The Big Island, world famous for its active volcanoes and coral gardens, has many wonderful beaches. In fact its shoreline is as diverse and dynamic as the rest of this massive island and includes more than 100 black, green, and white sand beaches. The Beaches series by John R. K. Clark include Beaches of Maui County, Beaches of the Big Island, Beaches of Kauai and Niihau, and The Beaches of Oahu. The author, an ocean recreation consultant, includes comprehensive site descriptions of hundreds of beaches in the Hawaiian Islands and shares his extensive knowledge of, and deep respect for, Hawaii's shorelines.

Like a mini-continent on its own, Hawaii's multi-faceted land boasts parched deserts, jet-black sand beaches, snow-covered mountains, lush valleys, and countless waterfalls. With special emphasis on leading destinations such as Waipio Valley, Kilauea Volcano, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, the north coast of Hilo, Waimea, and the beaches of Kona-Kohala coast, Moon Big Island of Hawai'i provides you with the essential details needed to discover all the can't miss sights, attractions, and restaurants on this stunning island, while including lesser-known and local hotspots. With firsthand experience and honest insight, expert author Robert Nilsen provides you with all the tools you need to create your own unique experience. Robert's fun and creative travel suggestions can help you plan your perfect trip.

Planning to visit the Big Island to bask in its glorious sunshine and swim in its crystal clear waters? Coming to snorkel or dive among its kaleidoscopic, technicolor marine life? You've found the right guide! Here you will find the top 22 beaches on this island, ranked by a beach lover, a beach connoisseur, who knows well the beaches of this magical isle. From a secluded beach at the bottom of the world's most active volcano, accessed only by hiking a desolate frozen lava trail, to a white sand crescent moon beach with a 5-star hotel, designated one of the five most beautiful beaches in the world, you'll find the beach of your dreams here. Want to camp on a rugged beach in an uninhabited valley, and sleep to the sound of wild surf? Want to sit atop a sugary white sand dune and watch silvery dolphins leap from turquoise waters into the golden sky in the diamond sunshine? Or maybe you'd like to swim in an emerald-green bay so close to spinner dolphins that you can hear them joyfully singing to one another? What about finding the best body and boogie boarding beach in the Islands, where the surf never stops rolling, and whose white sands magically disappear and then reappear? Want to go where wild horses run up and down a black sand beach in a valley of waterfalls? Or would you like to leave your footprints on a bejeweled green sand beach, sparkling with semiprecious stones, on a windswept, steep-cliffed bay, with nothing between you and Antarctica, but the deep blue sea? This guide, written by a beach lover and naturalist who came to Hawaii for its beaches almost thirty years ago, will take you to these astounding places, and many more. How about snorkeling or diving in the Garden of Eels, and possibly be the first to find one of history's most legendary shipwrecks, rumored to be within swimming distance of the island's shores? Want to hang on a remote beach said to be haunted by Night Marchers, huaka'i po, the ghosts of long-dead warrior armies? And then there is the beach named for its springs of life, from whose sacred waters only the royalty of Hawaii were permitted to drink, on pain of death? Would you like to visit the secret Golden Ponds? The alluring Queen's Bath? Want to hike to an unspoiled bay where you can descend into a sea-water filled lava tube? What about a beach where you can learn to surf or take a glass bottom boat ride or parasail or windsurf? Do you prefer a white, black, or green sand beach, or maybe a beach unique in all the world, a beach of both white and black sand? They're all waiting for you here, and more, in "The Insider's Guide to the Best Beaches of the Big Island"! Ready? Let's hit the beach!

Here are the top 22 beaches on the Big Island, ranked by a beach lover, a beach connoisseur, who knows well the beaches of this magical isle. From a secluded beach at the bottom of the world's most active volcano, accessed only by hiking a desolate frozen lava trail, to a white sand crescent moon beach with a 5-star hotel, designated one of the five most beautiful beaches in the world, you'll find the beach of your dreams here! Newly edited with maps and complete directions!

Indulge your spirit of adventure on the biggest Hawaiian island. It’s still a vast frontier, full of unexpected wonders. Lonely Planet will get you to the heart of Hawai‘i, the Big Island , with amazing travel experiences and the best planning advice. Lonely Planet Hawaii, the Big Island is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Hike trails through smoking craters at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, stargaze at the clear skies from Mauna Kea, and snorkel in Kealakekua Bay; all with your trusted travel companion. Inside Lonely Planet Hawaii, the Big Island Travel Guide: • Full-color maps and images throughout. • Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests. • Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots. • Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices. • Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss. • Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, lifestyle, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics. • Over 40 color maps. Coverage Includes: Kailua-Kona, Kohala, Waimea, Mauna Kea, Saddle Road, Hamakua Coast, Waipio Valley, Hilo, Puna, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea Caldera, Kau and more.

Kaua‘i has more sand beaches per mile of shoreline than any other island in Hawai‘i. Its spectacular shoreline ranges from cliffs of bird sanctuaries to a fishpond in a volcanic crater to the traditional swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and beachcombing beaches. Although the owners of Ni‘ihau discourage visitors, author John Clark includes fascinating sketches of the island to complete his inventory of Hawai‘i's beaches. The Beaches series by John R. K. Clark include Beaches of Maui County, Beaches of the Big Island, Beaches of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, and The Beaches of O‘ahu. The author, an ocean recreation consultant, includes comprehensive site descriptions of hundreds of beaches in the Hawaiian Islands and shares his extensive knowledge of, and deep respect for, Hawai‘i's shorelines.