant ravine.
08:14Beautiful Akaka Falls is perhaps the island of Hawaii's most famous waterfall.
08:18Easily accessible, this hike takes less than an hour.
08:23Puanua o Honaunau Historical Park
08:27Located in Honaunau Bay in South Kona, Puanua o Honaunau immerses you in Hawaiian culture.
08:34This 180-acre National Historic Park was once the home of royal grounds and a place
08:40of refuge for ancient Hawaiian lawbreakers.
08:43Kapu, or sacred laws, were of utmost importance to Hawaiian culture, and the breaking of Kapu
08:49had its consequences, including death.
08:52If one were to break Kapu, their only chance for survival was to evade his pursuers and
08:57make it to a Puanua, or a sacred place of refuge.
09:01Once there, a ceremony of absolution would take place, and the one who broke Kapu would
09:06be able to return to society.
09:09Hundreds of years old yet beautifully restored, Puanua o Honaunau remains one of Hawaii's
09:15most sacred historic places.
09:17Follow the park and map, and take a self-guided walking tour and explore the grounds including
09:22the Great Wall, Fierce Key, or wooden images of gods, guard the Halo Kiwi Heiau, a sacred
09:28temple that housed the bones of 23 chiefs, a black lava rock shoreline hindered those
09:34who broke Kapu from approaching by sea.
09:37Beyond the Puanua, explore the nearby royal grounds, which were the sacred home of Ali,
09:43Sikeonele Cove, the Royal Canoe Landing, the Kiowa Stone, the favorite resting place of
09:50the High Chief of Kona, Kiowa, thatched workhouses, fishponds, and a sacred temple that is one
09:56of the oldest structures in the park.
09:59Beautiful at sunset, this sacred place gives visitors an important glimpse into early Hawaiian
10:04culture.
10:06Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
10:10The Hawaii Tropical Bioserving Garden attracts photographers, gardeners, scientists, and
10:15nature lovers from around the world.
10:18One of the most gorgeous places in Hawaii, this rainforest preserve is widely regarded
10:23as one of the world's most breathtaking natural wonders.
10:26There is new flora around every bend.
10:29Using the garden's map as a guide, you can leisurely wander around its many areas and
10:34lose track of time for hours.
10:36It's a magical place where paths and bridges guide you over mountain-fed streams and waterfalls
10:42into awe-inspiring views of Onamea Bay along the beautiful Hamakua Coast.
10:49Waipio Valley
10:52Waipio Valley is the biggest and southernmost of seven valleys on the windward side of the
10:57Kuala Mountains.
10:59It can be found along the Hamakua Coast in the northeastern part of the Big Island of
11:04Hawaii.
11:05Waipio is named for the river that cuts between the valley walls, giving way to waterfalls
11:11until eventually flowing into the ocean at a black sand beach.
11:16Natural forces and the passage of time have sculpted an impossibly large valley with towering
11:22emerald cliffs and cascading waterfalls.
11:25Hovering its surface are forests and carefully tended taro patches punctuated by the scattered
11:31dwellings of its few inhabitants.
11:34All-inspiring volcanic valleys and gorges filled with rainforest vegetation.
11:38Though you can hike down into the valley and throughout it, it will be on paved and non-paved
11:43roads, not hiking trails.
11:46You can venture to the large black sand beach at the bay or to the rear of the valleys to
11:51see large waterfalls.
11:54Kilauea-Iki Trail
11:56This popular trail traces the northern rim of the Kilauea-Iki crater and then returns
12:02to the trailhead across the center of the crater itself.
12:05It's an exciting and easy hike that crosses warm 50-year-old lava with steam issuing from
12:11cracks in the earth.
12:12The duration of the Kilauea-Iki loop is around two to four hours and covers about four miles.
12:19It goes around the outside of the crater, then drops down and over the bottom before
12:23climbing back up to the lookout point.
12:26Along the rim of Crater Lake, the Crater Rim Trail passes through a verdant, high-altitude
12:31jungle full of Ohio trees in full bloom and swaying ferns.
12:38Hot Beaches on the Big Island
12:41One of the best things to do on the Big Island is to relax on one of the island's beautiful
12:45beaches, which are also excellent for snorkeling, surfing, or anything else.
12:51The beaches of the Big Island have been consistently voted among the best beaches in the world.
12:56Amazing white sand beaches coexist with black sand beaches and even a green sand beach in
13:01this region.
13:03Some like Mauna Kea Beachfront Hotel Resorts, while others like Makala Wena remained unencumbered
13:10by modern tourism.
13:11Here are a few of our favorites.
13:14Makala Wena Beach
13:16Makala Wena might be the best beach on the Big Island that can't be reached by road.
13:21There are several bays scooped out of the Kona Coast with gorgeous white sand and plentiful
13:26shade from palm trees.
13:28The hike out to Makala Wena keeps the crowds away, especially on weekdays.
13:33This private stretch of white sand is interrupted by jagged lava rocks.
13:38Near the northern end of the dunes, where picnic tables and several wild chickens await,
13:43palms and other trees line the sand.
13:46You probably won't see many other people here, so you may relax in peace on the island's
13:50most beautiful beach.
13:53Hapuna Beach State Park
13:55Travel down the volcanic western coastline of the Kohala Coast and follow the signs to
14:01find a spectacular oasis that has earned a reputation as one of the island of Hawaii's
14:06finest beaches.
14:08One of the largest of the island's white sand beaches, Hapuna Beach has consistently
14:12been rated on international top 10 lists of the island's best beaches.
14:17Hapuna also offers consistently good conditions for swimming, bodyboarding, sunbathing, and
14:23snorkeling.
14:24During the early part of the year, it's possible to spot migrating whales in the distance as
14:28well.
14:29The ocean is usually calm in the summer, but the winter surf can be dangerous.
14:33Before venturing inside, make sure the area is safe.
14:37The south end of the beach has a good selection of fish and coral for snorkelers.
14:41It is also an easy beach to visit.
14:44You'll find ample parking, along with food vendors, picnic areas, restrooms, and showers.
14:50Beat the south Kohala heat by taking a dip in the warm waters at Hapuna Beach.
14:56Kwa Bay
14:58Kwa Bay, also known as Maniniauale Beach, is a beautiful stretch of sand on the big island
15:04that was formerly inaccessible due to the presence of lava.
15:08However, now that a multi-million dollar road has been paved right through the lava, visitors
15:13can easily access and enjoy this big island treasure.
15:17Kwa Beach has everything you may need for a fun day out – restrooms, showers, water,
15:22grills, and picnic tables.
15:25Weekends see a huge influx of visitors, and parking there can be a headache.
15:30So visiting during the week may be preferable.
15:32There is almost no shade at the beach, so bring sun cover if you plan to stay for an
15:36extended amount of time.
15:38We also recommend taking your own food and drink since you cannot buy anything at the
15:42beach.
15:43When the waves are down, this is one of the nicest places in Kona to go swimming.
15:47However, if the surf is high and the waves are crashing, you should stay out of the water.
15:53Sunsets at Kwa Bay are spectacular, so if your itinerary has enough room for a late
15:58beach visit, this is certainly something we recommend.
16:03That sums up our travel guide for your next adventure on the Big Island of Hawaii.
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16:20Thanks for watching, have a great day, and stay tuned for more soon!