This is a NPS managed site that protects the ancient fish traps and fish catch ponds. centuries old…read more, all by hand to catch fish that come in on the tides to feed. One Way traps. A marvel to imagine

Always stop and spend time here when I'm here, serene and spiritual setting. Much of the area is…read moreposted as off-limits because of historical reverence , but unfortunately many tourists I've seen treat it as a disposable Disneyland and walk right past the signs, no respect.

This is a very pretty park with nice picnic grounds and an ~ 2 mile walking path along the river…read morewhere there are nice, small waterfalls. We ate a picnic lunch then took a walk along the full trail. There do not seem to be bathrooms or trash receptacles, so pack your waste out.

Also known as Ulu La'au, this is a nice and beautiful 10-acre gem and peaceful nature park in the…read morecenter of Waimea Town (Kamuela). It's operated and maintained by the local volunteer group, Waimea Outdoor Circle. There is a nice stream coming through along with a walking trail nearby. The park also has covered picnic areas, and many of the benches are located beneath shade trees or along the stream. You'll also find a native plant garden and various memorials dedicated to past gardeners. There is on-site parking but it is very limited. Great nature park overall!

Amazing and beautiful area to have a picnic and take family out for an hour or two…read more Cute trail small hike for the kids to enjoy. Lots of landscape to take advantage if you are looking for a nice photo opportunity. $10 for parking and $5 for each person. Very reasonable. The scan code was easy to use and fast for payment. There was nice ambassadors helping not just one person so it made it a fast experience and they were informative of where we could walk and viewpoints. Great customer service. Restrooms were cleaned. The informational boards had graffiti on it.

God's gift to man I tell ya!…read more This was a quick stop as we toured a bit of Hilo, and I'd say it's a "must stop" if you're here for a short visit. It's definitely, and annoying touristy, so just keep that in mind. Yes, I'm one of them, so I hated myself lol. Features to highlight: ~ A big parking lot with tour busses parked. As well as cars full of people causing traffic. ~ A fairly long line for the restroom. A perfect stop for bus tours. ~ From the parking lot, you'll see the people along the fence-line checking out the falls. Taking pics, selfies, tiky-tok'ing etc etc. ~ Don't get me wrong with the negativity, it is fairly picturesque! I just cropped the tourists out. The day was sorta cloudy, so we didn't see any rainbows coming from the falls. ~ Take the stone steps to the right, up to the top, and you'll be gifted with a different perspective of the river above and the falls. ~ As you walk along the railing, you'll also be drawn into the tall trees that lead to the giant banyan tree. I'm pretty amazed with how vibrant a tree can be, and how much shade these large banyans provide. ~ We only spent about 15-20 minutes here, but we full-on enjoyed every minute of it! Side story that you don't have to read: As I was walking past everyone. A family had asked if I could take a picture of them. I kindly said, "Sure." Then some other random bonehead tourist stopped me and said, "I'll take their picture!" Fine, whatever dude, here's their phone. As I walked away, I heard Mr. Bonehead say, "I'll take several angles and we'll do a funny one, OK?" Hahaha, I looked back at the family, and they looked super annoyed.

We swim here regularly, year-round. IMHO this is the best all-around snorkeling beach on the…read moreisland, but as with any ocean activity the surf and tide will affect your experience, so ask the lifeguards or the volunteers for advice. This protected bay has over 120 species of resident fish, and usually has clear water. Other than urchins (7 species) there is no marine life to worry about. Turtle sitings are more likely at high tide when their salad bar (the algae on the rocks) is available. Typically from 9 to 3 daily the Reef Teach volunteers have photo guide books and other reference materials available, along with free advice, defog spray, and reef-safe sunscreen. Water access is the narrow and shallow rocky channel in front of the lifeguard station by the parking and pavilion. Swim fins or sand shoes are recommended. The locals value their feet and swim through it even at low tide when it is only a foot deep. Coming back in you can actually swim all the way back to the sandy channel. The water is usually noticeably warmer and clearer away from the entry. The bay is shallow with only a few places that are even 8' deep at high tide. Unless you really need to, don't stand on the bottom or coral - fins and feet damage it.

Great beach! It has shade and some good views. Definitely a good place to bring the family as it is…read moresomewhat protected. Parking is expensive kind of a bummer. The area itself didn't have much amenities, but definitely have palm trees and shade, which was nice in the afternoon. Happy to make it on our first day

Great park for the kids. One entrance in and out so it's easy to keep an eye on all of them without…read moreworrying about one leaving the park and running off. There are benches at the entrance under a cover so it's super easy for parents to post up and watch the kids. My kids didn't know what to play in first! The play structures and slides and swings are huge and they loved exploring each other "castle". Will bring them back here for sure

This playground is amazing! It is wooden and looks like a castle or fort. Lots of slides and…read moremaze-like to make hide and seek super fun! My daughter loves playing here. There is beautiful local art work everywhere and a huge, gorgeous whale to play on or for a photo-op. Tire swing, toddler playground, and also a cute wooden train for some pretend play! This is probably the coolest playground we have ever taken our daughter to. Definitely worth it to check it out if you're in the area!

I absolutely love this place! The walking trail is level and paved while the other side is the…read morebeach. It is so pretty with all of the plants and art. We came before sunset and walked the trail. As the sun was setting we crossed over to the beach side. It was beautiful. The coolest part were some friendly locals were playing their ukulele and singing. It felt magical honestly. There is so much parking and space. I always come to this park at least once on my visits. Highly recommended

As a lover of travel, this was great to visit although we didn't have time to stop at the beach or…read moreanything. The landing strip was remade to a regular road along the pretty long drive (felt maybe a mile?) out and back. There was plenty of parking and even a walking path if I recall. I don't know what it was used for other than the obvious, planes, but maybe the walking path had some history noted.

This area is also known as Kekaha Kai State Park…read more This is one of the best beach parks in Kona, if not on the entire island or in the whole state. I have to disagree with another reviewer, who said that "locals (not kama'aina) haven't been to this beach". First, technically speaking, locals are kama'aina. Second, plenty kama'aina know where this place is, and in fact venture to it on the weekends. If you visit on the weekend, you will find local campers, local boogie boarders (depending on surf conditions) and local families setting up for bbq and family reunions and such. But even then, none of the beaches really get crowded. I would be willing to bet that the people who say that these beaches are pretty much deserted are the ones who usually venture to Oahu. If you are a tourist who has spent all your time on Oahu, then yes, the beaches will seem deserted. But understanding that the entire Big Island has less than 180,000 people living on it and it's larger than the rest of the islands combined, then you will have some understanding that this is a local beach, where locals frequent, and locals appreciate it. The water is superbly clear, the sand is soft but not too powdery like the beaches that tourist flock to on Oahu (Lanikai and Kailua beaches...you can't get that sand off for nothin!), and it is a popular spot for our local Honu, who bathe in the sun and use this as nesting grounds. Be respectful as you enter and exit this beach park, as there are cultural sights in the lava fields that surround it. Also, make sure that you take what you need (no water, no snacks, and a long drive for either), and don't leave anything on the beach. Be respectful at all times, and respect will be shown to you. Make a mess of the beach and you will probably get confronted kindly. Get confronted kindly and act like a jerk, and you will find yourself on the wrong end of a local-style education. Fair warning...be kind to the land and to the people and they will be kind to you. This is a popular fishing spot for locals, so be mindful of that as you enter the water. It is also an excellent snorkel spot, which you should also be mindful of. Usually, the water is fairly swimmable (at the first beach that is...the other 2 can get a little rough), even in heavy surf, because there is a bit of a natural breaker that the reef creates just about 20 or 30 yards from the shore. But always be cautious of rip currents, no matter how calm the water looks. It's a perfect place for families because of the abundant shade trees and picnic tables, lots of area to stretch out and throw a blanket down. The best way to enjoy this beach is to bring a cooler, a couple of blankets to throw down, and some snacks and spend the entire day. Also, be sure that you understand that the road into this beach park is just a shade under being categorized as a 4wd only path. It's very rough in places, and cars with low clearances will have a rough time traversing some of the hills, cracks, and crevices. That being said, if you drive slow, use your head, and take your time, you can navigate it just fine. My 4door, 2wd, 6cyl sedan has no trouble on the entire path. The first beach that you come to is probably the best for families with small children, since it is close to the bathrooms and the parking lot. You can walk another 10-15 minutes and get to the next beach up, which is incredibly beautiful, but out of the way. Then there's still one more beach to the north which is another 15 minute hike...it's a long and hot hike and probably not the best for children. The first beach is just fine for anything that visitors would want to accomplish there. I would recommend sticking to that one. I am from Hawaii, and I've been to almost all the major islands, and have lived on Oahu and currently live on Big Island, and I'm here to tell you that you won't find a better beach park anywhere! Enjoy!

This area is definitely in our Top 10 of beaches to visit while on the Big Island…read more The beaches in the Kona Coast State Park / Kehaka Kai area are picture perfect!! Our Other Top Not to be missed beach picks **Mauna Kea beach (Kauna'oa) - This may be the prettiest beach on the island. We love the view of the Blue Ocean. They have the best Soft Sand here. But beware limited parking spots so better be there before 9:30am (60 minute drive from Kona). **Hapuna - This beach is just perfect. A great place to relax and body surf in the waves. This is a super big beach with lots of parking, facilities and some shade. 60 minutes from Kona. **Kahalu'u Beach Park. Conveniently located just South of Downtown. Not much of a beach but it has decent Snorkeling & usually turtles too. The break water makes this place calmer than other beaches. Crowded after 11am **Kekaha Kai Beach Park/ Mahai'ula Beach area has three beaches. Mahai'ula Beach is the best of the three and just a short walk, No facilities only a port-a-potty. I love this beach. When you think of perfect Hawaiian beaches this is it. This area is also known as Kona Coast State Park. **Manini owali/ Kua bay has the most amazing azure blue blue water, enjoy playing in the waves. The sand is so soft, and the facilities and parking a great. **Honanaunau also known as 2 Step. No beach here, just good snorkeling and sometimes dolphins. **Makalawena is a short hike across a hot lava path (30 min total) worth the effort but wear shoes. This secluded beach is a nice place to Swim, snorkel, and Sun bathe **Beach 69 (Waialea Bay) Just 60 minutes from Kona. - This beach has lovely, soft golden sand, lots of shade, and nice waves. The snorkeling is pretty good here too. Busy on the weekends. ** Kikuau point (Four Seasons) This beach is my new favorite beach, perfect for families with young children. Nice sand and views and there is a gentle swimming area for kiddos. Beautiful palm trees, excellent facilities. 30 Parking spots so be there by 11 or after 1pm to get a spot. Just 45 minutes from Kona. **Black sands beaches. On Kona side there are a few. Beach 49/Ke awa iki, is well okay but the most famous is Punalu'u on the south end of island and picture perfect. Enjoy!

If you are downtown driving on Ali'i Drive, you may be lucky and find an open street parking spot…read more(heading south) right next to this pocket park. There is a small retaining wall to keep cars out, but with an opening wide enough to walk through to gain access to the shaded grassy part of the park. There are palm trees adding to the appeal of the park which has a paved sidewalk winding through it. There are also benches for staying awhile and a few poorly maintained portolets if you have to use them. The grassy part of the park is behind a low lava rock barrier that we had no difficulty stepping over to walk on the wet lava rock formations that created numerous tide pools and acted like a reef to break the waves before they reached to small wall. The rock was fairly level, but was wet, so use cautiion when wandering out. The park isn't intended for swimming so there aren't sandy beaches to stretch out on. But the park does offer beautiful views of the ocean and was generally in good condition. Review #2356

Not bad to stop by and look at the ocean if you can find a parking spot. I often read reviews by…read moretourists saying that "it's ok to drink on the beach". NO, It's ILLEGAL in Hawaii. Also, please don't litter and don't use soaps and shampoo at the shower. The water goes straight into the ocean and pollutes the environment. Use only reef-safe sunscreen. A rash guard is an easier option to protect yourself from the sun without harming coral. No spray sunscreen. Whenever someone sprays sunscreen all over the place, other people inhale it and feel sick from it.

The park is small, but the waves are amazing! It's so strong, when we arrive, husband is so excited…read moreto walk to the ocean side, and a huge wave come, hit him, he got all wet from to to toe. Hahaha.

Lots of historical significance and locals fishing ... plus one stunning sunset ... were the…read morehighlights of our visit to this free state park. Kealakekua Bay was home to thousands on January 17, 1779 when Captain James Cook "discovered" people living on the Big Island of Hawaii and made contact here. This was one year after a brief Jan. 1778 visit to Waimea on Kauai. At Kealakekua, Cook and his crew were initially welcomed with gifts and special treatment; however, on February 14, 1779, the captain was killed at this site while attempting to kidnap Hawaiian King Kalaniōpuu-a-Kaiamamao. A 27-foot white obelisk was placed in 1874 on the shore in memory of the British explorer. Today, the Captain Cook Monument can be accessed via a 1.9-mile (one-way) hike from the uplands via the historic Ka'awaloa Trail. Otherwise, joining a kayaking tour is the only other option to see the memorial. Don't emphasize seeing it up close too much because there are plenty of other areas of significance and beauty in the park. Near the small parking lot at Napo'opo'o Beach is Hikiau Heiau. This sacred luakini (human sacrifice) temple is dedicated to the Hawaiian god, Lono and associated with funeral rites. Originally, the black volcanic rock structure built by King Kalani'opu'u was over 250-feet long, 100-feet wide, and 16-feet tall. A small stone platform on top is believed to have been the location of the lele (altar). It is now a protected religious site and visitors are expected to treat it as such. The park is relatively compact ... and so were parts of the road taken to get there. We followed Google maps which led us on an "off-road trail" for a few miles on the way there and then a paved road on the way out. The driving experience kind of added some excitement to the adventure. On-site is a picnic pavilion, restrooms, water fountains, trash cans, and one scenic viewpoint of waves crashing into the rocky shore (very little sand) ... and the stunning Hawaiian sunset. Since the bay is a Marine Life Conservation District many people enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, and kayaking here to see the coral, tropical fish, and spinner dolphins (Nai'a) in the sheltered wonderful waters. The small parking lot of Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park was full when we arrived as many locals were fishing along the shore as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. The people were also VERY friendly and helped us get a spot for the vehicle ... and place in our hearts to take in the beauty of this famous historical site on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.