Royal Hawaiian Movers
Helpful Articles - Big Island

There’s a reason they call it the Big Island. As largest island, Hawaii clocks in at a whopping 4,028 square miles. (It’s almost as big as Connecticut, which measures 4,842 mi2!) In fact, the Big Island has more land area than all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined.i   Considering the Big Island’s substantial size, visitors sometimes decide to focus their time in one area, such as the Kona side. Of course, if you’re lucky enough to move to the Big Island, you’ll have as much time as you like to explore!  If you’re spending your time on the Kona (or western) side of the island, you’ll find it hotter, drier, and sunnier than the Hilo (eastern) side. As a result, there are a several activities...

Last updated: June 22, 2026 If you’re considering moving to Kona, Hawaii, you’re probably wondering what life is really like on the Big Island. Known for its year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches, outdoor recreation, and laid-back island lifestyle, Kona is one of the most popular places to live in Hawaii. But before relocating to Kona, it’s important to understand everything from the cost of living and housing market to local culture, transportation, and everyday life. One of the biggest draws of living in Kona is the incredible natural beauty that surrounds you. Residents enjoy easy access to white sand beaches, world-class snorkeling and diving, hiking trails,...

On the eastern side of the Big Island, you’ll find Hilo, the Hawaii County seat of government. It’s one of the biggest population centers in the state. The town lays claim to an estimated over 43,000 residents, putting it in Hawaii’s top 5. Hilo also hosts a number of attractions and activities to enjoy during your leisure time on the Orchid Isle. In this article, we’ll run down our top 10 list of things to do in and near Hilo. Enjoy the island’s natural beauty, explore its history, admire the work of its artists, and taste the bounty of the aina (land). Let’s dive into...

The Big Island’s steady, year-round temperatures and rich, volcanic soil make it a particularly fertile ground for all kinds of plants and flowers—some of which you won’t find anywhere else. Additionally, the eastern side of the island is an exceptionally welcoming environment for growth. As the predominant northeast/east-northeast trade winds blow across the Big Island, they hit the considerable slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. This pushes the air upward, causing it to cool, and, ultimately, delivering plenty of precipitation to the windward side of the Big Island. The result? A wet and humid environment that’s perfect for cultivating plant life, which is why...

You ask, and we answer! Every day, we speak with people who are considering a move to Hawaii. After nearly 40 years in the business, we’ve seen some patterns emerge. Below, you’ll find our answers to the most pressing, most commonly asked questions about moving to (and living in!) Hawaii. We hope they help they give you some clarity on what to expect during and after your move to Hawaii—and deliver that final boost of confidence you need so you can commit to relocating to the Aloha State. But before we begin, we’d like to address one more lingering question: What if my question isn’t...

In an island chain that owes its entire existence to the presence of volcanoes, it’s no surprise that Pele, the goddess of Hawaii’s volcanoes, looms large in Hawaiian myths and stories. In the accounts around this fiery, volatile, and mysterious goddess that have been passed down through Hawaiian mooelo (stories passed down orally from person to person), you’ll discover that Pele—like many of the fierce gods and goddesses in other cultures including the Hindu goddess Kali—plays the role of both creator and destroyer. The lava that flows from her fiery volcanoes formed the Hawaiian Islands and continues to expand the Big Island’s landmass. (Since Kilauea...