Welcome to West Hawaii
West Hawaii is sunnier than the more lush eastern part of the island and features warmer weather with less rainfall. The west side of the island is also home to a marine mammal preserve. It provides opportunities for whale watching, viewing green sea turtles, exploring ancient fish ponds, and getting up close and personal with dolphins.
What to Love
- Large variety of flora and fauna
- Outdoor adventures and activities
- Luxury resort accommodations and amenities
Local Lifestyle
The west side of the big island has a laid-back feel and is home to many luxury resort accommodations. This part of the island caters to outdoor lovers and adventurer travel enthusiasts. The waters serve as the perfect location for water activities, including snorkeling, paddle boarding, surfing, sailing, and swimming. At the same time, the hills, cliffs, and beaches are great for hiking, ziplining, and stargazing.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
The western part of Hawaii has a plethora of dining and shopping options. One of the best restaurants in the area is Merriman’s. Created by award-winning chef Peter Merriman, this award-winning restaurant features the authentic flavors of Hawaii and is widely seen as the home of Hawaii regional cuisine.
If a wide variety of beers and pub food is your thing then Big Island Brewhaus is the place for you. Taste their Mexican food classics, burgers, appetizers, margaritas, and handcrafted beer selection outdoors in their covered beer garden.
Hawaii is home to some delicious fusion cuisine. Take Kenichi Pacific, for example. Their elevated take on Japanese/Pacific cuisine is unparalleled. In addition to their unique or traditional sushi, they also offer a curated sake collection, steak, lamb, and duck confit, as well as a superb dessert selection.
The area has many shopping options, from resort boutiques featuring name-brand fashion labels to unique gift shops and local farmers’ markets.
Things to Do
You may not know it, but Hawaii offers some of the most awe-inspiring star-gazing on planet earth. And no place does star-gazing better than the Mauna Kea Observatories. This collaboration of twelve independent nonprofit institutions makes Manuakea the most productive site for astronomy in the world. The observatories also offer many fun events for the community throughout the year.
From its first year in 1978, the Ironman World Championships held in Kailua-Kona Hawaii use the area's unique combination of climate and topography to define excellence in endurance for thousands of participants each year.
One of the big island’s most iconic cultural events is the Merrie Monarch Festival dedicated to the memory of King David Kalakaua for inspiring the perpetuation of Hawaiian traditions, native arts, and languages. This festival lasts a whole week and features an invitation-only Hawaiian arts fair, hula shows, a hula competition, and a huge parade.
Perhaps one of the most famous locations in Hawaii, the Volcanoes National Park is the place to view the unique combination so intrinsic to the idea of Hawaii as a place where the fire meets the sea. The park includes the summits of two of the most active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. You can tour these unique sites on foot or through a selection of scenic car tours.
Schools
One of the excellent schools in the western part of Hawaii is the Makua Lani Christion Academy.
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