Hawaii S Big Island

Travelers may think of Hawaii as the land of surfboards, sunsets and mai tais, but there's a lava flow of reasons to go beyond the beaches and discover why residents say they are lucky to live in Hawaii. And, yes, some of the state's best beaches are found on the Big Island. But don't get stuck there. Do what the locals do: Swim with the honu. There are five snorkeling areas along the Big Island's Kohala Coast: Puako Bay, Waialea Beach (Beach 69), Hapuna Beach, Mauna Kea and Mauume.

Travelers may think of Hawaii as the land of surfboards, sunsets and mai tais, but there's a lava flow of reasons to go beyond the beaches and discover why residents say they are lucky to live in Hawaii. And, yes, some of the state's best beaches are found on the Big Island. But don't get stuck there. Do what the locals do: Swim with the honu. There are five snorkeling areas along the Big Island's Kohala Coast: Puako Bay, Waialea Beach (Beach 69), Hapuna Beach, Mauna Kea and Mauume.

Fourteen world-class resorts hug the rugged coastline of Hawaii's Big Island. Scores of pricey, high-end restaurants cater to the well-heeled guests staying in them. So what's a budget-conscious family supposed to do in the face of the $35-a-person breakfast buffet? Go broke? Not if we can help it. Catch the aloha spirit with us, as we share secrets about great meal deals on the Big Island. We teamed up with local food experts to bring you 20 Big Island meals for less than about $20, just as we did in our earlier surveys of Oahu, Maui and Kauai.

Here are some good places for eating experiences: Local eatery. Hawaiian Style Cafe, Waimea. This low-key breakfast joint is an obsession with those who have tried it. Lines of locals form on weekends, and the place closes when it runs out of food. The Loco Moco (eggs, hamburger and gravy over rice) is the "local food" you are looking for. (808) 885- 4295. Romantic dinner. CanoeHouse, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel. A beachside location, indoor-outdoor seating, live Hawaiian music and plenty of fresh fish make CanoeHouse the place for a romantic splurge or special occasion.

In Susan Spano's article on Hawaii hotel discounts, "Hawaii on Sale" (Jan. 13), she reports that after searching Web sites, consulting travel agents and going to the Kona Coast, she found discounts not as plentiful as she had expected. My question: What Web sites did she look at? The Mauna Lani Resort has significant discounts posted on its Web site (www .maunalani.com). Why did she not check this resort? It is a sister resort to the Orchid. (They are on the same grounds and have a common entrance.

The TV commercial for an insurance company — the one in which a gecko is seen putting a dollar bill that's bigger than it is into a vending machine for a bag of chips — is certainly memorable. But it's also implausible. Anyone who truly knows the little lizards realizes they'll take a sweet treat over a salty one (like chips) every time. Just ask Bob and Pam Cooper. The Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory in Kailua-Kona (Big Island) offers tours Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $10 for adults.

Take a ride in Ron Baird's pickup truck along the volcanic shore of Hawaii's Big Island and he'll show you an inventor's wonderland. On one parcel of this government-created energy laboratory, rows of mirrors shine white-hot in the sun, turning heat into energy. On another, brown water tanks harbor strands of algae that will be made into fuel. Nearby is a wind turbine whose blades spin parallel to the ground. "It's an awesome amount of things going on here," said Baird, chief executive of Natural Energy Research Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, which is helping to nurture 42 green private-sector businesses on 877 acres of land in Kona.

In the clear blue water 150 feet down, off Palemano Point on Hawaii's Big Island, Captain Rick Rogers swam along the ocean floor, concentrating on the light white swirls of staghorn reef below him. As tiny bubbles of air escaped from his tank, his black flippers propelled him above the coral, next to schools of reddish mempache and juicy turquoise uhu fish. The scene was breathtaking, but Rogers didn't care about nature. He was looking for man-made objects only: porcelain plates, pieces of cannons, a sunken iron anchor.

A barren, wind-swept point near this small community will be transformed into the nation's first commercial spaceport during the next few years if the state of Hawaii has its way. State officials from the governor down are aggressively courting the international space industry with a multimillion-dollar program aimed at paving the way for companies to come here and build whatever they need to launch small payloads into orbit.

Between performing in her lavish Las Vegas show and making movies, Cher still finds time to pursue her other passion: designing and decorating houses. The star's latest project is an 8,821-square-foot luxury compound she just completed in Kona, Hawaii, and plans to sell at auction Jan. 18. Although this is the first time the singer-actress has attempted to sell a residence by auction, she used the process to bring top dollar for the contents of her Malibu house in 2006, when she ended her Gothic Revivalist phase.

King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua Village on Hawaii's Big Island trims 25 percent off room rates during August. This hotel has bounced back from the March tsunami caused by the deadly Japan quake that damaged its lobby, restaurant and grounds -- and soon will have a new name too.   The deal: The Summer Promotion cuts room rates and provides free buffet breakfasts for children 12 years old and younger with a paying adult...

Kilauea volcano 's eruption Sunday means the spectacular lava show continues on Hawaii's Big Island . The volcano, which has been erupting since the early 1980s, spewed lava 65 feet into the air after the Puu Oo Crater collapsed this weekend, media reports said.  Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in a recorded message reports that as of Monday, steam, sulphur oxide and other volcanic gases continue to erupt from the summit. The park has closed Chain of Craters Road, all coastal trails in what's called the east rift zone and the Kulanaokuaiki Campground as a result.

Luxury becomes a lot more affordable when you get a room discount and extras such as free beach cabanas, hikes and hula classes. The deal: The "Summertime Savings" promotion at the top-rated Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on Hawaii's Big Island lets friends and families book two rooms for less. Book one room at the best available rate and pay $99 for the second one. The best available rates start at $296, plus tax, for a standard room. The resort includes a spa and two golf courses.

Fourteen world-class resorts hug the rugged coastline of Hawaii's Big Island. Scores of pricey, high-end restaurants cater to the well-heeled guests staying in them. So what's a budget-conscious family supposed to do in the face of the $35-a-person breakfast buffet? Go broke? Not if we can help it. Catch the aloha spirit with us, as we share secrets about great meal deals on the Big Island. We teamed up with local food experts to bring you 20 Big Island meals for less than about $20, just as we did in our earlier surveys of Oahu, Maui and Kauai.

The TV commercial for an insurance company — the one in which a gecko is seen putting a dollar bill that's bigger than it is into a vending machine for a bag of chips — is certainly memorable. But it's also implausible. Anyone who truly knows the little lizards realizes they'll take a sweet treat over a salty one (like chips) every time. Just ask Bob and Pam Cooper. The Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory in Kailua-Kona (Big Island) offers tours Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $10 for adults.

Take a ride in Ron Baird's pickup truck along the volcanic shore of Hawaii's Big Island and he'll show you an inventor's wonderland. On one parcel of this government-created energy laboratory, rows of mirrors shine white-hot in the sun, turning heat into energy. On another, brown water tanks harbor strands of algae that will be made into fuel. Nearby is a wind turbine whose blades spin parallel to the ground. "It's an awesome amount of things going on here," said Baird, chief executive of Natural Energy Research Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, which is helping to nurture 42 green private-sector businesses on 877 acres of land in Kona.

Hours after getting jolted by a moderate earthquake, residents of Hawaii's Big Island holed up for a different force of nature as Hurricane Flossie swept past. The storm brought heavy rain, waves as high as 25 feet and strong winds in a glancing blow. Schools and many businesses closed and shelters opened in anticipation of the hurricane, which was downgraded to a Category 2 with top sustained winds of 105 mph. The eye of the storm passed within 85 miles of the island.

In the clear blue water 150 feet down, off Palemano Point on Hawaii's Big Island, Captain Rick Rogers swam along the ocean floor, concentrating on the light white swirls of staghorn reef below him. As tiny bubbles of air escaped from his tank, his black flippers propelled him above the coral, next to schools of reddish mempache and juicy turquoise uhu fish. The scene was breathtaking, but Rogers didn't care about nature. He was looking for man-made objects only: porcelain plates, pieces of cannons, a sunken iron anchor.

Between performing in her lavish Las Vegas show and making movies, Cher still finds time to pursue her other passion: designing and decorating houses. The star's latest project is an 8,821-square-foot luxury compound she just completed in Kona, Hawaii, and plans to sell at auction Jan. 18. Although this is the first time the singer-actress has attempted to sell a residence by auction, she used the process to bring top dollar for the contents of her Malibu house in 2006, when she ended her Gothic Revivalist phase.