<<<Back to Table of Contents
Ah, Hawaii. Even the word conjures up images of magnificent beaches ringed by azure water on one side and verdant cliffs on the other, with a native Polynesian culture and traditions that lend an exotic flavor unequalled anywhere else in the United States. This year, the 50th state celebrates its 50th year of statehood, so it seems appropriate to herald this crown jewel of tropical vacations. However, high prices, due to the importing of most goods, coupled with traditionally exorbitant airfares, often place it out of reach when compared to other stateside destinations, or even Mexico or the Caribbean.
These days, however, travel deals are springing up faster than the weeds in Texas yards. Hotels are slashing prices in an effort to attract consumers who are stubbornly staying home, and airfares have fallen steadily – even fares to usually pricey Hawaii. A recent search turned up a $380 fare on Continental from Austin to Honolulu in July, and other summer rates can easily be found for under $500. If you go after the high summer season, the deals get even better.
Suddenly, the islands seem closer than ever. And while Hawaii is, indeed, an idyll for couples, there is more to it by far than honeymoons and romantic strolls on a moonlit beach. The islands offer so many diverse activities and attractions that they are the perfect place for families, friends and even solo women travelers. Of the eight major Hawaiian Islands, Oahu and Maui are the most popular, making it easy to overlook the largest island that is home to an astonishing array of topographies and diversity – aptly called the Big Island.
With 11 different climate zones that create everything from lush rain forests to arid deserts and black sand beaches to snow-capped mountaintops, the Big Island is Hawaii’s playground. Only here could you go from a swimsuit in warm tropical waters to stargazing in the snow at the top of Mauna Kea – all in the same day. The island is imbued with traditional culture and history, and offers a vacation that has everything.
See an Active Volcano by Air, Sea and Land
The Big Island is home to one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea. Pele, the goddess of creation, was said to have been driven from island to island by the goddess of the sea, until Pele found sanctuary in Kilauea. When she is displeased, lava eruptions flow freely, spewing the molten rock into the air where they form droplets that scientists call Pele’s tears or glassy filaments called Pele’s hair. For the past 100 years, Kilauea has been almost continuously active, and has erupted a total of 40 times since 1924. The current ongoing eruption began on January 3rd, 1983 and wiped out several housing developments, with no indication of when it may end. The constant lava flow has added almost 500 acres of new land, and the island is still growing every day.
Seeing an active volcano with lava visibly flowing from it is an experience not likely to be forgotten, and the best viewpoint to appreciate the true power and size of Kilauea is from above. Helicopter tours fly directly over the mouth of the crater itself – an unmatched position from which to look straight into the mouth of the volcano and all of its violent steam, sulfur and lava. A helicopter tour also affords a viewing of many of Hawaii’s other amazing scenery, such as cliffs, waterfalls, macadamia nut and coffee farms, and the beautiful rolling green hillsides. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters offers first-class tours and the highest ratings for safety, with some of the most experienced pilots. The company has been featured in National Geographic, and many Hollywood films have used them including Jurassic Park, The Lost World and Pearl Harbor.
The lava itself is best seen from the sea, as day turns to night and the newest land in the world begins to glow with an inner fire. The lava flows from the caldera more than 3,700 feet to the coast, where it drops off into the ocean with enormous fury. Just before twilight, spectators gather in the dozens and sometimes hundreds on a nearby cliff to watch Mother Nature’s show of epic proportions. But nothing gets you as up close and personal as a boat. Captain “Lava Roy” Carvalho is an experienced boat tour operator who has been in business since 2005. As the sun sets in a magnificent orange and pink glow, Lava Roy’s boat races over the waves for 12 miles to where the lava meets the ocean in a hissing, steaming battle. As the captain expertly navigates to within a hundred yards of shore, visitors can clearly watch the liquid lavafalls meet the surging sea in an explosive ballet.
The expense of a helicopter or boat tour isn’t necessary, however, to get up close and personal with Pele. At Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, visitors can view the Kilauea crater from a prime overlook, as well as tour the adjacent Thomas A. Jaggar Museum with its geologic displays, working seismic equipment and videos of previous volcanic eruptions. Excellent hiking trails are throughout the park, and visitors can walk through the Thurston Lava Tube, an extinct lava tunnel once created by flow from Kilauea. By car, The Chain of Craters Road provides a 40-mile drive that takes about three hours round-trip and offers spectacular vistas of both the volcano and its surrounding rainforest. Guests can stay overnight at Volcano House hotel, and campgrounds are also available within the park.
Experience the Underwater World of Mystery
Of course, no visit to Hawaii would be complete without the beach and ocean. The Big Island has a unique selection of beaches, offering white, black and green sand. The Pacific Ocean waters provide one of the most unique eco-systems in the world, filled with diverse life including green sea turtles, humpback whales, spinner dolphins and giant manta rays. All kinds of water activities are popular in Hawaii, from surfing, kayaking and sailing to diving and snorkeling.
Combining some of these into one multi-sport adventure is sure to result in an incredible day. A popular trip is to kayak the mile-and-a-half across Kealakekua Bay to the Captain Cook Monument, commemorating the spot where the first European visitor to the Hawaiian Islands died. With its calm, sheltered water, extensive coral reef and abundance of underwater life, Kealakekua Bay provides superior snorkeling and diving year round. Inaccessible by car, most people kayak to the monument and pull ashore there to snorkel or dive for the day. Spinner dolphins frequent Kealakekua Bay and will often swim alongside the kayakers, and large sea turtles often lounge in the shallow waters offshore.
One of the most amazing, almost mystical, ocean encounters one can have anywhere is night diving or snorkeling with the giant manta rays. The Travel Channel calls the Manta Ray experience one of the “Top 10 Things to Do in Your Lifetime.” Just off the Kona Coast, a community of the rays feeds on plankton just offshore each night, drawn by the lights that spill out over the water from the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort. The creatures are gentle and non-territorial, with no barbs or teeth, gliding silently through the waves as if flying with their wingspans of up to twelve feet. The phosphorescence of the plankton gives an eerie bluish-white glow to the graceful rays, with their whale-like mouths open wide to screen the plankton through.
Steep Yourself in Hawaii’s Unique Cultural Traditions
Of course, no visit to Hawaii would be complete without a lu’au. The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort, just meters from the manta ray’s waters, offers a dinner and show called Firenesia every Monday night. With great drama and exhilarating dance, the performers demonstrate their tremendous skill and incredible grace, combined with traditional lu’au dishes at the water’s edge on Keauhou Bay.
The birthplace of Hawaii’s great King Kamehameha III, Keauhou Bay is rich with historical sites. Just a few miles south, Pu’uhonua o Honaunau national park – or “Place of Refuge” – is 180 acres of ancient sacred homes of the chiefs, royal palaces and temples. Beautiful at sunset, this sacred place gives visitors an important glimpse into ancient Hawaiian culture.
Further north in Kohala, you can hike through the Valley of the Kings, known as Waipio, where waterfalls rush over the edge of steep green cliffs and drop off into the ocean. Or, walk the one-and-half-mile Malama Trail to view the 1,200 petroglyphs found at Puakõ Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve. A total of 3,000 designs have been identified, including paddlers, dancers, animals and deity symbols, providing a fascinating view into the lives of ancient Hawaiians.
While you are soaking up the rays and sipping tropical beverages, why not catch up on a little bit of reading about Hawaii? Written by former Austin resident Gaellen Quinn, The Last Aloha explores the deep recesses of Hawaii’s history.
MORE INFO
GoHawaii.com is the official tourism site for the state, where in-depth sightseeing and travel planning information can be found.
www.gohawaii.com
WEB EXCLUSIVE
If You Go:
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters offers tours on the Big Island, Kauai, Oahu and Maui, from $182 - $462 depending on the tour and length. The also offer inter-island flights. They can be reached at 1.800.745.BLUE or www.bluehawaiian.com.
Lava Roy Boat Tours are $150 for a 2.5-hour tour, and are restricted to ages six and up. Lava Roy can be reached at 808.883.1122 or volcanooceanadventures.com.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours every day of the year. Entrance fees are $10 per vehicle and $5 per hiker or bicyclist. The Kilauea Visitor Center is open from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. For more information call 808.985.6000 or visit www.nps/gov/havo.
Captain Cook Monument is free and open to the public daily. Kayak and snorkel rentals are available at a reasonable price from many nearby shops. For more information, visit http://www.letsgo-hawaii.com/captcook.
Sea Paradise offers daily sails at $89 for adults and $59 for children 4-12, which includes all equipment. The catamaran is also available for private charters. They can be reached at 800. 322.5662 or www.seaparadise.com.
Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort offers rooms starting at $129, and the Firenesia lu’au and show each Monday. For information call 866.716.8109 or visit www.sheratonkeauhou.com.
TOP 5 WAYS TO GET OFF THE
BEATEN PATH ON HAWAII’S BIG ISLAND:
5. Browse the vibrant Hilo’s Farmer Market.
4. Visit the bird preserve of Kipuka Pualuu before
attempting the challenging trail up Mauna Loa.
3. Explore the charming arts and culture in the town of Holualoa.
2. Cautiously hike the many trails along Kilauea Caldera.
1. Hike between the lush, 2000-foot cliffs of Waipio Valley,
King Kamehameha’s boyhood playground.
WEB EXCLUSIVE BOOK REVIEW
The Last Aloha: A Perfect Beach Read
An Intriguing Look into Hawaii’s history
By Kira Taniguchi
While you are soaking up the rays and sipping tropical beverages, why not catch up on a little bit of reading about Hawaii? Written by former Austin resident Gaellen Quinn, The Last Aloha explores the deep recesses of Hawaii’s history.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hawaii’s statehood, and for the first time, you can relish in its full history from monarchy to annexation.
Inspired by true events, The Last Aloha is a historical novel that takes place in the 19th century. It details the final days of the monarchy and the Queen’s struggle to save her throne.
The novel follows Laura Jennings as she makes her way to Hawaii in 1886 in an attempt to minister to the savages. Instead, she finds a prosperous society on the brink of turmoil. Follow Jennings as a scheme by the missionary party to overthrow the Queen Lili`uokalani unfolds.
Quinn’s extensive research through original 19th and 20th century documents, conversations with the natives and visits to the original sites make her book more thorough than any other.
Quinn’s work with the Mona Foundation, which supports educational initiatives that raise the status of women and girls globally, has allowed her to work with such countries such as Brazil, Cambodia, India, Tanzania, Honduras, Panama and Haiti. She recently moved to Molokai, Hawaii from Austin.
In 2008, The Last Aloha was a Texas manuscript winner in historical fiction in the Texas Writers’ League contest. It was also a semifinalist in the Amazon.com/Penguin Books Novel Contest.
For more information about Quinn, where to purchase the book and upcoming events, please visit the website www.gaellenquinn.com.
(Above)
The cover of The Last Aloha written by author Gaellen Quinn.
Photo courtesy PR by the Book
Author of The Last Aloha,
Gaellen Quinn
Photo by Patty Mora Photography