November 10, 2023
Hawai‘i Island’s shores are alive with wildlife. Some of these animals, like humpback whales, Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles, are considered ENDANGERED SPECIES and are protected by federal laws. Dolphins and other whales, though not endangered, are protected by…
November 10, 2023
Standing upright on a board and navigating the surf with a lightweight paddle is wildly popular in the islands. It’s called STAND-UP PADDLING , or SUP, and it has been revived on the islands in the past few years, quickly…
November 10, 2023
You may be familiar with stand-up paddling, or SUP — a watersport developed by the legendary Waikīkī Beach Boys. Maybe you’ve wanted to try or maybe you’re a seasoned paddler. Either way, LIGHTSUP HAWAI‘I (lightsuphawaii.com) provides a unique way for…
November 10, 2023
MAUNA LOA is the world’s largest active volcano, and one of two volcanic peaks that dominate Hawai‘i Island; in fact, Mauna Loa — which means “LONG MOUNTAIN” in Hawaiian — spreads over half of the island! From sea level, Mauna…
January 24, 2023
Riding the swells of the great Pacific tucked away safely in a POWERED RIGID-HULL INFLATABLE BOAT is an experience that puts a whole new perspective on an adventure at sea. Commonly called OCEAN RAFTS, these stable, high-performance boats resemble rescue…
January 24, 2023
Legends about SURFING are found in the earliest stories of ancient Hawai‘i. Around A.D. 400, a form of BELLYBOARDING on small, wooden planks was introduced. Later, Tahitian explorers brought their tradition of riding waves with canoes. The Hawaiians merged the…
January 15, 2015
PĀWAI BAY is an exquisite spot for snorkeling and scuba diving. A PROTECTED MARINE SANCTUARY, the bay is populated by more than 600 species of tropical fish, moray eels, manta rays, green sea turtles and the occasional dolphin. Underwater ledges,…
January 15, 2015
There’s something spellbinding about squinting into the Pacific and spying a POD OF WILD DOLPHINS spinning like shiny toy tops out of a sun-polished sea. These marine mammals may appear out of the blue and put on a show for…
January 15, 2015
OCEAN KAYAKING is a great way to slip away from the crowds and get lost in the irresistible tug of nature. Whether you RENT A KAYAK to go or BOOK A GUIDED TOUR with an activity company, expect to move…
January 15, 2015
When Mother Nature set out to design Hawai‘i Island, she came up with 10 DISTINCT CLIMATE ZONES , ranging from tundra to tropical forest, and she saved the best for the KONA COAST . In the summer, less than an…
January 15, 2015
One of the best ways to fully experience the fabled attributes of sailing the KONA COAST is to BOOK A TOUR ON A CATAMARAN OR SAILBOAT. It is a fine place to sail, protected as it is from the blustery…
January 15, 2015
You’ve seen the photographs and films of colorful reef fish undulating in the warm, deep-blue ocean currents, and now you want to experience the sensation of meandering alongside them. But diving with heavy tanks seems a bit much, and snorkeling…