Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i is often called the “Big Island” and is the farthest south in the island group. This is the island from which the group takes its name. Hawai‘i claims Pele’s fiery red lehua flowers from the ‘ōhi‘a tree. It is the largest, the highest, and the youngest of all the islands. Hawai‘i, like all the others, is an island forged in fire, born out of the sea. Both Mauna Loa and Kīlauea are active volcanoes. Within a few miles, Hawai‘i has both snowy peaks and desert areas. It is said to have eleven different climate zones out of the world’s possible thirteen.

The largest city on Hawai‘i is Hilo. Hawai‘i is sometimes called the “Orchid Island” because orchids can grow in often cloudy Hilo without man-made shade. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is near Hilo. Much of the coffee grown in the islands is on the Kona coast opposite Hilo. Kona coffee has become world famous.