The Island of Hawaii is the largest and youngest in the Hawaiian archipelago. The ongoing confusion between the island name and the state name has made it practical for residents and frequent visitors to popularly refer to this island as "The Big Island." Although it is also known as the "Orchid Isle," the official color is red and the official flower is the lehua blossom.The lehua blossom holds great significance in Hawaiian legend. The most popular belief is that if the lehua blossom should be picked, it will rain soon after. This island offers a wide array of regions from the small sleepy town of Hilo on the northeastern shore, A small sleepy town to the volcano goddess Pele that legend says has been known to display her jealously and rage in the volcanic displays of Kilauea. It is the only island in the Hawaiian Island chain which can offer activities that range from snow skiing to boogie boarding. This island is a fantastic array of surprises, mystery and fascination.
The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest of the islands in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is about 93 miles by 76 miles with over 250 miles of coastline and has a land area that exceeds 4,000 square miles. The two predominate mountains on the island are Mauna Kea which has an elevation of over 13,700 feet and Mauna Loa at over 13,600 feet make these these highest mountains in the Pacific. It is also the location of Ka Lae which is also known as the southernmost point in the United States of America.
The island of Hawaii has a population of 144,000 people which ranks it second in population in the Hawaiian Islands. The population consists mostly of people of Hawaiian and part-Hawaiian, Caucasian Japanese and Filipino origins. The Big Island also is the destination for over 1 million visitors annually.
The island has several regions which include Hilo, Hamakua, Kohala, Kona, Kealakekua, South Point , Volcano and Puna. Hilo and Hamakua are on the island's wetter and greener side. Rainbows and rainfalls are abundant on this part of the island. The region along the Kona coast, is dry, barren and evident of lava flows of long ago. The many coastal resorts sit atop black lava rock bluffs along the rocky coastline. The Volcano region is situated in the higher elevations along the slopes of Mauna Loa. The upland forest is enveloped in cooler air and mist. South Point is dry and desert like with a few patches of greenery. The Kohala area is rich with gentle sloping ranch land on the higher slopes of Mauna Kea. The air is clean and cool and the views of snow covered Mauna Kea are unique to all Hawaii.
