The "Big Island of Hawaii", officially known as the Island of Hawaii is the most southern AND eastern isle in the chain of volcanic mountains known as "The Hawaiian Islands". The Hawaiian Islands are the most remote group of islands in the world, situated about 3,000 miles from the nearest continent in the Pacific. The Big Island is the youngest of the Hawaiian Islands, having been created only 100 million years ago! (And still growing, too ...adding more acreage each year through erupting lava at the seashore in the Puna District.) Hawaii Island is by far the largest in the chain, comprising about TWICE the size of ALL the other islands combined, but having only 1/10th of the state's population!! In fact, Hawaii Island is 6 times larger than the next biggest island, Maui! Hawaii Island is actually comprised of 5 distinct volcanoes, Mauna Kea (13,796 ft.- highest point in the Pacific!!.), Mauna Loa (13, 650 ft.), Hualalai (8,271 ft.), Kohala (5,560 ft.) and Kilauea (4,080 ft.)... the latter having the distinction of being the world's most active volcano (and our biggest tourist attraction, visited by over 1 million visitors per year). What makes the Big Island so livable? The sheer size of it gives island residents the feeling that they are on a mini-continent. Additionally, the island boasts of having 11 of the earth's 13 climate zones!! You can literally pick the exact climate you would like to live in, from blustery winter, to rain forest, to endless summer on the shoreline, or somewhere in between!
Except where otherwise noted All Rights Reserved |
