Big Island — Volcanoes & Contrasts

Big Island (officially: Hawai'i Island) is the largest and youngest island of the archipelago — and geologically the most active. Here stands the Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes on earth, and the Mauna Kea (4,207 m), the highest mountain in the Pacific (and measured from the sea floor, the tallest mountain in the world with over 10,000 m!). Big Island is so diverse that it contains all the Earth's climate zones — from tropical rainforest to desert to snow on the peaks.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

The Volcanoes National Park on the southeast coast is the highlight of any Big Island trip. Here you experience active volcanism up close:

• Kīlauea Crater (Halema'uma'u) — The main crater of Kīlauea has completely changed after the dramatic eruption of 2018. Whether you see glowing lava depends on the current volcanic activity — check the park's website (nps.gov/havo) before visiting. But even without lava: The steaming, sulfur-yellow crater is impressive.
• Crater Rim Drive — The road around the crater with several viewpoints and hiking trails.
• Thurston Lava Tube — A walkable lava tunnel formed during a previous eruption. 500 m long, illuminated, fascinating.
• Chain of Craters Road — 30 km road through cooled lava fields to the coast. At the end: the Hōlei Sea Arch, a natural rock arch over the sea.

Mauna Kea

The drive to the summit of Mauna Kea (4,207 m) is a surreal experience: You start at the beach at 30°C and stand 2 hours later above the clouds at 0°C, surrounded by the largest observatories in the world. The observatories at the summit (13 telescopes from 11 countries) use the extremely clear, dry air — the best place in the world for astronomical observations. The sunset at the summit is surreal: The cloud cover below you turns into an orange sea.

The summit road requires a 4WD vehicle. Rental companies usually prohibit the drive — specialized tour providers (from $200) are the best option. At 4,207 m altitude, the air is thin — people with heart or lung problems should not drive to the summit.

Kona Coast

The sunny west coast around Kailua-Kona is the tourist center: Here are the best beaches (Hapuna Beach and Mauna Kea Beach are among Hawaii's most beautiful), the best snorkeling spots (Kealakekua Bay, where Captain Cook was killed in 1779 — only accessible by kayak or boat), and the famous Kona coffee plantations inland (free tastings!). Big Island produces the only commercial coffee in the USA.