Hawaii was the third island on our tour. Hawaii or as it is better know as the Big Island. is the largest of the eight island and one of the most beautiful.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is an unparalleled experience in geological grandeur. The
western end of the park is the summit of stupendous Mauna Loa, the most massive mountain on
earth. The park's heart is Kilauea Caldera, encircled by 11 miles of Crater Rim Drive. At the
park Visitor Center you can give yourself a crash course in geology while picking up park maps
and information. Nearby is Volcano House, Hawaii's oldest hotel, which has hosted a steady
stream of adventurers, luminaries, royalty, and heads of state ever since it opened its doors in the
1860s.
Amidst all the natural wonders is a golf course-for those who want to boast they've done it all
after hitting a sand wedge from a volcanic fissure. The original 1877 Victorian hotel building has
been moved across the street and converted into the Volcano Art Center. Just down the road are
Tree Molds and Moon Walks; both sites are evidence of the paradoxical effects lava flow can
have on the surrounding environment. In roughly the same direction lies one of Hawaii's last
remaining indigenous forests, providing the perfect setting for a bird sanctuary. Mauna Loa Road
branches off Crater Rim Drive and ends at a foot trail for the hale and hearty who trek to the
13,677-foot summit.
The Big Island" for its 4,038 square miles of land mass, is renown for its erupting volcanoes,
prestigious hula competition and Hawaiian folklore. It is the dwelling place of the island goddess
Pele, and the cradle of Hawaiian civilization. It is the only island with its own desert and annual
snowfall atop Hawaii's Mauna Kea summit. Each of the Big Island's districts is as large as any one
of the other islands, so whether you're in Hilo, Kona or Volcano country, give yourself some time
to tour.
Make time to visit every square inch of the 65-acres of Akaka Falls State Park or sail the deep
blue sea for some big game fishing. Hit the emerald courses that appear like an oases on the
lava-lined Kohala Coast-Mauna Lani is the home of the Senior Skins Game. Those of you
sporting a green thumb shouldn't miss the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is an island "must-see" and for good reason. It's the state's
largest park and offers all the sights and sounds of an explosive experience. For lots of sun, surf
and sand check out Hapuna Beach, rated the best beach in the U.S., and visit Parker Ranch, one
of the largest privately owned ranches in America
The Big Island is home to the annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, the Gatorade Ironman
Triathlon World Championship, and the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament; just a few of
the events that draw thousands of visitors to the island of Hawaii every year.
Touring the "Big Island" is a real adventure for Hawaii's vast size, nearly that of Connecticut,
has produced a wide variety of climates and attractions. All about the Island you can discover
traces of the ancient Hawaiian civilization and view the relics from the Monarchy days. Go from
sandy beaches to lave wastelands, from rocky deserts to sweet mountain meadows, from peaceful
bays to volcanic craters.
Kona, on Hawaii's Leeward side, is the gateway to the Big Island, though visitors may also
arrive at Hilo and at Kamuela.
Hilo curves around a graceful bay. Surrounded by fields of orchids and anthurium, it is the
floral center of the Islands.
On the nearby coastal plains you'll wander through immense orchards of macadamia nut trees
and lush groves of succulent papaya.
From Hilo you can drive 30 miles to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and gigantic Kiluea
Crater. Kiluea is the legendary home of Madame Pele, Hawaiian goddess of fire. Sulfurous steam
blows from deep fissures in the scorched earth, charcoaled trees attest to past volcanic furies,
ancient lava flows mark the Island's growth. You can stand on the rim of Halemaumau Firepit in
the Kiluea Caldera and with luck watch Pele at play as lava fountains spring up from the firepit
floor. You can even walk through a long lava tube, created by a molten stream centuries ago. The
outside cooled first while the inner stream flowed on, leaving an eerie cave. For a truly unique
experience, you can even take a helicoter tour such as Safari Helicopters and see the volcano up
close. You can tour the Big Island of Hawaii in a newly manufactured reproduction of a 1934
classic open cockpit biplane, with Two passenger side by side seating. It's the Ultimate Flying
Experience.
After exploring these awesome wonder of nature primeval, swing south along the coast to the
famous beaches of black sand then around to Hawaii's Leeward side and the Kona Coast. It was
down these sandy stretches that defeated warriors once raced for their lives toward the Pu'uhonua
O Honaunu, now a National Historical Park.
The calm ocean is perfect for swimming and boating, but the big lure of Kona is a deep-sea
fishing for the mighty Pacific Blue Marlin.The colorful Kailua-Kona fishing fleet awaits you. Each
summer the world's best sports fisherman converge on Kailua for the Hawaiian International
Billfish Tournament.
Challenging golf is played on several public courses scattered around the Island. The
distinctive Kona coffee bean, sought by connoisseurs, grows on the lower slopes of the
mountains. Kona coffee is the only coffee produced commercially in the United States. In this
balmy country you'll likely meet your first Hawaiian cowboy or paniolo, down for a holiday from
Parker Ranch.
BLACK SAND BEACHES - made up of pulverized lava, located on the south-eastern cliff.
CAPTAIN COOK MONUMENT - at Kealakekua Bay, is a tribute to the British navigator and
discoverer of the Hawaiian islands who was killed on the shoreline in 1779.
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH - at Kailua-Kona, was erected by American missionaries who
first landed on this coast in 1820.
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - one of the top scenic attractions in the Aloha
State, has an array of unique volcanic formations, forests of giant tree ferns, steaming craters and
a volcanological museum which shows free color movies daily.
HULIHEE PALACE - in the village of Kailua-Kona was once the summer home of Hawaiian
royalty and now houses a rare collection of Hawaiiana.
KAMEHAMEHA STATUE - in Kohala. This, the original statue was lost at sea during shipment
to Hawaii and later recovered after a replica had been made and erected in Honolulu.
KAMUELA MUSEUM - in Kamuela/Waimea, with royal Hawaiian treasures from the Iolani
Palace, ancient Hawaiian artifacts and art objects from around the world.
LAPAKAHI STATE HISTORICAL PARK - north of Kawaihae, was once an ancient
Hawaiian fishing village.
LAUPAHOEHOE - which literally translated means "leaf of lava" is one of the Hamakua Coast's
many scenic and historic spots.
LAVA FLOWS - are marked by Warrior signs which designate flows which have surged down
the mountains of Mauna Loa and Kilauea since prehistoric times.
LYMAN MISSION HOUSE MUSEUM - in the city of Hilo, contains a collection of historic
Hawaiian relics.
ORCHIDS AND ANTHURIUMS - grow in profusion in Hilo and surrounding areas for export
to far ports of the world.
PAINTED CHURCHES - at Honaunau, St. Benedict's is the oldest Catholic church on the Island
constructed in 1875. The church has brilliantly hued murals depicting biblical scenes on the
interior walls. Murals in the Star of the Sea Catholic church at Kalapana were painted by a priest half a
century ago.
PARKER RANCH - in the Waimea-Kamuela district at the foot of Mauna Kea, is the second
largest cattle ranch under the American flag, and the largest privately owned cattle ranch in the
world.
POLOLU VALLEY - in Kohala, was once the locale of a number of ancient Hawaiian heiau
(temples).
PU'UHONUA O HONAUNAU (PLACE OF REFUGE) - a National Historical Park, is said to
have been built at the Honaunau location in the 12th century to provide political and religious
asylum.
PUUKOHOLA HEIAU - near Kawaihae, was built by Kamehameha the Great and is now a
National Historical Site.
RAINBOW FALLS - one of the Big Island's loveliest waterfalls, is located in Hilo.
WAHA'ULA HEIAU - at the foot of the Chain of Craters Road is maintained by the National
Park Service as part of the Volcanos National Park. Walking tours available.
WAIPIO VALLEY - north of the town of Honokaa, was once the home of kings of old Hawaii.
WHITE SAND BEACHES - Hapuna State Beach Park, Anaehoomalu Beach, and Magic Sands
Beach, Kailua, all on the western side of island.
Parker Ranch
There has always been an aura of mystery about Parker Ranch. How did one man and his family
amass what today is the largest individually owned ranch in the United States? And how did it happen on the Big Island and not in Texas?
One usually thinks of Hawai`i with palm trees, white sandy beaches, tropical sunsets, and basking
in the sun. It seems out of sync to think of a ranch when picturing Hawai`i, and yet Parker Ranch on the
northern end of the island is almost as big a tourist attraction as Volcanoes National Park on the southern end of the island.
The story of Parker Ranch is as colorful as the brilliant green hillsides that make up the Parker
dynasty. John Palmer Parker, a sailor from Massachusetts, first landed on the Islands in 1809. King
Kamehameha III befriended him and Parker later married a Hawaiian princess. At that time, wild horses
and cattle were roaming the Big Island's volcanic slopes and Parker began domesticating them. It wasn't until 1847, almost 40 years after coming to Hawai`i, that King Kamehameha III sold to Parker--for ten dollars--the two-acre parcel of land that would begin the Parker Ranch. From those humble beginnings and through acquisitions of his own and six succeeding generations, Parker Ranch grew to its current 225,000 acres.
Parker Ranch is no ordinary ranch, it is scenic cattle country at its best. Pastureland on verdant
rolling hills is strung with rambling wooden fences. Over 55,000 head of cattle graze in rolling meadows
of knee-deep grass. Homes, some luxurious and modern, some reminiscent of days-gone-by, dot the
ranch that stretches from the ancient slopes of Mauna Kea to the Pacific Ocean. Through Mauna Kea Stables, guests have the opportunity to ride the trails of Parker Ranch.
The enormous Parker Ranch is not only Hawaii's largest in acreage, it competes
with the King Ranch in Texas for the title of the nations biggest. Several museums
are scattered between the ranch grounds and the neighboring cowboy town of Kamuela.
At the juncture of Kawaihae Road and the Mamalahoa Highway.
During our seven day visit to Hawaii, we stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Village located on the Kona side of the island. It is one of the most beautiful resorts on the Big Island.
When the Hilton Waikoloa Village was built in 1988, there was nothing like it in Hawaii, let alone on the sunny Kohala coast. This
62 acre resort has everything. A main attraction is a 4 acre swimming and snorkeling lagoon and beach. One can glimpse colorful tropical fish
and perhaps even a rare green-sea turtle. A separate lagoon is home to 6 adult and 5 young Atlantic bottlenosed dolphins. Here guests can be a
part of an interactive program guided by Dolphin Quest. A portion of the Dolphin Quest fees are donated to the Waikoloa Marine Life Fund
to support vital marine education, research and conservation.
Two freshwater pools feature waterfalls, waterslides, Jacuzzi's and hidden grottos. A 3rd freshwater pool is reserved for adults seeking
quiet and solitude.
To get around this magnificent resort, there is a fleet of canal boats, a sleek Swiss made tram and a museum walkway, home to a five million
dollar art collection including the largest feather lei collection in Hawaii. Or, wander past waterfalls and through gardens of exotic flowers and
wildlife. Guest rooms are generous in size; 530 square feet and all have lanais. Views vary from garden, mountain, golf and partial ocean to
deluxe ocean views. All are equipped with in-room safes, walk-in-closets, bath amenities, sofas, mini-bars, On-Command Video,
and coffee makers. There are non-smoking and accessible rooms available. 57 of the 1,240 rooms are suites including five 2-bedroom
Presidential Suites.
Hilton Waikoloa Village has six distinctive restaurants and eight lounges. Friday evenings offer the "Legends of the Pacific" dinner show
under the stars at Kamehameha Court.
