When I arrived in Hawaii, it felt foreign because it wasn't the "Hawaii" that I remembered. It was overcast, the waters were a deep blue, the sand/rocks were black and it felt a lot more remote. I stayed in Waikoloa which basically means if you want to see outside the resort, you will need a vehicle to get around. I decided to view the whole island via helicopter. I did a tour in Oahu a couple years ago but always wanted to see a volcano in action. Big Island boasts the tallest mountain in the world- Mauna Kea, the largest volcano on the face of the earth- Mauna Loa and Kilauea- the world's most active volcano. It has been continuously erupting since 1983 (year I was born!) and wanted to witness a natural wonder since it felt like a once in a lifetime experience. There are no words to express how mesmerizing it was to see the molten lava flow before my eyes and the feeling of being whisked through the desert to the hidden tropical valleys, waterfalls and rainforest-- seriously took my breath away. Something cool I also learned was that the Big Island is home to 11 of the world's 13 climate zones-- and I don't know where else you can find that many diverse climates in such a compact space but you can here and I'd recommend to come if you get the chance.