Hawaii became famous thanks to Hawaii 5-0, the famous turned telesery with Honolulu, capital of this 50e American State. But the island which gave its name to the archipelago is much known and much less attended than his/her seven sisters. However, it hiding place treasures. Outline of a destination to seizing contrasts!
The Hawaii, largest and southernmost of the islands of the archipelago of the same name, was formed starting from volcanic lava. It would thus be believed very arid; however, it conceals meadows spread out as far as the eye can see where feed of immense herds. And although it is located in tropical zone, snow there is found!

Higher than the Everest
It is also in the island of Hawaii, the “large island” as it is called, than is the most top of the world: the volcano Mauna Kea. Formed on the ocean floor, it is 10 203 m height - the Everest culminates to 8850 m.

At the top of Mauna Kea, to 4205 m of altitude (compared to the sea level), one embraces an infinite horizon, concerning practically stars. As Hawaii is the world capital of astronomy, the ridge of the mountain does not accomodate less than 13 telescopes, of which most imposing 10 m diameter measure. But there is no need to be astronomer to admire the lunar landscape of this deadened volcano which one reaches in the commercial vehicle sport.

Attention with the pernicious effects of the rise. In spite of an obligatory stop in the center of interpretation, located at 3000 m, several visitors support altitude badly: headaches, nauseas, losses of balance. Fortunately, the majority are free for breathlessness and dizzy spells (at the top, there are only 60 % of oxygen, compared to the rate which exists on the sea level).

See the sun to lie down on the brownish cones and the craters holds of the unreal one! And what to say club of local Alpine skiing?

Earth in an island
The scientists listed 13 climatic zones on our planet. With it only, the island of Hawaii includes/understands 11 of them. It misses there only the climates the Arctic and Saharan.

To the west, one passes from the arid fields of lava to a desiccated vegetation strewn with cactus. Then, as one goes up, the temperature is refreshed, and the gilded meadows turn to the intense green. It is the kingdom of the pastures, where the horses and the cattle feed. Close to Waimea, to approximately 1000 m of altitude, the herd of the Parker Ranch, the most important ranch with single owner of all United States, counts more than 30 000 animals.

In the east, a tropical vegetation covers the escarpé littoral. One can observe spectacular valleys, carved by the erosion, of which Waipio, a pit of 600 m. Abrupt descent (25 %) led to a small river throwing itself in the sea. Upstream, with a few kilometers, the falls of Hi’ ilawe reach 340 m height (they are 6 times higher than the falls of the Niagara).

By travelling towards the south, one reaches Hilo, capital of the island and kingdom of the rain. Because of the presence of Mauna Kea and orientation of the dominant winds, this town of 40 000 inhabitants is wettest of the United States; annual precipitations reach on average 3300 mm.

Hilo was struck by several tsunamis, tidal wave which can reach tens of meters height and moving to hundreds of kilometers per hour. The last one took place in 1960.

Around 3000 m, the vegetation yields the place to black fields of lava. Higher, the side of the volcanos becomes russet-red, a color which points out the surface of the planet Mars.

A perpetual eruption
Here, one does not flee the active volcanos, one precipitates there to enjoy the spectacle! It is that the volcanos of the island of Hawaii are not in explosive matter. The lava runs out about it rather in a continuous flood, sometimes intense, sometimes light. In Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, created in 1916, one of the volcanos, Kilauea, is in continual activity since 1983. The lava which escapes from it runs out to the sea. One can see with kilometers with the round the vapor column which is formed when the lava comes into contact with surface water.

While walking in the marked out paths which carry out to less than 300 m of the incandescent flood, one feels the heat which emanates from the fractures of the earth’s crust under which this lava in fusion circulates. A visit of night makes it possible to see the red reflections of the magma. Magic experiment!

It is on the West coast of the island, where several black sand beaches are to the jade reflections, which the tourist activity concentrates: luxurious hotels - surrounded of golf courses -, built charming lodgings with mountainside… and unspoilable view on the sun couchers of the Pacific!

Like a Japanese garden
We who are fans of diving, after one equipped of more than 2500 km in 10 days (the large island bears his name well!), we leave two weeks on board Kona Aggressor II, a long motorized catamaran of 25 Mr. Objectif: discovered of a very particular marine environment.

GUI Garcia, of Portuguese origin, counts more than 20 years of experiment in this water. Captain with calms reassuring, it also devotes himself to photography. It is thus with the sensitivity of the artist that it describes sea-beds surrounding the island: “Hawaii does not have anything the Southern Pacific Islands One does not seek here the multitude of colors which the Fiji islands or New Guinea-News-Guinea offer. It is necessary rather to approach the diving in this water as if a Japanese garden were visited. With the first glance, there is an impression of vacuum. Then, while looking at there more closely, all appears to us well organized, and the colors appear.”

To appreciate the diving in Hawaii, it is necessary to spend time and to sharpen its direction of the observation to with it. Because if fauna is abundant there, the environment, primarily composed of lava, does not cause the spontaneous magic of the divings in the Southern Pacific or the Caribbean Sea.

Once the initial shock passed, a phase of amazement starts: Hawaii being the archipelago more isolated from planet, about a third of the 400 marine species which live there are single and are not nowhere elsewhere!

Escorted by a bench of dolphins, the catamaran leaves Kailua-Kona and moves towards the south. The course of some 90 marine miles lasts one week, and the 14 passengers make diving up to 6 hours per day. Globicéphales, lines, tortoises, octopuses, murenes, ptérois, butterflies…, the list of the species lengthens ad infinitum, just like the variety of the dresses which they raise.

Following the example traditional temples that one still finds in the island, the cathedrals of lava, decorated with coral, inspire the respect.

It is in the sea that one observes with the most acuity the great paradox of Hawaii: over background of a dark and arid magma, the life triumphs with splendour.

According to the legend…
It is Pélé, goddess of fire and the volcanos, who gave rise to the islands of the archipelago hawaïen. Driven out of Tahiti by her sister Na-maka-O-Kaha’ I, goddess of water, it had taken refuge in a crater in the north of the archipelago, that his/her sister had flooded at once. Pélé had then had to be another refuge. However, his/her sister, who always pursued it, destroyed each time her efforts. Continuing its search, Pélé thus successively created the eight islands of the archipelago, finishing by that of Hawaii. This goddess thus represents at the same time creation and the destruction, the birth and death.

Island of Hawaii: reference mark

Geographical situation: 4382 km in the south-west of Vancouver
Dimensions: 149 km out of 122 km
Population: 146 000 inhabitants
Climate: subtropical; tourist season: from December at April, low season: from May to November
Temperature: max. 28 °C, min. 20 °C
Information: www.gohawaii.com

Not to miss!

The top of Mauna Kea and its center of interpretation: to envisage hot clothing — the temperature seldom exceeds 15 °C — and the hiring of a commercial vehicle sport (SEEN).
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: to reserve a night with the hotel located in the park, in order to go to observe the incandescent lava flows; the visit lasts one day.
The valley of Waipio: a spectacular site, accessible in SEEN and at your risks! A picnic on the black sand beach or an excursion with the foot of the falls Hi’ ilawe is worth displacement.
Petroglyphs: one can observe these drawings carved in the stone at various places of the island, in particular in Waikoloa Petroglyph Preserve.
Akaka Falls: falls reaching 135 m height.
Kohala Mountain Road: a panoramic road leading to the northern part of the island, more than 1000 m of altitude.