Hawaii, The Big Island

This is the island of Hawaii. Some of the different nicknames it has are Big Island, Orchid Isle, and Volcano Isle. It is call the Big Island because it is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is also called the Orchid Isle because a lot of beautiful orchids are grown here. And it is called the Volcano Isle because it is the only Hawaiian Island with active volcanoes.

The island of Hawaii has 5 major volcanoes. They are called Kohala, Hualalai, Mauna Loa, Kilauea and Mauna Kea. Kohala is probably extinct. The Kohala mountains are the oldest. It last erupted 120,000 years ago. Now that's a long time. Mauna Kea is probably extinct, and it's the second oldest mountain on this island. It last erupted 4,000 years ago. Mauna Kea is the 6 miles high from the bottom of the sea to its top. Hualalai is a dormant volcano. It last erupted in the 1800's. Mauna Loa is an active volcano. It last erupted in 1984. Kilauea is an active volcano too. It has been erupting since 1983 and is still erupting to this very day.

There are special legends about this island. One is about Pele, the fire goddess. She battled her sister from island to island until she found the perfect spot, the island of HAWAII.

There are many interesting places to see on the Big Island. Mauna Kea has grassy slopes, but in winter, it has snow on top with small lakes. Scientists have built some of the largest telescopes on this mountain. The northeastern and southeastern coasts of this island is rimmed by cliffs, here and there. On the western side of the island are coffee farms and cattle ranches. Parker Ranch is the second largest privately owned cattle ranch is the United States. On the Leeward side of Hawaii where the water is clear, fisherman around the world test there skills on catching very big fish. Where else in the world can you ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon, all in the same day.