Hawaii Island】Island of Hawaii is the best place for graduation trip! Introducing the charm of the trip, recommended activities and sightseeing spots!

Known as the Big Island.
Hawaii (island)

The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest of the 19 Hawaiian Islands.

Because of its size, it is also known by the nickname "Big Island.

Hawaii Island is a popular resort destination, and we would like to introduce some of the best spots for graduation trips.

 

What is the Big Island of Hawaii like?

The Big Island of Hawaii is a large island covering 10,435 square kilometers and has a population of about 150,000.

Hilo, a town in the eastern part of the island, was settled by Japanese immigrants and is a familiar place for Japanese.

 

How to get to Hawaii Island

Kona International Airport on the Big Island of Hawaii has direct flights from Japan.

Since there are not many flights directly to this island, many people come to Hawaii Island from Japan via Honolulu International Airport on Oahu Island.

Those who wish to enjoy only Hawaii Island at a leisurely pace may choose direct flights, while those who wish to enjoy Oahu Island as well may choose to fly via Oahu.

 

Attractions of the Big Island of Hawaii

Perhaps the greatest attraction of the Big Island of Hawaii is its vibrant wilderness.

In addition to nature, the Big Island of Hawaii is an island full of attractions, just like a resort destination.

 

Spectacular, untouched wilderness

The greatest attraction of the Big Island of Hawaii is its wilderness.

The island was formed by the fusion of five volcanic islands, and its dynamic nature is directly reflected in its formation.

Volcanoes, lava flows, waterfalls, and beaches, you will feel the grandeur of nature everywhere you look.

 

A powerful volcano

The Big Island of Hawaii is famous for its active volcano, Kilauea Volcano.

It erupted in 2018, so some of you may remember seeing it on the news.

Even today, the eruption can be viewed from a safe distance by taking helicopter tours and other tours.

 

Beautiful Beaches

The Big Island of Hawaii has two beaches that were once ranked number one in the best beaches in the United States.

It is Mauna Kea Beach and Hapuna Beach State Park.

Both are located on the Kohala Coast in the northwestern part of the island.

Mauna Kea Beach is a shallow beach in front of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and Hapuna Beach is a white sand beach near the Westin Habuna Beach Resort.

Both are must-visit spots.

 

Shopping and dining are also recommended.

There are five large shopping malls on the Big Island of Hawaii.

In order, they are Kona Commons Shopping Center, Kona Inn Shopping Village, Queens Marketplace, Kings Shops, and Prince Kuhio Plaza.

Of these, Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on the eastern side of the island is the largest, containing department stores such as Sears and Macy's and a movie theater.

Gourmet food is also an enjoyable experience on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Since many tourists visit the Big Island of Hawaii, you can enjoy not only Hawaiian cuisine, but also Japanese, Italian, and other cuisines from around the world.

 

Let's learn about culture and history.

Hawaii is the newest state, having become the 50th state of the United States in 1959.

Hawaii itself, however, has a history many times longer than that of the United States.

Polynesians first arrived on the uninhabited island of Hawaii about 1,500 years ago, and many Polynesians began to settle there about 500 years ago.

In modern times, the Kingdom of Hawaii was born in 1791 when the rival Hawaiian Islands were united by King Kamehameha the Great.

From the 1800s onward, the number of immigrants, including missionaries from the U.S., began to increase, and in 1898 the area became a U.S. territory.

Hawaii, which has been a U.S. territory for only about 120 years, has retained its own unique culture, mainly Polynesian, which is probably one of the reasons why it continues to attract tourists.

 

Hawaii Island is the place to go for your graduation trip.

If you are looking for a last memorable graduation trip with friends with whom you have shared the hardships of your school days, Hawaii is the place to go.

 

Why Graduation Travel?

After graduation, even close friends begin their lives in different ways.

Because it is such a last trip, let's have fun to the fullest and spend a memorable time in Hawaii that will last a lifetime.

 

It's sure to be a memorable experience of a lifetime!

Spending time with close friends in Hawaii, a place away from everyday life, is a great memory in itself.

Any of the activities in the spectacular natural surroundings of the Big Island of Hawaii are sure to be a memorable experience of a lifetime.

 

Enjoy the activities together!

Hawaii Island offers not only common activities such as snorkeling, but also helicopter rides, horseback riding, and other activities that are difficult to experience in Japan.

Let's experience it for the sake of making memories.

 

Enjoy the great outdoors!

The island of Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, offers a wide variety of activities that take full advantage of its natural features, including volcanoes, grasslands, and beaches.

No matter what activity you choose, you will surely enjoy the wilderness of the Big Island of Hawaii with your whole body.

 

Recommended Sightseeing Spots on the Big Island of Hawaii

Here are some of the best places to visit on the Big Island of Hawaii for your graduation trip.

 

Kilauea Volcano

Kilauea Volcano is one of the volcanoes that form the Big Island of Hawaii and is still an active volcano.

It has erupted continuously since 1983, most recently in 2018.

The lava that flowed out during this event caused the disappearance of some villages at the foot of the mountain.

 

Recommendations

On the Big Island of Hawaii, helicopter tours are available to view these active volcanoes from the sky.

In Japan, there are few opportunities to take a helicopter ride or look into the crater of a volcano from above, but this is an experience only possible on the Big Island of Hawaii.

 

Access

If you want to see Kilauea Volcano, take a tour.

It takes about 2 hours by car from the Kona area and about 1.5 hours from the Hilo area.

 

Mauna Kea

At 4,207 meters above sea level, Mauna Kea is taller than Japan's highest mountain, Mt.

Despite being located in tropical Hawaii, it snows in the winter.

Because of the stable weather and clean air near the summit, the area is also famous for being home to 11 observatories from around the world, including Japan's Subaru Telescope.

 

Recommendations

If you come to the Big Island of Hawaii, stargazing on Mauna Kea is an experience I highly recommend.

Gaze at the myriad of stars scattered across the mountain, which is close to space with 11 observatories.

You can feel yourself in a corner of the universe.

 

Access

Tours are available for stargazing on Mauna Kea.

It takes about 3 hours by car from Kona International Airport and 2.5 hours from Hilo International Airport.

 

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls is a waterfall in the middle reaches of the eastern Wailuku River on the island.

As the name suggests, the spray of water falling into the waterfall basin can create a rainbow, depending on the angle of the sun.

 

Recommendations

The height of the waterfall is not high (15 meters), but it is very powerful due to the large volume of water and the fact that the waterfall basin is 30 meters in diameter.

Of course, the rainbow over the waterfall basin is beautiful, but even if you cannot see the rainbow, you can enjoy the volume of the water and the sight of the water falling into the basin alone.

 

Access

It is a 15-minute drive from Hilo International Airport.

 

Wai'alea Beach

This white sand beach is located in the northwestern part of the island, between Hapuna Beach and Puako Bay.

Beach 69 is the more common local name.

At the far end of the beach is a huge fallen tree that has become a symbol of this beach.

 

Recommendations

It is a very small beach with plenty of shade, so it is more for relaxing than swimming.

 

Access

It is about a 30-minute drive from Kona International Airport and about an hour and a half from Hilo International Airport.

 

South Point

South Point is called "Kalae" in Hawaiian.

It is the southernmost point of the island of Hawaii as well as the southernmost point of the United States.

It is believed to be where Polynesians first settled 1,500 years ago, and the ruins of a temple and a shrine-like building dedicated to a fishing god are important to the Hawaiians, who have designated the entire area a National Historic Landmark.

 

Recommendations

Looking out over the ocean from this southern tip of the island, one sees only a deep blue sea.

However, if you think back to the Polynesians who came to the still uninhabited island of Hawaii in small boats from across the distant sea around 400 A.D., you will find that it is something more than just gazing at the ocean; it is a special way to spend time.

 

Access

It takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes by car from both Kona and Hilo International Airports.

 

Recommended Activities

Here are some activities on the Big Island of Hawaii where you can enjoy the great outdoors.

 

snorkeling

Snorkeling is a popular activity on the Big Island of Hawaii, as it does not require any technique and can be quickly enjoyed by beginners.

Instead of going deep underwater like diving, they swim near the surface of the ocean while peering into the water.

Because of the clear waters of the Big Island of Hawaii, you may see dolphins and sea turtles as well as schools of fish swimming in the water.

 

Recommendations

Kealakekua Bay is a popular snorkeling spot on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Visitors can enjoy underwater coral reefs and tropical fish swimming in the water, and experience as if they themselves were ocean dwellers.

 

Lava Tour

This tour takes visitors from a safe distance to see the crater and caldera of Kilauea volcano, which also erupted in 2018, and the remains of the lava flows that flowed out of it.

 

Recommendations

In Japan, it is not easy to experience seeing lava or walking on lava.

Looking at craters and lava, you can feel the energy of the earth in motion and enjoy the dynamic nature.

 

SUP

SUP is an activity that originated in Hawaii.

Standing on a wide board about 80 centimeters wide, the rider proceeds freely with a single paddle.

It is highly stable on the sea, and even beginners can quickly get used to it and enjoy a walk on the sea.

 

Recommendations

On the Big Island of Hawaii, SUP tours are offered mainly at the Waikoloa Beach Resort.

SUP in the clear water allows you to look down deep into the ocean floor, giving you the illusion that you are moving through the air.

 

riding horse

Surprisingly few Japanese have experience in horseback riding.

There may be some anxiety when riding a horse for the first time, but with Hawaii Island horseback riding tours, you will receive thorough instruction before the tour.

You will also be carried on a horse that is accustomed to being ridden by people, so you can experience it with peace of mind.

 

Recommendations

Horseback riding is a rare opportunity in Japan, but on the large island of Hawaii, it is even used for tour transportation.

Swaying on the back of a horse, you can enjoy the city and wilderness of the Big Island of Hawaii from a vantage point over 2 meters high.

Horseback riding tours of the Waipio Valley and Umauma Falls, not to mention ranching, are popular.

 

Segway (motorized personal vehicle)

Have you ever ridden a Segway?

In Japan, it is not widely used because the Road Traffic Law prohibits driving on public roads, but it is used in other countries for city walking tours.

Driving instructions are provided before the tour, and this activity is easier than you might think to drive.

 

Recommendations

The island of Hawaii was not only pioneered by Japanese-Americans, but also has many historic sites, including the first Christian church and a place associated with King Kamehameha the Great.

Take a ride on a Segway to visit different spots.

 

Recommended Tours

Here are three great tours for your graduation trip to the Big Island of Hawaii.

 

Hawaii Island Sightseeing Tour: Kilauea Volcano, Akaka Falls, and 15 other places + B-class gourmet tour

This tour includes Waipio Valley, Akaka Falls, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Purnau Black Sand Beach, and Menehune Coffee Shop.

In addition to enjoying Hawaii's B-grade gourmet foods such as loco moco and malasada, this tour includes a Japanese-speaking guide.

 

Keauhou Bay Sea Kayak & Snorkel Tour

This is the only sea kayaking tour on the Big Island of Hawaii that is led by a Japanese-speaking guide.

Enjoy the waters of Keauhou Bay and other parts of the Big Island of Hawaii by kayaking or snorkeling.

Dolphins and sea turtles may be seen.

Also, during the season from December to April, there is a chance to see whales up close.

Kayaking and snorkeling will be lectured before the tour, so even first-timers can participate without worries.

 

Hawaii Island Segway Kailua-Kona Walking Tour

Why not explore the sights of the Big Island of Hawaii on a Segway, which cannot be driven on public roads in Japan?

There is no need to worry about how to ride a Segway, as there will be a lecture at the beginning of the tour.

It is a vehicle that you will soon learn to ride.

The tour includes the Kailua Pier, the residence of King Kamehameha the Great, the Kona Beach Hotel, and Mokuaukaua Church, Hawaii's first Christian association.

 

summary

A graduation trip to the Big Island of Hawaii to enjoy a variety of activities with like-minded friends is sure to be a memorable experience of a lifetime.

We hope you have a wonderful time on the Big Island of Hawaii.