From the moment you get on the wiki-wiki bus at the airport and smell the ocean salt-, plumeria- and coconut-scented air, you will know you are somewhere special. The Big Island of Hawaii calls to people, whether one seeks a getaway for a week or a lifetime.
The newest of the tropical Hawaiian island chain, the Big Island has an eclectic variety of landscapes, attractions and even climates for visitors to enjoy. At times one feels as if the whole thing could be an elaborate Hollywood set designed to emulate paradise.
Start from either one of the two favorite destination cities of Kona or Hilo. Kona, on the southwest side of the island is a bit more laden with condos and rental homes and has access to some excellent, though pricey, golf courses and other high-end entertainment spots you might expect. In my short stay of one week, I saw an abundance of new construction and a good deal of surfers. Hilo on the northeast side boasts a bit more of a local, beach town feel. It is also site to the annual Hula dancing competition in May that draws participants and observers from across the entire island chain.
From either town, you can take a trip through the rambling, winding roads past cattle ranches and lava fields to one of the must-see attractions on the Big Island: the volcanoes. A well-staffed visitors' center is the place to start and a hike along the rim of the crater is well worth your time. Access to the lava tubes requires a flashlight, and you can see where ancient Hawaiian warriors hid their families when under attack from neighboring tribes. Be prepared for a moderately challenging hike along these routes and bring plenty of water - and your camera, of course.
Your next stop should be a phenomenon you can see virtually nowhere else on Earth: new land being made right before your eyes! Along the southern tip of the Big Island you will find flowing lava rivers where molten rock meets the bluest of ocean water creating a billowing white plume of steam visible for miles around. If you come from the south, you have a long rough hike to get close to the best spot, but a good view even from a distance. If you come from the north, you will not have to hoof it so far. But from either direction, be sure to wear tough shoes as the lava flows you will hike on are extremely sharp and hazardous. Also, bring a flashlight and water since the hike may take longer than you expect.
Whether you decide to hike the whole way or watch from a distance you will want to wait for sunset. As the tropical sun sinks beyond the horizon and into the sea, the red glow from the molten flowing lava lights up the steam creating a light show of awesome proportions.
My recommendation is to go with someone you love. The combination of Hawaii's natural spirituality and proximity to the destructive power of the volcano and the creative power of the flowing river of magma is a potent elixer that should really be shared. Awakening the next morning to the gentle sound of the ocean on the sand, the smell of hibiscus, and the sight of Hawaii's blues sky and palm trees is a sensation one truly can never forget.
This tidbit of real travel advice is contributed by Joseph Kane.