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HAWAII (The Big Island)
Tours
and Activities
Highlights
BIG ISLAND LANDSCAPE:
The Big Island of Hawaii is approximately twice the size of all the
other Hawaiian Islands combined stretching approximately over 4,020 square miles. This unique island could be one of the
world’s best-kept secrets. The youngest island
of the Hawaiian archipelago, it's still growing at Kilauea Volcano. This isle is
known for erupting volcanoes, jungle gorges, gardens and Hawaiian temples.
There were five massive volcanoes that built Hawaii’s Big Island
creating two massive peaks of around 14,000 feet; Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and the still
active volcano of Kilauea. The tallest
mountain when measured from the ocean floor is Mauna Kea at 33,476 feet. Hawaii's
South Point is the southernmost point in the 50 states and Hilo is the nation's most
rainiest city, averaging 140 inches per year. Diverse is the term that is commonly
used to describe the Big Island of Hawaii. Not
only does the Big Island have such tremendous surf and sun appeal, it also boasts one of
the world’s only active volcano, world famous astronomical facilities, awesome ocean
resources, impressive scenic beauty, sacred cultural and historic sites and exciting
recreational activites.
King Kamehameha the Great was born in
North Kohala of the Big Island and when he unified all the islands, he named his kingdom
Hawaii; after his island home. The republic of Hawaii became a state in 1959.
You can view the original Kamehameha statue on Hwy. 270 in Kapaa. The king spent his
last days in Kailua-Kona where some of his compound is recreated at Ahuena Heiau fronting
the grounds of the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel. As this is considered a sacred
place, please treat it with respect.
With its wide range of terrain, climate, scenery and natural wonders,
the Big Island is as diverse as the planet itself. It
is the only island with its own desert and annual snowfall atop Hawaiian Mauna Kea and
Mauna Loa summits. Neil Armstrong the first U.S. Astronaut to walk on the moon
describes the Big Island as the only place in the world that reminds him of the terrain
that he stepped on in space. And yes, Hollywood made the Big Island famous in movies
like Planet of the Apes, Waterworld, and The Black Widow. The Big Island’s
claim to fame also includes staging the world famous Ironman Triathlon World Championship
and is home to one of the world’s largest ranch in the U.S. called Parker Ranch
located in the upcountry area of Waimea.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS:
Hawaii Volcano National Park, Kilauea Volcano (active),
Kaloko-honokohau National Historic Park, Mo’okini Heiau, Mauna Kea observatory,
Pacific Tsunami Museum, Laupahoehoe Train Museum, Parker Ranch Visitor Center, Lapakahi
State Historic Park, Petroglyph fields within the Kohala Coast Resorts, Ahu’ena
Heiau, Moku’aikaua Church, Kuamo’o Battleground, Waipio Valley, Mark Twain
Center, Chain of Craters Road, Hamakua Coast, Hilo Town, Volcano Art Center, Black Sand
Beaches, Akaka Falls, Kamehameha Statue, Orchids & Anthuriums, Nani Maui Gardens,
Painted Churches, Rainbow Falls, Hapuna, Magic Sands Pololu Valley Lookout, Puukohala
Heiau Puuhonua O Honaunau place of refuge and Kauna’oa Beaches.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES:
Golfing, Tennis, Museums, Hiking through the Volcanoes National Park,
Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Sailing Cruises, Surfing, Camping, Helicopter rides,
Sightseeing, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Cultural Events, Whale watching,
Mountain bike riding, Tour Biking, Dining, touring Kona Coffee farms and
Macadamia nut farms, Visiting Botanical Gardens, Big Game Fishing, Stay at a
working ranch and just plain old relaxation
MAJOR RESORT AREAS:
Kailua-Kona, Hilo, Keahou, Kohala Coast including Mauna Kea, Hapuna,
Mauna Lani and Waikoloa Resorts.
WEATHER:
The Big Island is cooled by gentle trade winds and is blessed with a
year round temperature climate. The Average
daily high temperature during the winter months is around 80 degrees and during summer
months around 87 degrees. The higher the
altitude the cooler it gets. Mauna Kea for
example will get snow on its peaks during the winter months.
Hawaii (Big
Island) Highlights
Akaka Falls -
These spectacular falls plunge over over 420 feet in a sheer drop over a volcanic cliff,
north of Hilo
Black Sand
Beaches- Located on the south-eastern cliff, these beaches are made up of
pulverized lava.
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Captain Cook
Monument - At Kealakekua Bay a tribute to the British navigator and discoverer of
the Hawaiian islands who was killed on the shoreline in 1779.
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First
Christian Church - At Kailua-Kona, founded by American missionaries in 1820.
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Golf
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Choose a game a golf at any of the Golf Digest’s Top 100 Golf Courses; Mauna Kea,
Mauna Lani, Hapuna or the new Four Seasons Golf Course all located on the Kona side of
Hawaii.
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Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park - Visit the still erupting Kilauea Volcano and enjoy a
hike through the volcano park. The only active volcano in the Aloha State, has an array of
unique volcanic formations, forests of giant tree ferns, steaming craters and a
volcanological museum which shows free color movies daily. Spend a night at the quaint
Volcano Cottages. Definitely have lunch or dinner at the Volcano House Restaurant
overlooking a volcano cauldera.
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Hapuna Beach
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Spend a day at the only white sand beach on the Kona side of Hawaii. Over 62 acres
of Beach Heaven.
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Hilo
- Visit the Hilo side of Hawaii and experience a small town setting. Hilo is moister
in climate than Kona. Also visit the wonderful anthurium farms and waterfalls too.
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Kona
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While driving in Kona, take the time too pull your car off the side of the road and put
your name in the white stone rocks for all to see.
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Hilo-Hamakua
Heritage Coast Drive Tour guides visitors along a spectacular 45-mile coastline
drive and is self -guiding by following the brochure available from the Hawaii Island
Economic Development Board.
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Mauna Kea
Summit - Is the world's largest mountain that houses astronomical observatories
from around the world. Visitors can enjoy stargazing or take a tour to the summit.
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Lava Flows -
Are marked by Warrior signs which designate flows which have surged down the mountains of
Mauna Loa and Kilauea since prehistoric times.
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Orchids &
anthurium - These beautiful flowers grow throughout Hilo and surrounding areas
and are exported all over the world.
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Painted
Churches - At Honaunau, St. Benedicts is the oldest Catholic Church on the
island.
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Parker Ranch
- In the Wailea-Kamuela area by Mauna Kea, this is the 2nd largest cattle ranch in
America. Here you will meet and watch the original Paniolo's (Hawaiian Cowboys) in
action.
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Pololu Valley
- Take a drive to Kohola to visit this valley which once housed a number of heiau's
(Hawaiian temples).
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Rainbow Falls
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Beautiful waterfalls in Hilo.
Waikoloa
- Take a daytime walk through the lava fields and view the Hawaiian Petroglyphs.
Take a nighttime walk and experience the eerie settings of Hawaiian ghosts.
White Sand
Beaches - Visit the beautiful Hapuna State Beach Park, Anaehoomalu Beach, Magic
Sands Beach and Kailua-Kona all on the western side of the island.
Drive around the Big
Island of Hawaii in a convertible. The trip will take around 5 hours
including nice stops for lunch & sightseeing.
Visit the Elison S. Onizuka Space Center that pays tribute
to one of the Big Island's own former resident who perished in the 1986 Challenger Space
Shuttle disaster.
Take a gander at the volcanic
wasteland on the Kona side of the island and see what Astronaut Neil Armstrong
called the one place in the world that resembles the moon.
Waipio Valley - Take a tour down
to Waipio Valley. A beautiful ocean side valley with waterfalls. You may
recognize this valley from the movie starring Kevin Costner, called
“WaterWorld." This valley north of the town of Honokaa, was once the
home of kings of old Hawaii.
Hawaii (Big Island) Tours and
Activities
- Escorted Tours:
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Grand Circle Island
(operates daily)
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10 Hours - On deluxe
mini-coach.
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Volcanoes to black sand
beaches to tropical rain forests.
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$70.00 from Kailua-Kona &
Keauhou hotels (per person, including tax)
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$75.00 from Waikoloa hotels
(per person, including tax)
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$78.00 from Mauna Kea & Mauna
Lani hotels (per person, including tax)
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Captain Bean Dinner Sail
(operates daily, except Mondays)
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Complete dinner - cocktails -
Hawaiian entertainment.
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$66.00 from Kailua-Kona &
Keauhou hotels (per person, including tax)
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$74.00 from Waikoloa hotels
(per person, including tax)
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$77.00 from Mauna Kea & Mauna
Lani hotels (per person, including tax)
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Pawai Bay Snorkel Cruise
aboard the "Body Glove" (operates daily)
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4 Hours
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Cruise the scenic Kona
coastline in seek of brilliantly colored tropical fish, endangered sea
turtles and wild dolphins amoungst the gorgeous coral reef gardens at
Pawai Bay.
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Water slide and water toys
including snorkel gear included.
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Continental breakfast and
buffet deli lunch provided.
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Alcohol available for
purchase.
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Departs daily from Kailua
Pier (no transportation included)
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$106.00 (per person,
including tax)
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Kealakekua Bay Deluxe
Morning Luncheon Snorkel Cruise (operates daily)
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4 Hours
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An award winning cruise
aboard the 100 passenger, 60 foot catamaran named the Fair Wind II.
Catamaran includes an upper sundeck and fully covered cabin.
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Water slide and water toys
including snorkel gear included.
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Continental breakfast and
buffet deli lunch provided.
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Alcohol available for
purchase.
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Departs daily from Kailua
Pier (no transportation included)
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$115.00 (per person,
including tax)
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Mauna Kea Summit and Star
Adventure (operates daily at sunset)
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7-8 Hours
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Travel to the summit of Mauna
Kea at 13,500 feet above sea level amid the largest collection of
telescopes on earth. After sunset, view the star show (weather
permitting) from a telescope at the Visitor center.
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Includes picnic dinner at
Parker Ranch and hot beverages and cookies at the summit.
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Includes roundtrip
transportation from a central Waikoloa loaction.
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$176.00 (per person,
including tax)
- Atlantis Submarines:
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Odyssey (operates Monday
through Friday)
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Explore natural coral reefs
at depths to 100 feet.
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Tour approximately 35
minutes. Shuttle boat from pier 15 minutes each way.
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$90.00 (per person, including
tax)
- Helicopter Tours:
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Big Island Volcano Deluxe
(operates daily)
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105 Minutes
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Experience the fiery lava
vents of the Big Island's active volcano, Kilauea. Soar through hidden
tropical valleys with roaring waterfalls and the beautiful Hamakua coast
rainforest.
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From Kona airport
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$395.00 (per person,
including tax)
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Kohala/Hamakua Coast
(operates daily)
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45 minutes
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Witness the awesome beauty of
the Kohala mountains! The tour will take you up steep ocean cliffs and
down into deep winding valleys such as Waimanu, Pololu, and Waipio.
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From Kona airport
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$188.00 (per person,including
tax)
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Formations of Pele/Kilauea
Volcano (operates daily)
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50 minutes
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The landscape of Volcanoes
National Park unfolds as rainforest gives way to barren lava fields. See
cascading waterfalls and peer into Pu'u O'o vent (weather permitting).
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From Hilo airport
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$193.00 (per person,
including tax)
- GOLFHAWAIICARD
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The GOLFHAWAIICARD offers
huge savings at top golf courses on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii.
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$60.00 (per person/per card,
including tax)
- Transfers & Transfer/Lei Greetings:
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Kona-Kailua Airport to
Kona-Kailua hotels
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Kona-Kailua Airport to
Keauhou hotels
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Kona-Kailua Airport to
Waikoloa hotels
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Kona-Kailua Airport to
Mauna Kea/Hapuna hotels
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Round-trip transfers/Flower
Lei/Greeting Package
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Kona-Kailua (2 person
minimum) -- $56.00 (per person, including tax)
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Keauhou (2 person minimum) --
$62.00 (per person, including tax)
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Waikoloa (2 person minimum)
-- $75.00 (per person, including tax)
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Mauna Kea/Hapuna (2 person
minimum) -- $89.00 (per person, including tax)
Limousine/SUV Tours
Hawaii's Town & Country Limousine will chauffeur you in total comfort, whether you
need a ride to or from the airport, wedding or dining transportation, or you're looking
for a full day of Hawaii touring adventure. Book through Hawaii50 for preferred discounts
- call us on 1-877-429-2445 or email to discounts@comcast.net
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Tahiti and her Islands
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