Hawai'i - Big Island
Island of Hawai'i - also called the Big Island - is a volcanic island (the eastern-most and southern-most in the Hawaiian islands chain) in the North Pacific Ocean. With an area of 4,028 sq. mi./10,432 sq. km, it is larger than all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined and is the largest island in the United States. The Island of Hawaiʻi is administered as the County of Hawaiʻi within the state of Hawaii. The county seat is Hilo. Geology: the Island of Hawaiʻi is built from five separate shield volcanoes that erupted somewhat sequentially, one overlapping the other. These are (from oldest to youngest): Kohala (extinct), Mauna Kea (dormant, also the highest point on the island at 13,796 ft./4,205 m), Hualālai (active but not currently erupting), Mauna Loa (active), and Kīlauea (active, its been erupting continuously since 1983).
The island is divided into 7 regions:
1. Kau (south and central): location of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (1916), a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1987) - Ka Lae (the point), also known as South Point, which is the southern most point in the U.S. - Punalu'u Black Sand Beach - Mahana Beach (Green Sand Beach), Pohoe Bay - Mauna Loa (Long Mountain).
2. Hāmākua (northeast and central): Akala Falls State Park - Laupahoehoe Point - Waipiʻo Valley - Hi'ilawe Falls (1,450 ft./442 m) - Mauna Kea (White Mountain), with many observatories represented by 11 countries
3. Kohala (north and northwest): Kiholo Bay - Mau'umae Beach - Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site - Mo'okini Heiau - Polulu Valley and Beach
4. Kona (western): Painted Church - Pu'uhonua O Honaunau (Place of Refuge) - Kealeakekau Bay
5. Puna (eastern): Lava Tree State Park - Cape Kumukahi (eastern most point in the Hawaiian Islands) - New Kaimu Black Sand Beach
6. Hilo (east-northeast): Waiale Falls - Rainbow Falls Park - Pe'epe'e Falls - Onomea Bay
Read MoreThe island is divided into 7 regions:
1. Kau (south and central): location of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (1916), a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1987) - Ka Lae (the point), also known as South Point, which is the southern most point in the U.S. - Punalu'u Black Sand Beach - Mahana Beach (Green Sand Beach), Pohoe Bay - Mauna Loa (Long Mountain).
2. Hāmākua (northeast and central): Akala Falls State Park - Laupahoehoe Point - Waipiʻo Valley - Hi'ilawe Falls (1,450 ft./442 m) - Mauna Kea (White Mountain), with many observatories represented by 11 countries
3. Kohala (north and northwest): Kiholo Bay - Mau'umae Beach - Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site - Mo'okini Heiau - Polulu Valley and Beach
4. Kona (western): Painted Church - Pu'uhonua O Honaunau (Place of Refuge) - Kealeakekau Bay
5. Puna (eastern): Lava Tree State Park - Cape Kumukahi (eastern most point in the Hawaiian Islands) - New Kaimu Black Sand Beach
6. Hilo (east-northeast): Waiale Falls - Rainbow Falls Park - Pe'epe'e Falls - Onomea Bay
Mauna Loa (Long Mountain) - 1 of the 5 volcanoes that comprise the Big Island Hawaii - Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on Planet Earth, totaling about 18,000 cu. mi. (75,000 cu. km) - measuring about 60 mi. (100 km) long and 30 mi . (50 km) wide, and makes up about half of the entire island and rising to around 13,680 ft. (4,170 m) above the Pacific Ocean, which is only 20 mi. (32 km) westward - Mauna Loa is also an active "shield volcano" (gradual and low profile slopes) - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
