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Hawaii - Big Island of Hawaii

40 images Created 2 Mar 2010

The Big Island of Hawaii is noted for its lush rain forests, arid lava-covered deserts, black sand beaches, dramatic waterfalls and the sometimes snow-capped peak of Mauna Kea - the tallest sea mountain on Earth.

However, it's most famous attraction is Kilauea, the world's most active volcano located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Also located in the park is Mauna Loa, another active volcano. Excellent hiking opportunities await outdoor enthusiasts at the park along with exploring a lava tube and viewing the immense Kilauea caldera and its fire pit Halemaumau. Lucky visitors might get to see molten lava flow into the ocean either within the park, or outside the park near Kalapana.

The Hilo area offers several interesting outdoor destinations: Rainbow Falls (Waianuenue Falls) and Boiling Pots in Wailuku River State Park, and Lava Tree State Park. Further up the eastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii is Akaka Falls State Park, and the hiking destination of Waipio Valley.

The sunny Kona coast near Kailua and Keauhou and it's calm waters offer water activities of snorkeling, diving, swimming with manta rays, spotting honu (green sea turtles) and deep-sea fishing. Surfing at beaches like Kahaluu Beach Park is also popular.

On the southern part of the Big Island you can walk on a black sand beach in Punaluu Beach Park, and at the South Point (Ka Lae), you can stand at the southern most point in the U.S. while taking in a view of wind farm turbines.

The Big Island of Hawaii is home to numerous ancient Hawaiian temples (heiau)and other historic Hawaiian sites including Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park (Place of Refuge) located near Kealakekua Bay.
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  • Snorkler takes in the underwater sights of Kahalu'u Bay at Kahalu'u Beach Park during sunset in Keauhou, Hawaii on the Big Island of Hawaii. The area offers some of the best snorkeling opportunities in the Kona area.
    Sunset snorkeler.jpg
  • Damaged coral in the waters off Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Damaged coral.jpg
  • A snorkeler stands on the coral reef just off Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii. This photo is a good example of showing how snorkelers can inadvertently damage coral.
    Damaged coral-2.jpg
  • An unidentified snorkeler takes photos of coral and fish on the reef just off Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii. In the foreground is a lau'ipala or yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens).
    Underwater photographer.jpg
  • An unidentified surfer tackles the early morning waves offshore in Kahaluu Bay at Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Surfer.jpg
  • An unidentified fisherman throws his net while standing on the remains of an ancient breakwater known as Paokamenehune or menehune breakwater built by early Hawaiians, near Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Net fisherman.jpg
  • The Hapaiali'i Heiau (Temple for Elevating Chiefs) in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii is located near Keauhou Beach Resort and Kahaluu Beach Park. The restored temple is thought to be more than 600 years old. During restoration, it was discovered that the heiau also served as a solar calendar. On the winter solstice, from a spot directly behind the temple's center stone, the sun sets directly off the southwest corner of the heiau; at the vernal equinox, the sun sets directly along the centerline of the temple and at summer solstice, it sets off the northwest corner. In the background is the restored Ke'eku Heiau.
    Hapaialii Heiau.jpg
  • A giant sun at sunset as seen from the Keauhou Beach Resort next to Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Sunset.jpg
  • The setting sun sets behind a palm tree at sunset as seen from the Keauhou Beach Resort next to Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Palm tree sunset.jpg
  • The setting sun sets behind a palm tree at sunset as seen from the Keauhou Beach Resort next to Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii. In the background are the remains of an ancient breakwater known as Paokamenehune or menehune breakwater that was built by ancient Hawaiians.
    Palm tree sunset-2.jpg
  • The setting sun at sunset as seen from the Keauhou Beach Resort next to Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii. In the foreground are the remains of an ancient breakwater known as Paokamenehune or menehune breakwater that was built by ancient Hawaiians.
    Paokamenhune sunset.jpg
  • Honu or Hawaiian green sea turtles are native to Hawaii. They often come into shallow waters to feed on algae or to bask in the sun on beaches. The turtles are known to travel 700 miles from the main Hawaiian Islands to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands to lay their eggs and nest. The turtles are protected under Hawaii state and federal law as a threatened species. This turtle was photographed near the Hapaialii heiau in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Hawaiian green sea turtle.jpg
  • Honu or Hawaiian green sea turtles are native to Hawaii. They often come into shallow waters to feed on algae or to bask in the sun on beaches. The turtles are known to travel 700 miles from the main Hawaiian Islands to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands to lay their eggs and nest. The turtles are protected under Hawaii state and federal law as a threatened species. This turtle was photographed near the Hapaialii heiau in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Hawaiian green sea turtle.jpg
  • Ohia-lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is one of the most common trees in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. It can reach heights of 60 to 80 feet in wet forests, but can be only a small shrub on dry lava fields. Hawaiian legend states that Ohia and Lehua were lovers. The volcano goddess Pele fell in love with Ohia and approached him, but he turned down Pele's advances. In a fit of jealousy, Pele transformed Ohia into a tree. Lehua was devastated and out of pity other gods turned her into a flower and placed her upon the ohia tree.
    Ohia-lehua.jpg
  • The Halemaumau Crater, a pit crater in the larger Kilauea Caldera in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii is framed by a Ohia-lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) tree. The 3,000 foot wide and 300 foot deep crater is dwarfed by the much larger roughly two by three mile wide caldera that it is in. The Ohia-lehua is one of the most common trees in the park. It can reach heights of 60 to 80 feet in wet forests, but can be only a small shrub on dry lava fields. The photo is taken from the Jaggar Museum located along Crater Rim Drive.
    Halemaumau Crater.jpg
  • A volcanic gas plume (primarily sulphur dioxide) rises from the Halemaumau Crater, a pit crater in the larger Kilauea Caldera in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. The 3,000 foot wide and 660 foot deep crater is dwarfed by the much larger roughly two by three mile wide caldera that it is in. The photo is taken from the Jaggar Museum located along Crater Rim Drive. Volcanic gas air pollution is often referred to as "vog."
    Halemaumau Crater-2.jpg
  • Volcanic gas (primarily sulphur dioxide) from the Halemaumau Crater, a pit crater in the larger Kilauea Caldera in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii can cause portions of the park to close due to the dangerous gas. Volcanic gas air pollution is often referred to as "vog."
    Vog warning sign.jpg
  • The `ama`uma`u  or `ama`u for short, is a common fern found in the wet forests of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The fern is a member of the Blechnum fern family and is endemic to Hawai`i. Halema`uma`u, the fire pit within Kilauea caldera, means “the house of  `ama`uma`u fern.”  This fern was photographed on a connector trail between the Byron Ledge and Devastation trails near the Kilauea caldera.
    Amau fern.jpg
  • Japanese anemone (Anemone hupehensis japonica) found along the Kilauea Iki trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Japanese anemone.jpg
  • The `ama`uma`u  or `ama`u for short, is a common fern found in the wet forests of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The fern typically has red fronds when young for protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The fronds gradually turn green with age and gray when they die. The fern is a member of the Blechnum fern family and is endemic to Hawai`i. Halema`uma`u, the fire pit within Kilauea caldera, means “the house of  `ama`uma`u fern.”  This fern was photographed on a connector trail between the Byron Ledge and Devastation trails near the Kilauea caldera.
    Amau fern.jpg
  • A young frond of the fern called `ama`uma`u  or `ama`u for short. This common fern is found in the wet forests and open areas of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The fern is a member of the Blechnum fern family and is endemic to Hawai`i. Halema`uma`u, the fire pit within Kilauea caldera, means “the house of  `ama`uma`u fern.”  This fern was photographed on a connector trail between the Byron Ledge and Devastation trails near the Kilauea caldera.
    Amau fern-2.jpg
  • The Koa butterfly, sometimes called Blackburn’s Blue (Udara blackburni) is one of the only two native butterflies in Hawaii. It is only about an inch long with the upper sides of the wings blue and the undersides green. This butterfly was photographed  along the Kilauea Iki trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Blackburn's Blue butterfly.jpg
  • Hikers hike along the Kilauea Iki Trail on the bottom of the Kilauea Iki crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. The large hill is the cinder and spatter cone Pu'u Pua'i (gushing hill) is from the Kilauea Iki eruption in 1959. During that eruption, fountains of lava shot into the sky as high as 1,900 feet from the eruption vent at the left base of the hill.
    Kilauea Iki.jpg
  • Kilauea Iki crater was the site of a volcanic eruption in 1959 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. The barren hill just above the crater is the cinder and spatter cone Pu'u Pua'i (gushing hill). During that eruption, fountains of lava shot into the sky as high as 1,900 feet from the eruption vent at the base of the hill. Beyond Pu'u Pua'i is the Kilauea caldera with its Halemaumau crater. In the far background Mauna Loa rises to a height of 13,679 ft. Mauna Loa is the world's largest shield volcano in terms of volume and area covered. Mauna Loa, an active volcano, means "Long Mountain" in Hawaiian and is one of the five volcanoes that make up the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Kilauea Iki.jpg
  • An assortment of ferns including Hapu'u tree ferns in the wet forest in a small crater near the Thurston Lava Tube (Nahuku) in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Hapu'u tree ferns.jpg
  • During the morning of May 24, 1969 this and other volcanic fissures formed a spewing wall of molten lava over a mile long in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. The event was the beginning of the Mauna Ulu eruption that lasted five years, and destroyed roads, grasslands and cultural sites in the park as the lava flowed to the sea.
    Mauna Ulu fissure.jpg
  • View from Kealakomo located on the crest of the Holei Pali. The 1,000 foot high escarpment is located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Holei Pali.jpg
  • Pahoehoe lava (right) has a smooth surface where as `a`a lava has a rough surface. In an eruption where a lot of lava is being discharged at once - `a`a flows tend to form. If the rate is low, a pahoehoe flow is more likely. This example from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii shows both types of lava.
    Pahoehoe and aa lava.jpg
  • One of the 15,000 petroglyphs at Pu'u Loa in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was the custom of early Hawaiians to bring the umbilical stump of a newborn to Pu'u and place it in one of the 7,000 cup-like holes carved into the lava. A circle would then be carved around a collection of holes to signify a family.
    Petroglyph.jpg
  • Mauna Loa (13,679 ft.) receives the first sunlight at sunrise in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. The photo is taken from the Kulanaokuaiki Campground campground in the park. Mauna Loa is the world's largest shield volcano in terms of volume and area covered. Mauna Loa, an active volcano, means "Long Mountain" in Hawaiian and is one of the five volcanoes that make up the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Mauna Loa sunrise.jpg
  • Astronomical observatories atop Mauna Kea (13,803 ft.) bask in the first sunlight at sunrise on the Big Island of Hawaii. Mauna Kea is home to the world's leading astronomical observatories due to the summit being 40% above the the earth's atmosphere and above 90% of the water vapor. Also, the low population of the Big Island keeps light pollution at a minimum. From Mauna Kea all of the northern sky and most of the southern sky can be viewed. Mauna Kea rises more than 30,000 feet from the ocean floor making it the world's tallest mountain (Mount Everest is the tallest mountain above sea level). This photograph was taken from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
    Mauna Kea sunrise.jpg
  • Morning sunlight dances around in the grass at the base of eucalyptus trees in the Namakanipaio campground in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Eucalyptus and grass.jpg
  • View from the Hilina Pali Overlook located on the crest of the HilinaPali. The 1,000 foot high escarpment is located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Hilina Pali.jpg
  • Hikers, hoping to see lava from the middle east rift zone of the Kilauea volcano enter the ocean, hike over harden lava to the Kalapana viewing site managed by Hawaii County Civil Defense. The parking lot for the trailhead is at the end of Highway 130 south of Pahoa on the Big Island of Hawaii. The best lava viewing is during the early evening hours.
    Kalapana lava viewing.jpg
  • Steam rises as lava from middle east rift zone of the Kilauea volcano enters the ocean at sunset near the Kalapana viewing site managed by Hawaii County Civil Defense on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Kalapana lava viewing-2.jpg
  • Sunset over the Kalapana lava viewing site managed by Hawaii County Civil Defense. The lava viewing site on the Big Island of Hawaii is a good spot to see lava from the middle east rift zone of the Kilauea volcano enter the ocean.
    Sunset Kalapana lava viewing.jpg
  • Stone carving of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, inset above the fireplace of Volcano House, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Pele fireplace.jpg
  • Rainbow Falls is a 80 ft. tall waterfall on the Wailuku River in Wailuku River State Park. The falls located on the Big Island of Hawaii is also known as Waianuenue. Ancient Hawaiians thought the cave behind the falls was the home of the Hawaiian goddess, Hina.
    Rainbow Falls.jpg
  • Cattle graze near the Pakini Nui Wind Farm at Ka Lae on the Big Island of Hawaii. The area is known for strong winds and has been the site of several wind farms. The Pakini Nui Wind Farm replaced the nearby Kamaoa Wind Farm in 2007 after the Kamaoa project fell into disrepair and was closed in 2006. The Pakini Nui project consists of 14 General Electric 1.5 MW wind turbines . The wind turbines add 21 megawatts of capacity to the Big Island -- enough power for more than 10,000 homes. Each blade of the pictured turbines is 100 feet long. Ka Lae also known as South Point, is the most southernmost point of the 50 United States.
    South Point wind farm.jpg
  • Ki'i (wooden images) stand guard over a reconstruction of a hawaiian temple and mausoleum of early Hawaiian royalty at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. Early Hawaiians who broke a law (kapu) could avoid death by fleeing to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau where they would be absolved by a priest. Because of this, Pu'uhonua o Honaunau is sometimes referred to as the "City of Refuge."
    Puuhonua o Honaunau Kii.jpg