Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii ) is the largest island in the United States, located in the

state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our S ...

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

. It is the southeasternmost of the

Hawaiian Islands The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kur ...

, a chain of

volcanic islands Geologically, a high island or volcanic island is an island of volcanic origin. The term can be used to distinguish such islands from low islands, which are formed from sedimentation or the uplifting of coral reefs (which have often formed ...

in the

North Pacific Ocean North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north'' is ...

. With an area of , it has 63% of the Hawaiian

archipelago An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands, or sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands. Examples of archipelagos include: the Indonesian Archi ...

's combined landmass. However, it has only 13% of Hawaiʻi's population. The island of Hawaiʻi is the third largest island in

Polynesia Polynesia () "many" and νῆσος () "island"), to, Polinisia; mi, Porinihia; haw, Polenekia; fj, Polinisia; sm, Polenisia; rar, Porinetia; ty, Pōrīnetia; tvl, Polenisia; tkl, Polenihia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of ...

, behind the two main

islands of New Zealand New Zealand consists of more than six hundred islands, mainly remnants of a larger land mass now beneath the sea. New Zealand is the seventh-largest island nation on earth, and the third-largest located entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. Th ...

. The island is often referred to as the Island of Hawaii or Hawaii Island to distinguish it from the state. It is also referred to as the Big Island. Administratively, the island is coextensive with

Hawaii County Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

. As of the 2020 census, the population was 200,629. The

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

and largest town is

Hilo Hilo () is a census-designated place (CDP) and the largest settlement in Hawaii County, Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States, which encompasses the Hawaii (island), Island of Hawaii. The population was 44,186 according to the 2020 United ...

. There are no

incorporated cities A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. The term can also be used to describe municipally owned ...

in Hawaiʻi County.

History

Hawaii is said to have been named after Hawaiiloa, the legendary Polynesian navigator who first discovered it. Other accounts attribute the name to the legendary realm of

Hawaiki In Polynesian mythology, (also rendered as in Cook Islands Māori, in Samoan, in Tahitian, in Hawaiian) is the original home of the Polynesians, before dispersal across Polynesia. It also features as the underworld in many Māori stories. ...

, a place from which some Polynesian people are said to have originated, the place where they transition to in the afterlife, or the realm of the gods and goddesses. Captain

James Cook James Cook (7 November 1728 Old Style date: 27 October – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the British Royal Navy, famous for his three voyages between 1768 and 1779 in the Pacific Ocean an ...

, the English explorer and navigator who was captain of the first European expedition that came upon the Hawaiian Islands, called it O-Why-hee (from Hawaiian) and the "Sandwich Islands" after his patron, the

Earl of Sandwich Earl of Sandwich is a noble title in the Peerage of England, held since its creation by the House of Montagu. It is nominally associated with Sandwich, Kent. It was created in 1660 for the prominent naval commander Admiral Sir Edward Montagu. ...

. Cook was killed on the Big Island at

Kealakekua Bay Kealakekua Bay is located on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii about south of Kailua-Kona. Settled over a thousand years ago, the surrounding area contains many archeological and historical sites such as religious temples (heiaus) and also ...

on 14 February 1779, in a

melee A melee ( or , French: mêlée ) or pell-mell is disorganized hand-to-hand combat in battles fought at abnormally close range with little central control once it starts. In military aviation, a melee has been defined as " air battle in which ...

which followed the theft of a ship's boat. Hawaii was the home island of Paiea Kamehameha, later known as

Kamehameha the Great Kamehameha I (; Kalani Paiea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiikui Kamehameha o Iolani i Kaiwikapu kaui Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; – May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great, was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. T ...

. Kamehameha united most of the Hawaiian islands under his rule in 1795, after several years of war, and gave the

kingdom Kingdom commonly refers to: * A monarchy ruled by a king or queen * Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy Kingdom may also refer to: Arts and media Television * ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama s ...

and the

island chain An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands, or sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands. Examples of archipelagos include: the Indonesian Archi ...

the name of his native island. In 1822, the missionary William Ellis arrived and was one of a party that completed a tour of the island, descriptions of which were later published in his journal.

Geology and geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (20.8%) is water. The county's land area comprises 62.7 percent of the state's land area. It is the highest percentage by any county in the United States. At its greatest dimension, the island is across. It has a land area of comprising 62% of the

' land area. Measured from its sea floor base to its highest peak,

Mauna Kea Mauna Kea ( or ; ; abbreviation for ''Mauna a Wākea''); is a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii. Its peak is above sea level, making it the highest point in the state of Hawaii and second-highest peak of an island on Earth. The peak is ...

is the world's tallest mountain, taller than even

Mount Everest Mount Everest (; Tibetan: ''Chomolungma'' ; ) is Earth's highest mountain above sea level, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas. The China–Nepal border runs across its summit point. Its elevation (snow heig ...

, since the base of Mount Everest is above sea level.

Ka Lae Ka Lae ( haw, the point), also known as South Point, is the southernmost point of the Big Island of Hawaii and of the 50 United States. The Ka Lae area is registered as a National Historic Landmark District under the name South Point Complex. ...

, the southernmost point in the 50

states of the United States In the United States, a state is a Federated state, constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it ...

, is on Hawaii. The nearest landfall to the south is in the

Line Islands The Line Islands, Teraina Islands or Equatorial Islands (in Gilbertese, ''Aono Raina'') are a chain of 11 atolls (with partly or fully enclosed lagoons) and coral islands (with a surrounding reef) in the central Pacific Ocean, south of the Hawa ...

. To the northwest of the island of Hawaii is the island of

Maui The island of Maui (; Hawaiian: ) is the second-largest of the islands of the state of Hawaii at 727.2 square miles (1,883 km2) and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is the largest of Maui County's four islands, which ...

, whose

Haleakalā Haleakalā (; Hawaiian: ), or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by another volcano, Mauna Kahalawai, also referred to as the West ...

volcano is visible from Hawaii across the

Alenuihaha Channel In an archipelago like the Hawaiian Islands the water between islands is typically called a ''channel'' or ''passage''. Described here are the channels between the islands of Hawaiʻi, arranged from northwest to southeast. Kaulakahi Channel T ...

Volcanism

Three Waikupanaha and one Ki lava ocean entries w-edit2

The island of Hawaiʻi is built from five separate

shield volcano A shield volcano is a type of volcano named for its low profile, resembling a warrior's shield lying on the ground. It is formed by the eruption of highly fluid (low viscosity) lava, which travels farther and forms thinner flows than the more v ...

es that erupted somewhat sequentially, one overlapping the other. These are (from oldest to youngest): * Kohala – extinct *

– dormant *

Hualālai Hualālai (pronounced in Hawaiian) is an active volcano on the island of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the westernmost, third-youngest and the third-most active of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii, following Kīlauea a ...

– active *

Mauna Loa Mauna Loa ( or ; Hawaiian: ; en, Long Mountain) is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The largest subaerial volcano (as opposed to subaqueous volcanoes) in both mass and ...

– active, partly within

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

Kīlauea Kīlauea ( , ) is an active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. Located along the southeastern shore of the Big Island of Hawaii, the volcano is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old and emerged above sea level about 100,000 years ago. Hi ...

– active, part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Geological evidence from exposures of old surfaces on the south and west flanks of Mauna Loa led to the proposal that two ancient volcanic shields (named Ninole and Kulani) were all but buried by the younger Mauna Loa. Geologists now consider these "outcrops" to be part of the earlier building of Mauna Loa. Because Mauna Loa and Kīlauea are active volcanoes, the island of Hawaii is still growing. Between January 1983 and September 2002,

lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or un ...

flows added to the island. Lava flowing from Kīlauea has destroyed several towns, including Kapoho in 1960 and again in 2018, and Kalapana and Kaimū in 1990. In 1987 lava filled in "Queen's Bath", a large, L-shaped, freshwater pool in the Kalapana area. Another 875 acres were added between May to July, 2018 by the

2018 lower Puna eruption The 2018 lower Puna eruption was a volcanic event on the island of Hawaiʻi, on Kīlauea volcano's East Rift Zone that began on May 3, 2018. It is related to the larger eruption of Kīlauea that began on January 3, 1983, though some volcanolog ...

. Mauna Loa erupted in 2022 after 38 years. Some geologists count seven volcanoes as building the island, which include the submarine volcanoes

Māhukona Māhukona is a submerged shield volcano on the northwestern flank of the Island of Hawaii. A drowned coral reef at about 3,770 feet (-1,150 m) below sea level and a major break in slope at about 4,400 feet (-1,340 m) below sea level represent ol ...

and Kamaʻehuakanaloa (formerly Lōʻihi) as parts of the base of the island. Māhukona off the northwest corner of the island has already disappeared below the surface of the ocean. Approximately southeast of Hawaii lies the

undersea volcano Submarine volcanoes are underwater vents or fissures in the Earth's surface from which magma can erupt. Many submarine volcanoes are located near areas of tectonic plate formation, known as mid-ocean ridges. The volcanoes at mid-ocean ridges ...

known as Kamaʻehuakanaloa. It is an erupting seamount that now reaches approximately below the surface of the ocean. Continued activity at current rates from Kamaʻehuakanaloa will likely cause it to break the surface of the ocean sometime between 10,000 and 100,000 years from now.

Great Crack

The Great Crack is an , and fissure in the island, in the district of Kau. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Great Crack is the result of crustal dilation from

magma Magma () is the molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed. Magma is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and evidence of magmatism has also been discovered on other terrestrial planets and some natural sa ...

tic intrusions into the southwest rift zone of Kilauea."Are We Breaking Away – The Great Crack"
, USGS, 16 July 1998. While neither the earthquake of 1868 nor that of 1975 caused a measurable change in the Great Crack, lava welled out of the lower of the Great Crack in 1823. Visitors can find trails, rock walls, and archaeological sites from as old as the 12th century around the Great Crack. In August 2018, the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...

purchased nearly of private land adjacent to

, claiming that the area has important geological features that need to be studied and preserved.

Hilina Slump

Magic Sands (Laaloa Bay) Hawaii Christmas

The

Hilina Slump The Hilina Slump, on the south flank of the Kīlauea Volcano on the southeast coast of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, is the most notable of several landslides that ring each of the Hawaiian Islands. These landslides are the means by which materia ...

is a section of the south slope of the Kīlauea volcano which is slipping away from the island. Between 1990 and 1993,

Global Positioning System The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of the global navigation satellite sy ...

(GPS) measurements showed a southward displacement of about per year. Undersea measurements show that a "bench" has formed a buttress and that this buttress may tend to reduce the likelihood of future catastrophic detachment.

Earthquakes and tsunamis

On 2 April 1868, an earthquake with a magnitude estimated between 7.25 and 7.9 rocked the southeast coast of Hawaii. This was the most destructive earthquake in the recorded history of Hawaii.Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (26 October 2006
"Destructive Earthquakes in Hawai`i County Since 1868"
. Retrieved 21 March 2012 It triggered a

landslide Landslides, also known as landslips, are several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, deep-seated grade (slope), slope failures, mudflows, and debris flows. Landslides occur in a variety of ...

on Mauna Loa, north of

Pahala Pahala is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 1,403 at the 2020 census. History Pahala was created by a sugarcane plantation. The area selected to house the sugar refinery had several ke ...

, killing 31 people. A

tsunami A tsunami ( ; from ja, 津波, lit=harbour wave, ) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explo ...

claimed 46 more lives. The villages of Punaluu, Nīnole, Kawaa, Honuapo, and Keauhou Landing were severely damaged. The tsunami reportedly rolled over the tops of the coconut trees up to high, and it reached inland a distance of a quarter of a mile (400 meters) in some places. On 29 November 1975, a section of the Hilina Slump dropped and slid toward the ocean. This movement caused a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami. Oceanfront property was washed off its foundations in Punaluu. Two deaths were reported at Halape, and 19 other people were injured. The island suffered tsunami damage from earthquakes in

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...

on 1 April 1946, and in

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

on 23 May 1960. Downtown Hilo was severely damaged by both tsunamis, with many lives lost. Just north of Hilo, Laupāhoehoe lost 16 schoolchildren and five teachers in the tsunami of 1946. In March 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Japan again created a tsunami that caused minor damage in Hawaii. The estimated damage to public buildings alone was about US$3 million.Nakaso, Dan (14 March 2011
"Tsunami damage estimate for Hawaii now tens of millions"
. ''Star Advertiser'', Retrieved 15 March 2011 In the Kona area this tsunami washed a house into

, destroyed a yacht club and tour boat offices in

Keauhou Bay Keauhou Bay is a historic area in the Kona District of the Big Island of Hawaii. The name comes from ''ke au hou'' which means "the new era" in the Hawaiian Language. Kamehameha III's Birthplace A small enclosure is maintained by the Daughter ...

, caused extensive damage in

Kailua Kona Kailua-Kona is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. It is also known as Kailua (a name it shares with a community located on the windward side of Oahu), as Kona (a name it shares ...

, flooded the ground floor of the King Kamehameha Hotel, and permanently closed the Kona Village Resort. In early May 2018, hundreds of small earthquakes were detected on Kīlauea's East

rift zone A rift zone is a feature of some volcanoes, especially shield volcanoes, in which a set of linear cracks (or rifts) develops in a volcanic edifice, typically forming into two or three well-defined regions along the flanks of the vent. Believed t ...

, leading officials to issue evacuation warnings. On 3 May 2018, the volcano erupted in Puna after a 5.0 earthquake earlier in the day, causing evacuations of the

Leilani Estates Leilani Estates is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaii, United States located in the District of Puna. The subdivision was formed in 1964. The population was 1,139 at the 2020 census, down from 1,560 at the 2010 censu ...

and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions. A seemingly related 5.3 magnitude quake and a subsequent 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred on 4 May.

Volcanic fog

Volcano atmospheric vog measuring station Hawaii (45553109794)

Vog Vog is a form of air pollution that results when sulfur dioxide and other gases and particles emitted by an erupting volcano react with oxygen and moisture in the presence of sunlight. The word is a portmanteau of the words "volcanic" and "smog" ...

(volcanic fog) can envelop the island of Hawaii when Kilauea Volcano is active. Since the termination of volcanic activity in September 2018, the vog has largely disappeared on the west side of the island. The gas plumes of the Kīlauea Volcano create a blanket of vog which the dominant

trade winds The trade winds or easterlies are the permanent east-to-west prevailing winds that flow in the Earth's equatorial region. The trade winds blow mainly from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisph ...

mostly deflect toward the Kona coast on the west side of the island of Hawaiʻi. Vog contains chemicals that can damage the environment and the health of plants, humans, and other animals. Most of the

aerosol An aerosol is a suspension (chemistry), suspension of fine solid particles or liquid Drop (liquid), droplets in air or another gas. Aerosols can be natural or Human impact on the environment, anthropogenic. Examples of natural aerosols are fog o ...

s are acidic and of a size where they can remain in the lungs to damage them and impair function. Flu-like symptoms and general lethargy are reported, and are especially pronounced in people with respiratory conditions. on USGS web site. U.S. Geological Service. Retrieved 29 December 2009. on USGS web site. on "Airnow" US Government web site. on State of Hawaii Office of the Governor web site.

National protected areas

Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a long trail located on the island of Hawaii. It is not yet a single continuous trail, but can be accessed at several broken segments along the coastline of the Big Island. The trail was established to acc ...

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of two units, along with the Kona Forest National Wildlife Refuge that is managed as part of the Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex. A ...

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is an American national park located in the U.S. state of Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. The park encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's mos ...

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located in the Kona District on the Big island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It includes the National Historic Landmarked archaeological site known ...

Kohala Historical Sites State Monument Kohala Historical Sites State Monument includes the National Historic Landmark Mookini Heiau and the birthplace of Kamehameha I. It is located in remote North Kohala on the Island of Hawaii. History Mookini Heiau is one of the oldest historica ...

( Mookini Heiau) * Kona Forest National Wildlife Refuge *

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located on the west coast of the island of Hawaiʻi in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The historical park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th ce ...

Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site Puukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located on the northwestern coast of the island of Hawaii. The site preserves the National Historic Landmark ruins of the last major Ancient Hawaiian temple, an ...

File:Downtown Kona, Hawaii.jpg, Downtown Kona File:Downtown Hilo, Hawaii.jpg, Downtown

Economy

Sugarcane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, Perennial plant, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar Sugar industry, production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with ...

was the backbone of the island of Hawaii's economy for more than a century. In the mid-20th century, sugarcane plantations began to downsize, and in 1995 the last plantation closed. Most of the island's economy is based on

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...

, centered primarily in resort areas on the western coast of the island in the North Kona and South Kohala districts. More recently, Hawaii Island has become a focus for

sustainable tourism Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social and environmental issues as well as attention to improving tourists' experiences and addressing the needs of host communities. Su ...

. Diversified agriculture is a growing sector of the economy. Major crops include

macadamia nuts ''Macadamia'' is a genus of four species of trees in the flowering plant family Proteaceae. They are indigenous to Australia, native to northeastern New South Wales and central and southeastern Queensland specifically. Two species of the genus ...

papaya The papaya (, ), papaw, () or pawpaw () is the plant species ''Carica papaya'', one of the 21 accepted species in the genus ''Carica'' of the family Caricaceae. It was first domesticated in Mesoamerica, within modern-day southern Mexico and ...

, flowers, tropical and temperate vegetables, and

coffee bean A coffee bean is a seed of the ''Coffea'' plant and the source for coffee. It is the pip inside the red or purple fruit often referred to as a coffee cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit. Even thou ...

s. Only coffee grown in the

Kona District Kona is a ''moku'' or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii, known for its Kona coffee and the location of the Ironman World Championship Triathlon. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the ''moku'' o ...

of this island may be branded

Kona coffee Kona coffee is the market name for coffee ('' Coffea arabica'') cultivated on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Only coff ...

. The island's

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

agriculture is the largest in the state, and resulted in the unofficial nickname "The Orchid Isle". The island is home to one of the United States' largest cattle ranches:

Parker Ranch Parker Ranch is a working cattle ranch on the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii, now run by a charitable trust. History The ranch was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest ranches in the United States, pre-dating many mainland ra ...

, on in Waimea. The island is also known for

astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies astronomical object, celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and chronology of the Universe, evolution. Objects of interest ...

, with numerous

telescope A telescope is a device used to observe distant objects by their emission, absorption, or reflection of electromagnetic radiation. Originally meaning only an optical instrument using lenses, curved mirrors, or a combination of both to observe ...

s operated on the summit of

at the

Mauna Kea Observatories The Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) are a group of independent astronomical research facilities and large telescope observatories that are located at the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, United States. The facilities are located ...

, where atmospheric clarity is excellent and there is little

light pollution Light pollution is the presence of unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive use of artificial Visible spectrum, lighting. In a descriptive sense, the term ''light pollution'' refers to the effects of any poorly implemented lighting, during the day ...

. NELHA (Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority), a state developed site, is a green economic development

ocean science Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dynamic ...

and technology park on the west side of the island. It provides resources and facilities for energy and ocean-related research, education, and commercial activities in an environmentally sound and

culturally sensitive Cultural sensitivity, also referred to as cross-cultural sensitivity or cultural awareness, is the knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of other cultures and others' cultural identities. It is related to cultural competence (the skills needed for ...

manner. Business tenants on this coastal site include

microalgae Microalgae or microphytes are microscopic algae invisible to the naked eye. They are phytoplankton typically found in freshwater and marine systems, living in both the water column and sediment. They are unicellular species which exist indiv ...

farms,

aquaculture Aquaculture (less commonly spelled aquiculture), also known as aquafarming, is the controlled cultivation ("farming") of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae and other organisms of value such as aquatic plants (e.g. lot ...

solar technology Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar power to generate electricity, solar thermal energy (including solar water heating), and solar architecture. It is an essenti ...

and marine

biotech Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used b ...

. Tenants have access to three sets of pipelines delivering deep-sea water from a depth of up to , as well as pristine sea surface water and almost constant sunshine. A 2012 study by the

University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

(UHERO) found the total economic impact of activities at NELHA was $87.7 million and created 583 jobs.

Transportation

Roads

Three routes connect the two major towns,

on the east coast and

Kailua-Kona Kailua-Kona is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. It is also known as Kailua (a name it shares with a community located on the windward side of Oahu), as Kona (a name it shares ...

on the west coast of the island: * State highways 19 & 190, the northern route via Waimea * State highway 11, the southern route via

* Saddle Road (aka the Daniel K. Inouye Memorial highway), passing between

and

). There are also State highways 270 (

Kawaihae Kawaihae is an unincorporated community on the west side of the island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii, north of Kailua-Kona. Its harbor is one of only two on the island, together with that of Hilo. Description The town's harbor includ ...

– Hawi) and 180 (the "

road", from

Honalo Honalo is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 2,423 at the 2010 census, up from 1,987 at the 2000 census. Geography Honalo is located on the western side of the island of Hawaii at (19. ...

to State highway 190), South Point Road (Highway 11 to South Point), etc. There are presently three Hawaii Scenic Byways on the island of Hawaii: * Mamalahoa Kona Heritage Center * Royal Footsteps Along the Kona Coast * Kau Scenic Byway – The Slopes of Mauna Loa

Rental car Renting, also known as hiring or letting, is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property owned by another. A gross lease is when the tenant pays a flat rental amount and the landlord pays for al ...

offices are at the international airports.

Taxi A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice ...

service is also available. Island-wide bus service is provided by the "

Hele-On Bus Hele-On Bus is the public transport bus service provided by the County of Hawaii on the Big Island, Hawaii, United States. It serves a limited number of routes on limited frequency. History Prior to 1976, public transport in the Hilo area was pr ...

Airports

Two commercial airports serve Hawaiʻi Island: *

Hilo International Airport Hilo International Airport , formerly General Lyman Field, is an international airport located in Hilo, Hawaii County, Hawaii. Owned and operated by the Hawaii state Department of Transportation, it is one of two major airports on Hawaii Island ...

(ITO) *

Kona International Airport Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole is the busiest airport on the Island of Hawaii. It is located in Kalaoa CDP, Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States, near the town of Kailua-Kona. The airport serves leeward (western) Hawai ...

(KOA) There is also: *

Waimea-Kohala Airport Waimea-Kohala Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile (2 km) southwest of Kamuela (also known as Waimea), an unincorporated town in Hawai‘i County, Hawai‘i, United States. Hawaiian Airlines began sc ...

(MUE) *

Upolu Airport Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long and in area, making it the second largest of the Samoan Islands by area. With approximate ...

(UPP)

Seaports

Major commercial ports are

on the east side and

on the west side of the island. Cruise ships often stop at

(90 times in 2017) and Hilo (108 times in 2017). Akaka Falls Hawaii

Tourism

Places of interest

Green turtles at an old lava flow and Hawaiian temple at background

Akaka Falls Daniel Kahikina Akaka (; September 11, 1924 – April 6, 2018) was an American educator and politician who served as a United States Senate, United States Senator from Hawaii from 1990 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), De ...

, one of the tallest waterfalls on the island. *

Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden The Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is a Hawaiian botanical garden near Captain Cook, Hawaii in the Kona District on the Big Island of Hawaii. The gardens closed for the public on January 31, 2016. They are slated to re-open on Februa ...

houses many endangered endemic plants. *

East Hawaii Cultural Center The East Hawaii Cultural Center (EHCC) is an art gallery, community theater, and cultural center in downtown Hilo, Hawaii. EHCC features regular art exhibitions with free or suggested donation entry to the general public. Administered by the Ea ...

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden The Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden (17 acres) is a nonprofit botanical garden and nature preserve located on the 4 mile scenic route off of Route 19 at 27-717 Old Māmalahoa Highway, Pāpa'ikou, Hawaii (island), Hawaii. It is open da ...

, comprising the active volcanoes Kīlauea and Mauna Loa *

Hulihee Palace This is a non-exhaustive list of facial hairstyles. Moustache styles A moustache is defined as any facial hair grown specifically on the upper lip. There are many different types of moustache, but all differentiate between hair grown exclusivel ...

, a

royal palace This is a list of royal palaces, sorted by continent. Africa * Abdin Palace, Cairo * Al-Gawhara Palace, Cairo * Koubbeh Palace, Cairo * Tahra Palace, Cairo * Menelik Palace * Jubilee Palace * Guenete Leul Palace * Imperial Palace- Massa ...

in Kailua-Kona *

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center ʻImiloa Astronomy Center is an astronomy and culture education center located in Hilo, Hawaii. Conceived by founding Director George Jacob in 2001, it features exhibits and shows dealing with Hawaiian culture and history, astronomy (particularl ...

in Hilo *

, the southernmost point in the United States * Laupāhoehoe Train Museum *

Lyman House Memorial Museum The Lyman House Memorial Museum, also known as the Lyman Museum and Lyman House, is a Hilo, Hawaii-based natural history museum founded in 1931 in the Lyman family mission house, originally built in 1838. The main collections were moved to an ad ...

in Hilo *

Manuka State Wayside Park The Manuka State Wayside Park is a state park of with an arboretum located approximately west of Naalehu, on the Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) section of the Hawaii Belt Road, on the island of Hawaii, Hawaii, coordinates The name means "blunde ...

Nani Mau Gardens Nani Mau Gardens (20 acres) are commercial botanical gardens located at 421 Makalika Street, Hilo, Hawaii on the island of Hawaii, coordinates . The gardens' name, Nani Mau, means "forever beautiful". They were established by Makato Nitahara and ...

Onizuka Center for International Astronomy The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, also known as Hale Pōhaku, is a complex of support facilities for the telescopes and other instruments that comprise the Mauna Kea Observatory atop Mauna Kea, on Hawaii island. History A few rusti ...

Pacific Tsunami Museum The Pacific Tsunami Museum (originally, the Hilo Tsunami Museum) is a museum in Hilo, Hawaii dedicated to the history of the April 1, 1946 Pacific tsunami and the May 23, 1960 Chilean tsunami which devastated much of the east coast of the Big I ...

overlooking Hilo Bay * Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo in Hilo *

Pua Mau Place Arboretum and Botanical Garden Pua Mau Place Arboretum and Botanical Garden (45 acres) is an early-stage, nonprofit arboretum and botanical garden located off Highway 270 at 10 Ala Kahua, Kawaihae, on the dry slopes of the Kohala Mountain Range on Hawaii (island), Hawaii. It is ...

* Puuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park * Puukoho'ā Heiau National Historic Site, the site of one of the most significant

heiau A ''heiau'' () is a Hawaiian temple. Made in different architectural styles depending upon their purpose and location, they range from simple earth terraces, to elaborately constructed stone platforms. There are heiau to treat the sick (''heia ...

in Hawaii *

Rainbow Falls State Park Rainbow Falls State Park is a public recreation area on the Chehalis River. It is situated off Washington State Route 6 and is approximately east of the town of Dryad, Washington. The state park's feature of shoreline, the waterfall for wh ...

Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens The Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens (1.5 acres) are nonprofit botanical gardens located on the grounds of the Kona Educational Foundation Center at 76-6280 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii island, Hawaii. Coordinates are . They are open daily; a ...

Umauma Falls The Umauma Falls are located on the Umauma River on the Big Island of Hawaii, approximately 16 miles north of Hilo. They are unique in Hawaii as being a series of three waterfalls in close proximity. They are easily viewed from an overlook locat ...

University of Hawaii at Hilo Botanical Gardens The University of Hawaii at Hilo Botanical Gardens are botanical gardens on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus, located at 470 W Lanikaula St, Hilo, Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. They are open daily without charge. The gardens were establ ...

Waipio Valley Waipio Valley is a valley located in the Hamakua District of the Big Island of Hawaii. "Waipio" means "curved water" in the Hawaiian language. The valley was the capital and permanent residence of many early Hawaiian Aliʻi (chiefs/kings) up ...

Wao Kele o Puna Wao Kele O Puna (Wao Kele) is Hawaii's largest remaining lowland wet forest, about south of the city of Hilo, along the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano on the Island of Hawaii. The name means the ''upland rainforest of Puna''. Puna is one of ...

World Botanical Gardens World Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls is a commercial botanical gardens with a large waterfall, located between Umauma and Hakalau, at the corner of Leopolino Road and Hawaii Belt Road, State Highway 19, 16 miles north of Hilo, Island of ...

Hotels on the east coast

The larger hotels on the east coast are: *

Grand Naniloa Hotel The Grand Naniloa Hotel is a hotel in Hilo, Hawaii, on the eastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii, Big Island. It is the largest hotel in the state of Hawaii's second largest city, and has the longest history as a hotel on Hawaii Island. Histo ...

Hilo Hawaiian Hotel The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel located in Hilo, Hawaii's second largest town, is one of a few relatively large hotels on the east coast of Hawaii Island. It is located, like the Grand Naniloa Hotel, on Banyan Drive. Overview The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel ope ...

Volcano House Volcano House is the name of a series of historic hotels built at the edge of Kīlauea, within the grounds of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawai'i. The original 1877 building is listed on the National Register of Historic Pla ...

Hotels on the west coast

The larger hotels on the west coast, from north ( Puako) to south (

Captain Cook James Cook (7 November 1728 Old Style date: 27 October – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the British Royal Navy, famous for his three voyages between 1768 and 1779 in the Pacific Ocean an ...

): *

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is a hotel property on the Kohala Coast of the island of Hawaii. It sits at Kaunaoa Bay. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) awarded the hotel an Honor Award in 1967 citing its "restrained detailing and fine spatial ...

The Fairmont Orchid The Fairmont Orchid is a luxury hotel on the Kohala Coast of the island of Hawaii. It is managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. History The history of Keawaiki Bay is preserved in archeological sites, lava formations, and footpaths leading ...

Hilton Waikoloa Village Waikoloa Beach is an area located on the South Kohala coast on the island of Hawaii and is located in the census-designated place of Puako. It can be confused for Waikoloa Village, a CDP in the same " ahupuaa" and is also known as "Waikoloa". T ...

Waikoloa Beach Waikoloa Beach is an area located on the Kohala, Hawaii, South Kohala coast on the island of Hawaii (island), Hawaii and is located in the census-designated place of Puako, Hawaii, Puako. It can be confused for Waikoloa Village, a CDP in the same ...

Marriott *

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaūpūlehu is a AAA Five Diamond Award, AAA Five Diamond rated Four Seasons Hotel, Four Seasons resort in Kaupulehu, Hawaii, Kaūpūlehu, on the Kona-Kohala Coast of the island of Hawaii (island), Hawaii. ...

Royal Kona Resort Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

* Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at

Manago Hotel Manago Hotel is a hotel and restaurant in Captain Cook, Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. It opened in 1917, originally as the home of Kinzo and Osame Manago, before eventually becoming a hotel. Since then the hotel has continued to provide afforda ...

*Mauna Lani Resort by Auberge

Maps

File:Hawaii national parks map.gif, National parks, mountains and cities on the island File:Hawaii Island topographic map-en.svg, Topographic map of the island of Hawaii File:HawaiiBigIsland2021OSM.png, Detailed map of the island of Hawaii
Interactive 3D model for Chrome or Firefox

References

External links

Official Hawaii County website

Hawaii (island)
at ''

Encyclopædia Britannica The (Latin for "British Encyclopædia") is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It is published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; the company has existed since the 18th century, although it has changed ownership various time ...

''
''Hawaii Tribune-Herald''
– official website of the ''

Hawaii Tribune-Herald ''Hawaii Tribune-Herald'' is a daily newspaper based in Hilo, Hawaii. It is owned and published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press. History The ''Hilo Tribune'' began publication on November 23, 1895, and changed its name to ...

'', a daily newspaper in

''West Hawaii Today''
– official website of ''

West Hawaii Today ''West Hawaii Today'' is a Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i based daily newspaper. It is owned and published by Oahu Publications Inc, a subsidiary of Black Press. History ''West Hawaii Today'' began in 1962 as a special weekly edition of ''Hilo Tribune-Her ...

''
Island of Hawaii from the International Space Station
– NASA

satellite image Satellite images (also Earth observation imagery, spaceborne photography, or simply satellite photo) are images of Earth collected by imaging satellites operated by governments and businesses around the world. Satellite imaging companies sell ima ...

, taken from the

International Space Station The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest modular space station currently in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA ...

on 28 February 2015 * * {{Authority control * * Islands of Hawaii