#hawaii-travel

#hawaii-travel

However, looking back, I didn't need to bring my own snorkeling gear. Last year, my husband and I decided to celebrate his birthday in Hawaii. We fell in love with Maui's natural beauty and endless beaches, and a few short months later, found ourselves returning to the state to spend time in Kona on the Big Island, where the laid-back atmosphere enchanted us.

Papakōlea Beach isn't your typical beach. Commonly referred to as "Green Sand Beach," the stretch of shoreline on the Island of Hawaii (the Big Island) is said to be one of only four green-sand beaches in the world. It's also the only one located in the 50 U.S. states. To reach the others, you'll need to book flights to Norway, Guam (a U.S. island territory in Micronesia), and the Galapagos Islands.

"We heard you, Hilo," Adam Decaire, Southwest's Airlines senior vice president of network planning and network operations control, said in a statement. "Las Vegas is important to you, and you're important to us. This service gets you faster to family and fun in Nevada where you also can access easy connections on Southwest to many of the 75 places that we serve nonstop from Las Vegas with as many 272 departures a day."

I've traveled to all the Hawaiian islands, but the striking landscapes of the Island of Hawaii-lush rainforests, lava fields, pristine beaches, and even snowy summits-keep me coming back. In between the volcanic rocks often hide secret oases of crescent-shaped white-sand beaches with water calm enough to spot wildlife. One such spot is Mauna Kea Resort. The sprawling development dates back to 1965, when businessman Laurance S. Rockefeller developed Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on an empty plot of land along Kauna'oa Bay.

The Aloha State easily entices with beaches of every hue, lush verdant scenery, and a welcoming culture, but finding the best island to visit in Hawaii can be a daunting decision. From bustling urban metropolises to surf towns where lazy days melt away, fine dining establishments to coffee farms, otherworldly volcanic formations to rainforests, Hawaii offers so many different experiences, sites, and activities on offer like no other state.

We wanted to be competitive and focus on ADR [average daily rate] rather than having the guest perception of hidden and/or unwanted extra fees," Surfjack's general manager, Lynette Eastman, told SFGATE.