Archive for the ‘big island’ Category
Lava Breakout at Night! (Big Island, Hawaii)
February 19th, 2010 | 
Author: 
In September 2002, we took our third trip to the Big Island. We came here simply because we had seen on the news that Pu’u ‘O’o was sending surface flows close to the end of Chain of Craters Road in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
We were here a year earlier and had to hike about 2.5 miles over the lava fields to reach the surface flows. We felt that if we could see them without a repeat of such great effort, it would be well worth the expense.
We were correct!
We ventured down to the end of Chain of Craters Road on two consecutive mornings before dawn and found the lava crossing right at the end of the road. Even if you were wheelchair bound, you could have accessed these flows!
As we looked uphill towards Pu’u ‘O’o we saw nothing but black with glowing tiny streams of orange coming towards us. With clouds blocking most light from moon and stars, the majority of light came from the glowing lava. It was rather eerie to see the orange streams glowing in the middle of all that darkness.
We walked out onto the flows to get a closer look.
I found an interesting spot where the lava was flowing slowly on both sides. I set up my tripod and video camera and started recording.
This video segment is simply a breakout that happened no more than 30 feet from my position. I was just glad to be able to see it from such close proximity.
Duration : 0:0:52
Are there good beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii?
I want to take a trip to the big island of hawaii, but I don’t want to sacrifice the whole Maui experience of the beaches and sun. I know there are something like 11 climates on the big island, will there be good beaches in one of them?
Actually the big island doesn’t have many good beaches. Because it is a new island (and is still growing) most of the beaches are pure lava rock!
There are mainly two sides of the big island there is kona and there is hilo.
Kona is busy busy lots of shopping and stuff, we like to call it kona-fornia :]
Hilo is the greener side of the island, its also colder! Its really pretty and green! If you are on that side you should go to the Botanical Gardens and the Lava Tree Forest and maybe even go visit the volcano! I’m not sure it’s still erupting, but it’s still really cool! :] There are also these really cool natural steam vents! I don’t know the directions or anything but I’m sure if you look it up you will find it :]
If you want beaches and sun you should come to Kauai! That’s where I live, its really nice here! The south side is really beautiful, although there is quite a bit of construction going on! Its really warm and friendly, and its the oldest island and has the BEST beaches.
Hope I helped :]
Is there a resort on Maui similar to the Hilton Waikaloa Village on the Big Island?
My husband and 4 year old and I went to Hilton’s Waikaloa Village on the Big Island last year and found it truly amazing, perfect for a little kid and grown-ups too. This year we want to go to Maui and are looking for a place similar to that. We don’t need dolphins, but loved the lagoon swimming area and all the different pools and restaurants and trams and boats. Let me know, I’ll pick the best answer!
I know for Hilton there is the Grand Wailea Resort which is part of the Waldorf=Astoria Collection. It is not the same as the Waikaloa, but recently finished up some renovations as well.
Bite-sized news from the Big Island of Hawaii.What is a website to find things to do on big island?
I am going to Big Island and I want to plan things to do.
Big Island , you mean Hawaii ? Click on this link for lots of info.
http://www.bigisland.org/
Raj picks Big B as Uddhav busy with SRK
Raj Thackeray is once again trying to hijack Shiv Sena’s agenda. While clearly sidestepping the SRK versus Shiv Sena standoff, the MNS leader has called on his former political party to take on Big B instead.
Duration : 0:1:37
Posted in big island | 
Tags: Amitabh Bachchan, Kamlesh Sutar, Mumbai Marathi, newsx, Raj Thackeray, Shah Rukh Khan, Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray | 
4 Comments »
Can you see active lava flows on the Big Island?
We are going to the Big Island in mid March. Where can you go to see active lava flows? Any advice would be much appreciated?
The big island is a beautiful place to visit.
Did you know it is home of one of the largest cattle ranches in the USA?
To really appreciate it I really recommend taking one of the helicopter tours.
Will find it to be well worth the money. And take the extended tours. Covers all of the interesting sites. And you can even buy a copy of the video the take on each tour-show people back home what you viewed.
Which hotel should I stay at on the Big Island of Hawaii?
I will most likely be staying on the big island in March 2010, which hotel is affordable and nice? Thanks in advance!
(Hello again).
It depends on what your definition of "affordable" is. The mega-resorts in the Kohala area in the northwest area, north from Kailua-Kona are almost all isolated 5-star luxury resorts in the middle of lava fields. As the other answerer said, the Hilton Waikoloa is fun, having little boat canals that can take you from point to point within the resort. It is one of the least expensive in the Kohala area, compared to the Four Seasons Hualalai, the Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea, etc.
If you are going to the Big Island to tour, these are a bit far from the sites and also are expensive. My recommendation is to stay in Kailua-Kona or slightly south in the suburb of Keauhou. There is also a micro-climate in this area that makes it lush and tropical…further north in Kohala is dry and barren; I still don’t understand why they put luxury mega-resorts up there!!
I think the best buy right now is the 4-star Keauhou Beach Resort. It is in a pretty setting near some archeological sites, has a small (rare!) beach next to it. Service is great and I think it is glamorous for the price.
http://www.keauhoubeachresort-hawaii.com/?src=TIG-KBR-PPC-April012009-Google-KeauhouBrand-Breakfast
If you want to spend a bit more, I’ve also stayed at the 4-star Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort which used to be the 5-star Kona Surf. This is really glamorous (if slightly dated looking like 1960-style Acapulco resorts), sitting on a solid black lava outcropping on the south edge of Keauhou Bay. Service is only average, but at night this is where the manta rays come to shore, attracted by the plankton which is attracted to the lights the resort shines on the water. Warning: You have to pay for parking your car here, and other "added optional fees" so beware.
http://www.sheratonkeauhou.com/
If you want to be near the small town of Kailua-Kona in a fun location, the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel FINALLY reopened, and thank God prices are only a bit higher. Lots of locals like staying here because it was clean and a great buy. This is a great little town you will enjoy.
http://www.konabeachhotel.com/
If you will be hiking in the rain forest around Hilo and visiting the volcano (and I know you will based on your other question!) you may want to spend one or two nights on the other (eastern) side of the island so you don’t have to drive back-and-forth 3-4 hours each way, each day. There really are no good hotels on this side, but my brother just stayed in Hilo at the Castle Hilo Hotel for $100/night, thought it was average..and this is the best hotel in Hilo. If you check tripadvisor, they will say that the tiny Dolphin Bay Hotel has better ratings now (and is cheaper) and frankly that is where I am going to book the next time.
http://www.dolphinbayhotel.com/
Ancient Lava Tube Exits Over the Water (Big Island, Hawaii)
***APRIL 2008 UPDATE:*** They have sealed this lava tube! For photos, go to this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/17144603@N02/sets/72157604748683242/
We had a very unique experience on The Big Island’s southwestern shore. Hiking south along the coastal trail from Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau, we found the lava tube mentioned in our guidebook. It was a tough crawl through the center of it, but once we reached the end, we had a unique perch.
The lava tube ends abruptly over the water. It was about 20 feet or so down to the water. And the water looked deep enough for us to jump. However, we did not indulge.
While we stood there snapping some photos and taping our experience, a small tour boat came along and slipped into a cave below us.
Duration : 0:1:29
What’s a good hotel, with a sandy beach, on the Kona coast on the big island of Hawaii?
We would like a three- or four-star hotel that has a sandy beach on the Kona coast of the big island.
I’d prefer it walking distance from town, although we will have a rental car. I just like to walk when possible!
The main things we want are a hotel (not a condo), a sandy beach, a good restaurant or two on-site or nearby, and good ocean views.
Many of the properties on the Internet seem to be condos, and we prefer a hotel.
Mahalo!
you are not going to find any hotel within walking distance of Kona Village with a sandy beach. The only hotel I am aware of that has a sandy beach is the Mauna Kea about 15-20 minutes away from the village. It’s a man made beach and very big but I heard the hotel was still closed from the earthquake. I could be completely wrong on that but you should check it out first of course.
Sorry but there are very few sandy beaches, especially large ones, on the Kona coast. Most of the big island’s coast is volcanic rock.