For the first time in more than 30 years, Kilauea Volcano is not spewing vog—volcanic smog—and the air is pure and clean everywhere. The nastiness of vog has not been widely publicized, even though the air quality has been worse at times, in places, than L.A. in the early 1960s. People were not only gasping in Kona, but also on Maui and Oahu, and even as far as the north shore of Kauai.
Measured from its base below the ocean’s surface, Mauna Loa is well over 40,000 feet high, making it easily the world’s second tallest (Mauna Kea, not far away is 400 feet taller). But… Continue reading
The view flying into the Kona Airport is of a never-ending landscape of scorched black lava, often hazed by volcanic smog. It’s not anyone’s idea of paradise. Post-apocalyptic is more like it. Wrong.… Continue reading
Though Mo’okini Heiau (temple) on the north nub of the Big Island was designated in 1935 as the state’s first national historic site, it now rests forlorn and isolated. Winds scour barren slopes… Continue reading
For sure the half-mile loop hike at Akaka Falls State park is a tourist trot, complete with sightseeing buses and paid parking. But it’s also one of the best waterfall-and-botanical hikes in Hawaii.… Continue reading
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park covers several miles of coast just north of Kona, but most visitors don’t find it. A huge lava flow around 1800 covered what were King Kamehameha’s agricultural gardens, but… Continue reading
Honomalino Beach, a 20-minute walk from the Kona Coast village of Miloli’i, is the sort of place people dream about when thinking of Hawaii. Spinner dolphins frolick offshore of a black-sand beach. Snorkeling… Continue reading
One of those peaceful places you want to keep to yourself and not broadcast. But if you really want to visit you’ll have to consult page 97 of your Hawaii Big Island Trailblazer… Continue reading
