History
Just like the first settlers on the East Coast, Hawaii's Big Island had its early settlers, the Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands at Ka Lae (South Point). Today, Kona Coast honors the significant history at Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park, where visitors will find native Hawaiian temple ruins, royal grounds, fish ponds, Ki'i (carved statues), sacred burial areas and petroglyphs.

Hawaii's Big Island is also where Captain Cook spent his last days. He was killed in battle at Kealakekua Bay, within only a year's time of his initial arrival on Kauai. Today, the site is a marine life preserve with a monument erected in his honor.

The history of every Hawaiian island, including Big Island, involves King Kamehameha, who built the Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site. The ancient religious temple in North Kohala was created for war god Kukailimoku in hopes of the unification of all the Hawaiian islands. King Kamehameha spent his last days here and a statue of him is in Kapaau, near his birthplace.

Missionaries, farming and sugar plantations also played significant roles in Big Island's past. A visit to the Mokuaikaua Church in Kailua-Kona is worth exploring to learn more.

Big Island is home active and dormant volcanoes today, in part thanks to Pele, volcano goddess.

Things To Do
Big Island certainly lives up to its superlative descriptor, with numerous accolades. It is home to the world's most active volcano, Kilauea; it is almost two times the size of all the other islands combined; it is home to one of the world's most famous coffee, Kona, and is actually an island that is growing in size because the lava eruptions create an expanding shoreline.

Allow a good chunk of your time to explore nature's classroom, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you can bike, hike and camp. Check online or call for visitor advisories before you go and also plan accordingly based on the time you have to spend. Explore the 11-mile Crater Rim Drive to the summit of Kilauea volcano. Drastic changes of scenery appear in your window on this ride, desert to rainforest. The Chain of Craters Road is simply that and is 20 miles with heights reaching 3,700 feet. The end of the road is the line where lava flows crossed it. Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea are the active (though generally considered sleeping) and dormant volcanoes. The park offers plentiful astounding experiences, with fiery color rising from tough terrain.

The Waipio Valley provides a view worth the drive or hike (only accessible via four wheel drive or on foot), with waterfalls slipping down 2,000-foot cliffs and a coastal reward below, with its refreshing azure waters.

Beaches are simply outstanding on Big Island and the only difficulty is picking a color of sand—white, black or green. More than 260 miles of coastline means you will need to narrow your focus based on land and sky adventures most important to you, though none of the beaches will disappoint if you're seeking views, sunsets, sunrises, strolls and lazy picnic days. Papakolea (Green Sands Beach), Punaluu Black Sand Beach (visit with sea turtles), Laalao Beach (Disappearing Sands and Magic Sands), Hapuna Beach and Kauanaoa Beach (Mauna Kea) are only a few notable ones.

Self-guided walking tours accent Big Island's cultural and historical sides, the gardens are worth your time (Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden and World Botanical Garden) and the hikes and drives will keep you enthralled, particularly seeing the various textures of turf.

Eat and Shop
Big Island is no different from the rest of Hawaii with its exceptional views when dining seaside plus the fresh seafood dishes. A strong bonus is that since the island is home to more cattle ranches than residents, it has its share of hearty steaks and locally-grown food. Make sure to drink Kona coffee, whether you like coffee or not.

Handcrafted treasures, local creations and gourmet goodies are among the items to take home. Big Island has numerous farmers' markets plus grocery stores for the times you would like to cook in your vacation rental or create a meal for a picnic.

Packing
Apparel, toiletries and some electronic essentials (digital camera, battery charger, cell phone charger, etc. ) are the main items to pack for a trip to Oahu. Anything forgotten is always available on the island, but to be prepared to land and head directly to one of the beaches, bring your swimsuit, sunglasses, sunscreen and sandals. If you're planning on hiking, bring good shoes. It's always good to pack primarily casual clothing plus a few nice outfits, at least one, for a fancy night on the town.

Your vacation rental will have some of the basic utensils and kitchen items.