Big Island of Hawai'i
(ha-vhy-ee)

The Big Island also known as Hawaii or the Orchid Isle is the youngest and largest of the Hawaiian Islands. Covering 4,028 square miles,it is twice the size of all the other major islands combined. And with two of the five volcanoes that created the island still active, it continues to grow.
Kilauea Caldera started its present eruptive phase in 1983, and is currently erupting today! Mauna Loa, meanwhile, last erupted in March of 1984, and locals think it could erupt anytime.
Of the remaining three volcanoes on the island, Mauna Kea and Kohala are extinct, while Hualalai is considered to be dormant, having last erupted in 1801.
All five volcanoes add to the beauty and uniqueness of the Big Island

The five volcanoes also have an effect on the weather. The island's weather is very diverse. Ten out of fifteen distinct climatic zones exist here, ranging from tropical, monsoonal, desert, and periglacial climates, just to name a few. The driest area on the island is at Kawaihae, where the average annual rainfall is only 8.7 inches (220 mm), whereas in Hilo, one of the wettest cities, it is 129 inches.

On the Big Island you will find a bit of everything. There are gorgeous white sand beaches, and sunny towns like Kailua-Kona on the west coast, five-star beach resorts and golf courses in Waikoloa, vast ranchland in Waimea, arid desert in Ka'u, snow and endless star gazing on the summit of Mauna Kea, lush tropical rainforests along the Hamakua coast, an active lava flow in Volcano,and the quaint port town of Hilo on the East Coast. The Big Island is BIG, and full of possibilities!

If you're interested in real estate on the Big Island, check out these sites: