Restaurants
Tasty food and fun drink options. The burger is my go-to here.
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Bamboo Restaurant & Gallery
55-3415 Akoni Pule HwyTasty food and fun drink options. The burger is my go-to here.
Pomaika'i Cafe (formerly Nanbu Courtyard) has great salad and sandwich options as well as good coffee and freshly baked pastries. Cobb salad and the Wagyu burger are my favorites here.
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Pomaika'i Cafe
54-3885 Akoni Pule HwyPomaika'i Cafe (formerly Nanbu Courtyard) has great salad and sandwich options as well as good coffee and freshly baked pastries. Cobb salad and the Wagyu burger are my favorites here.
Hand tossed and freshly baked pizza directly across from the original King Kamehameha statue. Sandwiches, salads and dessert options.
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Kings View Cafe
54-3897 Akoni Pule HwyHand tossed and freshly baked pizza directly across from the original King Kamehameha statue. Sandwiches, salads and dessert options.
Mi Ranchito
55-3419 Akoni Pule HwyAuthentic Mexican restaurant in Hawi. Dine in or order to go.
Grocery Stores
Grocery stores close early out here in the country. 6:30/7pm Mon-Sat and 1/3pm on Sundays, depending on the store. Be sure to plan ahead!
Conveniently located at the bottom of Hawi Road, it's the closest store to the property. Tasty poke and other grab-n-go options. Pre-marinated meats are great to throw on the grill and their clam dip is a must-try.
Nakahara Store
55-515 Hawi RdConveniently located at the bottom of Hawi Road, it's the closest store to the property. Tasty poke and other grab-n-go options. Pre-marinated meats are great to throw on the grill and their clam dip is a must-try.
The biggest store in town with good selection of groceries, beer, wine and liquor.
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K Takata Store Inc
54-3627 Akoni Pule HwyThe biggest store in town with good selection of groceries, beer, wine and liquor.
Located a bit further away in Waimea, KTA offers a bigger selection of groceries, fresh fish and a poke counter.
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KTA Super Stores
65-1158 Mamalahoa HwyLocated a bit further away in Waimea, KTA offers a bigger selection of groceries, fresh fish and a poke counter.
Also located in Waimea, Foodland has a big selection of meats, fresh fish, a seafood/poke counter, a hot food counter and bakery.
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Foodland Waimea
67-1185 Hawaiʻi Belt RdAlso located in Waimea, Foodland has a big selection of meats, fresh fish, a seafood/poke counter, a hot food counter and bakery.
Beaches
Here's a short list of some noteworthy spots. Hapuna and Mahukona are my favorites!
Be sure to check ocean conditions before you head out.
https://hawaiibeachsafety.com/big-island
Big white sand beach, showers, pavilions, restrooms. Large parking lot.
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Hapuna Beach
Big white sand beach, showers, pavilions, restrooms. Large parking lot.
Old boat harbor, good swimming, snorkeling, great sunset view.
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Mahukona Beach Park
Old boat harbor, good swimming, snorkeling, great sunset view.
Spencer Beach Park
62-3461 Kawaihae RoadSmall white sand beach, picnic tables, swimming.
Scenic waterfront, rocky shore, public pavilions, restrooms.
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Keokea Beach Park
52-128 Keokea Park RoadScenic waterfront, rocky shore, public pavilions, restrooms.
Kapa'a Beach Park
Rocky shoreline, public pavilion, great sunset view.
Convenience Stores & Gas Stations
Known for their fried chicken. You can fill up your tank and grab food to go. Open late.
Minit Stop Hawi - Store and Gas Station
55-503 Hawi RdKnown for their fried chicken. You can fill up your tank and grab food to go. Open late.
Aloha Short Stop & Deli
54-3695 Akoni Pule HighwayFood to go, liquor, gasoline.
Hiking
One of the most popular hiking destinations, this magnificent valley is at the head of the Kohala Coast, the oldest part of the island with deep valleys and a picturesque beach. The water here is notoriously dangerous and there is no lifeguard. Swimming is not recommended.
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Pololu Valley
One of the most popular hiking destinations, this magnificent valley is at the head of the Kohala Coast, the oldest part of the island with deep valleys and a picturesque beach. The water here is notoriously dangerous and there is no lifeguard. Swimming is not recommended.
Makalawena might be the best beach on the Big Island that can’t be reached by road. It is located in the Kekaha Kai State Park – a large and relatively undeveloped beach park north of Kailua-Kona. There are several bays with white sand and shade from palm trees. The hike out to Makalawena keeps the crowds away, especially on weekdays. Swimming is usually pretty safe when the waters are calm.
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Makalawena Beach
Hawaii 19Makalawena might be the best beach on the Big Island that can’t be reached by road. It is located in the Kekaha Kai State Park – a large and relatively undeveloped beach park north of Kailua-Kona. There are several bays with white sand and shade from palm trees. The hike out to Makalawena keeps the crowds away, especially on weekdays. Swimming is usually pretty safe when the waters are calm.
Kalopa Native Forest State Park and Recreation Area is located near the village of Honoka’a. If you’re looking for solitude, you have a great chance of finding it here. Located on the upcountry, windward slopes of Mauna Kea, the Park gets a significant amount of rainfall. This rainfall creates an enchanting and lush native forest. A ‘native forest’ attempts to preserve the endemic Hawaiian ecosystem as it existed before contact with a man. Most of the plant species in the Park were on the island before the first Polynesians discovered and settled Hawai’i. The Park has a family-friendly loop called the “Nature Trail,” with easy hiking and lots of information about the native forest. It’s ideal for the keikis (kids) or for visitors short on time. Several other trails criss-cross the Park and provide many opportunities to create different loops to explore the extent of the land.
Kalōpā State Park
Kalopa Native Forest State Park and Recreation Area is located near the village of Honoka’a. If you’re looking for solitude, you have a great chance of finding it here. Located on the upcountry, windward slopes of Mauna Kea, the Park gets a significant amount of rainfall. This rainfall creates an enchanting and lush native forest. A ‘native forest’ attempts to preserve the endemic Hawaiian ecosystem as it existed before contact with a man. Most of the plant species in the Park were on the island before the first Polynesians discovered and settled Hawai’i. The Park has a family-friendly loop called the “Nature Trail,” with easy hiking and lots of information about the native forest. It’s ideal for the keikis (kids) or for visitors short on time. Several other trails criss-cross the Park and provide many opportunities to create different loops to explore the extent of the land.
Located about 10 miles north of Hilo, this small state park’s main attraction is the free-falling 442′ tall ‘Akaka Falls along the Kolekole stream. ‘Akaka means “split, separation, or crack” in the Hawaiian language. A short, paved hiking trail leads to a lookout over ‘Akaka Falls and also smaller Kahūnā Falls. This short hike follows a paved trail that travels to both ‘Akaka Falls and Kahūnā Falls through a lush upcountry rainforest. The overview spot for 442 foot tall ‘Akaka Falls is very picturesque and the views are expansive, but it’s much more difficult to see 100-foot tall Kahūnā Falls from its overlook through the forest. The best time to visit this popular park is on a weekday, between about 9 am and 11 am. You’ll probably beat the tour buses and the sun is high enough to illuminate the entire ‘Akaka Falls.
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I-Akaka Falls State Park
875 Akaka Falls RdLocated about 10 miles north of Hilo, this small state park’s main attraction is the free-falling 442′ tall ‘Akaka Falls along the Kolekole stream. ‘Akaka means “split, separation, or crack” in the Hawaiian language. A short, paved hiking trail leads to a lookout over ‘Akaka Falls and also smaller Kahūnā Falls. This short hike follows a paved trail that travels to both ‘Akaka Falls and Kahūnā Falls through a lush upcountry rainforest. The overview spot for 442 foot tall ‘Akaka Falls is very picturesque and the views are expansive, but it’s much more difficult to see 100-foot tall Kahūnā Falls from its overlook through the forest. The best time to visit this popular park is on a weekday, between about 9 am and 11 am. You’ll probably beat the tour buses and the sun is high enough to illuminate the entire ‘Akaka Falls.
Papakōlea Beach is a geologic oddity among few in the world. The Green Sand Beach is located in a bay cut into a side of Puʻu Mahana, a cinder cone that erupted about 50,000 years ago. The green sand is created by a common mineral in Big Island lava called olivine, which stays deposited on this beach because it is heavier than the other components of the lava.
To get there, from the parking area walk south on a paved road that turns to dirt. Head toward the ocean. At a concrete boat launch into Kaulana Bay, turn and hike east along a very rough four-wheel-drive road. Shortly pass a picturesque bay and continue to hike northeast. There is a maze of dirt roads in this area, but just stay parallel to the ocean. After about two miles of hiking along the dirt roads, you’ll come to a dramatic view of Papakōlea Beach. Hike around the rim of the eroded cinder cone to the north end where you’ll find the path down to the beach. The footing can be uncertain, and the hike down to the beach is very steep. Enjoy the beach and return the way you came.
148 abantu bendawo batusa
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
Papakōlea Beach is a geologic oddity among few in the world. The Green Sand Beach is located in a bay cut into a side of Puʻu Mahana, a cinder cone that erupted about 50,000 years ago. The green sand is created by a common mineral in Big Island lava called olivine, which stays deposited on this beach because it is heavier than the other components of the lava.
To get there, from the parking area walk south on a paved road that turns to dirt. Head toward the ocean. At a concrete boat launch into Kaulana Bay, turn and hike east along a very rough four-wheel-drive road. Shortly pass a picturesque bay and continue to hike northeast. There is a maze of dirt roads in this area, but just stay parallel to the ocean. After about two miles of hiking along the dirt roads, you’ll come to a dramatic view of Papakōlea Beach. Hike around the rim of the eroded cinder cone to the north end where you’ll find the path down to the beach. The footing can be uncertain, and the hike down to the beach is very steep. Enjoy the beach and return the way you came.