Big Island Hawaii Travel Guide

Kamoa Point in Kona, Big Island, Hawaii
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kamoa_Point,_Kona.jpg
Author: W Nowicki


The Big Island is the common name for the main island of Hawaii, which is also called the Island of Hawaii. Covering 4,028 sq mi (10,432 sq km), it is the largest island in the United States. The Big Island has a population of approximately 150,000 (2011 estimate). It is administered as the County of Hawaii with the county sea at Hilo.

Green turtle on Punaluu Beach, Big Island, Hawaii
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Green_turtle_Chelonia_mydas_is_basking_on_Punaluu_Beach_Big_Island_of_Hawaii.jpg
Author: Mila Zinkova


The Big Island is 93 miles (150 km) across. It was formed by the eruption of five shield volcanoes whose eruptions overlapped one another. The five are Kohala, Mauna Kea, Haulalai, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Of these, Mauna Loa and Kilauea are still active while the rest are dormant. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in Hawaii. It stands at 4,205 m (13,796 ft) above sea level. However if measured from its base on the ocean floor, Mauna Kea is over 10,000 m (33,000 ft), making it much taller than Mount Everest. Also on the Big Island is Ka Lae, the southernmost point in the United States.

The economy of the Big Island is today dependent on tourism and agriculture. Traditionally, the main crop grown was sugarcane. However poor sugar prices caused the last of the sugarcane plantations to close in 1996. Today the crops grown include Macadamia nuts, papaya, flowers, vegetables and coffee. The Big Island also has one of the biggest cattle ranches in the United States, the 175,000-acre (708 sq km) Parker Ranch in Waimea.

Daifukuji Zen Buddhist Temple near Honalo, Hawaii
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daifukuji_Soto_Zen_Mission.jpg
Author: W Nowicki

Visiting Big Island

The two main airports on the Big Island are the Kona International Airport (KOA) on the west coast (leeward) and Hilo International Airport (ITO) on the east coast of the Big Island. Most of the flights are with Honolulu and Kahului. Kona Airport is the bigger of the two.

Arriving on the Big Island, you should rent a car to drive around. It is the most practical way to travel and explore the different sights.

Kohala Valley, Big Island, Hawaii
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Valley_Kohala.jpg
Author: Mike McCune

Main towns on Big Island

Places of Interest in Big Island

Mauna Kea, as seen from the Mauna Loa Observatory
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mauna_Kea_from_Mauna_Loa_Observatory,_Hawaii_-_20100913.jpg
Author: Nula666

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