| What can I do from Hawaii's Big Island vacation | | | | along rocky trails and desolate deserts that in |
| rentals? | | | | time will flourish and thrive with new life. |
| - See molten lava flow at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii | | | | Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano that last erupted |
| Volcanoes National Park | | | | approximately 4000 years ago. Located in the |
| - Play in the snow atop Mauna Kea, the world's | | | | central Big Island near popular Hawaiian vacation |
| tallest mountain (measured from the ocean floor) | | | | rentals, it sits north of Mauna Loa, the world's |
| Hawaii emerged from the sea millions of years | | | | most massive mountain. At 13,796 feet above |
| ago, forged by the power of volcanoes. Today, | | | | sea level and over 33,000 feet from the bottom |
| Kilauea on Hawaii's Big Island is one of the few | | | | of the ocean floor, Mauna Kea is the tallest sea |
| places in the world where visitors can come face | | | | mountain in the world, even taller than Mt. |
| to face with an active volcano. This once in a | | | | Everest. |
| lifetime chance to safely explore one of the | | | | Yes, it does snow in Hawaii. Mauna Kea means |
| world's most active volcanoes makes Hawaii a | | | | "white mountain" in Hawaiian because its peaks |
| destination unlike any other. Remember the | | | | are often blanketed in snow during the winter |
| volcanoes at your school science fair? Unlike those | | | | months. It is possible to ski here, but due to the |
| steep, conical peaks, Hawaii's main volcanoes are | | | | high altitude, extreme conditions, and short |
| "shield" volcanoes. Shield volcanoes produce | | | | season, it isn't recommended for the casual skier. |
| generally fluid lava flows that form gently sloping | | | | Instead, visitors can travel up Mauna Kea to gain |
| shield-like mountains. A good example is Mauna | | | | access to unparalleled stargazing. |
| Loa, the most massive mountain on earth, | | | | Because of its combination of high altitude, clear |
| deceptively covering half of Hawaii's Big Island. | | | | air, and absence of light, Mauna Kea is home to |
| There are currently three active volcanoes in | | | | many international observatories. The W.M. Keck |
| Hawaii. | | | | Observatory on the summit of Mauna Kea is |
| On Hawaii's Big Island you'll find Mauna Loa and | | | | home to the twin Keck Telescopes, the world's |
| Kilauea in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Mauna | | | | largest optical and infrared telescopes. Take a |
| Loa last erupted in 1984 and Kilauea has been | | | | guided tour or learn about Mauna Kea and its |
| continuously erupting since 1983. Loihi is located | | | | observatories at the Onizuka Center for |
| underwater off the southern coast of Hawaii's Big | | | | International Astronomy Visitor Information |
| Island. Erupting since 1996, this emerging land | | | | Center, which is named after Kona raised |
| mass may break the surface in about 250,000 | | | | astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who lost his life in the |
| years, adding a ninth island to the Hawaiian chain. | | | | Challenger Shuttle tragedy. Bring the family and |
| Today, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is Hawaii's | | | | see why stargazing atop Mauna Kea is such an |
| #1 visitor attraction. This 377 square mile park on | | | | unforgettable experience. And when it comes to |
| Hawaii's Big Island is a living museum where | | | | unforgettable Hawaii accommodation, come to the |
| visitors can witness the power of Hawaii's | | | | acknowledged experts in the Hawaii travel field - |
| volcanoes in surprisingly intimate ways. You'll feel | | | | us! |
| great mana, or spiritual power, here as you hike | | | | |