Exploring Hawaii

My wife and I were looking to new tropical destination somewhere that we`ve never been before and yet different than Caribbean islands. Some exotic and beautiful place with sightseeing and attractions, activities and plenty of dining options, and then we realized we`ve never been to any of the Islands of Hawaii.

Hawaii is one of the destinations that always attracted my attention and stirred up my curiosity to explore in details, learn about culture and native people traditions. We decided to start with Big Island of Hawaii - the youngest and still growing with spewing molten lava from the earth`s depths island, boasting spectacular coastlines with beaches of white, gold, green and black sands.

We took a week long family trip there and had great time. You feel the friendly spirit of the people the minute you land at the airport - open space with the breeze flowing around, beautiful girls with smile on their faces and lei in hands greet and welcome arriving guests.

Then you head toward the bus to drop you off at your car rental location. Highly recommend to rent a car in Hawaii so you can go around on your own schedule - parking is not a problem - plenty of parking spaces even in downtown area. It is easy to go around the island and the view is just amazing when you drive to your hotel along the coastline.

We arrived to our resort (only 25 minutes north from Kona International Airport), The Fairmont Orchid, in the early afternoon and were greeted with warm smile and "Aloha", and checked-in right away. This luxurious beachfront resort is nestled on sunny Kohala coast at Mauna Lani, one of the nicest beaches in area, and protected Pauoa Bay that offers some of the best snorkeling on the coast. We were pleased with the beautiful lush grounds, the exotic ambience of the resort and friendly service of the staff, room location/view and comfort.

You will quickly find out there are countless activities in Hawaii. You can take it as easy as lounging on the beach or napping on a hammock between the palm trees, or as active as hiking miles into the rainforest, climbing the volcano, diving and exploring the aquatic life. Plenty of entertainments as well - from magic shows, to hula lessons and studying petroglyphs on cave walls. There are numerous activities for everyone - first time novices or thrill seekers.

The island biggest attraction is the active volcano - Kilauea. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is the only rainforest in the U.S. National Park collection and home to lava flowing volcano.

We explored the island all around. Our favorite activities were:
>Helicopter ride over the coastline and finding hidden waterfalls
>Volcano hiking tour
>Whale waching day cruise
>Submarine adventure to explore the beautiful aquatic life
>Exotic tour of the island Places to see while on Big Island of Hawaii:
>Volcanoes National Park
>Waipi`o Valley
>Pu`uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
>Mauna Kea Observatory
>`Akaka Falls State Park
>Parker Ranch

Top Island Dining we recommend:
>Kilauea Lodge Restaurant (dinner only)
>Italian Cafe Pesto (dinner only)
>The Grill at Fairmont Orchid (dinner only, reservations required)
>Seaside Restaurant, Hilo (dinner only)
>Ke`ei Cafe (dinner only)

Top Luxury Resorts to stay on the Big Island of Hawaii:
>The Fairmond Orchid Hawaii
>The Four Seasons Resort, Hualalai
>Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows
>Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel
>Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

In the end I must say our experience was beyond our expectations. Big Island of Hawaii is a must see destination - place with leading production of macadamia nuts and orchids, live volcanos, diverse aquatic life, unique different color beaches and people with great culture and hospitality.