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> About Hawaii > Weather > Time Zone > Currency > Additional Resources
ABOUT HAWAII
The Aloha State, Hawaii lies 2,367 km (1,470 miles) north of the equator and 4,025 km (2,500 miles)
southwest of the nearest continental land mass, North America. The six main islands are part of a
128-island archipelago stretching 2,452 km (1,523 miles) from Kure Atoll in the northwest to the
Big Island in the southwest. The main islands include Oahu, and the neighbor islands of Maui,
Kaua'i, the Big Island (Hawai'i), Moloka'i and Lana'i.
Only 400,000 years old, the island of Hawaii, commonly called the Big Island, is the youngest of the Hawaiian islands, and nearly twice the size of all the other Hawaiian islands combined at 4,028 square miles. The Big Island, in fact, is still growing. The Kīlauea volcano has been spewing molten lava since January 1, 1983, continually adding real estate to the island.
The Big Island's other active volcano, 13,679-foot Mauna Loa, last erupted in March 1984. Mauna Loa is the world's largest volcano and covers about half of the island. Mauna Kea is the tallest of Hawaii's volcanoes; in fact, standing at 13,796 feet, it is the world's tallest mountain (measured from the floor of the ocean to its summit). Mauna Kea is considered a dormant volcano, having last erupted about 4,500 years ago. Of the two remaining volcanoes on the island, Kohala is extinct, and Hualalai is considered to be dormant (it last erupted in 1801).
Geographically the Big Island is the most diverse island of the archipelago, offering
spectacular contrasts. Twelve distinct climate zones exist here with deserts, rainforests,
volcanoes and, surprisingly, snow-capped mountains; from tropical rain forests in Hilo and
Ka'u's arid desert to the snow-capped summit of Mauna Kea. Ka'u is the southern-most point in
the U.S.A Hawaiian legend tells of two deities, volcano goddess Pele and demigod Kamapua'a,
battling over the island. The two eventually struck a deal, dividing the Big Island in two:
the dry west side (Kona), the driest region in the archipelago, home to the best beaches and
water conditions; and the tropical east side (Hilo) with pounding surf, tropical rainforests
and majestic waterfalls.
The Big Island's "west side story" includes the spectacular Kohala coast, a favorite resort playground offering spectacular sunsets, golf, horseback riding and some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts in the world.
In Waimea, visit Parker Ranch, one of the largest privately owned ranches in the United States. And just south of Kailua-Kona is Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, one of Hawaii's most sacred cultural attractions.
Kailua-Kona, also known simply as Kona, has a history that looms much larger than its size
would indicate. Nestled at the bottom of the Hualalai Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii,
this area was considered the premier place to live in ancient times due to the excellent weather and water.
British explorer Captain James Cook first spotted Hawaii off the coast of Kailua-Kona. Kona is also where King Kamehameha the Great died and where the ancient kapu (taboo) system was discarded. Today, Kona is one of the world's great sports fishing centers and home to the annual Ironman Triathlon.
The Big Island's scenic Kohala Coast also has a wealth of shopping opportunities. The major retail center here is the Kings' Shops at Waikoloa, a 75,000-square-foot shopping, dining and entertainment complex with more than 35 stores and eateries. Live hula performances, musical entertainment, weekly guided tours of nearby petroglyph fields, native Hawaiian plants, and arts and crafts displays are among the featured attractions at the Kings' Shops.
Other shopping venues on the Big Island include the Hilo Shopping Center and Puainako Town Center in Hilo, and the Kona Coast Shopping Center and Lanihau Center in Kailua-Kona.
Shopping Tips:
In Hawaii, you'll discover a world of shopping opportunities. There are luxury
brand stores, specialty stores, boutiques, and stores selling products made only in Hawaii.
Many of the major shopping areas also offer free shuttle service between their location and major hotels.
Decide which products interest you, then map out the places you'll find them and the best way to get there. Visit websites such as www.gohawaii.com. It features a unique trip planning search engine that includes planning your shopping trip. Consider shipping purchases home. Some businesses and hotels will even assist you with shipping.
Weather on all of the Hawaiian Islands is very consistent, with only minor changes in temperature throughout the year. This is due to year-round warm sea surface temperatures, which keep the overlying atmosphere warm as well.
In practical terms, there are only 2 seasons: the summer months (called Kau in Hawaiian) that extend
from May to October and the winter months (Ho'oilo) that run from November to April. The average
daytime summer temperature at sea level is 85 degrees F. (29.4 C) while the average daytime winter
temperature is 78 degrees (25.6 C). Temperatures at night are approximately 10 degrees F. lower.
The island has an incredible collection of many diverse micro-environments, each with its own unique weather, plants and animals. As a result of the shielding effect of volcanic mountains and the differences in weather found at various elevations, there are as many different climate zones here as exist along the entire coast stretching from Alaska to Costa Rica.
For the full impact of this, visitors need only explore the island by car or helicopter and they'll see the beauty of tropical rain forests, cool alpine regions, stony deserts and sunny beaches - all within the span of just a few short miles.
To find out the latest Big Island weather, please visit: http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USHI0033?from=search_city
Many visitors are drawn to the natural beauty found in higher elevations such as Kīlauea on the Big Island. To prepare for the trip, bring long pants and several layers of cool weather clothing because the temperature in the higher locations drops 3.5 degrees for every 1,000 feet above sea level that you climb.
Because these peaks rise through the earth's atmosphere, there is less protection from the sun's powerful burning rays. This burning effect can be easily masked by the cool temperatures on the mountain, so be sure to use sun block liberally, and bring a hat and sunglasses.
The Big Island is on Hawaiian Standard Time, two hours earlier than the U.S. West Coast (Pacific Standard Time), and five hours earlier than the U.S. East Coast (Eastern Standard Time). Unlike the rest of the U.S., the Hawaiian Islands do not observe Daylight Savings Time. That means that during the summer months, the Big Island is three hours earlier than Pacific Daylight Time and six hours earlier than Eastern Daylight Time.
Time zone in Hawaii is GMT/UTC -10 hours. For a look at the current local time on the Big Island, please visit: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=1083
For the latest rates on currency exchange, please visit: http://www.oanda.com/converter/travel?lang=en
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CEOS - www.ceos.org
USGS - www.usgs.gov
Hawaii - www.gohawaii.com
21st CEOS Plenary - http://www.ceosplenary2007.com
Mauna Lani Hotel - www.maunalani.com
U.S. Department of State - travel.state.gov
