The "Biggest Hawaiian" Island
To prepare for your adventure on the Big Island of Hawaii, begin by looking at a map of the island. You will notice the sheer size of the island – 4,000 square miles – large enough to easily fit all of the other Hawaiian Islands inside its borders.

A Variety of Scenery
The Big Island also offers some of the most varied scenery anywhere in the Hawaiian Islands. And it has some of the largest expanses and stretches of wide-open, uninhabited country in the islands. The geography ranges from desert beaches, to tropical rain forests, to dry lava deserts.

Big Island's 7 Regions
The easiest way to understand the island of Hawaii is by breaking it down into seven different regions:

Kohala Coast
Kailua-Kona
South Point
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hilo and the Puna area
Hamakua Coast
Saddle Road

Kohala Coast
The Kohala Coast is located on the northwest side of the island and includes the towns of Hawi, Kawaihae and Puako. Hawi is a sleepy little village that was once sugar country and is noted as the northernmost point of the island. This quiet town has shops, stores and art galleries. Many artists call this area home and show their works in the shops and stores in town. This coast is also where you will find a number of luxury resorts. There are abundant beaches and very little rain, so it is a haven for tourists and locals alike.

Kailua-Kona
Just south Puako is the most name-recognized area of the Big Island; Kailua-Kona. This area is called by several names depending on who you talk to; Kailua, Kona, or Kailua-Kona. This area also includes the towns of Keauhou and Captain Cook. The area is dominated on the mauka (mountain) side by coffee plantations that grow the famous Kona coffee. There are also several historical sights, shopping and plenty of dining in the Kailua-Kona area.

South Point
South Point (Ka Lae), the southern end of the Big Island, is also the least developed region of the island. It is dominated by the flanks of Mauna Loa which rises to an impressive 13,679 feet. This is the southernmost point in the United States, and the roadway is flanked with massive fields of lava. The famous green sand beach is located here as well as the most accessible black sand beach on the island.