Come On & Join Us - The Big Island
By Maui Curmudgeon

This is the 4th in a 7-part series of Maui Curmudgeon’s Hawaiian Islands Tour.

When you live in Hawaii and you talk about Hawaii you can be talking about Hawaii the state or Hawaii the Island so we call the state Hawaii and the Island of Hawaii the Big Island. Got it? It’s larger than all other islands put together.

Frankly, and very unfortunately, most of the Big Island sucks. Mornings are nice but most of the day – and on both sides of the island – the air is choked now with VOG. Sulpher dioxide, hydrocarbons, and lots of other nasty stuff from the lava spewing from the ground makes the island more like LA on a very bad day. Resident children have an astronomical incidence of asthma. Local property values were falling long before the economy collapsed, because of VOG.

Still, go. There are a few things you need to experience.

What makes the Big Island worth visiting:

Lava, dummy. Where else would you be able to walk right up to a stream of lava and poke a stick in it? We’ve done it. You should too.

Breakfast at Ken’s in Hilo. Order the Kilauea – you won’t believe it. Oh, Ken’s is THE place to breakfast, so there’ll be a wait. It’s worth it.

Visit Hawi – really old Hawaii here. And, a nice bonus: the ONE spot on the island that rarely gets a day of vog. You’ll be driving in a soup of dirty mist forever and then, suddenly, about ten miles from Hawi, clean air! You’ll be amazed!

In Hawi, eat at the Bamboo Restaurant, one of the great funky places of the world. Good food and great deserts too.

Where to stay – we’ve stayed lots of places and none to rave about. The resorts are ok, as usual, but remember, if you’re paying $300 dollars a night the only way you’ll beat the vog is if you remain in your room with the air conditioner on full blast. Otherwise you’ll be coughing poolside. We’d opt for less expensive diggs, and save money for the impending doctor bills. Sneeze!

Next up: The Kauai