Big Island Spectaular
The tour begins with the history of the Hawaiian People.
Site of the first extensive contact between Hawaiians and Westerners with the arrival of Captain Cook in 1779. Viewing of Hikiau Heiau, a traditional religious site, and the Captain Cook monument at a distance across Kealakekua Bay
Captain Cook Monument Trail
Length3.7 mi Elevation gain1,266 ft Route type Out & back
Proceed cautiously on this 3.7-mile out-and-back trail near Captain Cook, Hawaii. Generally considered a highly challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 25 min to complete and should only be attempted by experienced adventurers. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. The return is uphill in full sun.
Kealakekua Snorkel Tour
The bay hosts one of the most abundant coral reefs on the island and is located on the lush and tropical Kona coast.
A Furious Journey of Life or Death was Determined by the Gods
Imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the kapu, and the only punishment was death. Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Puʻuhonua, a place of refuge. The Puʻuhonua protected the kapu breaker, defeated warriors, as well as civilians during the time of battle. No physical harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the Puʻuhonua.
People of Early Hawaiʻi
The Hawaii of old was organized into a social structure including chiefs, priests, skilled laborers and commoners. Strict laws existed for each of the separate divisions.
Na Aliʻi - The Chiefs
The aliʻi (royalty, chiefly class) in early Hawaiʻi ruled the islands. It is believed that the aliʻi could trace their ancestry back to the akua (gods) and therefore had the right to rule. The kuleana (responsibility) of the aliʻi was to care for the makaʻāinana (commoners) and the relationship with the akua.
Kaloko-Honokōhau -National Historical Park Hawai'i
Native Hawaiians were some of the first fish-farmers in history. 800 years ago, they built large fishponds where they’d raise fish for the whole community. And nature provided, too. Naturally formed fishponds dotted the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. To survive in a hot and arid environment the native Hawaiians (kanaka maoli) used ancient fishing skills, and the knowledge of the location of precious fresh water (wai) that flows into the many brackish pools throughout the park. The spirit of the people (poe) and the knowledge of the elders (kupuna) created a tradition of respect and reverence for this area.
The Birth of a King and a Kingdom - Kamehameha I or Kamehameha the great
King Kamehameha was one of the most striking figures in Hawaiian history, a leader who united and ruled the islands during a time of great cultural change. Accounts vary, but many think that Kamehameha (originally named Pai'ea) was born into a royal family in North Kohala sometime between 1753 and 1761, possibly in November 1758. Kamehameha's mother was Kekuiapoiwa, daughter of a Kona chief. His father was probably Keoua, chief of Kohala. Legends link his birth to storms and strange lights, activities thought by Hawaiians to herald the birth of a great chief. Because of prognostications at his birth and threats from warring clans, Kamehameha was taken away and hidden immediately after his birth. He spent his early years secluded in Waipio, returning to Kailua at the age of five. He lived there with his parents until his father's death, then continued to receive special training from King Kalani'opu'u, his uncle. This training included skills in games, warfare, oral history, navigation, religious ceremonies, and other information necessary to become an ali'i-'ai-moku (a district chief).
Puʻukoholā Heiau -National Historic Site
In the summer of 1791, the massive temple was finished, measuring about 224 by 100 feet. Kamehameha summoned his cousin Keōua Kuahuʻula with the ruse of a peace treaty. As he stepped ashore, he and his party were captured and killed. With the offering of the bodies the new temple was officially dedicated. The campaign to unite all the islands continued with Maui in 1794, and Oʻahu in 1795 at the Battle of Nuʻuanu. The unification was completed when the king of the island of Kaua'i became a vassal to Kamehameha I in 1810 making him the first king of a unified Hawai'i.
Climate – 10 of the earths 12 zones are on the island we will experience all of them.
Mauna Kea
Its peak is 13,803 ft above sea level, making it the highest point in the state of Hawaiʻi. The peak is about 125 ft higher than Mauna Loa, its more massive neighbor. Mauna Kea is unusually topographically prominent for its height: its wet prominence is fifteenth in the world among mountains, at 13,796 ft; its dry prominence is 30,610 ft. This dry prominence is greater than Mount Everest's height above sea level of 29,032 ft, and some authorities have labelled Mauna Kea the tallest mountain in the world, from its underwater base.
Mauna Kea is home to the world's premier stargazing location. Mauna Kea's summit is one of the best sites in the world for astronomical observation due to favorable observing conditions. We will see the rings of Saturn. The moons on Jupiter, the north star and the southern cross at the same time. We will be providing a Coat gloves and a hat but bring something warm because we will depart in 80 degrees drive to the summit and when the doors open the temperature will be a freezing 30 degrees. The wind chill is even lower.
Volcano and Geography
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes - National Park
The Samoans saw Manua Loa erupting and were drawn to the great orange light in the sky.
We will Visit Kilauea one of two active volcanoes and see the dramatic changes which took place in 2018, at the top and at the ocean. Walk through a lava tube, feel the heat of the steam coming from the earth, walk on the newest land on the planet. Learn how layer upon layer the islands were created by a hole in the center of the earth. While the pictures are of the lava the park is in a rain forest. There is a lot of green in the lust parts of the park.
The Lava Flows from 5 volcanoes make up the Island. Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano and the second overall in the world. Hawaii is home to shield volcanos which slope gracefully from the ocean rising about one inch per foot to a height of almost 14,000 feet. Cinder cones dot the island showing cracks in the earth from past eruptions.
Cacao Farm Tour: Hawaii is the only state where cacao is grown commercially, and Honokaa Chocolate Co is a great place to experience a cacao orchard first hand and to taste world-class fine chocolates. If you’ve never sampled craft chocolate, you’re in for a treat. The photo is of the Cacao Beans inside the orange and yellow pod.
We can also tour Coffee Macadamia nuts and Pineapple farms.
Hilo Farmers Market: Amazing fresh food all from the windward side of the island
Parker Ranch: The ranch was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest ranches in the United States, pre-dating many mainland ranches in Texas and other southwestern states by more than 30 years. Spread across approximately 130,000 acres (53,000 ha) of the island, Parker Ranch is among the nation's largest cattle ranches.
The founder of the ranch was John Palmer Parker who assisted Kamehameha I in riding the island of feral bulls and was granted land on which he established the ranch. Cattle arrived in Hawaii in 1793, when Captain George Vancouver presented King Kamehameha I with six cows and a bull. King Kamehameha created a 400-acre pasture surrounded by a rock wall and placed a kapu on killing the cattle so that they could grow in numbers.
Optional: Pearl Harbor
From Engagement to Peace
At the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, learn about one of the most pivotal moments in US history: the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the subsequent entry of the United States into World War II. USS Arizona, USS Utah, USS Oklahoma, USS Missouri. Along with the Museum of the Attack.
7 Days for Big Island $2600.
9 Days including Pearl $3000.
Driving about 9 hours total
Food of the Island:
- Pork Smoked in an IMU, Ono, Parker ranch beef.
- Kona Coffee.
- Portuguese sausage, Malasadas (Portuguese Doughnuts).
- Fruits: Mango, lilikoi, Pineapple, Coconuts, lychee, to name a few.
- Local Favorites: Loco Moco, Musubi, and more.
- Macadamia Nuts