Guidebook for Pāhoa
Sightseeing
Lovely forest park with good parking, public restrooms and no entrance fee. Interesting pillar-like lava formations encapsulated tree trunks leaving impressions or molds of the exterior trees inside.
109 locals recommend
Lava Tree State Monument
Hawaii 132Lovely forest park with good parking, public restrooms and no entrance fee. Interesting pillar-like lava formations encapsulated tree trunks leaving impressions or molds of the exterior trees inside.
Well maintained park with picnic tables, outside showers, portable restrooms, life guard and no entrance fee. Soothing freshwater thermal pond mixed with seawater. Popular location to swim and relax.
86 locals recommend
Ahalanui County Beach Park
14-5363 Kalapana - Kapoho RdWell maintained park with picnic tables, outside showers, portable restrooms, life guard and no entrance fee. Soothing freshwater thermal pond mixed with seawater. Popular location to swim and relax.
Good location for viewing lava flows from a distance. For a fee, a few private companies in the area also provide hiking and boat tours for close-up viewing of lava activity.
59 locals recommend
Kalapana
Good location for viewing lava flows from a distance. For a fee, a few private companies in the area also provide hiking and boat tours for close-up viewing of lava activity.
Drive leading to the Waiopae Tidepools Marine Life Conservation District. Wonderful place to snorkel and view live coral and tropical fish in shallow, interconnected, coastal saltwater tide pools.
Kapoho Kai Drive
Drive leading to the Waiopae Tidepools Marine Life Conservation District. Wonderful place to snorkel and view live coral and tropical fish in shallow, interconnected, coastal saltwater tide pools.
Recently upgraded free public beach park with ample parking, picnic tables, restrooms, fishing pier, boat ramp, swimming and surfing.
101 locals recommend
Isaac Hale Park
13-101 Kalapana - Kapoho RdRecently upgraded free public beach park with ample parking, picnic tables, restrooms, fishing pier, boat ramp, swimming and surfing.
# 1 attraction in Hawaii. $10 entrance fee per vehicle. Visitor Center, Steam Vents, Jaggar Museum, Main Crater, Kilauea Iki Trail, Thurston Laval Tube, Chain-of-Craters Road, Petroglyphs, Sea Arch.
880 locals recommend
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
# 1 attraction in Hawaii. $10 entrance fee per vehicle. Visitor Center, Steam Vents, Jaggar Museum, Main Crater, Kilauea Iki Trail, Thurston Laval Tube, Chain-of-Craters Road, Petroglyphs, Sea Arch.
Best black sand beach on the island. Sea turtles can often be observed basking on the shore. No entrance fee, easy parking access, picnic tables, outside showers, restrooms and a beach gift "shack".
77 locals recommend
Punalu'u Black Sand beach
Ninole Loop RoadBest black sand beach on the island. Sea turtles can often be observed basking on the shore. No entrance fee, easy parking access, picnic tables, outside showers, restrooms and a beach gift "shack".
Hike 0.4 miles over a running creek, through lush tropical forest with spectacular views of Kahuna and 'Akaka waterfalls! Easy access, good (but limited) parking, restrooms and a small entrance fee.
64 locals recommend
‘Akaka Falls
Hike 0.4 miles over a running creek, through lush tropical forest with spectacular views of Kahuna and 'Akaka waterfalls! Easy access, good (but limited) parking, restrooms and a small entrance fee.
Wonderful botanical garden situated along a scenic route passing Onomea Bay. Steep decent and climb through garden required. Parking, gift shop, small museum and restrooms. Entrance fee required.
192 locals recommend
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
27-717 Mamalahoa HwyWonderful botanical garden situated along a scenic route passing Onomea Bay. Steep decent and climb through garden required. Parking, gift shop, small museum and restrooms. Entrance fee required.
Awesome view from the peak of Mauna Kea Volcano at an elevation of 13,796 feet! Observatories from several countries are positioned around the summit. Stage your ascent to avoid altitude sickness.
161 locals recommend
Mauna Kea
Awesome view from the peak of Mauna Kea Volcano at an elevation of 13,796 feet! Observatories from several countries are positioned around the summit. Stage your ascent to avoid altitude sickness.
Remote partially submerged volcanic cinder cone with beach composed of black and olivine sands. One of only two such locations in the world! 5.3 mile hike or 4X4 ride from end-of-road parking area.
148 locals recommend
Papakolea Green Sand Beach
Remote partially submerged volcanic cinder cone with beach composed of black and olivine sands. One of only two such locations in the world! 5.3 mile hike or 4X4 ride from end-of-road parking area.
Southernmost point of The United States. Coral sand beach at tip with sheer vertical cliffs and clear turquoise-blue oceanic water along the western edge. Beautiful coastal panoramic view!
18 locals recommend
Kalae
Southernmost point of The United States. Coral sand beach at tip with sheer vertical cliffs and clear turquoise-blue oceanic water along the western edge. Beautiful coastal panoramic view!
Breathtaking panoramic view of Waipi'o Valley with freshwater stream leading into the bay, backdrop of steep forested mountains and the Kohala Sea Cliffs facing towards the northwest.
201 locals recommend
Waipio Valley Lookout
Breathtaking panoramic view of Waipi'o Valley with freshwater stream leading into the bay, backdrop of steep forested mountains and the Kohala Sea Cliffs facing towards the northwest.
Best white sand beach on the island! Easy access, free parking, restrooms, outside showers and picnic tables. Excellent swimming and snorkeling area. Beautiful corals and plenty of tropical fish!
174 locals recommend
Hāpuna Beach State Park
Old Puako RoadBest white sand beach on the island! Easy access, free parking, restrooms, outside showers and picnic tables. Excellent swimming and snorkeling area. Beautiful corals and plenty of tropical fish!
Just north of The Mauna Lani Resort lies the best Hawaiian Petroglyph site on the island.
20 locals recommend
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
68-1400 Mauna Lani DrJust north of The Mauna Lani Resort lies the best Hawaiian Petroglyph site on the island.
The "City-of-Refuge" is a wonderfully preserved Hawaiian cultural and spiritual archeological site maintained by The National Park Service. A must see for anyone visiting The Big Island!
270 locals recommend
Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
State Highway 160The "City-of-Refuge" is a wonderfully preserved Hawaiian cultural and spiritual archeological site maintained by The National Park Service. A must see for anyone visiting The Big Island!
Protected bay with lots of fish and coral. Excellent snorkeling location!
89 locals recommend
Kealakekua Bay
Protected bay with lots of fish and coral. Excellent snorkeling location!
Panoramic view of the Kohala Sea Cliffs facing southeast towards Waipiʻo Valley Lookout. Switchback hiking trail leads down to the valley floor where a freshwater stream flows into the ocean.
140 locals recommend
Pololu Valley
Panoramic view of the Kohala Sea Cliffs facing southeast towards Waipiʻo Valley Lookout. Switchback hiking trail leads down to the valley floor where a freshwater stream flows into the ocean.
Shopping
If you are into beautiful, healthy orchids, don't miss this stop! This large production facility has a retail orchid sales area, gift shop and public restrooms. Plants are Ag certified for shipping.
46 locals recommend
Akatsuka Orchid Gardens
11-3051 Volcano RdIf you are into beautiful, healthy orchids, don't miss this stop! This large production facility has a retail orchid sales area, gift shop and public restrooms. Plants are Ag certified for shipping.
Food Scene
Great food, reasonable prices, friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Our favorite dish is their Swiss Mushroom Burger. Restrooms could use some upgrading. Overall, a very good place to eat and relax.
55 locals recommend
Volcano's Lava Rock Cafe
19-3972 Old Volcano RdGreat food, reasonable prices, friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Our favorite dish is their Swiss Mushroom Burger. Restrooms could use some upgrading. Overall, a very good place to eat and relax.
Best buffet dining on the east side of The Big Island. A little pricey but, well worth the expense. Highly recommended.
Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
71 Banyan DrBest buffet dining on the east side of The Big Island. A little pricey but, well worth the expense. Highly recommended.
Great pit stop on the way to South Point or Kona! Many types of freshly baked bread, pastries and Malasadas. Nice gift shop, open-air seating, garden area with waterfall and super clean restrooms.
185 locals recommend
Punalu'u Bake Shop
95-5642 HI-11Great pit stop on the way to South Point or Kona! Many types of freshly baked bread, pastries and Malasadas. Nice gift shop, open-air seating, garden area with waterfall and super clean restrooms.
Arts & Culture
Science and cultural learning center with easy access parking, movie theater, interactive displays, gift shop, clean restrooms and superb buffet dining. Program fees vary, restaurant open separately.
92 locals recommend
Imiloa Astronomy Center
600 Imiloa PlScience and cultural learning center with easy access parking, movie theater, interactive displays, gift shop, clean restrooms and superb buffet dining. Program fees vary, restaurant open separately.