Just read a new article with information on going for a volcano vacation in Hawaii.   Some facts given in the article:

• the worlds most active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, are at Volcanoes National Park
• view the live lava flows and be sure to hike the lava tube in the rain forest
• Mauna Kea, the highest point in Hawaii at 13,796 ft. has been dormant for 3,500 years

The article talks about many other Big Island attractions, but one that caught my curiosity are the Puu Loa Petroglyphs.

check the article out with this link…

-

Why not save some money on your eating when you visit Hawaii’s Big Island ?  LA Times put out an interesting photo montage giving 20 links to places to eat on the Big Island that offer lower cost meals.  Here is the list:

1. 
   

   Manago Hotel – http://www.managohotel.com/  is historical
   

2. 
   

   Island Lava Java Bistro & Grill – inexpensie healthful food

3. 
   

   Kona Brewing Co. – http://www.konabrewingco.com/

4. 
   

   Merriman’s Market Cafe – specializes in Mediterranean

5. 
   

   Ultimate Burger – serves grass fed beef

6. 
   

   Quinn’s Almost by the Sea – crispy fried fish-and-chips plate
   

7. 
   

   Huggo’s On the Rocks – http://www.huggos.com/all/rocksdefault.htm

8. 
   

   Kings? Grille – http://www.waikoloabeachgolf.com/ – try breakfast

9. 
   

   Island Fish & Chips – salmon burger

10. 
    

    Café Pesto – http://www.cafepesto.com/

11. 
    

    Luana Lounge at Fairmont Orchid – don’t miss the chocolate beignets

12. 
    

    Kohala Coffee Mill & Tropical Dreams – coffee and ice cream

13. 
    

    Bamboo Restaurant & Bar – http://www.bamboorestaurant.info/

14. 
    

    Pine Tree Café – oriental

15. 
    

    Hawaiian Style Café

16. 
    

    Huli Sue’s Barbecue & Grill – great service, ambience and barbecue

17. 
    

    Hilo Bay Café – European-Pacific Rim Cusine

18. 
    

    Nori?s Saimin & Snacks – try Hawaiian-style noodle soup

19. 
    

    Tex Drive-In – http://www.texdrivein.com/

20. 
    

    Naung Mai Thai Kitchen – authentic Thai

    
    

To see the montage on the LA Times article use this link

-

Mauna Kea gets a rare spring dusting of snow.  See this web cam video showing the snow at the observatory of Mauna Kea. Link to see video …

-

Found this nice blog posting giving 3 restaurant reviews for the Big Island.

To sumarize:

1. Bamboo is in the quaint town of Hawi. It is simple, in a bamboo coffee shop sort of way, the food was tasty, clean and unpretentious.
2. Daniel Thiebault and Merriman’s are in Waimea. They both were disappointing

To read the posting go to:

http://beatofhawaii.com/three-big-island-restaurants

This seemed like a good Hawaii travel blog.

~

Do not pass up on your chance to visit the Big Island of Hawaii if you are lucky enough to be able to make the trip.

If you do go there then here are some great suggestions on key sites to make sure you see:

Are you in the process of planning a Big Island trip? Hawaii’s Big Island is a popular vacation destination, partly due in fact to its size. Why? Because there is so much for you to do and see.

Once your Big Island travel arrangements are made, you may want to shift for your focus to what you can do and see. Creating an itinerary for your trip has a number of benefits. It is important to remember that Big Island is filled with so much for you to do and see; so much that you may not have enough time to do so. Familiarizing yourself with popular Big Island attractions before your vacation can help you make sure that you visit the mostly highly rated and recommended sites, a few of which are outlined below.

1 – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must see for all Big Island tourists. This National Park is situated on 377 square miles of a vast array of landscaping. Whether you are interested in traveling by car, foot, or bike, there is a large part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that you can examine.

When traveling by car, you can visit the summit of the Kilauea volcano. Chain of Craters Road is also a must visit in the park, as this is where lava once flowed over the road. With so much to do and see in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including guided tours and themed wilderness tours, you may want to stay onsite. What better way to end your day than camping? Camping is free as long as you paid admittance into the park.

2 – Waipio Valley

Waipio Valley is also known as “The Valley of the Kings.” This Big Island attraction is a must visit if the history and culture of Hawaii is of interest to you. Here, you will be able to explore an area that was once populated with native Hawaiians. There are unlimited hidden treasures in the area, including beautiful waterfalls, rivers, and tara fields.

To learn the history of the Waipio Valley, not just see it, a guided tour is recommended. Guided tours of “The Valley of Kings,” are available by way of car, horseback, and foot.

3 – Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is often referred to as “A Garden in the Valley of the Ocean.” Due to close proximately, a visit to the gardens is advised either before or after a visit to “The Valley of the Kings.”

Guided garden tours are available for multiple trails, including the Onomea Falls and Palm Jungle Trail.

4 – Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park

If you are unable to visits the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park is a must visit for you. Situated on 180 acres of land, this National Historic Park is considered sacred ground. It was once refuge and home to those who broke the law.

When visit the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, you can see the black lava rock, a sacred temple, wooden statutes of Hawaiian gods, and so much more! The area is filled with beautiful fish ponds; therefore, you can enjoy a fishing adventure in addition to hiking and examining the historical background of Hawaii’s Big Island.

In addition to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, and Waipio Valley, there are other popular and well-known attractions that you should place on your vacation itinerary. Those visiting the North Side of Big Island will want to examine Parker Ranch. Those visiting the South Side of the island should checkout the views at the Ka Lea South Point.

As you can see, there are a number of must visit attractions for your next Big Island vacation. The above mentioned attractions are just a sample of what you will find on the island. For that reason, you are encouraged to use the internet to your advantage or request free Big Island travel guides, which are relatively easy to find online.