I had seen The Big Island from deep below sea level, I had seen it from the ground, I had seen it from the mountain-top. But I wanted to get higher. When Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours invited me on their Circle of Fire Tour, I didn’t need much convincing to say yes. But it certainly didn’t…

To visit Volcano National Park is to make a pilgrimage to the ongoing birthplace of Hawaii. The island chain is constantly evolving, in part thanks to the two active volcanoes held within the park. The gently sloping Mauna Lao makes up over half of The Big Island’s landmass, while Kilauea draws visitors from far and wide…

Somehow time has started to move at a much faster pace — and I don’t think its going to slow down anytime soon. I started this week in Albany, headed south to New York City, and tomorrow I leave for Florida. With my big trip fast approaching, I’m busy doing all that annoying-but-necessary pre-travel business —…

Where did that pineapple I ate on the beach in Waikiki beach come from? What about bananas I picked up at the grocery store in Hilo? The answer might surprise you. Today, a full 85% of Hawaii’s food is imported. This is a shocking statistic, considering the islands used to independently feed a population estimated to…

Read Part I of my Big Island diving experience here. So far, our night was brimming with good fortune. Our boat’s wake became a playground for passing dolphins, and our first dive was filled with colorful coral and mysterious critters. We had even spotted a manta ray in the distance as we began to ascend —…