The Enchanting, Wild Wonders of the island of Hawaii
If taking a helicopter ride over an active volcano, exploring ocean wonders or retracing the steps filmmakers took when creating Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull sound enticing, the magical island of Hawaii will leave you mesmerized.
As the largest and youngest of the Hawaiian Islands, created from five volcanoes and bearing the moniker “The Big Island,” the island of Hawaii is a place of untamed geographical contrasts. It’s divided into six regions: Hamakua Coast, Hilo, Puna, Kau, Kona and Kohala and is home to 10 of the world’s 14 climate zones, from Wet Tropical to Polar Tundra. For that reason, the Island of Hawaii boasts a breathtaking array of wild natural wonders to explore.
“We want our guests and visitors to know that the Fairmont Orchid, located on the west side of the island, is 90 miles away from the erupting Kilauea Volcano. The volcano is in an isolated, cordoned-off area on the east side that’s now closed to the general public unless by air ,” says Joan Harvey, Director of Sales and Marketing for Fairmont Orchid. “So it’s business as usual here,” she says. “In fact, our award-winning concierge has put together some fantastic itineraries that incorporate the amazing wild landscapes and activities throughout the island.”
Floating Yoga
Begin your day slowly, at a contemplative pace, with Fairmont Orchid’s floating yoga class. “Flo-Yo, in which guests practice yoga on paddleboards with our in-house instructor just as the sun is rising, is a wonderful way to start your day of busy island adventures,” suggests Harvey.
Visiting the Volcano Goddess by Air Over Kau
Concierge Gerald Farm, born and raised on the island of Hawaii, makes it a personal goal to experience as many expeditions as possible so that he can better advise Fairmont Orchid guests. His personal experience includes the pilot-narrated, fully enclosed and air-conditioned helicopter rides over the erupting Kilauea Volcano designated as an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage site. “The general public may not know that Kilauea began erupting in 1983. I actually remember that growing up and the eruption has occurred in cycles ever since,” says Farm.
“Flying over Kilauea in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and watching molten lava pour out through fissures was an absolutely thrilling experience. It is an extremely popular request from our guests,” Farm relates. “The summit also contains a lava lake in Halemaumau Crater that Hawaiians believe to be the home of Pele the volcano goddess.”
“We use three helicopter companies, but Sunshine Helicopters is the only one that has a reserved first class seating option, fantastic for avid photographers. All the companies make daily checks with authorities regarding weather conditions and air quality, and safety is always their first concern, as is ours at the Fairmont Orchid,” adds Farm. “While in the park, helicopters also fly over Maunaloa, an active volcano that covers half the island of Hawaii. It’s also the world’s highest volcano at 13,677 feet.”
Realm of the Gods North of Hilo
If you’re starstruck (in the celestial way), the Onizuka Center For International Astronomy located on Maunakea at 14,000 feet above sea level offers visitors a fascinating exploration of the galaxy. Maunakea is the tallest sea mountain in the world at 32,000 feet from its base on the ocean floor. Its height surpasses Mt. Everest. The clarity and darkness of the skies over the Island of Hawaii provide the ultimate observational base for 13 of earth’s most powerful telescopes, operated by astronomers from 11 countries. In fact, their collective light-producing power is 60 times greater than the Hubble Space Telescope.
If you choose to arrive early enough to experience the heavenly sunset, you’ll also be amazed at the silver, spiky vegetation with soaring appendages on the Maunakea slopes known as “silversword” and resembling futuristic life forms. And don’t forget to bring a heavy jacket as it’s cold at the summit.
“Culturally for Hawaiians, Maunakea is considered ‘The Realm of the Gods,’ a sacred place,” Farm explains. “In ancient times, trekking to the summit was only allowed for royalty and high priests who worshipped Poliahu, the goddess of ice and snow.”
Today, the center offers the public fascinating stargazing programs from its observatory, but visitors are urged to check the website before arriving, as many events are weather permitting.
Manta by Moonlight
As the sun sinks down along the Kona Coast, snorkel or scuba dive through crystal clear waters as manta rays perform an underwater ballet. You’ll be mesmerized by these gentle giants (mantas don’t have stingers like sting rays or eagle rays) as they glide gracefully by to feed on microscopic plankton in the illuminated waters.
For a memorable experience, book a late night manta swim with Kona Ocean Adventures. The moonlight peeking out over Hualalai will illuminate your path to the hot spots where mantas gather in the evening to feed. You’ll marvel as they perform somersaults and spins all around you.
Indiana Jones on the Hamakua Coast
Standing in for the jungles of Peru with its lush tropical rain forests and jaw-dropping waterfalls, including the 442-foot Akaka Falls, Hawaii’s Hamakua Coast was the perfect location for shooting Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Experience the beauty for yourself, but be sure to bring along your bathing suit because between scenic lookouts you’ll find picturesque black lava sand beaches that beckon a refreshing ocean plunge. During winter months, humpback whales can be spotted during their annual migration.
Driving the Hamakua Heritage Corridor from Hilo to the Waipio Valley Lookout, you’ll witness majestic cliffs up to 2,000-feet high. Stop at the World Botanical Gardens where you can zipline your way above the spectacular triple-tiered Umauma Falls.
Sacred Puako Petroglyphs, Kohala Coast
You don’t have to be an intrepid archeologist like Indiana Jones to be fascinated by the mysterious 3,000 lava rock carvings of abstract turtles, canoes and people dating back to 1200 A.D. in the Puako Petroglyph Archeological Preserve. It’s the largest concentration of petroglyphs in the entire Pacific region. A marked petroglyph trail assists hikers and guided tours are also available.
Winding Down in Luxury
After a jam-packed day of exploring the island, you can luxuriate in the healing treatments based on ancient therapeutic techniques at the Fairmont Orchid’s Spa Without Walls. Situated between lush gardens and koi ponds, guests receive treatments in private hales (huts) ideally positioned over a waterfall and facing the ocean.
The lomilomi (Hawaiian massage) uses long, rhythmic strokes of the forearm for a deep muscle massage that was used in ancient Hawaii to prepare dancers for ceremonial and religious occasions.
The spa’s signature treatment is the “Kona Coffee Exfoliation,” with an aromatic scrub made exclusively on-island for the Spa Without Walls. It uses crushed organic Kona coffee beans mixed with local Kau orange creme lotion to exfoliate and soften the skin. The treatment is followed by a 25-minute massage with fragrant vanilla lotion.
It’s the perfect way to relax and reminisce about your day’s adventures, uncovering the enchanting, wild wonders on the island of Hawaii.
Laura Goldstein will travel almost anywhere to write about (and eat) a good meal and explore hotels and homes with great design. These travels include dining in an underwater restaurant in Eilat, Israel, to truffle hunting at a cooking course in Provence, France. A highlight of her 25-year career was covering Kate Middleton & Prince William on their 2017 Royal Tour in Vancouver, Canada.