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There is so much to see, do, and LOVE on the Big Island.

 

Contact us today to book your stay!

 

 

WHALE WATCHING

 

Hawaii is the winter destination for beautiful humpback whales. They trek (swim) over 3,000 miles from Alaska to Hawaii to mate and give birth to whale calves in warmer waters, and then return to Alaska for the Spring and Summer to feed. This journey happens year after year. And what an amazing journey it is for all - mother, baby and male escorts!

Whale watching season in Hawaii is considered to be mid-November through mid-April. This period varies very little, but to be sure to see the most whales as possible count on December through March.

 

There are many ways to see the whales swimming and breaching and putting on a show.

 

Option 1: The best and easiest way to see the whales is to stay at House of Singing Whales, your Big Island Vacation Home. This is because the home is perched about 300 feet above the most popular whale watching points on the island, with a fantastic vantage point to be able to see the coastline from the privacy and peaceful bliss of the home's lanai or even from inside the home. Snap video and photos while sipping on your favorite beverage or just gaze at their amazing water spouts and flapping tails from your reclining bed or the comfy chaise lounge in the livingroom. From dusk to dawn you can enjoy this incredible nature show without having to get in your car or lift a finger. At night you may even be able hear their whale songs and their tail and fins slapping the water.

 

Option 2: Drive or walk down to the whale watching point just across the highway. Bring a chair and a backpack and have a memorable picnic under the Kiave trees at the edge of the cliffs while enjoying a slightly closer view of the playful whales.

 

Option 3:  Drive to any beach or coastline stop along the North Kona to North Kohala side. Watching from the sand and surf will provide plenty of opportunities to see these beautiful creatures, while enjoying the sun. Or go to other high vantage points like:

• Lapakahi State Historical Park and Kapa’a Beach Park, both located on the northwestern edge of the island.
• Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, just down the highway from House of Singing Whales. Its name translates to “hill of the whale”.
• And closer to Kona, the Pu’u Kuili cinder cone overlooking Kua Bay.

 

Option 4: Purchase a 3-hour whale-watching excursion with a local boating tour company to get the closest experience possible with these majestic creatures. Check out Ali'i Ocean Tours, Captain Zodiac, Captain Dan McSweeney's Whale Watching Tours or Wahine Charters for their latest schedule and rates.  These tours start at $99 per person. No matter which charter company you choose, be sure to check their website and book early.

 

 

 

ENJOYING THE HAWAIIAN FLORA

 

The landscapes and their flora of the Big Island, make this place a true heaven on earth. There is no where on earth that offers such strikingly vivid and contrasting colors than on the island of Hawaii. From the dark expresso bean black lava to the rusty earth with lucious green tropical canopy forests and the tall waterfalls feeding endless rivers through valleys of green. The saphire blue ocean with pockets of teal blues, changes every one of its hues of blue throughout the day, with gentle waves and occassional white caps.

 

The Big Island landscape swallows up the largest man-made structures on the island (which are the 5-star resorts, about 5 stories high on thousands of acres) as if they were just a tiny pebbles, lost in the immense and sloping lava fields, some of barren rock, some budding with new grass and some lushy developed. There are 8 climate zones on just this island making the Big Island the most environmentally diverse place on earth. When you land at the Kona-Kailua airport one would think they are landing on moon rock, due to the vast undeveloped lava fields along the coast. But don't let this first impression fool you. The island has a lot more to share with you.  From the tropical rainforest along the cliffs of the Hamakua coast to the lush green rolling hills of Kamuela, a center for cattle and agriculture, you will wonder where you are and how you got to be there after such a short amount of time.  At the south, we have South Point with its horizontally shaped trees from consistently strong winds on dry land, looking like yet another type of planet.  Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in the world from the bottom of the ocean to its peak has something not seen by most in a lifetime. That is... snow on the top of its peak while you are relaxing on the beach. Another amazing feat by nature!

 

Hawaii is known for its beautiful Hibiscus flower which has many color varieties. The red variety is the state flower. While it is not fragrant, it is still beautiful nonetheless. 

 

The Plumeria is a popular flower also with many color varieties. Its has a very aeromatic perfume which is why it is used for leis frequently.  The Plumeria grows in trees which can reach 20 feet high, and can survive on very little water, so they can thrive in humid air and dry soil for long period of time.

 

The Orchid is a commonly found in the rainy humid areas of the island and has very little aeroma. They are hard to misidentify due to their unique structure. They come in many types of sizes, shapes and colors. The purple one is commonly used in leis.

 

And one cannot forget to mention the historically significant Lihua flower, those only worn by royalty during the old monarch times in Hawaii. They can be found in abundance in the Volcano area and at high altitudes.

 

The list goes on... The Ti Plant whose leaves are used for hula grass skirts, the Kiave Tree which grows wild and is one of the very few indiginous plants of Hawaii, the Spider Lilies and Birds of Paradise which are often depicted in Hawaiian art.

 

At House of Singing Whales, there are many books for guests to enjoy and refer to, which explain all the wide variety of flora found in this amazing paradise, and many of which can also be found right here on the 1-acre grounds of House of Singing Whales.

 

 

AMAZING STARGAZING

 

If you love astronomy, this is your island. The Big Island is home to over 12 international observatories which are located at Mauna Kea’s mountain peak due to its high altitude of 13,000 feet with moderate accessibility and minimal light pollution. You can enjoy the Milky Way and stars that make up the Andromeda galaxy with the naked eye, from the home’s backyard or even while floating in the pool! And to top off this unique experience, you will be able to explore stars and planets with a Celestron NexStar 6SE 150mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope that can be used for observing everything from the Moon and planets to deep-sky objects like stars, galaxies, and nebulae. A Hawaii star chart, red light flashlight, high powered binoculars and a tripod are also available for your use.

 

Check out our Astronomy calendar of events not to miss from the Big Island here.

 

GOLFING:

 

Play the famous Mauna Kea Golf Course which Golf Magazine ranks as the 27th best public course in America, and the 3rd best in Hawaii, a stunning oceanfront 18-hole par 72 championship golf course located at the Mauna Kea Resort. The course was created in 1964 by Robert Trent Jones Sr and is built atop a sprawling lava field. The Mauna Kea Championship Golf Course has a yardage of 7,370, a slope rating of 144 and a USPGA rating of 76.6. The course has also received numerous accolades like Golf Course Magazine’s “Best Courses You Can Play,” a rank of 4th in Hawaii for 2017 and Golf Digest’s “America’s Greatest Public Golf Courses” from 2009 -2016. The signature event at the Mauna Kea course is the Annual Pro-Am Championship which takes place in December each year. The Signature Hole is the 3rd, a par 3, which is one of the most breathtaking and intimidating holes you may ever find. The tee shot is over an ocean cove of crashing waves! (808) 882-5400

 

There quite a few other golf courses worth a round or two.

 

Hapuna Golf Course (808) 880-3000
Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, Hapuna Golf Course is an incredible sightseeing experience alone – views of world-famous Hapuna Beach give way to lush lava fields and an excellent view of the volcanic mountains to the east. Stretching over 6,900 yards, the highlight here is No. 12, a Par 4 that offers colorful views of neighboring Maui on clear days.

 

Mauna Lani Resort Golf Club (808) 885-6622

One of the most popular golf experiences on the Big Island, Mauna Lani offers two 18-hole courses, ensuring a visit to the club will provide an excellent, challenging time for every player. The South Course’s No. 15 is especially gorgeous, having been photographed more times than any other hole on the island and the North Course’s No. 17 overlooks a natural lava amphitheater – a must-see for golf lovers of every stripe.

 

Waikoloa Beach Course (808) 886-7888

The Beach Course is incredibly popular on Hawaii Island because of the amazing views, especially as you approach the number 7 tee box. With the Pacific Ocean right before you and lava bordering the fairway, it is truly one of the most stunning golf experiences available. The putting green is ringed by coconut palms and crashing waves that make for a great photo opportunity with your friends on this scenic hole.

 

 

SNORKELING with the Honu ("Turtles" in Hawaiian):

 

 

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