It’s 5:30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning in Hilo. First light is just beginning to break through the clouds in hues of amber and apricot. A traffic light turns green for no one along this quiet street. I’m still wiping the sleep from my eyes, but already a dozen employees have been hard at work […]
Don’t get confused: Hawaiʻi Island is not where Honolulu is. (That’s Oʻahu.) But this is the island that’s home to an active volcano—Kīlauea—and the world’s tallest mountain (from base to peak)—Mauna Kea. It’s often referred to as the Big Island, and for good reason. Spanning 10,931 square miles, Hawaiʻi Island is nearly twice as big
Gliding blissfully under the sea’s surface, manta rays are some of Hawaiʻi’s most fascinating and beautiful underwater inhabitants. And to coincide with World Manta Day on Sep. 17, the Have Aloha Will Travel crew has invited Keller Laros on to discuss everything manta. Famously known for his YouTube video documenting a bottlenose dolphin asking for
Located on the northeastern side of Hawaiʻi Island, Hilo is a quirky town filled with loveable charm, fascinating history and jaw-dropping natural wonders. While the town itself is often considered quiet and sleepy, Hilo is filled with life. Here, the streets are lined with hole-in-the-wall shops and beautiful hiking trails that are just short drives from
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” This quote by Loren Eiseley, the late anthropologist, educator and natural science writer, adorns a placard inviting guests to use the refillable water station at SCP Hilo Hotel, and is a perfect insight to the ethos of a company doing hospitality a little
Following an 18-day closure, the popular Nāhuku lava tube in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has reopened after the National Park Service deemed it safe enough for visitors to return. The walk-through lava tube—formerly known as the Thurston Lava Tube—had been moving more than usual. Park officials were concerned the tube was widening, making the large
Standing among a row of tall, verdant trees, Kea Keolanui hands me a small leaf and says, “Chew on this.” The bitter taste is slightly mouth-numbing and I have zero guesses of what this spice is. Keolanui tells me it’s clove. The aromatic flower buds are from Syzgium aromaticum tree, which are native to Indonesia
Two areas on Hawaiʻi Island—both ecologically and culturally important—will now be managed by a government agency, with the hopes of protecting these natural resources. A roughly 1,260-acre parcel in Waiea on the western flank of Mauna Loa has been designated as part of the State Natural Area Reserve (NAR) system managed by the Hawaiʻi Department
Set on Hawaiʻi Island’s Kohala Coast, the beautiful Floating Lantern Festival brings together hundreds of residents and visitors to commemorate loved ones who have passed. The enchanting festival derives from Toro Nagashi, a Japanese tradition which translates to “lantern offerings on water.” During the Floating Lantern Festival on the Big Island, hundreds of paper
Nāhuku at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is closed until further notice—once again. The walk-through lava tube, formerly known as Thurston Lava Tube, is one of the top attractions at the national park. A half-mile loop leads visitors through a verdant rainforest to the 500-year-old cave. But on Sunday, park officials closed the lava tube.
Are you considering a trip to Hilo? The colorful town is known in the Islands as the birthplace of the iconic loco moco and famous around the world for being home to the Merrie Monarch Festival. It’s also a bucket-list destination for those planning to see the epic Kīlauea eruption. READ MORE: Best Loco
Seeing a waterfall in Hawaiʻi. Yes, it’s a thing. And one of the most accessible waterfalls is ʻAkaka Falls on Hawaiʻi Island. In fact, you can see two waterfalls—ʻAkaka Falls and the smaller Kahuna Falls—on this short but beautiful hike through a lush rainforest filled with bamboo and wild orchids. And it’s only a half-hour
