Big Island 101 Things To Do

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the Island of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i

P

erhaps it is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;newnessâ&#x20AC;? of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Island (a.k.a. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Big Islandâ&#x20AC;?)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;the notion that fresh, molten lava is hardening into a solid mass of earth on a daily basisâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that spurs activity providers, adventure leaders and the resorts here to create new and exciting ways to experience them every month. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not going to lie to you, dear reader: I had a tingling fear after writing this letter in the last issue of this magazine (which came out a mere 4 months ago) that I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have anything â&#x20AC;&#x153;newâ&#x20AC;? to present.

I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been more mistaken.

The people, places and leaders of adventure on this island have an uncanny way at offering a unique perspective on every experience found herein. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing shy of astounding. Whether this is your ďŹ rstâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or ďŹ ftiethâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;visit to Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re conďŹ dent that with a little poking around you will see that the layers of this onion are endless.

Which is where 101 Things To Do comes in to play.

This magazine is exactly as the title describes it: 101 different mini-adventures (some small, some grand) that you can embark upon during your time here. They range from saddling up on a beautiful steed for a horseback tour of a working cattle ranch, to a tour of an organic coffee

farm. You can game hunt, or learn to shoot professional quality images (much like the ones we have scattered throughout this issue) from off-the-beaten locations around the island, as directed by an award-winning photographer. You can learn to surf, or peruse one of a few dozen farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; markets that spot the island. There are manta rays to swim with, museums to visit, candy factories to dabble in, botanical gardens and championship-level golf courses to tee off from.

And of course, as if there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t something in there for everyone, this issue hits the stands just as peak humpback whale season hits full stride.

More than 10,000 of these gigantic mammals will pass by the coastline, and frolic in off-shore waters, seemingly just to put on a show for you. Curious by nature, the whales are here â&#x20AC;&#x153;on vacation,â&#x20AC;? some might say. They arrive in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i from Alaska every year to mate and birth their young; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll leave the human visitor parallels alone for the time being, but you can draw your own conclusions. Regardless, there is no shortage of snorkel, dive and sail options that will get you close enough to hear the song of the humpbackâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;something everyone should hear before they leave.

One of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;hotâ&#x20AC;? (yes, pun is intended) activities this season has been the rise of ocean-voyaging tours to the shoreline where Kilaueaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ ery ďŹ reworks display meets the churning sea. Experienced boat captains can get you within yards of the molten red stuff, which just might make for the most awe-inspiring photos to share with friends and family back home.

As we like to say: Use this book for what it is. A suggestion of many, many things you can accomplish during your stay here on Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Island. Some of you might try and tackle a half-dozen each day, checking them off as you go, and pasting the pages in to your own scrapbooks. Others might see one item that strikes their fancy, which could certainly lead to another activity we have yet to report on.

In the meantime, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see you out there, as we gather more â&#x20AC;&#x153;Things To Doâ&#x20AC;? for the spring and summer. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re headed back this way, feel free to mosey over to www.101ThingsToDo.com and keep in touch while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re off-island. Until you return (we know you will), weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be here.

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Waterworld

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PAGES 62-79

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57. Do a Tandem Skydive

Air Tours

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PRESIDENT & CEO

J. DAVID KENNEDY

PUBLISHER

LINDA WOO ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

BRIAN BERUSCH

Cowboy Country

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

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LIANNE BIDAL THOMPSON MANAGING EDITOR

GINA LAMBERT CREATIVE DIRECTOR

JEFF SANNER

Dining & Entertainment

SENIOR DESIGNER

PAGES 98-101

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JEFFREY WILLIAMS REGIONAL SALES MANAGER

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Š 2010 Oahu Publications Inc. All right reserved. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the written consent of the publisher.

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WINTER/SPRING 2011 ISSUE Serving Hawaii since 1995

For advertising information: Phone 1-808-951-6790 Big Island Sales Phone 808-218-6713 Email jwilliams@staradvertiser.com For subscription inquiries: www.101thingstodo.com 1-888-580-8555

77. From the Top of the Island

Golf with a View

Cover photo: Doug Perrine

PAGE 108-109

100 101

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Kona, Hawai’i

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Of the tens of thousands of visitors who travel to Kona each year from points around the globe, some of the most eagerly awaited are the Humpback whales who make their way here from Alaska.

Monk Seal

These gargantuan marine mammals come to mate and give birth in the warmth of our protected island waters, making December through mid-April prime humpback-spotting season. So keep an eye out, because an animal the size of a bus who shoots water 20 feet into the air can actually be seen from the beach—if it happens to swim by, and if you happen to be watching. But a boat trip out to sea with a skilled guide is a far more reliable way to find yourself in the presence of these elusive creatures.

One such expert is Captain Dan McSweeney, principle resident whale researcher here on the Big Island, who has devoted most of his adult life to helping the endangered Pacific humpbacks rebound in number. One of the ways in which Dan supports his research is by running a whale watching business, taking visitors out to spend quality time with these gentle giants. And on every trip out with his guests, he shares his intimate knowledge of the sea and its inhabitants.

Of course it’s good to remember that humpbacks may be the flashiest marine mammals in the area, but they’re only one of the many fascinating species living within an easy boat ride of shore. A number of other whales make their home here all year ‘round: False Killer, Pilot, Pygmy, Beaked, Melon-headed, and even Sperm whales (of Moby Dick fame). Captain Dan McSweeney has been tracking, photographing and cataloguing their movements and behaviors for decades, all of which lends a depth to his guided tours you won’t find anywhere else on the island.

Humpback Whale

So, among the many, many water activities in Kona to choose from, you’ll definitely want to consider heading out on a trip with Captain Dan, where you’ll do more than just watch whales—you’ll help whales.

Call: 322-0028.

© 2010

Pilot Whale

False Killer Whale

Since long before whale watching gained the enormous popularity it enjoys today, Captain Dan McSweeney’s passion and caring for whales defined the character of his whale watching business.

Put your whale watching experience in the hands of a researcher who has studied whales his whole life: Dan McSweeney. He personally conducts the only whale watching company on Hawai’i island that actively supports and protects Hawai’i’s whales.

Dan’s guests appreciate taking part in the protection and preservation of whales, while benefiting from his lifetime of experience finding close encounters with these creatures in the wild, and witnessing their captivating antics and breathtaking beauty.

Dan has conducted his internationally recognized whale watching adventures for almost four decades, based on one simple philosophy: “Do a good business, and do good work, protecting whales and their environment.”

Come discover the difference an expert makes.

http://www.wildwhaleresearchfoundation.org

© 2010

If National Geographic went with Captain Dan, shouldn’t you?

Put your trust in the skills of an expert in the field.

Someone who has studied whales for almost four decades, and knows their habits and movements. Someone who National Geographic and Discovery Channel have chosen to work with, Captain Dan McSweeney.

We’re consistently rated the best.

All of the major, respected Hawai’i vacation guidebooks praise my trips. But the comments from my guests are what matter most.

“I was so worried we wouldn’t see any whales. See them?

We could almost TOUCH them!” - Cindy Phelps, Boston, MA

I personally conduct every adventure.

My business carries my name, so I drive and narrate every trip. You can count on my lifetime of experience in finding and being close to whales in the wild. Tens of thousands of visitors have so far!

“It was like a Jacques Cousteau expedition.” - Sam Ide, Mesa, AZ

You’ll be helping protect and preserve whales.

By choosing our tour for learning and exploring, you also help support our ongoing work in studying these magnificent creatures and their critical habitat.

One final thought from Dan: “I love what I do, and work hard to make sure you love it too.”

“Every trip to Hawai’i from now on has to include a morning on Dan’s boat.” - Susan Palmer, Minneapolis, MN

During the winter season ( Dec.–April) tours fill up quickly, so please reserve ahead. Call our 24-hr whale watch reservation line: 808-322-0028, or e-book at www.ilovewhales.com. If someone else tells you we’re full, call us direct. We’ll do our very best to accommodate you.

I guarantee you’ll see whales.

I take you over water other whale tours don’t travel, home to some of the most exotic whales in the world.

“Thanks Dan, for the great tour at such a good price!”

- The McDonnells, Butte, MT

Book with Captain Dan today and get one of his five impressive 8x11 color whale photos.

Humback Whale

© 2010

False Killer Whale

Bottlenose Dolphins

Sperm Whale

Pilot Whale

Photo’s compliments of DMCWWA and Wild Whale Research Foundation © Dan McSweeney 2009

BE CAREFUL. CHOOSE WISELY. So many whale watching companies, so few experts.

Though you might assume our local tourist desks promote the most incredible whale watching experience available, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re likely sending you out on boats where they can earn the most commission. Your safest bet is to ride with the only captain on the island who has made whales his lifelong passion.

Are you getting your moneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth?

We come highly recommended by the major respected travel and tour guidebooks such as Frommers, Big Island of Hawaii Handbook, Hawaii for Dummies, The Big Island Revealed, and others.

You may only get one chance... to get a good look Not just a drive-by whale watch

Whale watching vs. whale glimpsing See and learn so much more!

WELCOME ABOARD! ) "$ " ! "$ # " #% ( # ) " % # # # ) # $ $ "( %$ # ( % " # )

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FUN 3 HOUR CRUISES DEPART DAILY Call our 24-hour â&#x20AC;&#x153;WhaleWatchâ&#x20AC;? line at

808-322-0028 Learn more about us at: www.ilovewhales.com Prices, times, captains and vessels subject to change without notice. No refunds for cancellations under 48 hours (72 hrs/lg. group).

Š 2010

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South Point

5

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25

30

35

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Safari Helicopters VOLCANO /COAST

149

$

Direct booking only

This offer cannot be combined with any other offer Plus surcharges and fees

Come on Safari with us and see what every one else is going to be missing.

Two way BoseÂŽ noise cancelling headsets

DVD of your actual tour available

# !"% #$ $ * !( &$ $$ $ $ !& !# # $%! $ * %! " #$! * '! ' ' #* % !& %! % !' %!# . %$ ( # $%! ( *$ !! !# ( *$ %! "#!' $ " $$ # $ !' # )" # $ # $& % $ $ # ! ( $ !"% # %!&# &$%#* * %#! & * ( !' % ! $ # !"% #$ $ % -#$% %!&# !" # %!# % % % ! ( %! .* !"% # %!&#$ # ! % ! !"% # & * # $%! $ % , / ! $ %$ !"% #$ # $ $! % -#$% ( %! !+ # %(! ( * ! & % ! %( " $$ #$ " !%$ %&# !$ ÂŽ ! $ $ %$ % -#$% %! $% !" # % ""#!' & % " # ' ! $*$% %! # !# " $$ # $ %& %!&# ( % ' ## % ! !# ! # " &$

Preston Myersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (owner of Safari) aviation career spans more than 40 years, starting with a college degree in aviation, followed by service as a U.S. Naval Aviator during the Vietnam conflict. Preston returned to South East Asia as a civilian and flew for many years with the now famous â&#x20AC;&#x153;Air Americaâ&#x20AC;? and flew in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and South Vietnam. Prior to the fall of Saigon, Preston moved to Singapore and flew with various companies that provided helicopter support for oil exploration projects in Borneo, Sumatra, Celebes, Irian Jaya (Dutch New Guinea) and the Andaman Islands of India. In 1987, Preston started Safari Helicopters on Kauai and since then has expanded the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flight seeing operations and charter operations to the Big Island in Hilo. He retired from the US Naval Reserves as a Commander (O-5) in 1992.

Preston wants Safari passengers to fully enjoy their adventure, but he considers safety of the utmost importance. He holds to the axiom, â&#x20AC;&#x153;there are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots,â&#x20AC;? and he requires that all his pilots adhere to the same high standards of professionalism that he personally carried out over the years.

Book now and receive

$ Helicopter Association International

50

OFF

Regular Price Per Person Direct Booking Only

For Deluxe Volcano Tour Only Cannot be combined with any other offers

Tours vary depending on weather, 24 hr. cancellation, Weight restrictions apply.

808-969 -1259 Email: reservations@safarihelicopters.com Web: www.safarihelicopters.com

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“AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME”

The Umauma Experience!

Home of the Famous Triple-Tiered Umauma Falls, Tropical Garden, Thrilling Giant Swing, Water Fall Pool Swimming and Kayaking Tours, Nature Hiking Tours, PLUS our Spectacular and Unbelievable 9-Line, 2 Mile Zip-Line Tour.

LONGEST AND ONLY 9-LINE ZIPLINE ON HAWAII!!

Race your companion down the Mighty Umauma River on our Dual 2,200’ zip-line over many spectacular waterfalls 100’ below you See Umauma disappear into a Lava Tube.

Drive to what some people have said: “This is most beautiful place on Earth”. The Famous Umauma Falls and Tropical Garden River Walk.

Take a “Leap of Faith” on our Dual-Harness Giant 90’ High Swing over the 100’ deep Umauma River Gorge. * No-reservations are required to swing.

Drive-up’s are welcomed

(808)930-9477 (ZIPS) WWW.UMAUMAEXPERIENCE.COM

Location: Turn toward the mountain at mile marker 17 north of Hilo then turn left on the old highway, cross the Umauma River, and turn under the sign “THE UMAUMA EXPERIENCE” You are here!

NORTH KOHALA 240

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(to Wailua Falls)

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Big, Big Island

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Anyone who climbs aboard a vessel this time of the year and heads for the open ocean off Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Island can expect to see humpback whales. There are so many of them that most boat companies donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to guarantee sightings. Truth is, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to miss a 40-ton humpback when it propels its 45-foot bulk to the surface and then disappears in an enormous salt water splash.

Every year, humpback whales swim 3,000 miles from their summer feeding grounds in Alaska to mate and calve in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear, warm waters. Protected under endangered species laws, the humpback population is growing. An estimated 7,000 to 10, 000 humpbacks are expected to cruise through Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waters this season, coming and going at their own pace. Generally, numbers peak in late December through mid-April.

Humpbacks exhibit a variety of behaviors that should be visible in one form or another from boats and shoreline lookouts. You might see a whale blow, which refers to the act of breathing and the cloud of water vapor produced above the animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head during the process of exhalation. Or, you might see a tail slap, a pectoral slap, or, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky, a breach. This watery pirouette occurs when a while propels itself out of the water, generally clearing the surface with two-thirds (or more) of its body. Then, in an amazing feat of

marine gymnastics, the animal will throw one pectoral ďŹ n out to the side and turn in the air about its longitudinal axis.

Whales do not technically spout water. Actually, they are letting out air through a blowhole at 300 miles per hour. A humpback whaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brain weighs 14 pounds, more than four times the weight of a three-pound human brain, but smaller than the 20-pound brain of a sperm whale, which is the largest brain on the planet.

Humpbacks are clever, resourceful and agile creatures. And the males, though they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have vocal cords, have developed an amazing ability to sing. Hear their complicated tunes over hydrophones available aboard most whale watching vessels.

Curiosity is another trait known to humpbacks. So, they may not be timid about approaching boats and will often go out of their way to interact with humans. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s illegal, however, to get closer than 100 yards from a humpback.

Though the humpbacks are the seasonal stars of the show, the waters off this island are home to substantial populations of lower-proďŹ le whales that are here year-round and equally intriguing to observe.

There are many ways to observe a humpback whale in the wild. Snorkel cruises are a good bet. Powered rafts and ďŹ shing boats also travel humpback territory. Capt. Dan McSweeney conducts year-round whale watch tours. Tours are relatively

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inexpensive and available on either side of the island.

Two good shoreline viewing sites are Lapakahi State Historical Park, north of Kawaihae at mile marker 14, and Kapaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a Beach Park off Highway 270. Traveling north, turn left on the onelane paved road just past mile marker 16.

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Horseback riding is unquestionably one of the Island of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere attractions. The Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diverse terrain, eye-popping vistas and wealth of working cattle ranches make it an exciting location for horseback adventures. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no shortage of horses for hire and miles of open range to explore.

The experience will vary depending on the ranch you ride.

Paniolo Adventures, located on Ponoholo Ranch, specializes in open-range rides on its 11,000-acre working cattle ranch.

Situated on Kohala Mountain, the views, particularly at sunset, are stunning. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re up for a workout, try a four-hour open-range trot through high country terrain with fabulous panoramic views.

Parker Ranch, in Waimea, was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest and largest cattle spreads in the United States. Expect to come across plenty of historic sites on a ride over this 150,000acre working ranch.

Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o Ridge Stables is well known for its horseback tours of Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o Valley. The valley, known for its uncommon beauty and rugged terrain is probably best seen on the back of a horse.

One tour leads along the rim of the valley and then follows a stream in the rainforest to a hidden waterfall that can be viewed only on horseback.

Another company, Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o on Horseback, conducts guided horseback rides over the valley ďŹ&#x201A;oor. Riders are transported into the valley in 4WD vans where they saddle up for a narrated journey through the history, legends and wild beauty of this revered Hawaiian valley.

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This year, Madam Pele, the legendary volcano goddess, decided it was time for a little housekeeping and shifted the ďŹ&#x201A;ow from her favorite volcano, Kilauea, in a new direction.

Since then â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and things may have changed by the time you read this â&#x20AC;&#x201C; lava is ďŹ&#x201A;owing from a vent in the volcanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s East Rift Zone cutting a fresh path to the ocean.

When it breaks, boat companies like Lava Ocean Adventures and Lava Roy will be ready to ferry passengers to a front-row seat. Meanwhile, alternate tours are available. Lava ďŹ&#x201A;ow updates are posted on tour company web sites and also can be found on the Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Volcanoes National Park site and at hvo.wr.usgs.gov/ kilauea/update/images.html.

Lava boat tours have become a popular attraction, grabbing the attention of national media as well as curious visitors. The tours provide, from a safe distance with experienced drivers, an untouched view of the fury and raw beauty of an explosive natural phenomenon, which can be seen only rarely in other parts of the world.

When ďŹ ery-hot lava, sometimes boiling at 2,100 degrees, collides with cool seawater the impact is staggering. Picture a powerful grenade that explodes into a fountain of steam hurling volcanic debris every which way. Yet, a lava boat isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only way to experience the blistering affect of a lava ďŹ&#x201A;ow. Safe viewing is possible via several options, including hiking, biking and nocturnal helicopter ďŹ&#x201A;ights.

A 15.5-mile bike ride will get you to the show. BikeVolcano. com has designed a tour that provides sunset views of lava hitting the sea and includes a stop in Kalapana, a village ravaged by earlier lava ďŹ&#x201A;ows. Take to the sky for a panoramic view of molten lava burning and oozing over black lava ďŹ elds. Big Island Air conducts night ďŹ&#x201A;ights and Paradise Helicopters ďŹ&#x201A;ies over the volcano in a chopper without doors.

Roar into volcano land on a Hot Rod Harley and steal the show. OutďŹ tted with loud pipes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;lumpyâ&#x20AC;? cams and jetted out carbs, these super-beasts have enough raw power to stop molten lava in its tracks. Well, not really. But these supercharged bikes ďŹ&#x201A;ex muscle like the lava-pumping volcano exhales force. Sinful Cycleworks, in Kailua-Kona, rents these machines for the two-hour ride to the volcano.

By land, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to see lava ďŹ&#x201A;ows from a coastline viewing area at the end of Highway 130 in Puna. The Kalapana site is open from 5 to 10 p.m. daily. To allow time to hike to the viewing site, no visitors will be admitted after 8 p.m. Admission is free. Though lava ďŹ&#x201A;ows can be viewed during daylight hours, they are more spectacular after dark. For current information about the site, call (808) 961-8093.

The restless volcano has left its mark on the Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s air quality. Volcanic smog, or vog, alerts have increased, Pick up a brochure or visit http://co.hawaii.hi.us for more information.

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North Kohala is a sparsely populated, wildly beautiful region â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an ideal place for off-road exploration. Behind the wheel of an ATV, with a guide that knows the terrain, its history and culture, be prepared for a ride into parts unknown where you should expect the unexpected.

ATV OutďŹ tters is owned by long-time North Kohala residents Bill and Sandie Wong. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ride with you on All Terrain Vehicles speciďŹ cally designed for rugged, off-road travel. Their fully automatic â&#x20AC;&#x153;machines for scenesâ&#x20AC;? are user-friendly and designed for minimal impact on the environment. No experience is necessary, however there are age and weight restrictions. Tandem rides on two-seat ATVs are available.

Off-road trails range from an ocean cliff track to waterfall and rain forest tours. The ocean trail provides sweeping views from 200-foot sea cliffs. The 15-mile waterfall tour and 25mile rain forest and waterfall ride wander over backcountry landscapes and include a hike to the foot of a private waterfall.

But this is more than a rugged ride through gorgeous terrain.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a remarkable opportunity to learn from experts about a place barely touched by time.

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First there was Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain on Earth. Then came the early Hawaiians whose chants and legends gave soul to the mountain. Many years later, astronomers and scientists from throughout the world arrived at the great mountainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summit and set about building the planetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest collection of astronomical observatories.

Now comes the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Imiloa Astronomy Center, an extraordinary facility where the volcano and its telescopes meet indigenous Hawaiian culture and language to articulate the intriguing link between the secrets of the stars and the ancient path of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s native culture.

The $28-million facility, located on the campus of the University of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i at Hilo, houses a state-of-the-art planetarium complex and an exhibition hall dedicated to Mauna Kea. The 120-seat planetarium theater is constructed with a 52-foot planetarium dome and features cutting edge stereoscopic 3D theater technology. Planetarium visitors will choose from a full schedule of shows, including its signature attraction, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maunakea: Between Earth and Sky,â&#x20AC;? which explores the connections between Hawaiian culture and astronomy.

The exhibition hall features more than 100 exhibits. The centerpiece of the Voyages hall is the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Imiloa, a one-ďŹ fth model of a voyaging canoe. Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst settlers sailed to the Islands

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some 1,500-2,000 years ago using celestial navigation to guide their canoes. Relying on the skies to ďŹ nd their way, they sailed thousands of miles to reach their destination.

The grounds of the center reveal an amazing array of native Hawaiian plants. Here some 70 native species â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest native plant landscape â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are on display. The centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s airy cafĂŠ, the Sky Garden Restaurant, provides a sweeping view of Hilo Bay and offers a delightful menu, which includes breakfast any time of the day.

Easily recognized for its distinctive architecture, the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Imiloa Astronomy Center is designed around three titanium-covered cones, representing the Big Island volcanoes of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Hualalai, and is composed of 75 percent recycled material. Built on a 9-acre parcel at 600 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Imiloa Place, the center is 1.5 miles west of downtown Hilo and is open to the public every day except Monday.

entrance is just past the bridge on the right.

Zip Isle, located on the grounds of the 275-acre World Botanical Gardens in Umauma, features ďŹ ve ziplines and a suspension bridge.

The course begins with short rides of 150 to 450 feet and proceeds through the rainforest canopy to a ďŹ nal zipline of more than 1,500 feet. The lines, platforms and suspension bridges linking the ziplines range from ground level to about 100 feet in height.

Zip Isle and World Botanical Gardens are located 16 miles north of Hilo, off Highway 19.

Each of the courses offers its own distinctive characteristics, but all give safety a high priority. Before harnessing up, zipliners are given thorough instructions and are safely outďŹ tted.

Part of the adventure will be ďŹ nding the course. All three courses have been developed in off-the-beaten road locations. Wilderness, after all, is not an urban feature. The payoff is a natural high thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe and only mildly addictive.

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Somewhere in the gap between helicopter tours and hiking has come a rainforest adventure called ziplining.

At treetop level, a zipliner, strapped to a harness, races over a cable like Matt Damon in a Jason Bourne ďŹ&#x201A;ick. The harness is attached to a trolley that rides on the cable. Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re buckled up, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll dip through leafy topped, old growth trees, ďŹ&#x201A;y over unique volcanic terrain, and waterfalls â&#x20AC;&#x201C; lots of them.

Ziplining is a thrill ride that has come to Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neighbor islands with a bang. A wild, let-yourself-go experience, it calls for shrieking from beginning to end. On the Big Island, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd two tours on the Hamakua coast and another operating in the North Kohala Mountains.

Big Island Eco Adventures, the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original zipline tour, has constructed its course in the Kohala Mountains. This is dropdead gorgeous country, populated by small villages like Hawi and Kapaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;au. Vast stretches of open space give way to tracts of wild, breathtaking terrain and provide the backdrop for the eight-line run.

The check-in base yard is located in Hawi. Heading north on Highway 270, just past the 21-mile marker, take the ďŹ rst right turn onto Highway 250, also known as Hawi Road. Proceed approximately 100 yards until Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place Restaurant and the BIEA Zipline Canopy Tours sign appear on the right.

Umauma Falls Zipline Experience has a lock on the waterfall view. Expect to come face-to-face with a dozen spectacular falls and, for good measure, a lava tube. This is an eight-line course.

The longest line, which stretches for 2,000 feet, is the longest zipline on the island. Side-by-side lines allow zippers to travel in pairs and private viewing areas have been created overlooking the spectacular Umauma triple waterfall.

The course is located on the Hamakua coast off of Highway 19 near Hakalau. The turn off road from Highway 19 is Kauniho Road, near mile marker 17. Take Kauniho for about 1/2 mile up the mountain to a crossroad known as the Old Highway or Mamalahoa Rd. Turn left on Mamalahoa Road and go about 3/4 mile to the Umauma River Bridge. The

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Nearly 180 years ago, a New England missionary couple in their early 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrived in Hilo. It was here that they spent the next ďŹ fty years of their lives. The Lyman Mission House is now the oldest wood-frame building on the Big Island. Built in 1839

by David and Sarah Lyman, the house is constructed partly of the local hardwoods, koa and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ohia, and is furnished with original and period dĂŠcor. Take a daily, guided tour to see this historic home and hear the Lymanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story.

The Mission House is adjacent to the only general Hawaiian history museum on the island. The SmithsonianafďŹ liated Lyman Museum has natural history exhibits on volcanoes and Big Island habitats and world-renown collections of seashells and minerals. Learn about Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural history from exhibits on Hawaiian culture and the ďŹ ve primary ethnic groups that came to work on the sugar plantations during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Lyman Museum and Mission House tell the story of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i, its islands and its people. The Museum is located at 276 Haili Street in historic downtown Hilo and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Please call to conďŹ rm Mission House tour times or make reservations (808) 935-5021. Visit www. lymanmuseum.org for further information.

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The Big Island is too big and too full of secrets to imagine grabbing a hiking stick and heading into the wilderness on your own. If you want to get the full experience

of this island’s wild and beautiful landscape, take a guided tour. Hawaii Forest & Trail, an award-winning eco-tour company, offers innovative and informative nature adventures and is known for designing hikes that combine exceptional tours with environmental integrity.

The company’s playlist changes frequently. Its newest adventure is a 12-hour trek that culminates in a twilight view of erupting Kilauea Volcano and its sizzling lava flow. If the lava is entering the sea, you’ll be there to see the fireworks.

Earlier in the day, hikers will be introduced to the island’s amazing array of ecosystems and climate zones.

Hawaii Forest & Trail adventures span the island; Waipi‘o Valley, for example, is a largely inaccessible destination known for its natural beauty. HF&T gets you there on a trek that follows a path 1,000 feet above the floor of the valley. The three-mile hike reveals views of the taro farms that populate the valley and leads to a secret view of a massive waterfall.

The company offers a variety of other outdoor adventures including hikes in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Kilauea Volcano, the Mauna Kea summit, several waterfall hikes, and a culinary and farm tour. Birding and wildlife treks also are available.

Hiking Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is not your garden-variety wilderness trek. This is lava land, a national park that features a live volcano with all the daily uncertainties of nature unleashed. The 333,000-acre park, on the slopes of Mauna Loa, is a trekker’s paradise. Pick a trail through a lava field, around the smoldering Kilauea caldera, on the hot seacoast of Puna and Ka‘u, or at the 13,677-foot summit of Mauna Loa. Trails circle the two-mile wide, lava-lake expanse of Kilauea’s caldera. The longest loop is the Crater Rim Trail, the grand tour of Hawaiian volcanism. The 11.6-mile trip takes about 8 hours on a fairly level path past lava, cinders, steam vents, rifts, craters, tree molds, a lava tube, and views of past devastation and struggling new life.

In the coastal region, an easy and well-traveled hike is the Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs Trail.

Mauna Loa, the massive volcano that towers over Kilauea, offers demanding hikes that require fortitude, proper equipment and planning.

Check with the Park Service for hiking information about active lava flows as well as areas that may be closed due to dangerous conditions. Park rangers also can provide information about the more challenging overnight hikes in the coastal region and Southwest and East Rift Zones.

The Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (808-985-6000), the Hawai‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife (808-9744221) and the Hawai‘i Division of State Parks (808-9746200) all handle the administration of Hawai‘i island’s many public access trails. Contact these agencies for permits, reservations and current information concerning hiking.

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Long before anybody invented hot tubs, the goddess Pele concocted a naturally heated, sustainable model. Thank Pele for the awesome sight of molten lava splashing into the sea at 2,100 degrees farenheit., causing seawater to explode into fountains of steam and shooting rockets of lava skyward. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the undisputed headliner in her repertoire. But the goddess also deserves kudos for her pioneering work with thermal ponds.

The Puna Coast, where warm springs are commonly found, is a good place to ďŹ nd thermal ponds. These ponds are formed when ground water heats as it moves through magma-hot rocks on its way to the sea, then mixes with cold water to create a naturally heated hot tub.

Kapoho Tide Pools are a series of interconnected thermal tide pools, which sometimes extend up to 200 yards into the ocean. Nearby Isaac Hale Beach Park also is the site of a series of hot springs. This site is found on Pohoâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iki Bay at the juncture of Pohoâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iki Road and Kamu-Kapoho Road. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ahanalui Pool, in the beach park of the same name, is a spring-fed thermal pool where the temperature tends to hover around 90 degrees. The pond, a mixture of hot water from thermal springs and ocean water, is crystal-clear and generally safe enough for small children. The park has restrooms, showers and a picnic area, but there is no drinking water or camping facilities.

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one of the best places in the world to get close to them. Many Kona Coast diving and snorkeling companies conduct night manta ray runs.

You can also hope for a peek from the shore. The waters off the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa are a regular feeding spot for manta rays and a good place to see them is from the lanai off the Crystal Blue cocktail lounge. The resort will turn on its outdoor lights when the rays appear.

Dive shop owners say that the rays can be found most days from as far north as waters off the Keahole-Kona International Airport to Keauhou Bay. Divers are instructed to stay near the bottom, snorkelers on the surface, to allow the mantas room to maneuver.

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Dinner with manta rays is an awesome experience.

Though related to sharks, these amazing sea creatures have no teeth and no tail stingers, making them harmless to humans, but intriguing to watch. In Hawaiian, they are called hahalua.

The Kona Coast, with its resident manta ray population, is

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Mauna Loa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest active volcano and one of two volcanic peaks that dominate the Big Island â&#x20AC;&#x201C; spreads over half of the island. It rises 13,680 feet above sea level and 30,080 feet from its base in the ocean ďŹ&#x201A;oor. The rest of its great bulk lays fathoms below the ocean, in a scuba diversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fantasy of lava ďŹ&#x201A;ows, submerged caves, canyons, cliffs and colorful coral reefs.

Diving the ocean off the Kona/Kohala Coast is a world-class experience. The Kona Coast stands out for its relatively young lava formations, with walls, archways, lava tubes and abundant marine life.

Charter dive companies offer guided tours and courses in certiďŹ cation. Some include scuba specialty courses like photography and videography. Many local dive shops also offer more advanced courses, ranging from rescue and dive master to specialty classes and open water checkouts. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the time and the inclination, you can work toward full certiďŹ cation, or C-card, which is good indeďŹ nitely and honored worldwide.

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On a guided bicycle tour through Volcano Country, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get close enough to feel the heat and witness the fury of Kilauea.

Bikevolcano.com has designed this cycling adventure with the end in mind. As long as lava is ďŹ&#x201A;owing into the ocean, bicyclists can plan on a tour that will end at an ocean lookout where you can watch superheated lava collide with cool ocean water and explode into a plume of debris-laden steam.

Move over Discovery Channel: Kilaueaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ ery lava and craggy mountains are best seen ďŹ rst-hand. The 12-mile course is mostly level terrain and paved. The tour runs from 1 to 8 p.m. with pick-up in Kona and Hilo. It includes an interesting side trip where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have dinner in village of Kalapana, an old Hawaiian ďŹ shing village that was buried in 1990 under a relentless lava ďŹ&#x201A;ow. Another Bikevolcano.com trip takes cyclists over a mostly downhill, paved 15-mile course through Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Volcanoes National Park. The 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tour ends in a wine tasting session at the Volcano Winery where traditional grapes are blended with macadamia nut honey, guava and jaboticaba berries for a distinctive taste.

The tour, which is available for kids, includes mountain bikes, helmets and other provisions.

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Travelers are ďŹ nding that one of the best ways to discover the â&#x20AC;&#x153;realâ&#x20AC;? Big Island is to sign up for a volunteer project and get your hands dirty working with local residents on conservation assignments.

Sign on for afternoon or multi-day trips to help with a variety of projects, such as trail building and maintenance, planting native plants, controlling invasive species or clearing coastlines of marine debris. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Volunteering on Vacationâ&#x20AC;? is an idea thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s catching on worldwide. Get started by calling one of these agencies:

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no wonder that developers picked the South Kohala Coast to grow acres of premier golf courses and a classy collection of seaside resorts. The sun shines an average of 357 days a year. The average temperature is 78 degrees.

It rains less than 10 inches a year and a strand of enticing beaches line the shore.

Eleven miles upslope from this tourist mecca is a land that developers forgot. North Kohala is lush and green, sparsely populated and unpretentious; it is South Kohalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s country cousin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a breath of fresh mountain air in a landscape barely touched by contemporary inďŹ&#x201A;uences.

The North Kohala peninsula is the oldest section of this stillgrowing island. The rugged, windswept terrain, (once planted with sugar cane) is now used for recreational diversions like zip-lining, hiking and ATV explorations.

The rich history of this region is dominated by the historic presence of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ erce warrior king, Kamehameha the Great.

Nowhere is Kamehameha, who united the islands in 1810, more revered than in North Kohala. His birthplace, marked by a simple plaque, is west of Hawi on a dirt road near the ruins of Moâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;okini Heiau. To get there, take the turnoff to Upolu Airport, and then turn left at the airďŹ eld.

A more than century-old, nine-foot statue of Kamehameha commands a hill in Kapaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;au and is easily visible from Highway 270. Cast in Italy in 1879 and restored in 2001, it is the original Kamehameha statue.

Graphic reminders of a time when the Hawaiian archipelago was virtually unknown to the Western world appear throughout North Kohala from temple sites like Moâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;okini Heiau, built in 480 A.D., to a restored Hawaiian village dating back 600 years at Lapakahi State Historical Park.

The neighboring hamlets of Kapaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;au and Hawi comprise the most densely populated area in the district. Far from the malls and resort shops of Kailua-Kona and South Kohala, merchants have taken an inventive approach.

At the northern tip of the Big Island, North Kohala is situated high above the ocean. The landscape is painted in a spray of vibrant greens beckoning drivers beyond Kapaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;au and Hawi to a place at the end of the road where paradise comes to mind.

Pololu Valley Overlook provides one of the most stunning views in the Islands. Verdant cliffs disappear into a beckoning blue sea. A steep hiking path leads to the valley ďŹ&#x201A;oor and a lovely black sand beach.

Leaving the upper North Kohala area, consider driving the Kohala Mountain Road along Route 250 to Waimea. This is a picturesque drive through cattle ranches and largely unpopulated countryside. On a clear day, you can see three of the Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ ve mountains: Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Hualalai. And you might even catch a glimpse of Haleakala on the island of Maui.

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Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Volcanoes National Park is not a theme park.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a raw, unadulterated ode to 70 million years of volcanic activity.

The 333,000-acre park, located in the south-central part of the Big Island, is one of 26 sites in the United States â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and one of two locations in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, ScientiďŹ c and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage site.

Kilauea, the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main attraction, is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been erupting since 1983 and in its wake, it has ignited forest ďŹ res and leveled communities, while extending the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land mass and drawing tourists.

Currently, there are two main areas of activity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at the Kilauea summit and the East Rift Zone. At the summit, Kilauea is spewing an ash-laden plume from a new spot within the volcanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Halemaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;umaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;u crater. A vent in the East Rift Zone is disgorging lava into a tube system thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slowly heading for the ocean.

Major features of the park are the 11-mile Crater Rim Drive that encircles Kilaueaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summit caldera, and the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum. The museum provides real-time data about Kilauea activity.

Very real dangers exist in the park. Avoid coastal areas; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t approach lava ďŹ&#x201A;owing through vegetation; do not stand or walk in fumes; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remove rocks from the premises. And always carry plenty of water and a ďŹ&#x201A;ashlight.

For daily information about the park and eruption updates, call (808) 985-6000 or visit the Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Volcanoes National Park web site (www.nps.gov/havo).

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Not far from Hilo, two public gardens are laid out in exquisite natural environments: the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden and the World Botanical Gardens & Waterfalls.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, opened in 1984, is nestled in a 40-acre valley edged by the PaciďŹ c Ocean. Here youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd a vast variety of orchids, palms, heliconias, gingers, bromeliads and other exotic plants. Presently, there are more than 2,000 species. The garden was developed by a couple that spent years of backbreaking work clearing the wild and overgrown jungle by hand so as not to destroy or disturb the natural environment. Located on Hwy. 19, it is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

World Botanical Gardens is being developed on 300 acres of agricultural land extending 1.5 miles up the slope of Mauna Kea and crowned by Umauma Falls, a triple-tier waterfall that cascades nearly 300 feet through tropical rainforest. Another falls, Kamaeâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;e, also has been cleared for viewing.

The World Botanical Gardens is a repository for

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endangered plant species. The 10-acre arboretum features more than 5,000 flower and plant species, a large maze and an ethnobotanical garden. (Be sure to sample the fruit of the sweet-smelling spice trees.) Several tours are offered: guided and self-guided tours, as well as the gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s zipline adventure. It is located off Hwy. 19 and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

On the other side of the island, Pua Mau Place is a botanical garden and arboretum laid out on the west slope of the Kohala Mountains near Kawaihae. Here youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find hundreds of species of plants and trees including perpetually blooming plants. The gardens feature a maze planted with 250 species of hibiscus, an aviary populated by about 150 exotic birds and a collection of original sculptures. The gardens are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

abandoned the religious practices that had ruled Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i and ordered destruction of the heiau.

Puâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ukohola, the last religious heiau built in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i, is now a 77-acre National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service. One of the most imposing and dramatic Hawaiian temples in the island chain, it was built with mortarless stone and, when completed, measured 100 by 224 feet. The temple has been largely restored, and a self-guided tour of the grounds begins at the visitor center.

Puâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ukohola heiau, which means Temple on the Hill of the Whale, is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The park is located 1 mile south of the harbor at Kawaihae on Hwy. 270.

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More than a century ago, a Big Island sugar plantation manager introduced macadamia nuts to the island.

Although native to Australian rainforests, mac nuts thrived in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i, and the state became the site of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst commercial plantations. Today, these delicious, hard-shelled nuts are one of the Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest crops.

Macadamia nuts arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t picked from the tree. They fall to the ground fully ripened. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pick one up expecting to shell it and pop it in your mouth. It requires 300 pounds of pressure per square inch to crack a mac nut shell.

Commercially, the job gets done with high-tech cracking machines, after which the nuts are roasted.

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp., 6 miles south of Hilo on Macadamia Road, welcomes visitors. Here youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find a 2,500-acre orchard, a nut processing plant and a chocolate factory.

For more information, look up the Great Hawaiian Mac Nut Trail, a self-guided tour of the Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s macadamia nut industry. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd everything from processing plants to small family-owned farms and bed-and-breakfast stops where visitors can pick mac nuts.

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Two centuries ago, Hawaiian rulers worshiped a powerful war god called Ku. King Kamehameha I, who fought numerous battles to unify all the Hawaiian islands, sought Kuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support by building a massive stone temple 400 feet above Kawaihae Harbor in North Kohala.

Construction of the 20-foot-high lava rock temple, or heiau, began in 1790 and was completed a year later.

By 1810, Kamehameha had conquered the Islands and established a monarchy. He died in 1819, after which his son

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Located north of Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a on the Hamakua Coast, Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o valley is the largest and southernmost of the seven valleys on the windward side of the Kohala Mountains.

Measuring one mile wide at the coast and almost six miles deep, the Eden-like valley is sheltered by cliffs reaching almost 2,000 feet. Waterfalls and ďŹ&#x201A;owers cascade from the walls of the cliffs, and a stunning black sand beach deďŹ nes the coastal area.

Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o, which means, â&#x20AC;&#x153;curved water,â&#x20AC;? is known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Valley of the Kingsâ&#x20AC;? because it was once home to many ancient Hawaiian rulers and is said to be the place where King Kamehameha the Great received his training. Ancient burial caves are located within the walls of the cliffs and the valley inspired many myths, chants and songs.

Reaching Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o is difďŹ cult. Access is limited to fourwheel drive vehicles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; most car rental companies prohibit use of their vehicles on the steep road. You can get there in a mule-drawn wagon with a company called Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o Valley Wagon Tour. This narrated tour wanders past waterfalls, taro patches and herds of wild horses. It departs from the Neptune Gardens/Last Chance store off Hwy. 240.

The most convenient and accessible view of the valley is from the scenic point at the end of Route 240, about 10 miles outside of Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a. Take an ATV tour with a company called Ride the Rim, hike the rim with Hawaii Forest & Trail, or see it from horseback.

Tour operators are not allowed to take visitors to the beach, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re free to make your way there on foot. The waters at the mouth of the valley are volatile â&#x20AC;&#x201C; extreme caution is advised when crossing the river or entering the ocean.

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Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be misled by the Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s barren lava ďŹ elds. The bulk of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agriculture products is grown and processed here.

Hawaii Forest & Trail conducts a unique tour of local farms that are using sustainable agriculture methods. The tour is followed by dinner at the award-winning Merrimanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant in Waimea.

Chefs will prepare a gourmet dinner using fresh, local ingredients.

To appreciate the Polynesian agricultural heritage, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to visit the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see more than 200 varieties of plants cultivated by early Hawaiians.

The 15-acre garden is landscaped to reďŹ&#x201A;ect plant life in the Kona area before foreign contact. It is the only garden in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i solely devoted to Hawaiian ethnobotany, a discipline that combines the study of human culture with the plants that support it.

For a look at the future, try a tour of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i in Kona. This ocean science and technology park is involved in various projects that range from deep-ocean energy generation to farming of pearls, lobsters and micro-algae.

Nearby is Ocean Rider, Inc., a 3-acre aqua farm near KailuaKona, where seahorses and sea dragons are grown and primarily sold for pets. Hold one in your hand on a tour of the facility.

For more information about Big Island farm tours, call Hawaii AgVentures at 800-660-6011.

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At the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Authority (NELHA), the State of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i is developing an array of renewable energy sources from geothermal to wind power, hydrogen to biomass. Located at Keahole Point, one mile south of the Kona International Airport, NELHA is a sprawling, 800-acre complex populated by entrepreneurs engaged in innovative technology and product development.

This is the only place in the world where the vast natural resources of sunlight and seawater are harnessed to support exciting new aquaculture and ocean technologies. Huge intake pipelines are used to deliver both Arctic-cold, deep-sea water from 3,000 feet below and tropical-warm, surface seawater. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Techno-magiciansâ&#x20AC;? use cold seawater to cool buildings and to grow creatures like cold-water abalone. The abalone farm conducts regular tours and offers a taste the fresh delicacy.

For more information, and reservations, call (808) 329-8073 or visit www.nelha.org.

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Puâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;uhonua o Honaunau was, in ancient times, the destination for people seeking asylum from severe penalties imposed on all who broke kapu (taboo) laws.

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Once inside the compoundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10-foot walls, sanctuary was guaranteed. The resident kahuna, or priests, were obligated to offer absolution to all fugitives no matter how great or small the infraction.

Refuges like Puâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;uhonua o Honaunau ceased functioning in the early 19th century, when the kapu system was abolished.

But this site remains intact to provide a glimpse into a time when people could be sentenced to death merely for eating with their husband or walking in the shadow of a chief.

Now a national historical park, Puâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;uhonua was reconstructed by local artisans using traditional tools. One of the major features of the complex is a reconstructed temple. Fierce, wood-carved statues known as kiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i guard this oft-photographed temple, called Hale o Keawe. The original temple, built around 1650, housed the bones of at least 23 chiefs.

Puâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;uhonua o Honaunau is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily; the visitor center is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. There is an entrance fee of $5 per car. To get there, drive south from Kailua-Kona on Hwy. 11. Turn towards the ocean on Route 160 at the Honaunau Post OfďŹ ce and watch for the historic park sign.

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Early Hawaiians used a system of land management that was deďŹ ned by wedge-shaped land divisions that stretched from the uplands to the ocean. Called ahupuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a, these land

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divisions were environmentally sound and fostered good stewardship practices among the occupants of each division.

One of the best ways to grasp ahupuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a land management is to visit Lapakahi State Historical Park, which is located about 14 miles north of Kawaihae on Route 270.

Here youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd the reconstructed village of Koaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;e. Hawaiians ďŹ rst settled in the Lapakahi area during the 1300s, and the ďŹ shing village of Koaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;e served as the center of activity in the Lapakahi ahupuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a until the late 1800s.

The 265-acre park encompasses a variety of partially restored sites, numbered to coincide with information in a free brochure available in the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visitor center.

Moving through the village, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not hard to imagine life in this ahupuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a with farmers growing crops in the mountains, trading taro and other goods for ďŹ sh caught by families living closer to the sea. There are examples of games like konane (sometimes called Hawaiian checkers) and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ulu maika (a form of bowling using stones) that children are encouraged to try. Throughout the area, ďŹ&#x201A;owers, shrubs, and trees are identiďŹ ed. Park guides are in attendance daily between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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The largest astronomical observatory in the world is located at the 13,796-foot summit of Mauna Kea. Here, international scientists work with a sophisticated array of telescopes to gather data about the vast celestial universe.

The mountain currently houses 13 working telescopes and plans have been announced to build another â&#x20AC;&#x201C; slated to be the largest on Earth. The new $1.2-billion telescope will be built by a consortium of California and Canadian universities and will be capable of tracking stars and galaxies some 13 billion light years away.

Mauna Kea means â&#x20AC;&#x153;white mountain,â&#x20AC;? named for the snow that covers its slopes. It is the highest island-mountain on Earth, rising 32,000 feet from its base on the ocean ďŹ&#x201A;oor. The view from the summit is like stepping out of an airplane just above a bank of clouds. There is nothing but the mountain, the telescopes and an overwhelming sense of isolation.

The last stop before the summit is the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy. Located at the 9,300-foot level, this is a good place to stop for a while to acclimatize for the rest of the trip. From there, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 30-minute trip to the summit navigating a mostly unpaved road. Only four-wheel-drive vehicles and hikers are permitted beyond the Onizuka Center.

A guided tour of the summit is the safest and most educational way to go. Several companies conduct tours, which can last seven or eight hours. Because of the very thin air at the summit, children under 16 years of age, people with respiratory, heart and severe overweight conditions are not advised to go beyond the Visitor Center.

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The hip little enclave of Hawi is only about an hourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive north of Kailua-Kona, but this upcountry hamlet (population 938) is worlds apart from its neighboring city.

A major piece of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history is tied to this tiny village.

Hawi is the birthplace of King Kamehameha I, the great warrior king who united the islands and laid the foundation for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s island state. A plaque designating the kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthplace is located on the grounds of an ancient sacriďŹ cial temple, near a small coastal airďŹ eld.

Beyond its historic signiďŹ cance, Hawi demonstrates a proclivity for a self-sufďŹ cient lifestyle spiced with a sense of humor. Take the Kava Bar, a.k.a. Kava Kafe, for example. The kava hangout lists its hours as Monday through Saturday, 4:21-8:59 p.m. Try their MayaChocAwa for starters.

Short N Sweet, a bakery and cafĂŠ, is a busy little place ďŹ lled with the aroma of fresh food. It serves salads, sandwiches and desserts seven days a week. The Kohala Coffee Mill is the place for 100 percent Kona coffee, gourmet ice creams and an array of sandwiches, pastries and Hawaiian gifts.

The Bamboo Restaurant is a Hawi institution. The popular restaurant and gallery is a taste of vintage Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i that never grows old.

27

Just because youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the seat of a Harley doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to go everywhere. Even the most seasoned bikers need plan their Big Island trips carefully.

Think of the island as circular in shape with a few zigzagging connector roads. There are two key highways (11 and 19), and Saddle Road (Highway 200) provides the shortest route from Kailua-Kona to Hilo.

Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Island offers great day trips. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd the roadways well-marked and signage easy to follow.

Kilauea Volcano is a must-see and a unique drive. You can see snow on Mauna Kea and experience 90-degree temperatures on the Chain of Craters road, all on the same day! Parker Ranch is a great step back in time and a nice cruise up the coast. Aliâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Drive in Kailua-Kona is the best place to cruise at night.

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The vintage palace at the heart of Kailua-Kona has undergone a $1.5 million renovation and is receiving guests again. Damaged in a 2006 earthquake, Huliheâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;e Palace resumed its full schedule last fall with public self-guided tours.

Gov. John Adams Kuakini built the palace, located on Aliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i Drive, in 1838 for his daughter-in-law, Princess Ruth.

The Princess used the palace primarily for entertaining visitors. When she wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t entertaining, the princess preferred sleeping outside in a large grass house she had constructed on the grounds.

In 1884, King Kalakaua bought the stately oceanside mansion. It was then remodeled to include a kitchen and furnished with distinctive koa wood and commissioned Victorian pieces. The palace was used as a vacation spot for Hawaiian royalty until 1916, when it was sold and all its contents were auctioned off. In 1925, it was purchased by the Territory of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i and leased to the Daughters of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i, who tracked down many of the original pieces of furniture and convinced the owners to return the items for display.

Today, there are more than 1,000 artifacts on display, including javelins, spears and a 180-pound lava rock, used

by King Kamehameha the Great as an exercise ball.

The palace is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

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The sparsely populated Kaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;u District, at the southern tip of the island, is known for its rich environmental diversity. A large chunk of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Volcanoes National Park is located in this district, as are wind farms, highland forests, the parched Kaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;u Desert and enticing black, white and green sand beaches.

But it is largely distinguished by its geographic location.

South Point, at the bottom of the district, is considered the southernmost tip of the United States, and the village of Naâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;alehu, the southernmost town. South Point, more properly called Ka Laâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;e, is located at a latitude thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 500 miles farther south than Miami. Its roots go back to 150 A.D., when it is believed the ďŹ rst Polynesian explorers set foot on the island.

Naâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;alehu, population 900, is located 19 degrees north of the equator on Route 11. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good place to take a break on the drive to volcanoes park. Check out Punaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;u Bake Shop, which is, of course, the southernmost bakery in the USA.

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If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning a Big Island shopping spree, or even a window-shopping walk-about, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to hit a mall stocked with Mainland look-alikes. Part of the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charm is the fact that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not riddled with department store chains. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get us wrong, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll easily ďŹ nd all that you need, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just that shopping on the Big Island is so much more exciting than a whirl around a typical mall. What youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd here is an intriguing mix of island-style apparel and one-of-akind things.

Aliâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Drive in Kailua-Kona is wall-to-wall shopping. Wander through the small shops and ďŹ nd island wear, sandals, gifts, jewelry and art.

For resort shopping, head to the Kohala Coast. Two chic destinations are the Queensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market Place at the Waikoloa Beach Resort and The Shops at Mauna Lani.

Hilo Hattie, with stores in Kona and Hilo, is known for its large selection of Hawaiian fashions. The store may be the only place in the Islands that stocks sizes up to 5XL. Holualoa Village is a shopping destination just waiting to be discovered. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a short and scenic drive from Kailua-Kona.

The village is set in Kona coffee country and features a

collection of galleries and shops with friendly proprietors and intriguing, original merchandise.

The Hilo Shopping Center, just minutes from the airport, is a refreshing oasis from overcrowded malls. Enjoy lunch or dinner at one of ďŹ ve restaurants or relax with a cup of gourmet coffee. The mall includes a large natural foods store and a variety of apparel shops. The shopping center is located at the corner of Kekuanaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a and Kilauea streets.

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Feeling a little out of touch? Head over to the Shops at Mauna Lani and get zapped.

The Kohala Coast shopping destination features a zany attraction guaranteed to tickle your funny bone and jolt your senses into full alert. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called The Great 4-D Movie Ride, and in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of a kind.

The 4-D theater is a souped-up version of the old 3-D technology. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still wearing the glasses, but now the onscreen action will be enhanced by simulated side effects, like full-range motion seats, blown air, water spray and other environmental teasers.

presents ...

OPEN DAILY . NOON – 9PM (ALLOW 10–20 MINUTES PER RIDE) Look for this sign to 4)01 O 3*%& earn a FREE 4-D RIDE with any purchase!

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“... just about the coolest movie experience I’ve been to ... fun and a bargain.”

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68-1330 Mauna Lani Dr . Kohala Coast, Hawaiʼi 96743 . 808.885.9501 . www.thegreat4Dmovieride.com .

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The Great 4-D Movie Ride is staged in a 24-seat theater with a 19-foot widescreen and full surround sound. Imagine watching SpongeBob SquarePants or National Geographicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sea Monsters with your senses fully loaded. Shows run from noon to 9 p.m. daily.

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If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resist chocolate, Big Island Candies is a decadent destination. For more than 30 years, the Hilo institution has been known for the quality, irresistibility and innovation of its products.

Big Island Candies is located in a 40,000-square-foot facility on Hinano Street near the Hilo Airport. Candy and cookie makers work in plain view behind a glass window at the rear of the store. Daily tours and free samples are available.

Be sure to try the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award-winning macadamia nut shortbread cookies, diagonally dipped in dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate. The company also has a line of trufďŹ&#x201A;es with names thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make you drool â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mocha, Hibiscus, Dark Chocolate, Yuzu and Coconut. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only the tip of the candy jar.

The store is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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There are lots of ways to get around the Big Island, but none of them is as easy on the pocketbook as riding the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hele-On Bus. Aside from charging $1 for each piece of luggage you carry onboard, the Hele-On Bus is touted as the only free public bus service in the state.

The countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mass Transit Agency recently beefed up service on some of its more popular routes. And two new accessible buses have gone into service to aid disabled riders. For more information and schedules, call the Mass Transit Agency at (808) 961-8744

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Art

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Inspired by the spectacular, uncut beauty of this one-of-a-kind island, Big Island artists are pumping out artwork as varied as the landscape and as prolific as the lava that flows from Madame Pele’s volcano. Original works can be found almost everywhere – in large, high end galleries like Wyland Kona Oceanfront Gallery, in small, specialty shops like Hawaii Titanium Rings and Cindy Coats Gallery, or in outdoor markets like Ali`i Gardens Marketplace.Take a walk along Ali`i Drive in Kailua-Kona for a good look at the art of the island.

Wyland Kona Oceanfront Gallery Marine life is the dominant theme at Wyland Kona Oceanfront Gallery. Seascapes and sculptures showcase the work of renown artist Wyland, and mingle with a diverse collection of nine other accomplished artists. Wyland, who has gained celebrity for the marine life murals he has painted on walls throughout the world, completed his 100th and largest canvas last year with a nearly two-mile long mural in the Beijing Olympic InternationalSculpture Park. The expansive gallery on Kailua Bay features museum quality, original artwork and is owned by Mark Hanna and his wife, Diane. Hanna has a long relationship with Wyland having managed galleries for the artist for more than 10 years.

Jill’s Hot Stuff At Jill’s Hot Stuff in Ali’i Gardens Marketplace, you can find hand-crafted, beaded toe thongs and toe rings. Until you’ve had a pair of these things, you can’t possibly know how hot your feet can look. Toe thongs are great for barefoot weddings and other occasions when a pedicure isn’t quite enough. Owner Jill Ernst, a New York transplant, developed her product out of a belief that bare feet should be beautiful – particularly in Hawai`i.

Hawaii Titanium Rings Strong, lightweight and virtually maintenance-free, titanium is being used more and more in the production of designer jewelry. The owners of Hawaii Titanium Rings, Jerry and Chris Guire, were among the first in the world to design rings made from titanium. One of the fastest growing segments of the titanium jewelry market is engagement and wedding rings. The owners of Hawaii Titanium Rings design and craft their jewelry in a small sidewalk stall on Ali`i Drive in the Kona Inn Shopping Village. A nearby outdoor gallery and an outlet in the Kings’ Shops display a large collection of the versatile rings.

Cindy Coats Gallery Cindy Coats is a prolific and versatile artist who operates from a gallery across from the pier and the King Kamehamea Hotel in Kailua-Kona. Coats, owner of the Cindy Coats Gallery, works in a variety of mediums to create the bright, cheerful prints that hang in her gallery. Formerly, the owner of an Albuquerque studio, Coats and her husband moved to Kona in 1996. You can find her in her gallery Tuesdays through Saturdays.

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Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cerulean waters are teeming with life. Living coral can be found in 57 percent of the waters surrounding the island â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the highest percentage of live coral in the main Hawaiian Islands.

And where thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coral, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ sh.

At least three island tour boat companies specialize in underwater views: Blue Sea Cruises investigates the view down under in its glass bottom boat. Viewing wells provide live screening action while narrators ďŹ ll in the details. Expect to see schools of ďŹ sh, dolphins, manta rays, turtles and, in the winter, humpback whales.

Above board, naturalists shed light on historical sites along the coastline and a hula show tops off the excursion.

Atlantis Adventures, a 65-foot, air-conditioned submarine with 26 large portholes, conducts tours off Kailua-Kona. The sub cruises past hundreds of tropical ďŹ sh that populate an 18,000-year-old, 25-acre fringing coral reef that lies some 100 feet below the surface. The company also offers package tours, including a combination submarine/volcano air tour and, from December through April, whale watching tours.

Kailua Bay Charter Company runs 50-minute reef tours in a glass-bottom boat, which affords up-close views of underwater

features like â&#x20AC;&#x153;shipwreck rock,â&#x20AC;? where the reef rises to within inches of the glass, then plunges to more than 100 feet. Expect to see turtles, frolicking dolphins and seasonal whales. You can also charter their boat to create your own tour for you and your friends.

All of these tours depart from the Kailua-Kona pier.

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The northwestern Hawaiian Islands comprise a remote, uninhabited chain of small islands, atolls, reefs and submerged banks populated by more coral reefs than anywhere else in the United States. These islands contain one of the healthiest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and least accessible â&#x20AC;&#x201C; marine environments in the world. You can learn more about this rich marine habitat by visiting Hiloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coral Reef Discovery Center.

Called Mokupapapa, which is the Hawaiian term for a lowreef island, the center features a 2,500-gallon salt-water aquarium containing ďŹ sh found in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

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Interpretive panels explaining the natural and cultural heritage of the region are displayed in both English and Hawaiian, and there also are interactive exhibits with touch-screens and video vignettes that focus on reef life.

Outside the center is a touch-screen kiosk that uses a highspeed internet connection to access weather forecasts, surf reports and information about Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Volcanoes National Park.

The Discovery Center is a joint project of NOAAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Marine Sanctuary Program and the University of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i. It is located on the ďŹ rst ďŹ&#x201A;oor of the S. Hata Building at 308 Kamehameha Ave. along Hiloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bay front. A good stop for kids, the center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is free.

35

youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need is a mask, a snorkel and some ďŹ ns. Gear comes in many sizes and shapes, but be sure you have a good ďŹ t.

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A Kailua-Kona boat company has come up with a new snorkel cruise thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part lazy indulgence and part water fun.

It all takes place on a 46-foot double deck power catamaran christened M/V Makai and owned by Blue Sea Cruises. For starters, snorkelers will be served a continental breakfast in the cushioned comfort of the upper deck. All the while, the catamaran will cruise the Kona Coast looking for marine mammals to entertain you.

Eventually, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll arrive at a place called Fantasy Point, which will be the signal to look sharp, suit up and get ready to snorkel.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a reef to explore, and the sealife is dazzling.

When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thoroughly snorkeled out, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get back on the catamaran for a deli lunch and, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re so inclined, a favorite brew from the Makaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pau Hana bar.

Snorkel gear and water toys are provided by Blue Sea Cruises.

(ERE ARE A FEW SAFETY TIPS 1. Never snorkel alone. Hang with a buddy.

2. Never turn your back to the ocean.

3. Whenever possible, snorkel in the morning, when ďŹ sh are more active and water clarity is at its peak.

4. Marine life tends to congregate around structures, so stick to reefs for the best opportunity to score a face-to-face encounter.

5. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feed the ďŹ sh.

6. Even on the cloudiest of days, use waterproof sunscreen.

7. Take a small cooler with bottled water, snacks, and food.

8. Snorkeling isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t so much about swimming as it is about ďŹ&#x201A;oating. Stay relaxed, ďŹ&#x201A;oat, kick only when necessary. The more relaxed you are in the water, the more relaxed and friendly the ďŹ sh will be.

9. Be respectful of the ocean. Avoid standing on coral, as broken coral takes many years to grow back.

10. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t combine snorkeling with alcohol or drugs.

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Snorkeling is a great way to stick your head in the water without the inconvenience of holding your breath. The Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see-through water and mostly sunny skies make it easy to spot marine life, which is generally the objective of a snorkeling trip.

Snorkeling aboard a catamaran will probably include marine life viewing, plenty of food, no-host cocktails, restrooms, water slides, high jumps and lots of ďŹ&#x201A;otation equipment. The more adventurous cruises take place in powered, rigid-hull inďŹ&#x201A;atable rafts.

Kealakekua Bay, an underwater marine preserve that is a resting area for dolphins and the site of the Captain Cook Monument, is a popular destination. So are the crystal clear waters off the Kohala Coast and Pawai Bay. The bay is located between Honokohau Harbor and Kailua Bay and is known for its abundant marine life.

Snorkel gear can be rented or purchased. In either case, all

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Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something spellbinding about squinting into the PaciďŹ c and spying a pod of wild dolphins spinning like shiny toy tops out of a sun-polished sea. Seemingly carefree, these marine mammals may appear out of the blue and put on a show for you. And when they do, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an almost irresistible urge to get in the water with them.

A number of Big Island tour boat companies understand that urge and provide the opportunity to do so. Most of them follow self-regulatory guidelines developed to safeguard dolphins as well as humans.

Dolphin Discoveries pioneered Big Island dolphin swims 15 years ago, developing the guidelines currently in use by most companies that offer dolphin tours. The company specializes in small group tours; and their guides are trained marine mammal naturalists.

Another way to get to know dolphins is to participate in the Dolphin Quest interactive program at the Hilton Waikoloa

Village. Dolphin Quest, a marine research and education program with centers on the Big Island and Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ahu, offers a variety of fun and educational encounters. At Hilton Waikoloa Village, the dolphins reside in a protected area of the resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four-acre, saltwater lagoon.

Sunlight on Water, a tour company with 15 years experience in dolphin encounters, guarantees dolphin sightings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the opportunity to get in the water with them â&#x20AC;&#x201C; on its Kona Coast tours. You can also swim and snorkel with wild dolphins on ocean rafting tours with Adventure X Rafting and Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions. If you do, be mindful of the guidelines developed by local tour boat operators.

you rent a kayak â&#x20AC;&#x153;to go,â&#x20AC;? or book a guided tour with an activity company, expect to move through some of the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most inviting seascapes and abundant marine life.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to rent one- or two-person kayaks ranging from the wide, virtually untippable kayak to sleek ďŹ berglass racing kayaks. Rentals usually come equipped with soft racks designed for any vehicle and are able to handle up to three kayaks at a time.

Most rental operators will help with entry and exit if you need it and offer recommendations and guidelines for your journey.

Another option is a jet-powered kayak that speeds over the water at 15 mph. These excursions begin at Puako Bay. Guided tours range from a lazy paddle along the North Kohala Coast to more adventurous tours on the South Kona coast, where sea caves and secluded beaches prevail. Kealakekua Bay, an underwater park and marine life conservation district and site of the Capt. Cook Monument, is a popular kayak and snorkeling destination.

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Pawai Bay is an exquisite spot for snorkeling and scuba diving. A protected marine sanctuary, the bay is populated by more than 600 species of tropical ďŹ sh, moray eels, manta rays, green sea turtles and the occasional dolphin. Ledges, caves, shallow shelves and steep drop-offs make for interesting terrain in crystal-clear water.

Though it is located near the old Kona airport, not far from Kailua-Kona, Pawai Bay is not easily accessible, which is one reason a lot of people pay for a seat on a cruise boat equipped with snorkel and diving gear.

Body Glove gets you there in style on the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new, state-of-the-art, 65-foot catamaran. Winner of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Design Award in the ocean and recreation category, the big cat features fresh water showers, a 15-foot high dive platform and a 20-foot water slide. The company offers both snorkeling and diving.

Kamanu Snorkel Sailing Charters has been taking visitors to Pawai Bay for 30 years. Kamanu caters to non-swimmers and novice snorkelers. A wide assortment of gear is carried on board the vessel. A brief orientation will be provided before passengers enter the water.

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Riding the swells of the great PaciďŹ c tucked safely in a powered; rigid-hull inďŹ&#x201A;atable boat is an experience that puts a whole new perspective on an adventure at sea. Commonly called ocean rafts, these stable, seaworthy, high-performance boats resemble rescue craft, which is one thing theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re used for. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also used for fun and adventure. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re small, typically carrying no more than 35 passengers, generally less.

A rafting trip almost always will include snorkel stops in gorgeous spots like Kealakekua Bay and Honaunau Bay. In a raft, you can enter sea caves and lava tubes, and get a good look at dolphins, sea turtles and whales from your just-abovethe-water perch.

The waters off the South Kona coast are among the calmest in the state, which makes rafting here generally comfortable.

Kealakekua Bay, an underwater park and marine life conservation district, is a favorite destination of rafting companies.

Most rafting tours depart from Honokohau Marina near KailuaKona, and travel along the Kona Coast to snorkeling destinations.

AdventureX Rafting launches from Puako, about 30 minutes from Kailua-Kona on the Kohala Coast.

Morning and afternoon tours are available and generally take three or four hours to complete. Some boats are equipped with canopies for shade and ladders to provide water access.

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Standing upright on a board and navigating the surf with a lightweight paddle is wildly popular in the islands. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called stand up paddle surďŹ ng, or SUP. The concept isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t new, but in the past few years itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been revived in the Islands. Originating in Waikiki about 60 years ago, Beach Boy SurďŹ ng, as it was known then, was commonly used to get around the occasional ďŹ&#x201A;at day in Waikiki, and also for taking pictures of visitors learning to surf.

Today, some of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surďŹ ng greats â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Laird Hamilton, for one â&#x20AC;&#x201C; have latched onto the sport taking the idea to a new, more rigorous level.

Once you get the hang of it, remember to watch where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, ďŹ sh, and the occasional monk seal.

Rental equipment and lessons are available at the Kona Boys Beach Shack on Kamakahonu Bay, near the King Kamehameha Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona. They even sell boards, should you want to take one home with you! Hulakai Hawaii, located in the Mauna Lani Beach Hotel, offers SUP lessons and sells boards.

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Designated the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ofďŹ cial team sport, outrigger canoe racing draws hundreds of paddlers to clubs throughout the Islands. However, it is more than a popular activity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a culturally signiďŹ cant link to the legendary seafaring traditions of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i.

Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first settlers arrived aboard double-hulled sailing canoes that they paddled across 2,000 miles of uncharted ocean using only the stars and flight patterns of birds to guide them. They found the Islands more than 1,000 years before European explorers arrived in 1778.

Canoes were used for inter-island travel, fishing and sport, to transport warriors into battle, and for exploratory voyages.

Typically, a modern-day outrigger is powered by six paddlers in a 45-foot fiberglass, single- or double-hulled canoe. The canoe features the ama, which is a pontoon attached to one side of the hull to provide added stability.

You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to join a club to paddle. Guided tours are available. Kona Boys Beach Shack in Kailua-Kona conducts outrigger tours in Kailua Bay, narrating the myths and legends of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kings, queens and gods. Full-scale replicas of traditional Polynesian voyaging canoes can be found throughout the islands.

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Legends about surďŹ ng are found in the earliest stories of ancient Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i. Around 400 A.D.; a form of belly boarding on small wooden planks was introduced. Later, Tahitian explorers brought their tradition of riding waves with canoes. The Hawaiians merged the two techniques to create the sport of surďŹ ng.

Today the fascination with the sport of kings is as alive as ever. Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Island, with its warm, clear waters, attracts an endless stream of surfers year-round.

Learning how to surf is a rewarding adventure. Students generally begin their training by riding soft long boards and are introduced to surďŹ ng fundamentals, safety, and oceanawareness rules in a land lesson before entering the small surf to give it a try.

Ocean Eco Tours, located in Honokohau Harbor, specializes in beginnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; training. The company holds the only surf permit for Honokohau National Park and offers lessons at the popular Kahaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;u Beach Park on Aliâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Drive in Kailua-Kona.

Kahaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;u is a popular, and some say overused, surďŹ ng site, particularly attractive to beginners. The parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reefprotected lagoons attract crowds year-round, and the beach is guarded and popular with both snorkelers and surfers.

One of the most popular and consistent surf spots on

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the east side of the island is Honoliâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Point, near Hilo. This is a great place to watch surfers and body-boarders catch the three good breaks at the mouth of the river.

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One of the best ways to fully experience the fabled attributes of sailing the Kona Coast is to book a tour on a catamaran or sail boat. The Kona Coast is a ďŹ ne place to sail, protected as it is from the blustery east-northeast trade winds by the volcanic mountain slopes. The mountains create a wind shadow, or lee, along the west side of the island that provides sailboats and ďŹ shing boats with protected, smooth surface conditions. During the day, the heating of the landmass by the sun causes warm air to rise, pulling the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kona Breezeâ&#x20AC;? off the ocean, and providing the gentle winds for sea breeze sailing.

There isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t much â&#x20AC;&#x153;white knuckleâ&#x20AC;? sailing on the Kona Coast, nor do you have to be an accomplished swimmer or diver to enjoy the trip. And if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather pilot your own craft, some companies rent small sailboats and pontoon boats for sightseeing, ďŹ shing and snorkeling.

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From the technological advances of windsurďŹ ng, paragliding and wakeboarding has come a hot new water sport that some people call kitesurďŹ ng and others call kiteboarding. This extreme sport takes wind, guts, the right equipment and a lot of practice.

The surfer stands on a kiteboard (a small surfboard with straps) and is pulled across the water by a big kite. Sounds easy enough, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be fooled â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it could take many sessions of kitesurďŹ ng before a pilot becomes competent.

KitesurďŹ ng enthusiasts say the sport, though challenging and sometimes dangerous, is more fun and not as dependent on high wave and wind action as windsurďŹ ng. Lessons and rental gear are available all over the island.

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Parasailing in Kailua Bay is an easy-to-master thrill ride in a gorgeous surround. The water in the bay is so clear you can almost see the ocean ďŹ&#x201A;oor, and most days youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be drifting through cloudless, blue skies.

UFO Parasail, the only operator in Kona, loads parasailors in

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a boat, then attaches them to a towline and a parachute. As the towline is released, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll soar into the sky. With a ride running from 7 to 14 minutes, this is a quick thrill.

Most parasailing companies employ state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring dry landings and safety. You can ďŹ&#x201A;y single, tandem or triple. No experience is necessary.

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When Mother Nature set out to design the Big Island, she came up with 11 distinct climate zones ranging from tundra to tropical forest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and she saved the best for the Kona Coast. In the summer, less than an inch of rain falls a month; in the winter, that changes only marginally to 1-3 inches a month. The waters off the coast are typically calm and safe, creating a perfect setting for boating activities.

Kona Boat Rentals has devised a great way to explore the coastal waters on your own. The company rents unsinkable, easy to operate, environmentally friendly u-drive boats that accommodate up to six adults with room to spare. No license is required.

Drivers receive a thorough orientation on safety, regulations and equipment operation before they depart. All the gear you need to ďŹ sh or snorkel, plus detailed charts to more than 40 mooring locations, are included. Scuba gear may be rented.

Kona Boat Rentals, located at Honokohau Small Boat Harbor in Kailua-Kona, offers full- or half-day rentals. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 21foot center console boats are roomy and come equipped with a full electronic package including GPS and ďŹ sh ďŹ nders. So take the wheel and go explore.

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Looking for some action? Try getting wet and wild on a jet ski. This is a safe and fun water activity for all ages, and anyone can learn to do it. Riding the waves on a personal watercraft is a good bet in Kailua Bay, where the water is relatively free from fast boats, water skiers and other vessels.

Rental companies typically rent by the hour, but for some, 60 minutes may be only the beginning of a good time. Beginners are welcome, with life vests and operating instruction included.

Jet skis are equipped with handlebars, which make steering as simple as riding a bike. Be the driver or ride along â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a heartpounding, wave-coasting thrill.

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Sport ďŹ shing on the Kona Coast is big business. Many anglers come to pursue the storied 1,000-pound PaciďŹ c blue marlin and other hefty catches of broadbill swordďŹ sh, yellowďŹ n tuna, mahimahi and mako sharks.

Nature has made ďŹ shing here very convenient by establishing easily accessible premier ďŹ shing grounds. The water depth drops off to 6,000 feet just a few miles offshore and continues to get deeper as you head out to sea. As a result, most of Konaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1,000-pound marlins â&#x20AC;&#x201C; of which 50 have already been caught and veriďŹ ed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; have been found within 2 to 5 miles from shore.

More than 60 charter boats are available for hire, most of them out of Honokohau Harbor, north of Kailua-Kona.

A full day of fishing comes with a price tag ranging from $500 to $900. Splitting the cost among several anglers is considerably cheaper, with shared charters running $200 a day.

You can get a look at Kona whoppers in the lobby of King Kamehamehaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kona Beach Hotel. Check out a 1,166-pound blue marlin, the record catch at the 1993 Hawaiian International BillďŹ sh Tournament. Big ďŹ sh are weighed in daily at Honokohau Harborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fuel Dock. Watch the weigh-in of the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s catch from the morning charters at 11 a.m. The afternoon weigh-in is at 3:30 p.m.

If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to hang with the Kona crowd, drop your line in the more remote eastside waters, where LavaKat Fishing Charters promises some serious sport ďŹ shing. The rule is a guaranteed catch, or the crew buys dinner.

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A ďŹ shing tournament is reason enough to party in Kailua-Kona. Even if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ďŹ sh, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll catch the excitement when you watch the weigh-ins at Kailua Pier.

The granddaddy of all amateur ďŹ shing tournaments in the PaciďŹ c is the Hawaiian International BillďŹ sh Tournament (HIBT), established in 1959 by Peter S. Fithian. Over the years, the tournament has drawn celebrities, royalty, movie stars and recordholding international anglers to Kailua-Kona, the recognized blue marlin capital of the PaciďŹ c.

The Hawaiian International BillďŹ sh Association ProAm BillďŹ sh Tournament precedes the HIBT. This is one of the premier big game ďŹ shing events in Kona, and the main qualifying event for the HIBT. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HIBT takes place on July 25-29, 2011.

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The Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shores are alive with wildlife. Some of these animals, like humpback whales, Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles, are considered endangered species and are protected by federal laws. Dolphins and other whales, though not endangered, are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Hawai`iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marine mammals are fascinating and easily observed creatures, which is one reason nature-based tourism is a popular segment of the visitor market. Scores of tour boat companies and water-based activities on the Big Island cater to whale and dolphin watching.

2ULES AND GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW WHEN VIEWING MARINE WILDLIFE s 6IEW MARINE WILDLIFE FROM A DISTANCE #ONSIDER BINOCULARS s 3TAY AT LEAST YARDS FROM HUMPBACK WHALES YARDS from dolphins, monk seals and sea turtles. s )T IS NOT ILLEGAL FOR AN ANIMAL TO APPROACH YOU BUT IT IS AGAINST the law to approach, chase, surround, touch or swim with marine mammals, including dolphins. s )F APPROACHED BY A MARINE MAMMAL OR TURTLE PUT THE ENGINE in neutral and allow the animal to pass. s $O NOT HARASS SWIM WITH HUNT CAPTURE OR KILL ANY MARINE mammal. * Feeding marine mammals is prohibited under Federal law. s 4O REPORT SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS CALL THE ./!! %NFORCEMENT Hotline at 1-800-853-1964.

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Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen the photographs and ďŹ lms of colorful reef ďŹ sh undulating in the warm, deep blue ocean currents, and now you want to experience the sensation of meandering alongside them. But diving way down to the oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s depths, complete with heavy tanks, seems a bit much. And snorkeling only scratches the surface.

There is a compromise. Snuba, invented in 1988, is a dive experience that combines the best of both scuba and snorkeling.

It allows participants to go deeper than snorkeling, using a shallow water dive system that makes it possible to dive as deep as 20 feet below the surface for up to 30 minutes without wearing heavy air tanks. Divers wear masks, ďŹ ns, and weight belts. What sets snuba apart is the mouthpiece (or regulator) attached to a hose that extends to the surface where air tanks ďŹ&#x201A;oat in a raft.

A certiďŹ ed guide/instructor will explain breathing techniques, how to descend and ascend slowly, how to relieve pressure in the ears and drain water from your mask. Children as young as 8 can snuba, as long as they are comfortable in the water.

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54 HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY (HTA)/ KIRK LEE AEDER

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Put a little ďŹ zz in your life! A torpedo tour is a perfectly safe, non-explosive way to zip through the ocean at two miles per hour. Torpedo Tours Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i rents these, â&#x20AC;&#x153;diverpropulsionâ&#x20AC;? vehicles to underwater adventurers looking for a little power boost.

Battery-operated, these submersibles are quiet and easy to maneuver while snorkeling or scuba diving. All you do is hang on to the torpedo and slip quietly through the water. If you let go, the torpedo will stop.

Torpedo Tours will brief you on ocean safety, equipment usage and entry and exit maneuvers. Guided snorkeling tours are available, along with guided torpedo scuba diving tours that include shore dives, boat dives, specialty charters, technical dives and more.

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British Sea Captain James Cook, thought to be the ďŹ rst Westerner to set sight on the Hawaiian Islands, spotted the islands of Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ahu and Kauaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i on Jan. 18, 1778. Almost a year later on Jan. 17, 1779, the explorer found his way to the Big Island. He anchored his ships in Kealakekua Bay, where the annual Makahiki Festival was in progress. Thinking Cook might be the god Lono, Hawaiians welcomed him with a great feast.

On Feb. 4, Cook left the Big Island only to return about a week later, after a severe storm damaged one of his ships. This time the Hawaiians, who had discovered Cook was not a god, were quite hostile. Cook and four of his sailors died in the battle that ensued.

A small bronze plaque at the northern end of Kealakekua Bay marks the spot of his death. Near the plaque is a 27-foot obelisk erected by Cookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s countrymen.

Kayaking Kealakekua Bay is a great way to see the monument and explore the surrounding reef. Landing a kayak is only permissible with a permit, of which there are only 10 available per day. Kona Boys Beach Shack, in addition to renting kayaks and snorkel gear for your trip, makes the link to the landing permit available on their website: www.konaboys.com.

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not uncommon to see turtles lazing on Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beaches. Get to know the turtle species that step on Big Island shores.

The Hawaiian hawksbill is named for its sharp, beak-like mouth. Hawksbill turtles are known for their beautiful exterior shells â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;tortoise shellâ&#x20AC;? was exploited for many years by the fashion industry. A hawksbill can weigh up to 270 pounds.

Green Sea Turtles, unlike hawksbills, are often featured in ďŹ lms about Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i and regularly appear live on ocean excursions.

Watch for them feeding on seaweed that grows on the rocks in shallow areas. Called honu in Hawaiian, the turtles are named not for the color of the algae growing on their backs, but for the color of their meat.

Look but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t touch. Protected by the Endangered Species Act, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s against the law to harass both hawksbill and green sea turtles. If you see a turtle while snorkeling, give it 10 to 15 feet of space and enough room to surface and breathe.

Kahaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;u Beach Park, about six miles south of KailuaKona on Aliâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Drive, is a good place to come face-to-face with sea turtles. They also are commonly seen at Honaunau Bay near the Place of Refuge.

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Air Tours

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It would be a mistake to rely on words to describe a â&#x20AC;&#x153;ďŹ&#x201A;ight seeingâ&#x20AC;? tour of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Island. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a mythical ride on a magic carpet. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a scene from a James Bond thriller, with a chopper skirting a live volcano and lava oozing down the mountain slopes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of those fabulous things that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be analyzed, digitized or translated into anything more complicated than â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wow!â&#x20AC;?

The aerial view of the Hamakua Coast from Hilo to Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o Valley is truly magical. Expect to see roaring waterfalls, vertical forests and tiny villages during a Hamakua ďŹ&#x201A;ight. And when you reach Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o Valley, expect to see the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of Eden.

Kilauea Volcano is by far the most popular destination â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the sight of a lava ďŹ&#x201A;ow is spectacular. One company, Big Island Air, conducts night ďŹ&#x201A;ights over the volcano. Paradise Helicopters also offers doors-off ďŹ&#x201A;ights over Kilauea.

Whether you buy a ticket on a helicopter or a ďŹ xed-wing airplane, the view from above will give you a new appreciation for the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural wonders.

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A night ďŹ&#x201A;ight over a scorching volcano is an eerie and spectacular sight. Big Island Air is the only tour operator in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i that conducts volcano night ďŹ&#x201A;ights. From a seat in the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jet prop CE-208 Cessna Caravan, surface lava takes on higher deďŹ nition. And from the sky, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re likely to see the ďŹ reworks when liqueďŹ ed rock, heated to 2100 degrees, steams out of a lava tube and hits the ocean.

For a safe ride, the aircraft is equipped with a sophisticated ground proximity warning system, global positioning and trafďŹ c collision avoidance systems including on board weather and terrain mapping radar.

Weather permitting, the tours are offered daily and depart from Kona International Airport.

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Most Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Island helicopter tours originate from Kailua-Kona or Hilo. But there is one company that ďŹ&#x201A;ies out of Waikoloa on the Kohala Coast. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters maintains a private heliport in the high-end tourist area, making it convenient for Kohala Coast visitors to book a tour.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, which conducts tours throughout the islands, is a well-respected company with 25 years experience.

One tour ďŹ&#x201A;ies over an active volcano and lava ďŹ&#x201A;ows in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Volcanoes National Park, then turns to explore the magniďŹ cent rain forests and waterfalls of the Hamakua Coast. Another tour takes you to the Kohala Coast, where more waterfalls, towering sea cliffs and ancient Hawaiian settlements blend into deep valleys and acres of rainforest.

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Helicopters arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only birds that tour the island.

Try a ďŹ xed-wing ďŹ&#x201A;ight for a longer tour. Unlike most helicopter tours that cut across the saddle of the island to get to the volcano, a ďŹ xed-wing plane has enough fuel to cover all 266 miles of coastline, including the often ignored southern end of the island.

Tours are conducted in planes with various seating capacities, but all seats have a window, including the seat next to the pilot.

Kilauea Volcano is a popular destination, but there are other tours to choose from.

In addition to their regular air tours, charter plane companies also offer additional services including custom air tours.

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There are helicopter tours and helicopter adventures.

Sightseers will want to book a tour. Adventurers will go for the doors-off, multiple landing option. Paradise Helicopters can accommodate either mood.

Along with views of an active volcano, lava ďŹ&#x201A;ows, waterfalls and gorgeous terrain, Paradise has designed tours that touch down in intriguing spots. Fly to a remote valley, land at a zipline course, hike the rim of the exquisite Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o Valley or say hello to a legendary lava ďŹ eld resident.

Tours can run from one to ďŹ ve hours, depending on whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on when you touch down.

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An air tour of the Big Island is likely to bring into view the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intriguing assortment of volcanoes. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a short, preďŹ&#x201A;ight brieďŹ ng on some of them: ¡KILAUEA: One of the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most active volcanoes, located in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Volcanoes National Park on the southeastern ďŹ&#x201A;ank of Mauna Loa. This volcano has been pumping molten lava over the landscape since 1983, simultaneously developing new real estate and leaving destruction in its wake. In March 2008, the volcano caused a commotion when, for the ďŹ rst time since 1924, it let loose an explosive eruption. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still spewing an ash-laden plume from a crater at the summit and sending molten lava over the landscape. q-!5.! ,/!: A massive volcano that spreads over half of the Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4,034 square miles, Mauna Loa rises 13,680 feet from sea level. Measured from its ďŹ&#x201A;anks on the ocean ďŹ&#x201A;oor, the mountain reaches 30,080 feet at its summit. Sixty miles long and 30 miles wide, Mauna Loa is the largest volcanic mountain in the world and the third largest shield volcano in the solar system, smaller only than volcanoes on Venus and Mars. It has erupted 39 times since 1832, the most recent explosion in 1984. q-!5.! +%!: The highest island-mountain in the world, Mauna Kea stands 13,796 feet above sea level and rises 32,000 feet from the ocean ďŹ&#x201A;oor. At its summit, where snow sometimes falls, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest astronomical observatory houses telescopes operated by astronomers from all over the world. q,/@)(): Fifteen miles off the southeast coast of the island, Loâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ihi thunders 3,000 feet beneath the PaciďŹ c Ocean. Someday, thousands of years from now, the submarine volcano will emerge to form a new island.

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If ďŹ&#x201A;oating above the surface in a two-person ďŹ&#x201A;ying machine sparks your imagination, take to the sky in a powered hang glider.

During your ďŹ&#x201A;ight, you learn the basics of weight-shift control, aerodynamics and safety, as well as a bit about weather and its affects on aviation.

Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve reached a relaxed ďŹ&#x201A;ying altitude, an interesting phenomenon sometimes takes hold. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tendency to forget that a pilot is navigating your course, that an engine is powering the way and that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re strapped into a two-seater ďŹ&#x201A;ying machine, attached only to a wing. All that fades into a new feeling, one that resembles wingless ďŹ&#x201A;ight.

Anyone whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seen the Big Island from above knows its magic. But if you want to get caught in its spell, take a lesson in a powered hang glider. Check out Island Ultralight for more information.

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Hilo/Hamakua Coast

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Although not as well-storied as Mauiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scenic drive to Hana, the 45-mile Hamakua Coast road trip from Hilo to Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a is no less stunning.

Highway 19 rises above high erosional cliffs that drop to the foaming surf below. Above the highway, the mountainside is blanketed in green, interlaced by rushing streams. Two volcanoes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mauna Kea and Kohala â&#x20AC;&#x201C; rise in the distance.

Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a, the biggest town on the Hamakua Coast, is a postcard-perfect site. Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main street is a picture of tranquility, with historic storefronts, a few shops and restaurants, and a church steeple rising from a hill above the street.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Saturday morning farmers market, bed and breakfast accommodations, a vintage hotel, barbershops, restaurants, bakeries and a video outlet.

Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a is a gateway to Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o Valley, one of the Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most scenic and sacred destinations. Off limits to rental cars, it is accessible primarily by horseback, bicycle or foot. To get there from Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a, take Highway 240 to the lookout above the valley.

Other worthwhile stops along the Hamakua Coast include Akaka Falls on Highway 220, the Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Tropical Botanical Garden just outside Hilo, Kolekole Beach Park, and the World Botanical Gardens, where Umauma Falls is located.

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Mother Nature has dealt the Islands a few ďŹ erce blows in recorded history. Big Island residents are especially wary of tsunamis, due to two devastating incidents that still reside in memory.

On April 1, 1946, tsunami waves, generated by an earthquake in the Aleutian Islands, raced 2,300 miles across the ocean in ďŹ ve hours and sent a 25-foot wall of water ashore in Hilo. The tsunami struck with little warning, claiming 159 lives and destroying more than 1,300 homes.

Fourteen years later, on May 22, 1960, an earthquake on the coast of Chile sent tsunami waves tearing across the PaciďŹ c at 442 miles per hour, reaching Hilo in 15 hours and culminating in 35-foot waves that left 61 people dead.

The PaciďŹ c Tsunami Museum, at the corner of Kamehameha and Kalakaua avenues in downtown Hilo, is a wealth of information about tsunamis. It offers educational exhibits and walking/driving tours of tsunami sites. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Coming face-to-face with a 450-pound white Bengal tiger is a humbling experience, particularly in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i, where strict regulations have banned most wild creatures. If you take a stroll through Hiloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Panaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens, be sure to meet a Bengal named Namaste.

Known as the only tropical rain forest zoo in the United States, this 12-acre habitat and botanical garden is home to numerous animals, reptiles, monarch butterďŹ&#x201A;ies and birds, some of which are native only to Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i.

See giant anteaters from South America and Binturongs (Asian bear cats) from South East Asia. Also in residence are twotoed sloths and green iguanas from South America, a miniature cow (Zebu) from India and wide-eyed lemurs from Madagascar.

Feral pigs nest in a stone abode, and whistling ducks are an interesting treat.

Native Hawaiian animal life includes Hawaiian gallinules, pueo (owls), â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;io (hawks), and Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state bird, the nene goose.

The zoo, open daily, is located on Hwy.11, about four miles south of Hilo.

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access to the pond at the base of the falls, so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even think about scaling the slippery slopes to get closer. Use a long lens to take photos instead.

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The Wailuku River is an 18-mile path of churning, bubbling, cascading water that is particularly fearsome during heavy rains. Wailuku means â&#x20AC;&#x153;waters of destructionâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an apt moniker for this dangerous river, where concealed lava tubes are known to suck up surface water and create hazardous swimming conditions.

Despite the tumult, Wailuku Riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boiling Pots are a popular photo op spot. During the rainy season, the river churns through a succession of seven or eight â&#x20AC;&#x153;pots,â&#x20AC;? creating the effect of a steaming Jacuzzi. Some of the river water ďŹ&#x201A;ows beneath a level of old lava, and then suddenly bubbles up as if it were boiling.

Boiling Pots is about two miles past Hilo Medical Center, on Waiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;anuenue Drive. A sign to turn right onto Peâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;e Peâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;e Falls Street leads to the parking area above the river.

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Hilo, curving gracefully around the rim of Hilo Bay, is nestled on the slopes of three volcanoes. It houses the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government ofďŹ cials and nearly 41,000 residents.

One of the wettest towns in the United States, Hiloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rainfall averages about 128 inches a year. The rain creates gushing waterfalls and waters a myriad of exotic ďŹ&#x201A;owers.

Tourism is less noticeable here than on the Kona side of the island, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty to do. Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Volcanoes National Park is a short drive from Hilo. The scenic Hamakua Coast is close by, as well. The PaciďŹ c Tsunami Museum and the Lyman Museum are located in town, along with the Palace Theater and Big Island Candies. Mauna Loa Macadamia Nutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visitor center and Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Tropical Botanical Garden are short drives out of town. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Imiloa Astronomy Center, a famous farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market and the annual Merrie Monarch Festival are major visitor attractions.

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Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pot of gold at the end of one of Hiloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major thoroughfares. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called Rainbow Falls, named for the rainbows that appear when the morning sun shines through the mist.

Take Waiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;anuenue Drive through Hilo and bear right on Rainbow Drive. A parking lot will be on your right. Make the short walk to a lookout and hope for a rainbow. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no

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The village of Honomu, 11 miles north of Hilo on the Hamakua Coast, once was a bustling community that catered to the sugar industry. It was populated with saloons, a hotel-bordello, stores and several churches. Today Honomu is better known as the gateway to Akaka Falls, a scenic attraction that draws an estimated 1 million visitors a year.

A stroll through this tiny community (population 541) will call to mind remnants of its past. Wooden boardwalks, railings and buildings with false fronts can still be seen housing antique and craft shops, eateries and the century-old Ishigoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grocery and Bakery.

To get to Akaka Falls from Honomu, follow Hwy. 220 for 3.5 miles. The falls are 442 feet high and provide one of the best photo opportunities on the island.

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You are traveling along Hwy 19 on the HiloHamakua Heritage Coast about half way from Hilo to Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a watching for mile marker 25. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re paying attention, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll notice a large concrete sidewalk. This sidewalk was once the loading platform for the old Laupahoehoe Train Station.

The Laupahoehoe Train Museum and Visitors Center takes you on a trip back in time. In this handsomely restored railroad employee home, there are photos, artifacts, memorabilia and stories about the many island railroads, sugar plantations and cultures that built the Big Island.

This community-run, all volunteer museum is open MondayFriday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Saddle Road (Route 200) cuts across the high valley, or saddle, between the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two massive volcanic mountains, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Once considered a treacherous route, a series of road improvements have made most of the trip safer and smoother. It is the shortest route from Kailua-Kona to Hilo, accessible from Route 190 near Waimea.

This route provides access to the slopes of Mauna Loa and the observatories atop Mauna Kea. In good weather, the trip requires about two hours of concentrated drive time.

The road passes through a wide variety of eco, climactic and geologic zones as it climbs to more than 6,000 feet and back down again. In the surround of these two great mountains, the sense of silence becomes perceptible, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost a surprise when the streets of Hilo come back into view.

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What do you do when your husband has scheduled his third tee time in as many days?

Pack up your just-captured Big Island photos and go scrapbooking!

If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tried it, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the deal. Scrapbooking is a hobby involving pages of memorabilia, photos and journaling, mounted carefully on fancy background paper and embellished with all manner of decorative accessories. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun and functional for storing all your vacation memories.

Island Paperie in Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a stocks hundreds of exclusive Hawaiian scrapbooking supplies. In addition to its Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a store and another on Maui, it offers online shopping.

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Situated on high bluffs above the ocean on the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s east coast, Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a once was the hub of the Hamakua Coast sugar industry. Today it is better known as the gateway to Waipiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;o Valley, a popular visitor destination less than 15 minutes away.

The shops and eateries along Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main drag are a compatible blend of old and new. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an 80-year-old hardware store, a theater that has been showing ďŹ lms since 1939, a 100-year-old Hongwanji Mission and the homey Hotel Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a Club.

Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a is considered the gateway to the northern end of the Heritage Hwy. (Hwy. 19), which stretches south to Hilo along the Hamakua Coast. This spectacular coastal drive is a scenic treat that moves through old sugar plantation hamlets like Kalopa, Paâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;auilo, Laupahoehoe and Papaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;aloa. Although sugar has all but disappeared from the landscape, there is still evidence of old camps, railroad beds, bathhouses and general stores of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plantation days.

Get a hint of the local culture â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and awesome malasadas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at Tex Drive In. Go hiking in Kalopa State Park. Or take a stroll to the Katsu Goto memorial, which marks the approximate spot where Goto was hanged after ďŹ ghting for the rights of plantation workers.

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HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY (HTA) / KIRK LEE AEDER

Kona Coffee Belt

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Take 600 specialty coffee farms, a spattering of mills, roasters, retail outlets and museums, then cluster them along 20 miles of scenic country roads, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the makings of a selfguided coffee tasting tour.

Most people begin their tour from Kailua-Kona and head north on Palani Road (Hwy. 190). If Mountain Thunder Kona Coffee Plantation is your ďŹ rst stop, drive on Palani for about 4.5 miles and turn right on Kaloko Drive. Then go three miles to the third sign for Hao Street. Turn right again and follow Hao for about 1 mile.

Mountain Thunder will be on the right side of the street.

To continue the tour, return to Palani Road, then back to the junction of Highways 180/190 and south to the old Mamalahoa Highway toward Holualoa Town.

Before you reach the tiny mountain village of Holualoa, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd Ueshima Coffee Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kona Coffee Estate. Down the road, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll come to Kona Blue Sky Coffee Company, a large, 500acre estate. Holualoa Kona Coffee Company is farther south on Hwy.180.

End your tour at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm on Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook, which provides a wealth of information about the unique lifestyle of Konaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coffee pioneers.

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to transform a Kona Coffee bean into a full-bodied, aromatic brew. The process begins with the seedling, which must be hand-planted. The seedlings blossom into white Kona Snow ďŹ&#x201A;owers, which produce bright red cherries, most containing two coffee beans.

The trees bloom in February and March, and cherries are harvested from September through January. It takes 7 pounds of cherries to make 1 pound of roasted coffee. And a single tree yields only enough cherries to produce about 1 pound of roasted beans.

Once the beans are picked, they must be pulped, dried and hulled. After they are sun-dried, the beans are roasted. Many in the trade consider roasting an art form and some say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most important step in the process.

A ďŹ ve-pound bag of real Kona Coffee may go for more than $100, and expect to pay up to $30 a pound in the market. Kona blends are less expensive.

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The largest organic coffee farm in the United States is located 3,200 feet above sea level in a mist-cooled rainforest about seven miles from Kailua-Kona. Trent Bateman, a Mainland transplant who left a career in engineering to come to Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i, is growing award-winning Kona coffee on his farm, and breaking all the rules.

For starters, the property he purchased didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ďŹ t the mold â&#x20AC;&#x201C; too high above sea level. Then he decided to grow organic coffee.

He and his family hand-tilled the soil, and then purchased some

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Chinese geese, St. Croix sheep and Kona Nightingale donkeys to handle weed control and provide organic fertilizer. Today, both Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i and California regulatory agencies have certiďŹ ed Mountain Thunder Kona Coffee Plantation organic.

Call for tour times and other coffee activities at Mountain Thunder.

Whether you store your coffee in the freezer or on the shelf, remember that coffee beans are porous, so keep them away from water and strong odors.

Coffee is bound to stay fresher if its purchased in small, ďŹ&#x201A;avor-sealed bags, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get a better brew if you grind beans just prior to usage. Ground coffee will go stale within hours when exposed to air. Good coffee is like good wine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; handle it with care.

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Cultivating a taste for Kona coffee can be an expensive habit. Whether you settle for blends or the real thing, the way itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stored after opening can make a big difference.

Some connoisseurs say donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t store it at all: Buy only enough coffee to last two or three weeks and keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

Others say it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be cold â&#x20AC;&#x201C; room temperature is just ďŹ ne. The objections to freezing coffee are that it changes the structure of the bean, it promotes moisture, and it may change the ďŹ&#x201A;avor of the coffee. But if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in an airtight freezer bag, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not likely to happen.

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Stop for a cup of coffee and a chat at Ueshima Coffee (UCC Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i) Corp., a picturesque coffee estate just north of Holualoa Village. The 26-acre hillside property is crowned with a grand view of Kailua-Kona and the sparkling PaciďŹ c Ocean.

Ueshima Coffee (UCC Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i) Corp. offers free farm tours and hot Kona coffee to visitors who stop at the roadside kiosk near the entry to the property. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature Roastmaster Tour is now available at the Mamalahoa Highway kiosk. You can try roasting a â&#x20AC;&#x153;one-of-a-kindâ&#x20AC;? private Kona coffee reserve. These original labels make great gifts or keepsakes for special occasions.

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A slight detour off Hwy. 11 leads to the funky, upcountry village of Holualoa. For a true taste of old Hawaiiana, check out this eclectic little town.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve reached Holualoa when you see a ďŹ&#x201A;uorescent-pink building called the Kona Hotel. Built by the Inaba family in 1926, the hotel is still maintained by Inaba family members. With the exception of the exterior paint job, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not much to indicate the passage of time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it has maintained its original early 1900s style. The homey, 11-unit establishment offers rooms with shared bathrooms at rates that range from $20 to $30 a night.

In Holualoa, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd an interesting blend of artisans and crafters. One shop specializes in handcrafted lauhala items, another in locally made ukuleles. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sculptor and goldsmith, several galleries and the delightful Holuakoa CafĂŠ, which serves 100 percent Kona coffee alongside a selection of gifts and art.

At the Ipu Hale Gallery, Michael Harburg spends his time meticulously carving Hawaiian designs on gourds. Called ipu in Hawaiian, the gourds are expensive and exquisite. Hawaiian entertainers and hula practioners use ipu as percussion instruments to provide the rhythm for their music.

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Cowboy Country

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Waimeaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historical cowboy roots inspire a rustic kind of charm, our own Western-Hawaiian version of Aspen and Sonoma chic. There are art galleries, boutiques, wonderful little cafes, paniolo-inspired collections, as well as some of the most beautiful homes and neighborhoods in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i.

Parker Ranch Center in the heart of Waimea offers a mix of inviting specialty shops, restaurants and activities. Visit Parker Ranch Historic Homes, ride the range on a Paniolo Wagon Tour, or sit at the cozy Fireside Food Court and count your blessings.

Waimea (also known as Kamuela) is the perfect town for a different slice of Island life.

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Year-round hunting safaris are an adrenaline rush at Parker Ranch.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not talking about hunting rabbits. Wild Vancouver bulls with 35-inch horns lurk in the ranchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remote rain forests, waiting for a challenge. Polynesian boars ďŹ&#x201A;ourish in rolling grasslands and dense forests, while Spanish goats roam in rugged terrain. Billies and axis bucks carry up to 36-inch antlers and weigh 200 pounds.

Game birds and turkey hunts are seasonal thrills as well.

Meat handling and capping is included with hunts. Mounts can be arranged upon request. Beverages and snacks are supplied on all hunts. Call the ranch to inquire about necessary hunting permits and licenses. s 0ARKER 2ANCH

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The Kahilu Theatre is one of Waimeaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural gems.

Though it was founded in 1981 by the late Richard Smart (thenowner of Parker Ranch), itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a theater quite set apart from the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cowboy tradition.

Smart, who left Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i to pursue a career in singing, acting and dancing, performed on Broadway for 30 years before he returned to Waimea. It was his love of the business that prompted him to build a performing arts theater in the small, out-of-the-way community.

Kahilu Theatreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current season includes well-known Island entertainers and international vocal and dance groups. Check the event schedule at www.kahilutheatre.org.

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The Isaacs Art Center is a good place to get out of the sun and get a feel for authentic Hawaiiana. The gallery is afďŹ liated with the Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Preparatory Academy, a boarding and day school that was established in 1949.

Isaacs Art Center contains a large permanent collection of paintings, furniture, rare books and Hawaiiana. Art pieces also are available for purchase. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Parker Ranch is a working cattle spread that rolls over 150,000 acres of scenic upcountry terrain. It is the home of the ďŹ rst Hawaiian paniolo (cowboys) and the racetrack where record-holding thoroughbreds were trained.

The long and colorful history of the ranch can be traced to 1809 when John Palmer Parker, a sailor from Massachusetts, ďŹ rst landed in the Islands. Parker was befriended by King Kamehameha I and eventually married the daughter of a highranking Hawaiian chief. The sailor-turned-cowboy set out to domesticate herds of wild cattle hat roamed the broad slopes of Mauna Kea. In 1847, he purchased lands that eventually became Parker Ranch. Today, the ranch continues to raise cattle, and as a charitable trust, helps support schools, hospitals and other organizations in Waimea.

It was here, in the early 1900s, that Eben â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rawhide Benâ&#x20AC;?

Parker Low, a famous Waimea cowboy, set out to prove that Hawaiian paniolo were the best cowpunchers on the planet. To prove it, he sent three of Waimeaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best ropers to compete in the Frontier Days celebration in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Lowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cousin, Ikua Purdy, took ďŹ rst place; his half-brother, Archie Kaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;auâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a, took third and his brother, Jack Low, took sixth. The paniolo tradition endures on the Big Island with regularly scheduled rodeos throughout the year.

Explore the ranch for yourself on horseback tours, through an ATV ride or with guided treks.

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Dining & Entertainment

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Fine dining is more than a matter of soft lights and creative presentation. An elegant meal is the direct result of a brilliant chef and fresh â&#x20AC;&#x201C; right off the farm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; produce. In the Islands, that combination is known as Hawaii Regional Cuisine.

Hawaii Regional Cuisine combines the classic techniques of Europe, the savvy style and sophistication of American Regional Cuisine and the exotic ingredients of the PaciďŹ c Rim. Peter Merriman, owner of Merrimanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurant in Waimea, was among the original chefs involved in developing Hawaii Regional Cuisine.

Today, his restaurant thrives on Island-grown products.

At Kawaihae Harbor, CafĂŠ Pesto and Kawaihae Harbor Grill and Seafood Bar serve great food in fun settings. Also in Kawaihae is Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine and Musiquarium, which serves produce from Hawi farms and ďŹ sh from across the street in Kawaihae Bay. Some Big Island farmers also conduct tours to better acquaint visitors with the produce that eventually ďŹ nds its way to the menus of the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best ďŹ ne dining establishments.

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Volcano Winery, located just outside of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Volcanoes National Park, is Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s southernmost winery and one of only two in the Islands.

Fourteen acres of Symphony grapes are grown in the vineyard and harvested, fermented, bottled and sold on the premises. The Symphony grape, which is a hybrid of the Grenache Gris and Muscat of Alexandria, is used for the wineryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dry and semi-dry whites. But the winery is best known locally for its signature tropical fruit blends and a dessert wine made with 100 percent honey.

Volcano wines are available at select Island retailers and online (shipping is available to some states). Wine tasting is available daily. The winery is open 365 days a year from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. s 6OLCANO 7INERY

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In its authentic form, hula is the most powerful expression of indigenous Hawaiian culture that exists. The chants and dance comprise an oral history of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s native people, passed down from a kumu hula (teacher) to each generation.

The Big Island is home to the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival, which is held every year in Hilo and showcases the best hula dancers in the world. The event, which attracts a huge following throughout the islands, always begins on Easter Sunday.

Hula performances also abound at shopping centers and schools around the island. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to learn the art of the dance yourself, look into taking some short classes at various resorts.

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Rock and roll, jazz, blues, disco, country, classical, swing and karaoke light up the night on the Big Island. Clubs and restaurants are within walking distance of hotels and bar-hopping is easy on the long, beachfront walkway wrapping around Kailua Bay. Unlike other destinations, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd that nightlife here is a bit more laid-back. Yes, shoes and a shirt are still a requirement, but chances are you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry about being denied at the door for not wearing the right labels. Certainly dress to impress if thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your style, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be surprised if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re surrounded by

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people wearing blue jeans and aloha shirts. Generally, no matter what type of scene youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in to, the vibe on the Island is relaxed and all about having fun.

Huggoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the Rocks, a casual, thatched-roof bar, hangs on the edge of Kailua Bay. The Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi is at least an hourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive from Kailua-Kona, but the drive is beautiful and the restaurant is an institution. Local entertainers play Hawaiian music most Friday and Saturday nights.

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Loosely translated, a luâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;au is a big feast with a lot of singing, dancing and fun. Luâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;au often feature homegrown entertainment, complete with traditional hula and Polynesian festivities. Served with that is a main course of kalua pig â&#x20AC;&#x201C; tender, shredded pork cooked in an imu (underground oven) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and typical Hawaiian sides of poi, sweet potatoes, lomilomi salmon and haupia. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect celebration of culture and camaraderie.

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Kava is a relaxing, non-alcoholic drink used for centuries by indigenous cultures throughout the South PaciďŹ c. Big Island farmers are beginning to cultivate kava â&#x20AC;&#x201C; also called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;awa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for commercial use and kava bars are bringing the friendly brew to the mainstream.

Studies have shown that kava, taken in moderation, promotes a state of tranquility, happiness and contentment. It has been called a natural alternative to anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills.

Try it at Kanaka Kava in downtown Kailua-Kona. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the right place when you see people sitting around, happily sipping on bowls of this Island favorite drink.

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Explore

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PHOTO: BIVB

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White, black, and even green sand beaches abound along the Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 266-mile coastline. Check out some of the most popular spots below: +AUNA@OA "EACH at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (APUNA "EACH (popular for walking and body boarding) !NAEHO@OMALU "EACH (known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;A-Bay,â&#x20AC;? great for windsurďŹ ng and sail boarding) +A@UPULEHU "EACH at the Four Seasons Resort 7HITE 3ANDS "EACH 0ARK, near the Keauhou Resort (also known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Magic Sandsâ&#x20AC;? because the beach can quickly disappear during high surf months only to return in the spring) +AHALU@U "EACH 0ARK (Konaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular snorkeling beach) 0UNALU@U "EACH 0ARK (a well-known black sand beach) -ACKENZIE 3TATE 0ARK in Pahoa (nearby, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lava-lined pool heated to 95 degrees by a volcanic stream) #OCONUT )SLAND 0ARK, near the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (a local favorite for ďŹ shing and swimming) ,AUPAHOEHOE 0OINT 0ARK (created by a lava ďŹ&#x201A;ow from Mauna Kea, its large grassy area is a good place to camp) 7AIPI@O 6ALLEY S "LACK 3AND "EACH (accessible only with four-wheel drive or on foot from the overlook)

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Water conditions at Big Island beaches can be tricky and unpredictable. Whether swimming or surďŹ ng, follow these basic aquatic rules: 1. Watch the ocean at least 20 minutes before entering. Take caution if you notice water moving rapidly or swirling, or if you see waves breaking far offshore.

2. Never swim or snorkel alone. Keep a close eye on children.

3. Strong currents near shore are the most frequent and dangerous hazards. Areas near river mouths are particularly dangerous.

4. Obey warning signs. If lifeguards are unavailable, ask other beachgoers about potential hazards.

5. Locate the lifeguard station, emergency phone or rescue surfboard when you arrive at a beach.

6. Never turn your back on the ocean.

PHOTO: HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY (HTA)/TOR JOHNSON

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At colorful open-air markets in Hilo, Captain Cook, Kailua-Kona, Keauhou, Oceanview, Pahoa, Keauhou, Volcano and Waimea, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd fresh, homegrown produce at bargain prices.

Look for local favorites like sweet and juicy Kaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;u oranges, Puna papayas, cherimoya, poha berries, Hamakua mushrooms, sugarloaf pineapples, Hilo lychees and Waimea strawberries.

Beyond produce, some of the markets also sell an assortment of cakes, cookies and preserves.

Bring lots of small bills (markets are cash-only) and a basket or bag for your purchases. Look for markets at the following locations: (ILO S &ARMERS -ARKET Wednesday, Saturday Corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Mamo Street, 6 a.m.-4 p.m. (808-933-1000) www.hilofarmersmarket.com +EA@AU 6ILLAGE -ARKET Daily 16-0550 Old Volcano Road, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

(808-966-4853) -ARKET 4HE -ILL Saturday Hilo Coffee Mill, Highway 11, between mile markers 12 & 13, 7 a.m.-12 noon (808-968-1333) www.hilocoffeemill.com 0ANAEWA (AWAIIAN (OME ,ANDS &ARMERS -ARKET Daily Corner of Puainako and Ohuohu on the sidewalk of Hilo WalMart, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (808-959-0488) (ONOKA@A &ARMERS -ARKET Saturday Old Botelho Building, Downtown Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. ,AUPAHOEHOE &ARMERS -ARKET Sunday On the makai (ocean) side of Hwy. 19 between the 25 and 26 mile markers, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

(808-433-1679) (AWAIIAN (OMESTEAD &ARMERS -ARKET Saturday 64-759 Road (located at Kuhio Hale Building), 7 a.m.-12 noon +EKELA &ARM Tuesday, Friday 64-604 Mana Road, 2 p.m.-5 p .m.

(808-887-2763)

5NDER THE "ANYANS &ARMERS -ARKET Saturday Hawi, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

7AIKOLOA 6ILLAGE &ARMERS -ARKET Saturday Waikoloa Community Church parking lot, 68-3625 Paniolo Avenue, 7:15 a.m.-10 a.m. !LII 'ARDEN -ARKET 0LACE Wednesday-Sunday 75-6129 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

(808-334-1381) !LOHA -ARKET "IG )SLAND Wednesday King Kamehameha Beach Hotel lawn +EAUHOU &ARMERS -ARKET Saturday Keauhou Shopping Center, 8 a.m.-12 noon (808-322-3118) +ONA &ARMERS -ARKET Saturday, Sunday Old Industrial Park, Kaiwi Square, Kailua-Kona, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (808-961-9094) 3OUTH +ONA &RUIT 3TAND Daily 84-4770 Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (808-328-8547) 3OUTH +ONA 'REEN -ARKET Sunday Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

6ILLAGE &ARMERS -ARKET Saturday, Sunday Across from Hale Halawai, Kailua-Kona, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

(OLUALOA 'ARDENS &AMERS -ARKET Saturday 76-5901 Mamalahoa Highway, Holualoa, 9 a.m.-12 noon (808-322-5702) +A@U &ARMERS -ARKET Wednesday, Saturday In front of Ace Hardware, Naâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;alehu, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

(808-929-7236) !KEBONO &ARMERS -ARKET Sunday Akebono parking lot, Pahoa, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

(808-965-9205) 30!#% &ARMERS -ARKET Saturday 12-247 West Pohakupele Loop, 8 a.m.- 12 noon (808-965-8756) www.hawaiispace.com 6OLCANO &ARMERS -ARKET Sunday 1000 Wright Road, Cooper Center, Volcano, 7-9 a.m. (808-967-7209)

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Nothing says Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i better than the sweet smell of a puakenikeni lei, the bright splash of a bird of paradise or the delicate petals of an orchid in bloom.

The Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mineral-enriched lava ďŹ elds and high elevations yield some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most unique tropical ďŹ&#x201A;owers.

Half of the orchids grown in the Islands are cultivated here.

Long-lasting proteas bloom year-round, and almost all Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;igrown anthuriums come from the Big Island. Tuberose, plumeria, gardenia, pikake and ginger are other ďŹ&#x201A;oral favorites.

The Hilo Farmers Market is known for its selection of locally grown ďŹ&#x201A;owers. Some wholesalers and gift shops sell packaged seeds, as well. Most tropical ďŹ&#x201A;owers hold up well in shipping, too.

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You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ďŹ nd celebrities at a Big Island â&#x20AC;&#x153;star party,â&#x20AC;? but having the Southern Cross, Jupiter, Saturn and the Great Andromeda Galaxy at your ďŹ ngertips draws awe just as well.

A regular feature of the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station (VIS), the stargazing program is held every evening from 6 to 10 p.m. It begins with an astronomy video followed by a discussion focused on astronomy and Mauna Kea, where the center is located. There, state-of-theart telescopes and guided tours to Mauna Keaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summit are your passports to the stars.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good idea to call 1-808-974-4203 for the latest weather conditions before making the trip. For more information about the Onizuka Center, call (808) 961-2180.

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into the sunset and looking back at sparkling city lights is an exquisite way to end a Big Island day.

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The Big Island is home to vintage venues that showcase modern-day theatre alongside of island history.

The Palace Theatre, located in downtown Hilo, installed its ďŹ rst sound system in 1928. Originally made for silent movies and live performances, the theatre now features a mixed fare of ďŹ lms, live concerts and theater productions. Listen for the theaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original pipe organ, a hallmark intro to Palace Theatre shows.

The Aloha Theatre is a short jaunt from Kailua-Kona. Aside from nightly entertainment and Sunday matinees run by the Aloha Performing Arts Company, the theatre features a delightful cafĂŠ.

The breakfast menu here deserves its own spotlight.

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Throughout its 46 years in the Islands, Hilo Hattie has become a beloved institution. Known for warm lei greetings and a wide selection of Hawaiian-style apparel, the retailer offers a myriad of souvenirs and a gracious dose of the aloha spirit.

Hilo Hattie (with Big Island locations in Kona and Hilo) is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest manufacturer of Hawaiian and casual apparel.

Its line of gourmet food items, candies, jams and jellies, cookies, syrups and dressings are tasty treats to take back home.

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When the sun sinks below the horizon and the party boats light up, Kailua Bay is one of the sweetest sights on the planet. Book a dinner cruise and savor a view of the island from the deck of one of several sea-going vessels that travel from Konaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoreline every evening.

Dinner cruises are available on various types of boats, with Island-themed food and entertainment sure to please. Dancing

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Head over Kohala Mountain Road and take in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fabled cowboy country. The road crosses Kohala Mountain, an ancient volcano that has been dormant for about 120,000 years. When the mist clears, awesome vistas of the PaciďŹ c and the summits of Big Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other mountains are an added treat.

Parker Ranch lies at one end of Kohala Mountain Road in Waimea. Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest and largest ranch offers round-ups, rodeos and tons of other cowboy-themed activities. In Hawi, Paniolo and Kahua ranches also keep the country spirit alive.

The Story of the

Universe and the Hawaiian People unfolds around

you.

No trip to the Big Island is complete without visiting ‘Imiloa. Part science center, part indigenous peoples museum, 3D planetarium, ‘Imiloa brings the epic tale of Hawai‘i to life.

For visitors looking for something more, ‘Imiloa presents the story of life and connections to the universe from a Hawaiian world view.

Show this ad for $2 off adult general admission Open Tues-Sun* 9 am to 4 pm *Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Day 600 ‘Imiloa Place at the UH Hilo Science & Technology Park, off of Nowelo and Komohana 5 minutes from Downtown Hilo

808-969-9703

www.imiloahawaii.org

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Golf with a View

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Whether you prefer to play in a cool, misty climate reminiscent of Scotland or so close to the PaciďŹ c that you have to wipe the salt spray off your clubs, the Big Island has all you need for a great day at the links.

Sunny South Kohala is home to several ďŹ ne golf resorts: Mauna Kea Resort, with its Hapuna Golf Course, is ranked by Golf Digest as one of the best golf resorts in North America. A few miles south are the Mauna Lani North and South courses, carved out of black lava in a visually stunning layout. At the Waikoloa Resort, another lava desert is â&#x20AC;&#x153;crunchedâ&#x20AC;? into soft velvety greens at the Beach Course and Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Course.

Kona offers the Hualalai Golf Club at the Four Seasons Resort, which hosts the prestigious Senior PGA Tour MasterCard Championship in January. The course, however, is normally reserved for resort guests or invited patrons. For public play, the Kona Country Club in Keauhou offers two 18-hole courses, literally running from the mountains to the sea.

The Big Island has several upland golf courses: Big Island Country Club near Waimea; Makalei Golf Club, which lies on the slopes of Hualalai; Waikoloa Village Golf Course, and Waimea Country Club.

In Hilo, the 18-hole Hilo Municipal Golf Course (â&#x20AC;&#x153;the muniâ&#x20AC;?) is a must-play. The Naniloa Country Club, in the heart of the Banyon

Drive area, is a cute nine-hole course. The Hamakua Country Club in Honokaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a also is a nine-hole course. Volcano Golf & Country Club is one of the only courses in the world built on a live volcano. Sea Mountain Golf Course is located close to the southern point of the island.

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Named one of the top golf schools in America by Golf Magazine, Darrin Geeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spirit of Golf Academy is a Big Island must for all avid and aspiring golfers. Some have cut as many as 22 strokes with just one simple lesson!

Golf pioneer, innovator and mental golf guru, Darrin Gee created the internationally renowned Seven Principles of Golf, which is taught to golfers of ALL levels using his effortless, effective and cutting-edge golf instruction technique.

The Spirit of Golf Academy will inspire you to achieve your goal to become a scratch golfer, break 90 or simply have fun with friends and family. Frommerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Travel Guides has awarded the Spirit of Golf Academy its highest rating year after year. Half-day clinics include instruction, clubs, range balls and refreshments.

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BIG ISLAND BIG ISLAND COUNTRY CLUB 18 holes, par 72, 7034 yards 71-1420 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 A true Pete & Perry Dye course, located at the 2500-foot elevation in the cool mountain air above Kona. The course has Bent/Poa grass greens and Bermuda fairways with spectacular water features. Five sets of tee boxes ranging from 4,851-7,155 yards give all caliber of players the proper challenge. The 17th hole island green is their signature hole and there is abundant wildlife to be seen, including the Nene, the state bird of Hawaii.

Architect: Perry Dye Slope: 142/137/132/116/110 (men) 129/120/116 (ladies)

Rating: 75.6/72.2/69.4/65.5/64.2 (men) 74.6/70.5/68.7 (ladies) Yardage: 7155/6582/6021/5177/4851

HAPUNA GOLF COURSE 18 holes, par 72, 6875 yards 62-100 Kauna’oa Drive, Kohala Coast, HI 96743 The Hapuna Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course nestled in the dramatic natural contours of the lava, all the way from the shoreline to about 700 feet above sea level. The course offers spectacular views of lava fields, the Kohala Coast, the Pacific Ocean, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Kohala Mountains form the backdrop. This course was named in GOLF Magazine’s 1998 list of “Gold Medal Resorts”.

Architect: Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay Slope: 136/130/122/117 Rating: 73.3/70.4/66.8/64.4

Open: 1992 Yardage: 6875/6534/6029/5067

KONA COUNTRY CLUB MOUNTAIN COURSE 18 holes, par 72, 6634 yards 78-7000 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 The Kona Country Club’s Mountain Course offers numerous golfing experiences. Golfers find themselves playing over lava tube blow holes, getting views of the Pacific Ocean or admiring ancient Hawaiian archeological sites. The fairways are concurrent to the ocean, and everything, including most greens, break toward the ocean.

Architect: William Bell, Robin Nelson & Rodney Wright Slope: 135/130/130/119/116 Rating: 72.9/70.0/74.9/65.0/69.0

Open: 1985 Yardage: 6509/5917/4886/4886

KONA COUNTRY CLUB OCEAN COURSE 18 holes, par 72, 6748 yards 78-7000 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 The Kona Country Club’s Ocean course offers difficulty to golfers because the course is situated very close to the shoreline and has a strong crosswind. Two of the Kona Country Club’s back nine holes, the 12th and 13th, play along the ocean, giving additional hazards.

Architect: William Bell Slope: 129/123/129/118/119 Rating: 72.8/70.1/76.4/67.2/71.7

Open: 1966 Yardage: 6613/6145/5276/5276

BIG ISLAND MAKALEI GOLF CLUB 18 holes, par 72, 7041 yards 72-3890 Hawaii Belt Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Sprawled within the slopes of Hualalai Mountain overlooking Kona, Makalei Golf Club offers unbeatable weather and spectacular golf, over terrain ranging from 2,100 to 2,800 feet in elevation.

You will use every club and hit from every stance.

Architect: Dick Nugent Slope: 144/140/134/121 Rating: 74.3/72.4/68.7/69.4

Open: 1992 Yardage: 7091/6698/6161/5242

MAUNA KEA GOLF COURSE 18 holes, par 72, 7370 yards 62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Drive, Kohala Coast, HI 96743 The incomparable Mauna Kea Golf Course offers golfers the perfect challenge to match their level of play. There are incredible panoramic sweeps of sea and land, featuring snow-capped Mauna Kea, rugged lava beds, and the sparkling blue Pacific. One of the most spectacular features is the famous Third Hole -- where surging inlet water races to meet the rocky shoreline, affording one of the most breathtaking views in golf today.

Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Slope: 77.2/74.7/72.2/69.1/66.2 Rating: 73.6/71.9/70.1/65.2/75.7/70.2

Open: 1964 Yardage: 7370/6806/6358/5798/5096

VOLCANO GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 18 holes, par 72, 6547 yards Pi’i Mauna Drive, Hawai’i Volcanoes Nat’l Park, HI 96718 Golfers looking for a peaceful golf course offering ample time for concentration and a relaxing round of golf should try Volcano Golf and Country Club. This unique 18-hole course set on the slopes of Mauna Loa, is located next to Volcanoes National Park. Situated at 4,280 feet above sea level, Volcano Golf and Country Club offers unrivaled views of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, as well as crisp, clean air for a truly enjoyable game of golf.

Architect: Jack Snyder Slope: 128/124/117 Rating: 70.8/68.8/70.7

Open: 1920 Yardage: 6547/6190/5567

WAIKOLOA VILLAGE GOLF CLUB 18 holes, par 72, 6791 yards 69-1792 Melia Street, Waikoloa, HI 96738 The Waikoloa Village Golf Club is located at an elevation of 1,000 feet.

It has great views of the ocean from every hole. Waikoloa Village Golf Club, voted 2010 Best Golf Course by the North Hawaii News, features slightly rolling terrain, some dogleg fairways and two lakes that come into play on three separate holes. Nestled between Mauna Kea volcano and the blue Pacific Ocean, it is truly one of Hawaii’s most beautiful courses.

Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Slope: 132/128/119 Rating: 71.8/69.2/72.1

Open: 1972 Yardage: 6791/6230/5480

BIG ISLAND WAIKOLOA BEACH COURSE 18 holes, par 70, 6566 yards 600 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa, HI 96738 Winding its way through ancient lava fields along the breathtaking Kohala coastline, Waikoloa’s Beach Course is, quite simply, resort golf at its finest.

But don’t let the swaying coconut trees and gentle ocean breeze lull you into a false sense of security. The Beach Course can also be a significant challenge for quality players. The classic Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design was literally carved from the lava flow along the picturesque Anaeho’omalu Bay. Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Slope: 134/124/118 Rating: 71.6/68.7/70.0

Open: 1981 Yardage: 6566/5958/5122

WAIKOLOA KINGS’ COURSE 18 holes, par 72, 7074 yards 600 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa, HI 96738 For a rigorous test of golf skills, no facility on the Kohala Coast compares with Waikoloa’s unique Kings’ Course. Designed by former British Open championTom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, the Kings’ Course offers golfers the best of two worlds: golf in an island paradise, on a course that more closely resembles a layout along the coast of Scotland.

But with stunning views of the towering volcanoes of the Big Island, framed by palm trees and vibrant flowers, you’ll have no trouble remembering that you’re golfing in paradise.

Architect: Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish Slope: 135/128/124/120 Rating: 73.4/71.4/68.6/72.2

Open: 1990 Yardage: 7074/6594/6010/5459

WAIMEA COUNTRY CLUB 18 holes, par 72, 6661 yards 47-5220 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamuela, HI 96743 Located in up-country Waimea, this course provides a comfortable, cool climate. The Scottish links design is set with views of both the ocean and Mauna Kea. The course is a great golf escape where you will find some of the finest greens in all the islands. This is not your typical Hawaiian resort course. It was built on pasture lands, and it has tree-lined fairways that may affect your shots.

Architect: John Sanford Slope: 130/125/119 Rating: 71.1/68.3/71.3

Open: 1994 Yardage: 6661/6210/5673

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Waikoloa Beach Golf Course Phone 886-6060

Big Island Country Club Phone 325-5044

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Waikoloa Village Golf Course Phone 883-9621

Hapuna Golf Course Phone 880-3000

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Waimea Country Club Phone 886-8777

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Spirit of Golf Academy Phone 887-6800

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(ILO Naniloa Country Club Phone 935-3000

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Hilo Municipal Golf Course Phone 959-7711

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0UNALUU 3OUTH 0OINT 6OLCANO Sea Mountain Golf Course Phone 928-6222

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Volcano Golf & Country Club Phone 967-7331

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(ONOKAA Hamakua Country Club Phone 775-7244

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Semi-Private .O 9ES SETS www.101thingstodo.com

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