Fun Things to Do on the Big Island While
Attending the NCS Annual Meeting
By Matthew Koenig, MD, FNCS
For those of you who are fortunate enough to
be attending the first NCS Annual Meeting to
be held in Hawaii, make sure you carve out
some time from the busy meeting schedule to
explore your environment. The Big Island of
Hawaii is the newest of the Hawaiian island
chain and is home to one of the only active
volcanoes in the world, Kilauea. Every day
fresh lava pours from vents in Kilauea into the Pacific Ocean south
of Hilo as the Big Island continues to get bigger. The Big Island is
also home to a pair of over 13,000-foot dormant shield volcanoes,
Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, as well as the most varied geography
in the state.
The NCS
meeting is
being held
on the west
coast of the
Big Island,
which is
referred
to as the
“Kona
side” of
the island. Because
the Kona side is leeward of weather systems
blowing into the island and the twin volcanoes block most rain
clouds from crossing from the windward side, the Kona side is
typically arid, hot, and dry. Most of the island resorts are located
on the Kona side to maximize the number of sunny days and
minimize the chances that your golf game will get rained out.
The lack of rainfall contributes to the unique geography of the
Big Island.
First time visitors to Hawaii will notice right away that Kona is
very different from the tourist pictures of Hawaii. Landing at
Kona Airport is often compared to landing on the moon because
it is surrounded by asphalt black fields of lava flow and lava cinder
left over from the last eruptions of Mauna Kea over 100 years ago.
What the Kona side lacks in terms of lush rain forests, waterfalls,
and rainbows, it makes up for in desolate, austere beauty. Finding
the more typical postcard views of Hawaii while require a little bit
of driving around the island. If you seek rain forests, waterfalls,
and rainbows, head out to the Hilo side of the island.
Staying Around the Resort
The Big Island does not have a large city like Honolulu on Oahu
and Waikoloa is an hour drive to Kailua-Kona and 90-minute
drive to Hilo so most of the activities within walking distance of
the conference will be confined to the resort area. Although there
are some good restaurants in Waikoloa, the area has not yet really
developed into a culinary destination. With that said, Sansei is
a local chain with good sushi and Roy’s is always reliable even
if it is now widely prevalent on the mainland. I suspect many
conference goers will be spending time at Lava Lava, which is
the only real beach bar and nightclub to speak of. The Waikoloa
resort area is also home to two highly rated golf courses for those
looking to work on their golf game.
Hanging Out Around Kona
For NCS members who plan
to stay on the Kona side of
the island, there are some
good options located within
an hour drive of Waikoloa.
The city of Kailua-Kona,
located about a 20-minute
drive south of the Kona
airport, is a great example
of a Hawaii beach town.
An old whaling town,
Kailua-Kona is now
predominantly a tourist
town boasting a fun,
lively main street with
restaurants and shopping.
For NCS members who
are planning to stay an
extra night, you will be
able to watch the Iron
Man Championship
triathlon around Kona
on October 14. Note:
this will definitely
impact traffic and
crowds.
South of Kailua-Kona,
the Kona coastline
is dotted with
independently owned coffee plantations that produce the world
famous Kona coffee bean. Many of these plantations offer tours
For beautiful waterfalls, head over to the
Hilo side of the island
Rugged beauty of the lava fields near Waikoloa
Newly formed
lava rocks
floating on
the ocean
surface
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