I have several new 2026 calendars available in different sizes and formats at my Etsy store . These are printed to order by a top custom printer and there is still time to order for delivery by Christmas. If you decide to order, use my special promo code for viewers of this website (BIGISLAND15) and get a 15% discount . Here 's some information about each of the calendar designs: 11x17 Large Wall Calendar ($28.99) . This calendar has 13 large prints, one per page in a vert

Mist and fog cast a soft glow over the trails in the Cloud Forest The slopes of the Hualalai Volcano on the Island of Hawaii have weather and ecosystem characteristics that are relatively unique on the island. It is almost a daily event to see thick clouds form on the western (Kona) side of the volcano, often producing rain on lower slopes. It is possible to ascend higher on Hualalai via a pair of roads that criss-cross their way up to about 5000 feet. The shorter of these tw

I've probably driven up the road from Waikoloa Beach to Waikoloa Village more than 100 times, but it wasn’t until recently that I noticed the small sign on the south side of the road announcing the “Waikoloa Dry Forest” (or WDF). What is a dry forest, and why is there one in Waikoloa? A dry forest is a treed area residing in a dry (usually tropical) climate, where rain occurs in a brief rainy season, if at all. The trees in a dry forest adapt to this highly seasonal cycle. I

Finding hikes can be a challenge in the Waimea – Waikoloa area on the Big Island, as much of the land is privately or government owned, and access is limited. An exception is the old gravel road about 1 mile mauka (uphill) of Waikoloa Village that passes by Pu’u Hinai. This large pu’u is easily recognizable, with its red cinder composition and massive size. Hard to miss! This old road, like most others, has a locked gate at Waikoloa Road, and no trespassing signs on that gate

Lava is prominent all along the Big Island’s west side thanks to some major Mauna Loa and Hualalai eruptions that occurred over the last few hundred to few thousand years. Lava flows around Kailua-Kona mostly originated from Hualalai and are mostly 200+ years old (to much older). Flows to both the north and south of Kona mostly came from Mauna Loa and some are much newer. We set out to explore some of the coast south of Kona, particularly near Keauhou Bay. There are very few

On the Big Island Saddle Road, between Hilo and Mauna Kea, there is a relatively new parking lot and visitor facility on the north side of the road. You’ve probably driven by it and wondered what it was and whether it was worth a stop. We wondered, and so made the stop, and are very glad we did. This is the Kaulana Manu Kipuka Nature Walk. A Kipuka is a small, usually forested oasis in the midst of a lava field. It is an area the lava flow spared, allowing it to become a home

Part of our fitness discipline is to take at least a one-hour walk each day when on the island. Much of the time, this just means walking through our neighborhood. But we are always on the lookout for trails that might provide an interesting alternative to the neighborhood walks. So much of the Big Island is completely undeveloped, yet plainly marked “No Trespassing” (a pet peeve) that it can be difficult to find new trails that are OK to enjoy. One area where we have found s

A challenging Big Island hike I’ve been wanting to try for some time is the Koai’a Corridor trail which provides access to the top of the Kohala Volcano. Looking down the Koai'a Corridor trail with Mauna Loa and the South Kohala coast in the distance Kohala is the oldest volcano on the island and is long extinct. The east side of the volcano is devoted almost totally to the Pu’u O Umi Wilderness area, a steep-sided series of canyons formed long ago by a giant landslide and er

Anyone who traverses the Big Island’s Saddle Road towards Hilo will notice the many massive pu’us (cinder domes) that dot the landscape along the way. One in particular always stands out for me, as it looks like a desert island stranded in an ocean of lava: This is Pu’u Huluhulu, and it sits directly across the highway from the Mauna Kea access road. If you’ve made the trek to the Mauna Kea visitors’ center, you’ve seen it and probably wondered about it. This is not "just" a

Mana Road, to the uninitiated, is a nice side road in Waimea that is lined near town with small farms, ranches, and homes. Some great...

If you’ve seen all the amazing waterfalls, beaches, and volcanoes on the Big Island and crave a walk in the forest, then Kalopa State...

Identifying a favorite image is only the first step creating an art piece for your home. You must decide how to display it, which...

Big Island locations from the northern tip to south point with terrific photo opportunities. FInd iconic scenes or tiny vignettes to enjoy.

On an island with large amounts of privately held land, it is a pleasure to find places like the Koai’a Tree Sanctuary, a tree-filled...

If you travel north of Hilo (on the Big Island) for about 5 miles on the belt road (Route 19) you will see a sign directing you to a...

Waimea is a busy town sitting south of the Kohala Volcano and midway between the Kona and Hamakua coasts. It resides essentially on a...

If you’ve looked at many of the galleries on this site, you’ll have probably noticed that Keokea Beach Park is prominently featured . We...

A few miles east of the Island's southern-most point (South Point) is a dramatic, partially submerged Pu'u, or cinder cone, whose center...