I use Verizon phone service and I am wondering if I need to get a special card or anything for the Big Island. This may be a dumb question but I can't seem to find the answer on the website. Thanks

Verizon's coverage map shows service for most of the islands:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/C...ype=NEWREQUEST

No card needed.

Just remember when you use your cell phone to make local calls you have to dial 1+ the area code.

Well, 1+ is only needed on landlines. Just the area code on cell phones.

Fortunately for the tourists, they are not expected to communicate over the local coconut wireless.

It is really quite amazing, but this crazy place has cell service just like the other 49 states.

Well, cut folks some slack; many aren't at all sure about new technology and how it works (satellites? towers? coverage?).
I can go into Rocky Mountain National Park (close to Denver and several cities) and not have coverage.
OP did say "This may be a dumb question" but don't think sarcasm was called for.

Maybe not, but I get so tired of hearing people from the mainland say "we don't ship outside the US", or "Sorry, we don't return international calls". Hawaii is the 50th US state and it has been one for over 50 years.

How true, yesterday my bank told me, to transfer money to
Bank of Hawaii, I needed to go under international transfer.
I politely explained why that didn't make sense. She then
found it under domestic.
Our last trip to Big island, we didn't find any areas that
didn't have good reception, even in Volcano Park.

Try being a citizen of poor New Mexico; even people in the government think they belong to Mexico!
And Hawaii and Alaska are both subject to "[continental] U.S. shipping only; even though Alaska is on the continent.
People have misconceptions about every state in the union (when I left rural upstate NY to attend college, everyone though NY was nothing but NYC). No reason to get a chip.

I am aware that it is a state. I was mainly concerned about reception. I have areas around the city where I live and I lose reception occasionally. I was just thinking that it is remote and perhaps the service was sketchy - I wasn't sure if there was something I could buy to help that problem...I am sorry if I offended you. I would ask the same question if I were going out West to a remote area.

Actually, compared to the wild west, Hawaii isn't remote at all. It's far from the mainland, but not remote in and of itself. Plenty of cell towers, very good reception everywhere I've been.

Better there than some spots 40 miles from Denver!

thanks! that is exactly what I wanted to know!

We've been on the BI many times and the only place we've experienced no cell service is between Honokaa and Waipio Vally in Hamakua. And the service is somewhat spotty in lower Puna--around Kapoho.

Thanks willowjane for asking this question! I am going to Hawaii next year, and I had the same question!

Willowjane~I have Verizon, and I used my cell in Hilo, and I had good reception.