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What are your favorite Big Island Hawaii Activities?

Explore the many wonderful things to do on the Big Island of Hawaii - CLICK HERE!

The two most popular Big Island Hawaii activities are the volcano and diving.

The volcano because it is the only active, and the largest continuously erupting, volcano in the U.S.

The Scuba Diving because the waters off the Big Island are so crystal clear that 100 foot visibility is not uncommon.

The volcano

Volcano Tours on the island of Hawai'i - CLICK HERE! Flying over Pu'u O'o vent during Big Island activities
Hawaii Volcano national Park is a fascinating way to spend the day. The visitor center is very informative with some great pictures and displays.

After hitting the visitor center, take a drive around the park. You will see fields of pahoehoe on either side of the road and once in a while you will see where nature is once again gaining a small toehold.

You can stand over a steam vent, which is basically a large crack in the earth that has steam venting from it. Pretty amazing to know how hot the earth is directly beneath your feet. The Park service puts a iron railing around these.(Like I want to climb in there?).

From the Kona airport, you can take a Helicopter tour of the volcano and visit Hilo. They will get you as close to the vent as conditions allow. If you are lucky enough to hit a non-windy day they will be able to get you pretty close.

But you will be able to get a good view of Pu'u O'o vent. It is pretty cool to look into an active volcano. We went with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and while it was not cheap, it was money well spent. How many times in your life are you going to be able to look into a volcano?

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Scuba Diving on the island of Hawai'i

Why is the visibility so fantastic on the Big Island? It has to do with all the rock and the lack of sand. The volcano is creating new land on the Big Island every day and since this island is so geologically young it has not had a chance to get eroded away to sand yet. The visibility is not reduced by all the sand being churned up in the water. The result is crystal clear water that is great for diving.

This goes for snorkeling too if you go to a rocky beach. Honaunau Bay has some really good snorkeling, as does Kealakekua Bay, where you will find Capt. Cook's Monument. Watch for dolphins in this area.

Shark / Ray Encounters on the island of Hawai'i - CLICK HERE!

One of the most raved about dives on the Big Island Hawaii activities list is the night time Manta Ray dive . If you are not a diver, you can do as a snorkeler. You hop on a boat around dusk and they take you to a spot where they have set up lights to attract plankton. The plankton attracts the rays who come in to feed.

As a diver you sit on the ocean floor around the lights and the Manta Rays swoop all around you, gobbling up the plankton. They skim just above, or sometimes on, your head, as they are scooping plankton into their mouths.

As a snorkeler you are watching the scene from above. Not quite as cool as being on the bottom but an impressive show nonetheless.

In addition to these two most popular Big Island Hawaii activities you can also find many, many others.

You may want to visit Thurston lava tube, the most popular of the lava tubes on the Big Island or do some volcano hiking with Kapohokine Adventures Volcano Lava Combo - CLICK HERE! . Make sure to put on some sturdy shoes and bring a flashlight with fresh batteries.

How about renting mountain bikes? Or riding with ATV Outfitters Hawaii - CLICK HERE!? Horseback riding is popular and you can combine this with going snorkeling at Capt. Cook's Memorial. A couple of other options for visiting Cook's Memorial, which is actually on British soil, is to Kayak or go on a snorkeling tour.

Maybe you would like to take in some sky activities such as powered hang gliding or Parasailing in the clear blue skies of Hawaii. Or try your hand at Island fishing with Bite Me 1 Sportfishing Charter - CLICK HERE! , hiking through a forest or golfing on some of the most beautiful courses you'll ever see.

Heck, you can even go snow skiing, if you want!

Whatever you decide, your options will not be limited when it comes to Big Island Hawaii activities. Follow the links below to get more in depth information on Big Island activities.

Or use the submission form below to tell us your experience!

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What is the best activity you ever did on the Big Island?

What is the best time you ever had on the Big Island? Have you done the Manta Ray night dive? Gone zip lining? Snorkeled at Captain Cooks Memorial? Attended the best Luau ever?

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