About The Big Island

The island of Hawaii is generally referred to as the “Big Island” so as to distinguish it from the state of Hawaii.

This name is given because of its enormous size in comparison to the other islands in the chain. The land mass of the "Big Island” is nearly twice the size of all the other Hawaiian Islands combined. Landscapes are extremely varied and include desolate lava flows, lush coastal valleys, rolling pastures, drylands and rainforests.

The “Big Island” is the youngest island and the only one still growing. The volcano, Kilauea, has added over 300 acres to the island just since its latest series of eruptions began in 1983.

The mountains create a huge barrier that blocks the moist northeasterly trade winds, dumping vast rainfall on the windward coast (eastern side) and depriving the leeward (western side) of the Big Island making it its driest region. The Kona and Kohala coasts, on this sunny western side, have the island’s best beaches. The windward coast is humid and tropical with rainforests, deep ravines and impressive waterfalls.

Some of the highlights of the Big Island include the Parker Ranch, the largest privately owned cattle ranch in the US, as well as many noteworthy historical sites. The Big Island boasts The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with its live volcanoes, Hilo (the oldest city in Hawaii), and Kona on the dry, sunny west coast that attracts the visitors.

Mauna Kea at 13,796 feet is the highest point in the Hawaiian Islands. It extends 19,680 feet below sea level to the ocean floor and when measured from its base is the highest mountain in the world.

Rainfall and temperatures vary more with location than with the seasons. The leeward northwest coast between Lapakahi and Waikoloa is the driest region in the state. Kawaihae, in the center of this strip, averages less than 10 inches of rain a year.

Elevation makes enough of a difference that even within the city of Hilo, located on the coast and climbing into the foothills, annual rainfall ranges from 130  to 200 inches. On the other side of the island, on the beaches of Kailua-Kona, it’s only 25 inches.

On the windward side of Mauna Kea, near the 2500-foot elevation, 300 inches of rain falls each year. So much rain is squeezed out of the clouds as they rise up Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa that only about 15 inches of precipitation reaches their summits, much of it as snow. Heavy subtropical winter rainstorms in Hilo occasionally bring blizzards to the mountains, as low as the 9000-foot level. One can be sunning oneself on a beach while gazing up at the snow-topped Mauna Kea.

The average daily high temperatures in January are 65°F at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, 79°F in Hilo and 81°F in Kailua-Kona. In August, they are 71°F, 83°F and 85°F respectively. Nighttime lows are about 15° less.

‘Vog’ is a word coined on the Big Island to define the volcanic haze that has been hanging over the island since Kilauea’s latest eruptive phase began in 1983. It usually blows towards Kona and conditions can resemble city smog when the trade winds falter.

The Big Island has some inviting small towns that remain unchanged by tourism. It is an island big on space. It attracts the more adventurous tourist and also has many alternative folks living organically off the land.

The Big Island’s official flower is the ohia lehua, a native tree that flourishes around lava flows and it’s official color is red, though it does bloom in other colors as well.

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