*This story was updated on Dec. 24, 2025. A year ago on Dec. 23, 2024, one of the world’s most active volcanoes awoke. That morning, lava fountains spewed from a line of fissures at the base of the summit caldera. Declared episode one, the event was only a prelude to a series of dramatic eruptions at Kīlauea in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Prior to that, the […]
People travel thousands of miles to reach Hawaiʻi—one of the most isolated landmasses on Earth. Its eight main islands help form a 1,500-mile archipelago, the longest island chain in the world. Aptly nicknamed, the Big Island is the largest of Hawaiʻi’s islands and home to one of the most varied climate ranges anywhere. The island itself
Hawaiʻi Island isn’t my usual go-to for island hopping, but when a friend who once called it home invited me along, I couldn’t resist the chance to see the place through his local perspective. Whether you’re planning a long weekend getaway or a quick staycation, here’s how to experience the best of the Big Island
While it shares its name with the canyon on Kauaʻi and the bay and valley on Oʻahu, the town of Waimea on Hawaiʻi Island stands apart in a delightful way. Located toward the northern tip of the Big Island, Waimea is unlike any other town on the Big Island—and it’s one of my favorites to
*This story was originally published on Jan. 22, 2019, and updated in September 2025. It’s early on a Thursday morning, the sun is just beginning to rise over North Kohala and I’m staring up at the king himself. Standing regally with his right arm outstretched, the King Kamehameha statue looks out over the small
With its sunny weather, world-renowned coffee and rich history, region marked by fields of lava rock formations and, offshore, crystal clear waters. It’s also home to the community of Kailua-Kona, where the annual Ironman World Championship takes place. On Oct. 11, nearly 3,000 of the best triathletes in the world will take on the iconic
My family and I stand steps from the ocean, just south of Kona’s airport. Salt is everywhere—we smell it in the air, even taste it, and soon we’ll soak our feet in the briny water. We are on a tour of Kona Sea Salt Farm, a small operation that harvests salt made from the deep-ocean
*This story was originally published on March 6, 2019 and updated on Aug. 20. On a Sunday at sunrise, the South Kona sky painted in pastels, I drive bleary-eyed on Māmalahoa Highway heading south past monstera and banana plants toward the hulking mass of Mauna Loa, rising nearly 1,500 feet into the sky. Two
Hawaiʻi Island is the youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, rightly earning its nickname, the Big Island. I’m always impressed not only by the sheer size of the island, but also its unique terrain, from lush tropical forests in Hilo to otherworldly lava fields in Kona and the snow-capped summit of Mauna Kea
With year-round sunshine and a warm, tropical climate, it’s no surprise the Hawaiian Islands are a top travel destination. These conditions also make the Islands a great place to grow a variety of crops—including some that can’t be grown anywhere else in the U.S. Hawaiʻi is the only state in the country where cacao—the plant
Tucked on the northeastern side of Hawaiʻi Island, Hilo is a charming town well known as the home of the iconic Merrie Monarch Festival in the spring. It’s also just a 45-minute drive from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and for months, visitors have been flocking to Hilo, hoping to witness Kīlauea’s epic but sporadic eruption
