Things to do / Travel Guide
There are many different kinds of great adventure travel ideas that you can partake in on the Big Island.
One example of these adventure activities is diving off the coast, where lava enters the ocean. Diving excursions leave from Hilo and are subject to changing volcanic conditions.
Another adventure is night diving with the Manta Rays. These 800-pound creatures can glide as little as one inch over your head as you sit on the bottom of the sea, off the Kona Coast.
For those of you who don't want to get to wet, Atlantis Submarines can take you 100 feet below sea level for a 1-hour-long exploration of a tropical reef. The submarines leave from Kailua-Kona.
Mountain biking down the snow-covered slopes of Mauna Kea all the way down to the seashore is one of the most challenging adventures the Big Island has to offer.
Hiking to an active lava flow is yet another strenuous activity for the adventure traveler to take part in. The end of the Chain of the Craters Road marks the upper boundary of the area of Puu Oo's 1983 eruption, which is still going strong. You can hike several miles out on the exposed lava fields until you find the actual site where lava still flows. The site itself may change daily as a result of the unpredictability of the lava flow, so beware. Part of the hiking trail is marked, but, as you approach the flow, you must rely on your own senses or the help of other hikers for guidance. As the park rangers are mainly passive except for marking off areas where there is a danger of plunging into the sea, you will be very much on your own here.
Helicopter tours of the Hamakua Coast valleys and the Kilauea eruption zone offer adventurers a bird's eye view of the Big Island. A helicopter tour is currently the only way to actually see the lava flowing out of Puu Oo's vent. It is important to check local eruption and weather conditions, which change daily, before lifting off.
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