Nancy And Bob's Guidebook
Beach
If you are a good swimmer, snorkel and swim with dolphins here. Easiest ocean entry is far left near campground. No hiking required.
84 personas locales recomiendan
Parque de la Playa de Ho'okena
86-4322 Mamalahoa HwyIf you are a good swimmer, snorkel and swim with dolphins here. Easiest ocean entry is far left near campground. No hiking required.
Nearby beach with black sand. Don't let the sand fool you. You can see once you get in the water and likely swim with turtles. Big turtles sunbathe here. Check with life guard on when the titles will be in show if they aren't there already. I believe they come in on high tide and go out on low tide.
175 personas locales recomiendan
Punalu‘u Beach
Nearby beach with black sand. Don't let the sand fool you. You can see once you get in the water and likely swim with turtles. Big turtles sunbathe here. Check with life guard on when the titles will be in show if they aren't there already. I believe they come in on high tide and go out on low tide.
Very cool place near us. Take Sout Point road, stay left near the end and park in parking lot to catch a ride in the back of pickup truck from the locals (was $20). If you want to walk, you can drive a little further and start from near the boat launch. It's a hot bumpby walk of about 1-1/2 miles with a narrow path to beach once you reach the top of the cliff.
148 personas locales recomiendan
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
Very cool place near us. Take Sout Point road, stay left near the end and park in parking lot to catch a ride in the back of pickup truck from the locals (was $20). If you want to walk, you can drive a little further and start from near the boat launch. It's a hot bumpby walk of about 1-1/2 miles with a narrow path to beach once you reach the top of the cliff.
Grest snorkel or diving at Two Step County park next Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (City of Refuge)
21 personas locales recomiendan
Two Step diving & snorkeling
Grest snorkel or diving at Two Step County park next Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (City of Refuge)
Sightseeing
Painted Church
Visitors are welcome to take a look at this small painted church. It's on our favorite scenic route to Kona. Take the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau (City of Refuge) cutoff and take a right on Painted Church Road. From there you can continue to Napo'opo'o Road up to the Stop Light and Highway 11. Go straight to get on Highway 11 and go through Kealakekua or turn left to get on the Mamalahoa Bypass to Alli Drive. Turn left for the Kona coast drive and several beaches.
35 personas locales recomiendan
St Benedict Catholic Church
84-5140 Painted Church RdVisitors are welcome to take a look at this small painted church. It's on our favorite scenic route to Kona. Take the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau (City of Refuge) cutoff and take a right on Painted Church Road. From there you can continue to Napo'opo'o Road up to the Stop Light and Highway 11. Go straight to get on Highway 11 and go through Kealakekua or turn left to get on the Mamalahoa Bypass to Alli Drive. Turn left for the Kona coast drive and several beaches.
Ka Lae or South Point is a local fishing and camping or picnicking place. instead of staying left at end of road and going to Green Sands, stay right and end at the old fishermen boat ladder. Good photo opportunity.
18 personas locales recomiendan
Kalae
Ka Lae or South Point is a local fishing and camping or picnicking place. instead of staying left at end of road and going to Green Sands, stay right and end at the old fishermen boat ladder. Good photo opportunity.
Lovely secluded cove with turtles. We stopped one day when we had an extra hour before needing to be at the airport. We first entered through park entrance. Fortunately, a park ranger was there who told us it would take about 1/2 hour to get to beach and told us about the short cut which was about a 5 minute walk. Short cut: Turn in at the Harbour (stop light before park entrance). Drive along right side towards back of parking lot. Look for break and pathway through fence (other cars will probably be parked nearby). I listed under sightseeing though I saw others fishing and swimming. And of course, you'll see turtles (smaller ones than those at Punalu'u, easily mistaken for rocks along the shoreline).
45 personas locales recomiendan
Parque Histórico Nacional Kaloko-Honokohau
Lovely secluded cove with turtles. We stopped one day when we had an extra hour before needing to be at the airport. We first entered through park entrance. Fortunately, a park ranger was there who told us it would take about 1/2 hour to get to beach and told us about the short cut which was about a 5 minute walk. Short cut: Turn in at the Harbour (stop light before park entrance). Drive along right side towards back of parking lot. Look for break and pathway through fence (other cars will probably be parked nearby). I listed under sightseeing though I saw others fishing and swimming. And of course, you'll see turtles (smaller ones than those at Punalu'u, easily mistaken for rocks along the shoreline).
Food Scene
Yummy. I like to make French toast with the Cinamon Mac Nut bread. Try the different malasadas. Liliokoi is passion fruit. A bit sour and a best seller. I like to put ham and Swiss on the hamburger buns, wrap in room foil and heat in air fryer. Salads and sandwiches and hamburgers available. Gets crowded if there are tour busses in the parking lot.
185 personas locales recomiendan
Punalu'u Bake Shop
95-5642 HI-11Yummy. I like to make French toast with the Cinamon Mac Nut bread. Try the different malasadas. Liliokoi is passion fruit. A bit sour and a best seller. I like to put ham and Swiss on the hamburger buns, wrap in room foil and heat in air fryer. Salads and sandwiches and hamburgers available. Gets crowded if there are tour busses in the parking lot.
Stopped here for a quick bite while in town on business (near McDonald's). Great $10 special burger, fries and beer (soda).
22 personas locales recomiendan
Korner Pocket Sports Bar & Grill
81-970 Halekii StreetStopped here for a quick bite while in town on business (near McDonald's). Great $10 special burger, fries and beer (soda).
Our current favorite Chinese take-out. For us, a reason to go to Hilo. We found a nice eating spot nearby.
No. 1 Chinese Barbecue
15-2660 Pahoa Village RdOur current favorite Chinese take-out. For us, a reason to go to Hilo. We found a nice eating spot nearby.
Neighborhoods
Lots of things come to the island and get left behind (you'll see lots of abandoned cars in the island). This is my favorite thrift store if you like looking at stuff. A more high end thrift shop up the road a bit in Kealakekua and some in Kona where you can buy Hawaiian clothing.
Treasure Island Thrift Store
79-7493 Mamalahoa HwyLots of things come to the island and get left behind (you'll see lots of abandoned cars in the island). This is my favorite thrift store if you like looking at stuff. A more high end thrift shop up the road a bit in Kealakekua and some in Kona where you can buy Hawaiian clothing.
Fun tourist town with original Donkey Balls. My husband likes to stop at Kieran's Music Shop. I prefer the thrift shop a couple doors down. Hard miss this town on Highway 11... unless when driving to Kona you take the Mamalahoa Bypass to Alii Drive which is our preferred scenic route to Kona.
13 personas locales recomiendan
Kealakekua
Fun tourist town with original Donkey Balls. My husband likes to stop at Kieran's Music Shop. I prefer the thrift shop a couple doors down. Hard miss this town on Highway 11... unless when driving to Kona you take the Mamalahoa Bypass to Alii Drive which is our preferred scenic route to Kona.
Farmers Markets on Wednesday (pass Punaluu Bakery across from gas station and coffee shop) and Friday mornings (corner of Highway 11 and Kamaoa Road).
20 personas locales recomiendan
Naalehu
Farmers Markets on Wednesday (pass Punaluu Bakery across from gas station and coffee shop) and Friday mornings (corner of Highway 11 and Kamaoa Road).
For rates and amenities (social membership and Cafe), visit:
https://dhgolfclub.com/
Discovery Harbor Golf Course
94-5807 Kahiki StreetFor rates and amenities (social membership and Cafe), visit:
https://dhgolfclub.com/
Hiking
Fern forest with a short (30-45 minutes) drive through route and great hiking routes. Very close to house. Part of Volcano National Park operated by volunteers. No entrance fee. Donations welcome. If you like to hike, you might want to go more than once.
14 personas locales recomiendan
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Kahuku Unit
Fern forest with a short (30-45 minutes) drive through route and great hiking routes. Very close to house. Part of Volcano National Park operated by volunteers. No entrance fee. Donations welcome. If you like to hike, you might want to go more than once.
Four mile hiking trail near Na'alehu. https://www.tpl.org/our-work/kaunamano
"These 1,363-acres of Ka‘u shoreline and pasture include four miles of the ancient Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, and traditional trails leading to the hundreds of ancient Hawaiian cultural sites throughout the property. Kaunāmano boasts more than 400 ancient Hawaiian cultural sites with over 3,900 features, including Pa‘ula Fishing Village, Puhi‘ula Cave, heiau (place of worship), burial sites, petroglyphs, and pictographs."
Ka'u
Four mile hiking trail near Na'alehu. https://www.tpl.org/our-work/kaunamano
"These 1,363-acres of Ka‘u shoreline and pasture include four miles of the ancient Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, and traditional trails leading to the hundreds of ancient Hawaiian cultural sites throughout the property. Kaunāmano boasts more than 400 ancient Hawaiian cultural sites with over 3,900 features, including Pa‘ula Fishing Village, Puhi‘ula Cave, heiau (place of worship), burial sites, petroglyphs, and pictographs."
Four mile hiking trail near Na'alehu. https://www.tpl.org/our-work/kaunamano
"These 1,363-acres of Ka‘u shoreline and pasture include four miles of the ancient Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, and traditional trails leading to the hundreds of ancient Hawaiian cultural sites throughout the property. Kaunāmano boasts more than 400 ancient Hawaiian cultural sites with over 3,900 features, including Pa‘ula Fishing Village, Puhi‘ula Cave, heiau (place of worship), burial sites, petroglyphs, and pictographs."
Ka'u
Four mile hiking trail near Na'alehu. https://www.tpl.org/our-work/kaunamano
"These 1,363-acres of Ka‘u shoreline and pasture include four miles of the ancient Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, and traditional trails leading to the hundreds of ancient Hawaiian cultural sites throughout the property. Kaunāmano boasts more than 400 ancient Hawaiian cultural sites with over 3,900 features, including Pa‘ula Fishing Village, Puhi‘ula Cave, heiau (place of worship), burial sites, petroglyphs, and pictographs."