Koili's Guidebook

Sightseeing

Hawaii Plantation Museum

Located just across the highway from Koili Point, the Hawaii Plantation Museum is in the old historic plantation store built in 1900 by the Onomea Sugar Company. This is the company that ran the sugar cane production on our property as well as the adjacent ones. In 1950, the plantation sold the store to Shigeru Yoshiyama a worker in the store and renamed to S. Yoshiyama Store until 1997. In 2013 the Yoshiyama Store became the Hawaii Plantation Museum. Located at 27-246 Old Mamalahoa Highway in Papa'ikou, Hawai'i. The museum is rich in history outlining the establishment of the sugar plantation era and how the sugar industry gave rise to Hawai’i’s multi-cultural heritage. From wall-to-wall the museum is filled with a enormous collection of old signs, bottles, newspapers, photos, a telephone booth, restaurant booth, Pete Beamer's buggy, baseball uniforms and much more. The mission of our museum is to exhibit, preserve, and promote the culture and lifestyle of the old Hawai'i plantation era.

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Hawaii Plantation Museum

27-246 Mamalahoa Hwy

8 personas locales recomiendan

Located just across the highway from Koili Point, the Hawaii Plantation Museum is in the old historic plantation store built in 1900 by the Onomea Sugar Company. This is the company that ran the sugar cane production on our property as well as the adjacent ones. In 1950, the plantation sold the store to Shigeru Yoshiyama a worker in the store and renamed to S. Yoshiyama Store until 1997. In 2013 the Yoshiyama Store became the Hawaii Plantation Museum. Located at 27-246 Old Mamalahoa Highway in Papa'ikou, Hawai'i. The museum is rich in history outlining the establishment of the sugar plantation era and how the sugar industry gave rise to Hawai’i’s multi-cultural heritage. From wall-to-wall the museum is filled with a enormous collection of old signs, bottles, newspapers, photos, a telephone booth, restaurant booth, Pete Beamer's buggy, baseball uniforms and much more. The mission of our museum is to exhibit, preserve, and promote the culture and lifestyle of the old Hawai'i plantation era.

Parque Estatal de las Cataratas de Akaka

A few miles north of Koili Point, Akaka Falls State Park, located along the northeastern Hilo Coast, is a natural wonder where you can see two gorgeous waterfalls on one short hike. The pleasant 0.4-mile uphill hike will take you through a lush rainforest filled with wild orchids, bamboo groves and draping ferns. As you follow the paved footpath, you'll first see 100-foot Kahuna Falls. Continue to follow the loop around the bend, and you'll discover towering Akaka Falls which plummets 442-feet into a stream-eroded gorge. Beautiful Akaka Falls is perhaps the island of Hawaii's most famous waterfall. Easily accessible, this hike takes less than an hour.

341 personas locales recomiendan

Parque Estatal de las Cataratas de Akaka

875 Akaka Falls Rd

341 personas locales recomiendan

A few miles north of Koili Point, Akaka Falls State Park, located along the northeastern Hilo Coast, is a natural wonder where you can see two gorgeous waterfalls on one short hike. The pleasant 0.4-mile uphill hike will take you through a lush rainforest filled with wild orchids, bamboo groves and draping ferns. As you follow the paved footpath, you'll first see 100-foot Kahuna Falls. Continue to follow the loop around the bend, and you'll discover towering Akaka Falls which plummets 442-feet into a stream-eroded gorge. Beautiful Akaka Falls is perhaps the island of Hawaii's most famous waterfall. Easily accessible, this hike takes less than an hour.

Rainbow Falls

One of the most easily accessible waterfalls on the Big Island, Rainbow Falls is just a quick fifteen minute drive from Koili Point. On sunny days, rainbows appear in the mist of the 80-foot falls, making for some pretty magical views. The broad waterfall — nearly 100 feet in diameter — plunges over a natural lava cave and into the river below. When it rains, (which it often does in Hilo), the engorged Wailuku River makes the falls wider, muddier and louder. On these days, you won’t see the rainbows for which this spot is named, but the sheer volume of water and the accessibility of this spot for all ages make it a fun, quick and easy excursion. The paved parking lot, which has a dozen car stalls and a few larger spots for tour buses, leads straight to the viewing platform where most visitors gather for the best photo ops of the falls. It’s best to visit the falls in the early morning to avoid the crowds of tour buses that come and go throughout the day. The busiest time is often between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Known in the Hawaiian language as Waiānuenue — literally “rainbow water” — it is said that the Hawaiian goddess Hina, goddess of the moon, dwells in the lava cave behind the curtain of the falls. Hina is the mother Maui, another storied demigod in Hawaiian mythology who is best known for lassoing the sun so that he could help his mother dry kapa (cloth made from tree bark). Maui also helped save his mother from certain doom after a giant lizard named Mo‘o Kuna hurled a boulder over the cliff, blocking the entrance to Hina’s cave. Cold water began to rush in as Hina slept. Maui used his club to split the giant rock in two, freeing his mother. The two parts of the great boulder, known as Lonoka‘eho, are now overgrown with tropical plants but remain as a reminder of Maui’s strength.

337 personas locales recomiendan

Rainbow Falls

337 personas locales recomiendan

One of the most easily accessible waterfalls on the Big Island, Rainbow Falls is just a quick fifteen minute drive from Koili Point. On sunny days, rainbows appear in the mist of the 80-foot falls, making for some pretty magical views. The broad waterfall — nearly 100 feet in diameter — plunges over a natural lava cave and into the river below. When it rains, (which it often does in Hilo), the engorged Wailuku River makes the falls wider, muddier and louder. On these days, you won’t see the rainbows for which this spot is named, but the sheer volume of water and the accessibility of this spot for all ages make it a fun, quick and easy excursion. The paved parking lot, which has a dozen car stalls and a few larger spots for tour buses, leads straight to the viewing platform where most visitors gather for the best photo ops of the falls. It’s best to visit the falls in the early morning to avoid the crowds of tour buses that come and go throughout the day. The busiest time is often between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Known in the Hawaiian language as Waiānuenue — literally “rainbow water” — it is said that the Hawaiian goddess Hina, goddess of the moon, dwells in the lava cave behind the curtain of the falls. Hina is the mother Maui, another storied demigod in Hawaiian mythology who is best known for lassoing the sun so that he could help his mother dry kapa (cloth made from tree bark). Maui also helped save his mother from certain doom after a giant lizard named Mo‘o Kuna hurled a boulder over the cliff, blocking the entrance to Hina’s cave. Cold water began to rush in as Hina slept. Maui used his club to split the giant rock in two, freeing his mother. The two parts of the great boulder, known as Lonoka‘eho, are now overgrown with tropical plants but remain as a reminder of Maui’s strength.

Naha Stone

On the way to Rainbow Falls, you can easily see the Naha Stone. It's amazing that this is right in the open if one considers its historical significance. Weighing an estimated 3.5 tons, the Naha Stone is considered by historians as one of the greatest historical relics in the Hawaiian Islands. Originally from Kauai, it now rests in front of the Hilo Public Library at #300 Waianuenue Ave., alongside the much smaller Pinao stone, which used to guard an ancient temple in Heiau. According to a legend, whoever could move the massive Naha stone with his bare hands would unite all of the Hawaiian islands and be the greatest king of all Hawaii. A fourteen-year-old Kamehameha did more than just move the heavy rectangular lava stone. He lifted it end over end, allegedly with help from the gods, and eventually fulfilled the prophesy. Today, both locals and tourists flock to Hilo to see the Naha Stone and marvel at its legendary connection with the great Hawaiian king.

Naha Stone

300 Waianuenue Ave

On the way to Rainbow Falls, you can easily see the Naha Stone. It's amazing that this is right in the open if one considers its historical significance. Weighing an estimated 3.5 tons, the Naha Stone is considered by historians as one of the greatest historical relics in the Hawaiian Islands. Originally from Kauai, it now rests in front of the Hilo Public Library at #300 Waianuenue Ave., alongside the much smaller Pinao stone, which used to guard an ancient temple in Heiau. According to a legend, whoever could move the massive Naha stone with his bare hands would unite all of the Hawaiian islands and be the greatest king of all Hawaii. A fourteen-year-old Kamehameha did more than just move the heavy rectangular lava stone. He lifted it end over end, allegedly with help from the gods, and eventually fulfilled the prophesy. Today, both locals and tourists flock to Hilo to see the Naha Stone and marvel at its legendary connection with the great Hawaiian king.

Parque Nacional de los Volcanes de Hawái

We have gone to the park no less than 50 times. Maybe a 100. There are great hikes ranging from about 3 miles to.... There is no other place like it in the U.S. and the Kilauea Volcano was erupting for many years and was a spectacular sight. We get the impression when we do one of the hikes that we are on the moon.

880 personas locales recomiendan

Parque Nacional de los Volcanes de Hawái

880 personas locales recomiendan

We have gone to the park no less than 50 times. Maybe a 100. There are great hikes ranging from about 3 miles to.... There is no other place like it in the U.S. and the Kilauea Volcano was erupting for many years and was a spectacular sight. We get the impression when we do one of the hikes that we are on the moon.

Parque Oceánico Richardson

Best place to ocean swim in our opinion. You have to do laps in essence but it's not rough and there are tons of fish. Turtles as well but don't touch them as it's not legal. Decent surf spot as well.

176 personas locales recomiendan

Parque Oceánico Richardson

2355 Kalanianaole St

176 personas locales recomiendan

Best place to ocean swim in our opinion. You have to do laps in essence but it's not rough and there are tons of fish. Turtles as well but don't touch them as it's not legal. Decent surf spot as well.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

Less than 2 miles from Koili Point, here you can discover over 2,000 species of tropical plants set in a fertile valley, where dense rainforest offers a home to diverse animal life. A trip to Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a magical experience for flora enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. Pick any corner of this 40-acre (161,874-square-meter) conservation area to explore and be amazed by the countless varieties of plant and tree life that surround you. Look for a wide range of mammal, bird, reptile and insect species as you wander the twisting trails that guide you around this environmental treasure trove. Onomea Valley, where the garden is located about 5 min drive north of Koili Point, is so lush with vegetation due to a special combination of factors. The rich volcanic soil is the ideal foundation for plant life. In addition to this, the valley spent the early 20th century entirely ignored by humans, giving the towering rainforest trees that stand there today time to flourish. Some of these trees are now over 100 feet (30 meters) tall. Walk the gardens now and see not only these impressive native trees and plants, but also tropical plants collected from elsewhere in the world. Stroll along the 500-foot (152-meter) boardwalk for extraordinary views of Kahalii Ravine or head up to Palm Vista to see the 200 varieties of palm on show in the Palm Jungle. Head deeper into this tangle of trees and come out the other side to relax by Onomea Stream and the beautiful Onomea Waterfall. As you walk, listen for sounds of wildlife. That rustling sound in the foliage could be a mongoose. Stay still and it might come close enough for you to see it. Overhead, watch for the orange beak of a mynah bird or the white belly of an auku’u in flight. Look closely at any neon flashes of color moving in the leaves. It could be a gold dust day gecko on the move or even a bright yellow female garden spider. Drive the 2 miles from the house on the Scenic Road to get to Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden any day except a public holiday. Pay your admission fee and you have access to the garden all day, so you can spend as much time here as you like, snapping photos, sketching plants or watching birds through your binoculars.

192 personas locales recomiendan

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

27-717 Mamalahoa Hwy

192 personas locales recomiendan

Less than 2 miles from Koili Point, here you can discover over 2,000 species of tropical plants set in a fertile valley, where dense rainforest offers a home to diverse animal life. A trip to Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a magical experience for flora enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. Pick any corner of this 40-acre (161,874-square-meter) conservation area to explore and be amazed by the countless varieties of plant and tree life that surround you. Look for a wide range of mammal, bird, reptile and insect species as you wander the twisting trails that guide you around this environmental treasure trove. Onomea Valley, where the garden is located about 5 min drive north of Koili Point, is so lush with vegetation due to a special combination of factors. The rich volcanic soil is the ideal foundation for plant life. In addition to this, the valley spent the early 20th century entirely ignored by humans, giving the towering rainforest trees that stand there today time to flourish. Some of these trees are now over 100 feet (30 meters) tall. Walk the gardens now and see not only these impressive native trees and plants, but also tropical plants collected from elsewhere in the world. Stroll along the 500-foot (152-meter) boardwalk for extraordinary views of Kahalii Ravine or head up to Palm Vista to see the 200 varieties of palm on show in the Palm Jungle. Head deeper into this tangle of trees and come out the other side to relax by Onomea Stream and the beautiful Onomea Waterfall. As you walk, listen for sounds of wildlife. That rustling sound in the foliage could be a mongoose. Stay still and it might come close enough for you to see it. Overhead, watch for the orange beak of a mynah bird or the white belly of an auku’u in flight. Look closely at any neon flashes of color moving in the leaves. It could be a gold dust day gecko on the move or even a bright yellow female garden spider. Drive the 2 miles from the house on the Scenic Road to get to Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden any day except a public holiday. Pay your admission fee and you have access to the garden all day, so you can spend as much time here as you like, snapping photos, sketching plants or watching birds through your binoculars.