You most certainly have heard of the Kīlauea volcano eruptions happening in Hawaii. For the majority of June through July every major news provider in the country was reporting on the event. However, what many reports didn’t detail was that the clear majority of The Island of Hawaii is business as usual – and not to mention the readily accessible and equally awe-inspiring five additional islands (Maui, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i, and Lānaʻi) waiting to greet Canadians with their own unique signature aloha spirit.

As Canadians are just beginning to plan for their winter vacations now is the time to visit The island of Hawaii.

The ongoing 35-year-old eruption of Kīlauea volcano directly affected only a small portion of east Hawaii Island’s Puna district equating 10 square miles of the 4,028-square-mile island. Travellers are seeing now that the awesome sight of the volcano firsthand is one of the rare experiences one can witness.

So, what else is drawing Canadians to The Island of Hawaii ?

Boundless Adventure

From ziplining and kayaking to snorkeling and horseback riding, there are activities galore island-wide, all open for business.

• With their bounty of stream- and waterfall-carved valleys, and acres of verdant forest, the coastlines of northeast Kohala, Hāmākua and north Hilo offer up some of Hawai‘i ‘s most idyllic landscapes for intrepid zipline
• Explore the island’s undersea world at its many marine-life filled snorkel and scuba spots or sign up for a night dive for manta rays and other post-sunset underwater denizens.
• A circle-island helicopter tour offers sky views of the vast lava fields of Kilauea, emerald amphitheater valleys, rugged sea cliffs, and hidden rainforest waterfalls of the Hāmākua 

History, science and culture

Experience a unique culture and history that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

• The Kona Coffee Living History Farm offers tours of its still-producing coffee estate first homesteaded in 1900, weaving in interpretive history of the daily lives of early 20th century Japanese immigrant coffee farmers.
• Explore the coastline of Punaluʻu Beach, whose black sands – much-loved by Hawai‘i an green sea turtles for sunning – are actually fine, sea-worn granules of Kilauea volcano lava.
• Grab your binoculars and trek one, five or all 90 miles of the island-crossing Hawai‘i Island Coast to Coast Birding Trail on a quest through the native seaside, mountains, and rainforests seeing some of the rarest tropical birds in the world.

Local and traditional culinary fares to satisfy any taste bud

You’ll find great eats in just about every Hawaii Island town – from fresh, farm-to-table dining, to brew pubs, fresh-catch restaurants, and longtime mom-and-pop eateries in Kailua-Kona, and an array of eclectic small-town eateries in Hawi, Honokaa, Pāhoa , and Volcano Village.

• The island’s biggest town, Hilo, is a burgeoning food-enthusiast neighborhood, offering everything from the local-style menus of resident-favorite drive-ins and lunch shops, to fresh-caught fish and multiethnic comfort food, to loco moco, okazuya, poke, mochi and farm-and-farmers-market-to-table cuisine, to inventive bakeries, pizza joints and taquerias.
• Grapes grown on vines at the 4,000-foot elevation of Kilauea volcano bring unique character to the vintages produced by longtime vintners Volcano Winery.

So, just why is it Canadians love Hawaii’s largest island? It breeds adventure for all types of travellers.

Travellers planning a trip to the island of Hawaii who have questions regarding the Kīlauea volcano can contact the Hawaii Tourism Call Center at (800) GO-HAWAII [(800) 464-2924].

For more information, visit www.GoHawaii.com/Island-of-Hawaii.