Hawaii - The Big Island, an island of living volcanoes,
Waterfalls and black sand beaches. Hawaii, place where gods, myths, and legends reside - an
island still being created before your very eyes as volcanoes bubble and spew
forth red-hot lava into the sea. Here, eleven of the thirteen climates of the
world can be found. Scenery changes here every few miles from lush rain forests,
to barren black lava fields, to snow capped peaks.
The island of Hawaii is the youngest island in the Hawaiian
chain and known as the “Big Island” or as the “Orchid Isle”. Originally formed by five volcanoes creating a land area of 4,028 square
miles, twice the combined size of the other islands and still growing because of
two active volcanoes Mauna Loa and Kilauea.
Approximately 150,000 people call the big island their home.
It reveals a diverse and dramatic landscape
and you can safely see how the active Kilauea volcano is still
adding to the island’s size. It is also the home of famous Mauna Kea, the
world’s largest mountain, rising more than 33,000 feet from the ocean floor.
It houses has one of the world’s most important observatories. The 13,680 feel
tall and snow capped Mauna Loa is at north.
Kona is the biggest city on the island, and it is where everyone living on
the island is coming to find work. This place is starting to turn into the boom
town of the island with mass residential housing going up. Here you could
find most of the comforts of modern living, Super Wal-Mart, Denny's, Gold's Gym,
and many other common household named establishment's. It is the busiest
place on the island, and the most touristy. All beaches in the State of
Hawaii are public. Although some people may own beach front property, no
one owns the beach. I wasn't overly impressed with the beaches in Kona.
Hilo is the second largest town in Hawaii. The economy in Hilo is struggling
right now, and people are leaving the area for Kona where there is work. I did
not spend much time at the beaches here, most of my time was spent at the
Volcano, which I highly recommend anyone do if they are in Hilo. With two
of the five volcanoes that created the island still active, it continues to
grow: Kilauea Caldera is the longest continuously erupting volcano in the world;
its present eruptive phase dating back to 1983. Fifteen miles off the
island's southeast coast yet another volcano, Lo'ihi, is erupting 3,000 feet
below the surface of the ocean. While it will still be several thousand years
before this volcano breaks the sea's surface, it has already risen more than
10,000 feet from the sea floor and has a crater that measures three miles
across.
Most the fantasy class resorts and activities are incorporated
along the Kona and Kohala coast on the western part of the island. On the
eastern side, Hilo town is set amidst giant tree ferns and orchid fields. It is
the center of the commercial activity on the island.