Parks & Nature
The closest place to hop in the water, Mahukona used to be a port where sugar cane was transferred from the railroad to a boat. There is no beach here, but you can climb into the water via a metal ladder. The snorkeling is great here, but only go in the water if you are a good swimmer familiar with the ocean, as there is no lifeguard. This is a great place to watch the sunset.
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Mahukona Beach Park
The closest place to hop in the water, Mahukona used to be a port where sugar cane was transferred from the railroad to a boat. There is no beach here, but you can climb into the water via a metal ladder. The snorkeling is great here, but only go in the water if you are a good swimmer familiar with the ocean, as there is no lifeguard. This is a great place to watch the sunset.
Park on the road and hike down the steep hill to the beach. If you are up for a bigger adventure, hike across the beach and pick up the trail on the other side. You can hike up the ridge, and then down into a bamboo forest in the next valley. Not recommended to go when raining or after a lot of rain, as the trails get extremely muddy and flash floods can happen in these valleys.
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Vista tal-Pololu Valley
52-5100 Akoni Pule HwyPark on the road and hike down the steep hill to the beach. If you are up for a bigger adventure, hike across the beach and pick up the trail on the other side. You can hike up the ridge, and then down into a bamboo forest in the next valley. Not recommended to go when raining or after a lot of rain, as the trails get extremely muddy and flash floods can happen in these valleys.
One of the most beautiful beaches in the word, with water in the high 70s to low 80s. A great place for swimming and playing in the waves. The sandy bottom is not so great for snorkeling. Lifeguards are on duty here. Parking is $5 if you do not have a Hawaii driver's license. Our third-favorite beach on the island, though if we had kids it would probably be our first-favorite :)
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Hapuna Beach State Park
Old Puako RoadOne of the most beautiful beaches in the word, with water in the high 70s to low 80s. A great place for swimming and playing in the waves. The sandy bottom is not so great for snorkeling. Lifeguards are on duty here. Parking is $5 if you do not have a Hawaii driver's license. Our third-favorite beach on the island, though if we had kids it would probably be our first-favorite :)
Plenty of shade on the beach here, and beautiful snorkeling. No lifeguard. Bathrooms and freshwater showers.
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Waialea Beach
Old Puako RoadPlenty of shade on the beach here, and beautiful snorkeling. No lifeguard. Bathrooms and freshwater showers.
Pretty nice beach with bathrooms and freshwater showers. Lava Lava Beach Club is conveniently located next door, with festive drinks and a fun atmosphere. Alternate between beach and beach club :)
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ʻAnaehoʻomalu Beach
69-275 Waikōloa Beach DrPretty nice beach with bathrooms and freshwater showers. Lava Lava Beach Club is conveniently located next door, with festive drinks and a fun atmosphere. Alternate between beach and beach club :)
You can enjoy the magnificent view of Waipio Valley from the lookout and call it a day, or hike down the extremely steep road to the beach. Hiking is safest—think carefully before accepting a ride up or down, or driving yourself. (You can only drive with four wheel drive, and remember that cars coming up the hill have the right of way.) DO NOT go swimming the stream that flows into the ocean, even if others are doing so to avoid contracting leptospirosis. Stop at the Waipio Cookhouse on your way back—they have some of the most delicious local food on the island, and a laid back outdoor atmosphere.
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Waipio Valley
You can enjoy the magnificent view of Waipio Valley from the lookout and call it a day, or hike down the extremely steep road to the beach. Hiking is safest—think carefully before accepting a ride up or down, or driving yourself. (You can only drive with four wheel drive, and remember that cars coming up the hill have the right of way.) DO NOT go swimming the stream that flows into the ocean, even if others are doing so to avoid contracting leptospirosis. Stop at the Waipio Cookhouse on your way back—they have some of the most delicious local food on the island, and a laid back outdoor atmosphere.
Beautiful and quiet. Our second-favorite beach on the island. A great place to stop when driving up from Kona. No lifeguard, no bathrooms. The gates close at 6:30.
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Mahai‘ula Beach
Beautiful and quiet. Our second-favorite beach on the island. A great place to stop when driving up from Kona. No lifeguard, no bathrooms. The gates close at 6:30.
Our first-favorite beach on the island! Great snorkeling and body boarding. Be careful of rocks. No lifeguard, no bathroom or showers. Accessible via a 20 minute hike from Mahai'ula beach. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and shoes or sturdy sandals recommended. Gates close at 6:30, so pack up your beach stuff by 6 and start walking back to your car!
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Makalawena Beach
Hawaii 19Our first-favorite beach on the island! Great snorkeling and body boarding. Be careful of rocks. No lifeguard, no bathroom or showers. Accessible via a 20 minute hike from Mahai'ula beach. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and shoes or sturdy sandals recommended. Gates close at 6:30, so pack up your beach stuff by 6 and start walking back to your car!
Essentials
Get fresh Poke from the fish counter, and look for the prepackaged smoked ahi. Another local favorite is spam musubi. Pick up grocery essentials here. A good alcohol selection is here as well. Open until 11pm.
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Foodland
1330 Mauna Lani DrGet fresh Poke from the fish counter, and look for the prepackaged smoked ahi. Another local favorite is spam musubi. Pick up grocery essentials here. A good alcohol selection is here as well. Open until 11pm.
Pick up grocery essentials and alcohol here, as well as spam musubi and fresh Poke. Stop at this Foodland if you are taking a trip to the Big Island Brewhouse, or just wanted to check out the view from the scenic point up on Kohala Mountain Road.
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Foodland Waimea
67-1185 Hawaiʻi Belt RdPick up grocery essentials and alcohol here, as well as spam musubi and fresh Poke. Stop at this Foodland if you are taking a trip to the Big Island Brewhouse, or just wanted to check out the view from the scenic point up on Kohala Mountain Road.
Conveniently located grocery store. We prefer Foodland for prices and variety, but this has all the essentials.
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K Takata Store Inc
54-3627 Akoni Pule HwyConveniently located grocery store. We prefer Foodland for prices and variety, but this has all the essentials.
United States Postal Service
55-515 Hawi RdOpen 9-1 Monday-Friday, 10-1 Saturday, closed Sundays.
Entertainment & Activities
The Kohala Village Hub has a little bit of everything. Look on their website for programs and workshops. We really enjoyed the Lei Kalikimaka ( Christmas wreath) making class, and look forward to the lei making class later this spring. They have a variety of workshops and lectures about Hawaiian agriculture and handcrafts. The Hub also has weekly yoga and dance classes. Stop by the Hub Pub for live music on Friday and Saturday nights (6:30-8:30) and locally sourced food with plenty of vegan options. The Pub is open Wednesday-Saturday for all three meals, and Sunday 9-2 for brunch. At $13/person, the buffet brunch at the Hub is the best deal in town.
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Kohala Village Inn & Hub
55-514 Hawi RdThe Kohala Village Hub has a little bit of everything. Look on their website for programs and workshops. We really enjoyed the Lei Kalikimaka ( Christmas wreath) making class, and look forward to the lei making class later this spring. They have a variety of workshops and lectures about Hawaiian agriculture and handcrafts. The Hub also has weekly yoga and dance classes. Stop by the Hub Pub for live music on Friday and Saturday nights (6:30-8:30) and locally sourced food with plenty of vegan options. The Pub is open Wednesday-Saturday for all three meals, and Sunday 9-2 for brunch. At $13/person, the buffet brunch at the Hub is the best deal in town.
Ride on a raft through old sugar cane irrigation ditches. Make sure to reserve in advance.
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Flumin’ Kohala
55-517 Hawi RdRide on a raft through old sugar cane irrigation ditches. Make sure to reserve in advance.
Kohala Zipline
55-515 Hawi RdFor people who like going fast!
Food Scene
Sushi Rock Restaurant
55-3435 Akoni Pule HwyDelicious fresh sushi.
Casual, local-style food, cooked by Minnie herself. Order at the counter or over the phone for take out, or grab table. Because it is a small family business, sometimes they close early. Always a good idea to give them a quick call to make sure they are there.Try the fish plate!
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Minnie's Ohana Lim Style
54-3854 Akoni Pule HwyCasual, local-style food, cooked by Minnie herself. Order at the counter or over the phone for take out, or grab table. Because it is a small family business, sometimes they close early. Always a good idea to give them a quick call to make sure they are there.Try the fish plate!
Good for breakfast. In the afternoon, stop by for delicious macadamia nut ice-cream!
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Kohala Coffee Mill
55-3412 Akoni Pule HwyGood for breakfast. In the afternoon, stop by for delicious macadamia nut ice-cream!
We go here for their famous malasadas, the best we've had on any island. They also have Hawaiian plate lunch. Stay far far away from the coffee here, no matter how sleepy you are from driving!
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Tex Drive-In
45-690 Pakalana StWe go here for their famous malasadas, the best we've had on any island. They also have Hawaiian plate lunch. Stay far far away from the coffee here, no matter how sleepy you are from driving!
Laid back, outdoor place. They roast their pigs here in the ground next to the parking lot. Try the kalua pork sandwich--it is the freshest and best one you'll get in the islands. (Kalua pork is like pulled pork). Best to stop by here on the way back from the Waipio Valley lookout.
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Waipiʻo Cookhouse
48-5370 Honokaa-Waipio RoadLaid back, outdoor place. They roast their pigs here in the ground next to the parking lot. Try the kalua pork sandwich--it is the freshest and best one you'll get in the islands. (Kalua pork is like pulled pork). Best to stop by here on the way back from the Waipio Valley lookout.
Local-style food and festive drinks. Shares a building with a really nice gift shop and art gallery upstairs. Sometimes they have live music—call for the schedule.
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Bamboo Restaurant & Gallery
55-3415 Akoni Pule HwyLocal-style food and festive drinks. Shares a building with a really nice gift shop and art gallery upstairs. Sometimes they have live music—call for the schedule.
Fancy gourmet local-style food. Make sure you have a reservation, especially around holidays.
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Merriman's Big Island
65-1227 Opelo RdFancy gourmet local-style food. Make sure you have a reservation, especially around holidays.
days 8am-1pm on the lawn under the banyon tree, opposite the post office/Kohala Zip Line and behind the gas station.
Freshly cooked food, as well as baked goods and local produce. Come here to find the sweetest papaya and mangos if in season. They usually have live music here.
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Hawi Farmers Market
55-514 Hawi Rddays 8am-1pm on the lawn under the banyon tree, opposite the post office/Kohala Zip Line and behind the gas station.
Freshly cooked food, as well as baked goods and local produce. Come here to find the sweetest papaya and mangos if in season. They usually have live music here.
Sweet Potato Kitchen and Bakery
55-3406 Akoni Pule HwyFresh, local, mostly vegan food.
Local Mexican food! You can bet that all of their avocados came from the Hawaii Island :)
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Mi Ranchito
55-3419 Akoni Pule HwyLocal Mexican food! You can bet that all of their avocados came from the Hawaii Island :)
Shopping
Stop by for fresh fruit, veggies, and value-added products, all grown in Kohala.
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Kohala Grown Market
55-3419 Akoni Pule HwyStop by for fresh fruit, veggies, and value-added products, all grown in Kohala.
As Hawi Turns
Clothing and trinkets.
Elements Jewelry & Fine Crafts
55-3413 Akoni Pule HwyLocal jewelry and trinkets.
Drinks & Nightlife
Really fun drinks in a laid back, outdoor setting. You can chill on the beach next door, pop in for a drink, and then head back to the beach!
At night they have live music and sometimes hula--call or check online for the schedule.
Reservations strongly recommended during holidays.
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Lava Lava Beach Club
69-1081 Ku'uali'i PlReally fun drinks in a laid back, outdoor setting. You can chill on the beach next door, pop in for a drink, and then head back to the beach!
At night they have live music and sometimes hula--call or check online for the schedule.
Reservations strongly recommended during holidays.
Arts & Culture
Shibui Art Gallery
Featuring local artists.
Gorgeous wood creations out of local wood. If you go looking for a salad bowl, you will end up with a piece of art instead (that may or may not double as a salad bowl).
L Zeidman Hawaiian Wood Bowls
55-3419 Akoni Pule HwyGorgeous wood creations out of local wood. If you go looking for a salad bowl, you will end up with a piece of art instead (that may or may not double as a salad bowl).
Kohala Artworks
55-498 Hawi RdPieces by local artists.
Gallery at Bamboo
55-3415 Akoni Pule HwyPieces by local artists on the upper level, gift shop on the lower level.