Amy Reade Loves the Islands of Aloha

 

 The Hawaiian Archipelago (called “Ka Pae ‘Aina O Hawai’i Nei” in Hawaiian) consists of eight major inlands and almost 125 reefs, shoals, atolls, and other islands. It stretches through the Pacific Ocean for over 1,500 miles. Hawai’i is the only state that gets bigger every year—lava erupting from an underwater volcano off the coast of the Island of Hawai’i is constantly creating additional land mass.

The eight major islands are, in alphabetical order, Hawai’i, Kaho’olawe, Kaua’i, Lanai, Maui, Moloka’i, Ni’ihau, and O’ahu.

The island I’m going to tell you about, the island which is my favorite, is Hawai’i, which is often referred to as The Big Island. The island of Hawai’i, which is the southernmost island in the archipelago, is a place of contrasts:

Though it is the largest island in the chain, it claims only thirteen percent of the human population.

Traversing the island, one will experience all but four of the world’s climate zones, from Wet Tropical to Polar Tundra.

One can ski in the morning and swim in the ocean in the afternoon on Hawaii. From the snow-capped heights of Mauna Kea to the soft beaches of the Kona Coast, one will see a huge variety of weather over the course of just a few hours.

One can find white sand beaches, black sand beaches, and green sand beaches on the island.

Every island in the Hawaiian chain is different. Each has its own personality, though they all shine against the backdrop of rain forests, blue sky, warm weather, and endless bright blue water.

The Island of Hawai’i is special to me for a number of reasons.

First, there’s just something about being on the southernmost island of a chain in the middle of the Pacific that ignites my imagination. I look to the south and there’s no land for thousands of miles. I try to imagine what it must have been like when the Polynesians first came to the islands, without the aid of modern navigation technology, without even knowing what they might find. 

Second, there’s a volcano on the island that has been erupting steadily since 1983 and, to me, there are few things more fascinating. I’ve seen the lava flow into the sea and set the water boiling and I’ve seen the reflection of the lava as it seethes in the caldera. I’ve seen steam vents that appear in cracks in the earth and I’ve seen how lava dries and hardens into amazing caves and tubes. I’ve hiked across hardened lava fields where I’m stunned by the ability of nature to thrive in that desolate landscape. 

Third, it’s pretty cool to be in the hot sun on the western side of the island in the morning and in the cool rain forest on the eastern side in the afternoon. There’s a climatic diversity on Hawai’i that I don’t see in many other places. 

So what’s your favorite place to appreciate everything Mother Nature has to offer?

I’m offering an ebook of Murder in Thistlecross, which releases on Tuesday.  Comment here to win this BRAND NEW release.

USA Today bestselling author Amy M. Reade is also the author of Secrets of Hallstead House and The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor. She grew up in northern New York, just south of the Canadian border, and spent her weekends and summers on the St. Lawrence River. She graduated from Cornell University and then went on to law school at Indiana University in Bloomington. She practiced law in New York City before moving to southern New Jersey, where, in addition to writing, she is a wife, a full-time mom and a volunteer in school, church and community groups. She lives just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean with her husband and three children as well as a dog and two cats. She loves cooking and all things Hawaii and is currently at work on her next novel. Visit her on the web at www.amymreade.com or at www.amreade.wordpress.com.
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