Why Hawaii’s Big Island?

A Most Hawaiian Place

At ancient heiau (temples) seasonal rituals are still practiced here; canoe masters navigate by the stars; restored villages preserve and share the arts of chanting and carving, pounding poi and throw-net fishing. Not far away, art galleries and museums, working Kona coffee plantations and the Paniolo (cowboy) culture of Waimea immerse visitors in a rich culture and history. Still celebrated throughout the island in street fairs and festivals, parades and performances, Hawaii’s traditions are very much a part of everyday life. They’re everywhere: in the eclectic foods, the aroma of flower lei, the sound of local conversation, the warm sunshine and special feeling of aloha that pervades.