Hawaii is the largest island and is simply called "The Big Island".
It is twice the size of all the other islands put together and
the least populated per square mile.
Total area is 4,038 sq. miles - 93 miles long and 76 miles wide
with 266 miles of coastline. Home to 11 of the 14 known climate
zones in the world, the Big Island has everything from desert
lavascapes and tropical rain forests to black and green beaches.
Big Island even has snow on the peaks of 13,000 foot volcanoes!
Big Island is home to Kilauea, the world's most active
volcano as well as the ruggedly beautiful Hamakua Coast. The waters
off the Big Island teem with life.
The highest point is Mauna Kea at 13,796 ft above sea level
and home to a number of world famous
astronomical
observatories. Mauna Loa, also stands tall - at 13,680 feet
above sea level and over 31,000 feet when measured from its
rise on the ocean floor - making it the tallest mountain in
the world from base to summit.
The Big Island has the most coral reef for scuba diving and snorkeling in the Hawaiian Islands.
The Hawaiian Island archipelago is the most isolated grouping
of islands on Earth at about 1,860 miles from the nearest continent.
