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Senior Moments Online
Travel Guide to:
Hawaii - The Big Island
The Lei is one of the first and oldest greetings in Hawaii ; synonymous with Aloha. It welcomes you to the Hawaiian Islands.
The art of lei making could be lost if not for the enthusiastic younger generation.
During Boat Days in the 1900’s, the lei would be given to welcome visitors to the Hawaiian Islands. The departing visitors would throw the lei into the sea in hopes of returning to the islands.
The lei represents the warmest of Aloha to start and finish your vacation in paradise.
Aloha is a sacred and powerful word expressing greetings, farewells, love, and a way of life, all in one word.
The lei embraces this Aloha and passes this warm siprit on to each recipient. |
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Beaches are the best thing about tropical islands and they take thousands of years to become beaches. The Big Island is newer and, therefore, has fewer beaches. However, the Island’s beaches are pristine! All the beaches on the Orchid Island seem to have that perfect tropical look as you walk out of the palms onto the white sands. Here, you know you are in Hawaii.
Swimming, snorkeling, body boarding, or just sitting back and enjoying the sights and sounds of the ocean. The possibilities are yours for the choosing on the less crowded beaches of Hawaii’s Big Island. |
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The Big Island of Hawaii will provide you with a large variety of aquatic options from sailing, surfing, and snorkeling to deep-sea fishing.
The waters off the Kona Coast are among the world’s best for marlin and other big game fish.
The fighting chair takes on a whole new meaning when hauling in a powerful, live fighting trophy fish. Well, maybe not a trophy, but the bragging rights back home should last a long time. |
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The undersea world is a delight of colors to be observed by snorkeling or diving in the waters around the Island. There are numerous diving tour guides to help you and guide you to the best areas.
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Surfing is part of the Hawaiian culture. The wave intensity varies and encourages the beginner, but the conditions can change and become challenging even for the more skilled surfer.
Location of the best surfing on the Big Island sometimes requires you to be up at dawn to drive to the best surf spots simply because of the size of the Island and the driving time. The other reason is that the prevailing winds pick up later in the morning. Nevertheless, the surf spots on the Big Island are, for now, un-crowded and well worth the extra effort. |
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The Big Island is the largest of the Hawaiian Island chain and the youngest of all the islands. It is only about eight hundred thousand years old and still growing. The hot lava flows into the ocean creating new land in the form of a lava delta. The lava delta is very unstable, but over time, as it supports new flows, it will build up the delta to develop new land.
There is no need to call your agent; this new ocean front property may not be for sale for another thousand years or so.
The Big Island is known for its diversity and contrast. You can start your day at the beach and end it standing in the snow on Mauna Kea Mountain.
After visiting the snow capped summit of Mauna Kea, you can spend some time in a tropical rain forest. If you prefer a dry climate, Ka’u’s area has an arid desert for you to explore.
As you travel around the Island, you will go though twelve climate zones.
Along with all the Islands’ diversity, you have an incredible variety of vistas to enjoy during your visit.
Take the time to go exploring around the Island.
If you are driving the Hamakua Coast, be sure to stop at Tex Drive In & Restaurant on Hwy. 19, in Honokaa, and try the Portuguese Malassadas. It is a doughnut without a hole. The Bavarian cream filling is delish!
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Relaxing is something you don’t have to learn, it comes to you all on its own. The locals call it Island time!
The best way to start this Island time experience is to head for the beach: dig your toes in the sand, wade into the ocean, or just kick back in your beach chair and wait for it to arrive.
If you need shopping time, the Big Island’s scenic Khoala Coast is the location of the King Shops in Waikoloa Village along with the new Queens Market Center. They offer some very unique shops from Tiffany & Co. to the latest fashion in apparel, swimwear, and specialty shops. You will find enough venues to satisfy all of your shopping tastes.
They are both open air centers and have live entertainment including a hula performance. If you want to stop for lunch or stay late for dinner, you will find fine or casual dining located at the centers. |
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A sunset sail on Hawaiian waters is something to behold. The sea can offer the perfect atmosphere for the best lighting conditions to do with your camera what you only imagine back home.
Along with all this, you get to enjoy a very memorable cocktail hour while surrounded by this perfect vista.
Cheers!
We have stood on the beach in Hawaii with strangers, in silence, watching the breathtaking beauty of the sunset.
When nature’s wonderful performance ended, together as one, we all applauded.
We walked away, still strangers, but we all shared, that moment of Aloha.
Aloha,
Senior Moments Travel Online
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