We stumbled upon this park on our way to the "End of the Road" and really enjoyed our time here. We…read morehad planned on visiting a black sand beach and found this one serendipitously. Its like being at goth beach and I truly appreciated it. We took a ton of photos and when we got too close to the Wahi Kapu sign it started raining on us out of nowhere, so we took that as a sign to walk back to the car. That being said we would absolutely recommend coming here, its spectacular.

2025 is different from 2024, in between they tried to put in the boat launch which didn't work. The…read morehot ponds are still here and toasty. Some palms are growning, very little shade near the water.

We found out about this oceanside swimming pool (250 feet long)from the Big Island Revealed app…read more It's five feet deep in some spots. Bring your water shoes and snorkel gear! It's 2.7 miles north of the corner from Highway 132 and 137 (so, go North on Government Beach Road). This is a paved road. Around 2.7 miles, you'll come across a small hill, on the downside of the hill, you'll see a dirt road on your right through a hau bush (twisted looking trees that are entwined). If you hit Pakaka Road, you went too far. There is no parking lot. There is a small one-spot parking space that you can back into (perpendicular to the road). There are two roadside beams indicating this spot. You can also park along the road. From Government Beach Road, on the dirt road, it's 1500 feet to the shoreline. The pool is 100 yards to the left once you hit the shoreline. I do not recommend driving down the path to the shoreline because the branches are low and it's super muddy. It's an easy walk. Towards the shoreline, you'll see an abandoned turquoise minivan. It's obvious that someone was squatting in the van at some point. The engine has been torn out, windows broken, carry-out boxes everywhere, and the rainforest has started to entwine itself with the car. On the coast, there were more signs of squatters. The pool was beautiful. We went during high tide and the pools were super full and the waves were crashing hard against the rocks. The app said we should go during low tide...whoops. We didn't run into a single person. It was super secluded and beautiful. Although the walk was really neat through the hau bush and having an oceanside swimming pool to ourselves was cool...I would not do this again. Honestly, I didn't feel safe. We didn't see any squatters but the signs made me uneasy. There is no cellphone signal and your completely isolated. I recommend this for large groups of people only.

Lava Tree State Park features unique natural formations called "lava trees" created when tree…read moretrunks are overtaken by lava. It is a smaller park with a paved walking trail and ample parking. We went on a Sunday on our way to the Maku'u Farmer's Market so the drive out was definitely worth it when you consolidate spots nearby.

Although, the park is a bit of a drive between the jungle and the aftermath of volcanic ash lies…read morethe famous lava trees formations after the hot lava scorched the land submerging with burned trees create these lava tree stumps. Over time the resilient jungle emerges from where the moisture collects. In the open parking lot are public restrooms and clearly market trail that loops around. The lush greenery reminds us how magical Mother Nature is.

5/5 - An Absolutely Unforgettable Experience! A MUST-DO on the Big Island…read more If you're visiting the Big Island of Hawaii and looking for a truly once-in-a-lifetime adventure, Botanical World Adventures Zipline Tour is an absolute MUST! From the breathtaking scenery to the incredible staff, this experience exceeded every expectation! First, a HUGE shoutout to our phenomenal guides, Aliyah and Wehi, and our awesome driver, Ryan! These three made an already amazing adventure something we'll be talking about for years to come! Aliyah and Wehi were absolutely fantastic! Their hilarious humor, infectious personalities, and ability to make everyone feel comfortable turned this adventure into so much more than just ziplining. They were knowledgeable, resourceful, entertaining, and genuinely passionate about what they do. Their jokes and playful banter kept us laughing throughout the experience, while their professionalism made us feel completely safe and confident. And Ryan deserves recognition, too! He was an awesome part of the experience and helped make the entire adventure even more enjoyable! The views? ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR! Pictures simply cannot do justice to the incredible tropical landscapes, lush greenery, and breathtaking scenery you experience while soaring through the Hawaiian rainforest. It's the kind of beauty that makes you stop and appreciate just how incredible this island truly is. One of the unexpected highlights was getting to experience a little taste of nature along the way! We actually got to try fresh cinnamon and guava, which added such a unique and memorable touch to the adventure. It's those little experiences, combined with the incredible scenery and personalities of the crew, that really set this tour apart. What impressed me most wasn't just the ziplining itself, but the people behind it. You can visit beautiful places all over the world, but it's the people who turn a great experience into an unforgettable memory. Aliyah, Wehi, and Ryan absolutely delivered! We came expecting an exciting zipline adventure and left with incredible memories, sore cheeks from laughing, and a whole new appreciation for Hawaii's natural beauty. Would I recommend Botanical World Adventures? WITHOUT HESITATION! If you're on the Big Island, do yourself a favor and book this experience. And if you're lucky enough to get Aliyah, Wehi, and Ryan as your crew, you're in for an absolute treat! Mahalo for an unforgettable adventure! Five stars simply aren't enough!

Ryan, Jordan, (forgetting the lady drivers name,) were awesome guides…read more They were great for our elderly mother and kids alike (youngest being 7 year old.) It's worth the price people - it really is memorable and bucket list worthy. (Will upload pics once we receive them.)

Another spot that made me homesick for upstate NY. This…read morereminds me of some spots along Lake Ontario, and I love having to hike with a swimming reward at the end! Having a 2.5 mile muddy hike there means the only people who go are respectful outdoorspeople who practice LNT. Not a speck of garbage other than what the sea washed up. I took the flat trail in and hiked the ocean side out. It's a little tough to find your turn to get back to your car from the ocean side- there's a very noticeable 4-wheeler trail that will take you back, but you have to know it's there. A few locals showed it to me and I was grateful. I probably would've been foolish enough to keep hiking to the Point (not a big deal, just a road walk back to your car). I wished like hell that I brought my pack with me here as well as my tent. So many inviting (unofficial) backcountry campsites along the beach! If you have 2 people, and carry in all your water, you could have a great experience there. This has made my work gig in Hawaii well worth it! I may even come back if I have time before I leave:-)

Loved this 5 miles round trip hike to the beach. Huge variety of vegetation and most of the trail…read moretramps through a tree forest. The tree forest is interesting with some abandoned and vegetation encrusted old jeeps and cars, historic rock walls and towards the end, spur trails to the sea cliffs, and a collapsed lava tube. At the end is a gorgeous bay favored by sea turtles. We saw at least 23 turtles on our visit. Please note that this trail is muddy and very muddy in spots even when it has not been raining, and the footing is very uneven so it is not for the casual walker, for flip flops or any shoes that you don't mind getting very muddy. I found that having hiking poles was helpful in order to gage how thick the mud was at various places on the pathway. Go early as it is very humid by late morning or mid day.

We found this place on our way back from the "End of the Road" and really enjoyed our time. The…read moreview from the cliffs are truly amazing and I took some really great photos. The parking lot is indeed small, but a great place to sit for a minute, use the bathroom, or have a picnic lunch. Highly recommended.

We took the red road and stopped here for some amazing views of the ocean waves crashing into the…read morerocks and cliffs. Nature at its best! You can also walk along the coast for a bit. Bathrooms are available and free parking. Quite private and little to no people. Highly recommend this place.

The black sand beach that was formed by the 2018 eruption - the newest black sand beach! The sand…read moreitself is super black, and the waves at this beach are super strong - so I wouldn't recommend going in to swim. As time goes, the sand won't be as black anymore - so better visit soon! Also there is no cell phone signal around this area, so you better take note of how you came here.

Very cool new beach that formed post lava flow in the beach park. It may not be here for long and…read morehas a very odd energy being it is new land. I'd recommend taking a trip to check it out before it erodes away. Isn't that a crazy thing to think about.