Lava flowing from Kīlauea has destroyed several towns, including Kalapana and Kaimū in 1990. One unlucky town, Kapoho was destroyed twice--in 1960 and again in 2018.

The 'ōhi'a lehua is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. It produces a brilliant display of flowers, made up of a mass of stamens, which can range from fiery red to yellow. Many native Hawaiian traditions refer to the tree and the forests it forms as sacred to Pele, the volcano goddess, and to Laka, the goddess of hula.

The county seat and largest city is Hilo. The city overlooks Hilo Bay and is home to the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation, one of the world's leading producers of macadamia nuts.

The name for the southern tip of the island of Hawaii comes from Ka Lae in the Hawaiian language which means "the point." Swimming here is not recommended due to the the strong ocean current--which is named the "Halaea Current" after a chief who was carried off to his death--but locals often fish from the cliffs, some dangling perilously over the edge of steep lava ledges.