South of the small town of Captain Cook, and two and a half miles along a one-lane road winding downhill to meet the ocean, the soft grey sands of Ho’okena Beach Park come into view for the first time. Flanked on either side by walls of sea cliffs, the crescent-shaped beach of protected waters is …
Ho’okena Beach Park – Kayaking, Snorkeling and Camping At A Traditional Fishing Village Read More »
Big Island’s habitual volcanic activity has created some truly unique geological formations, from Papakolea Green Sand Beach in South Point to Halemaumau Crater at the summit of Kilauea Volcano to the newest addition to the list: “Ahuaila’au”, also known as Fissure 8, which cropped up during the 2018 Lower Puna Eruption and has towered over …
Lava Tree State Park – Black Rock Monuments Formed Around Ancient Tree Trunks Read More »
Some Hawaii guidebooks rank the 5-mile-roundtrip trek to Shipman Beach, otherwise known as Haena Beach, outside the town of Keaau to be the most underrated hike on all of Big Island. This might be because its often a muddy tromp through jungles as dense as they get in Puna District, rewarded at the end with …
Shipman Beach Hike: Deep Jungle and White Sand, Ancient Ruins and Endangered Species Read More »
A trip to Big Island isn’t complete without sampling some local delicacies, and the legendary Hawaiian sweet roll is a great place to start. These are baked in staggering amounts at Punalu’u Bake Shop, an immensely popular roadside bakery, restaurant, ice-cream shop and rest stop found beside the country highway in the small town of …
Punalu’u Bake Shop: A Classic Hawaiian Bakery With A Claim To Fame Read More »
Two naturally-formed lava rocks platforms lead snorkelers into the electric-turquoise waters of Honaunau Bay, which give way to reveal a colorful, rugged seafloor bustling with all sorts of marine life. This is hands-down the best snorkeling spot on the island, dubbed by locals as simply “Two Step” after the two giant stairs found at the …
Two Step at Honaunau Bay – Big Island’s Premiere Snorkeling Spot Read More »
From the bustling, colorful shops of Hilo’s Bayfront, it’s only a short two-mile drive north to Honoli’i Beach Park to watch the surfers. Honoli’i is without a doubt the most important surf break for the Hilo surfing community – a small but dedicated tribe, who can be spotted from the park’s cliffside parking lot lined …
Honoli’i Beach Park – Hilo’s Premiere Surfing Spot Read More »
When the ancient Hawaiian historical site of Pu’ukohola Heiau comes into view for the first time, it looks like a massive fortress of stacked reddish-black lava stones built atop a gently sloping hill. It slightly brings to mind the castles of Europe, with their high walls and stacked ramparts. But it’s not a castle; it’s …
Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site – The Stone Castle By The Sea Read More »
Just a short walk down Hilo’s Bayfront brings Big Island locals and visitors to Waiakea Peninsula and its verdant and immaculately manicured epicenter, Liliuokalani Park and Gardens. The gardens comprise a portion of the 24-acre county park jutting out into Hilo Bay, which seems to have a little something for everyone; placid fishponds where colorful …
Liliuokalani Park and Gardens – Hilo’s Leafy, Seaside Recreation Spot Read More »
In the hills above the City of Hilo, near the approach to the inter-island highway known as “Saddle Road” which links East and West Hawaii on the Big Island, there’s a massive lava tube beside the road that goes unnoticed by most drivers. A portion of the tube’s ceiling collapsed many decades ago, creating entrances …
Roughly 30 miles north of Kona town on Big Island’s west side, along a sun-beaten highway with vast black lavafields stretching out on either side, lies the stunning white sands of Puako and its well-hidden gem of a swimming spot, Beach 69. Its official name is Waialea Beach, but hardly anyone calls it this. For …
Puako’s Beach 69: A Shady, Secluded Swimming Spot Very Different From Its Neighbors Read More »