ATTRACTIONS

Location

The southeastern corner of the Big Island is home to the district of Puna, an historical area that offers countless treasures.  Bigger than the island of Oahu,  Puna is a colorful and culturally distinct enclave of artists, writers, permaculture farmers and a thriving counter culture community.  Here you can feel free to slow down, completely unwind and explore the extraordinary abundance: from rain forests and farms blossoming with papayas, mangoes, orchids and macadamia nuts to transcendental lava-lands and truly spectacular coastal views.

The Big Island of Hawaii is a place of diversity and beauty. Rare, endangered plant and animal life, pristine micro-climates—from snow-covered peaks to lava deserts to lush tropical rainforest—the world's most massive mountain (Mauna Loa at 19,000 cubic miles) and tallest from its base (33,000 feet), plus the earth's most active volcano (Kilauea) are some of the awe-inspiring treasures of the island.

Just down the road

Kehena Beach
Natural black sand beach only 200 yards away.  Look for the spinner dolphins and turtles that frequently visit year round and whales in winter.

Sunrise and sunset hikes on the lava fields

A 5 minute walk across the lava leads to a new black sand beach.

Snorkeling at Kapoho Tide-pools
Dozens of spring-fed tide-pools offering fantastic snorkeling

Soaking at Ahalanui (“the warm pond”)
A large warm pool with a manmade wall separating it from the ocean.

Snorkeling and soaking at Champagne Pond
A protected ocean inlet percolating with sparkling freshwater heated by the volcano.

Steam vents
A maze of short trails leading to natural lava steam rooms of varying sizes.

La'akea Permaculture Gardens

Permaculture school devoted to teaching sustainable, earth-restorative practices.

Kalani Oceanside Retreat
Featuring a low-chlorine, 25 meter Olympic pool and Aloha Café open daily.

Lava Tree State Park

A gentle 30-60 minute forest walk through moss-covered lava tube trees and    

monkey pod trees, featuring a symphony of birds throughout.

Full- and half-day adventures

Volcanoes National Park
Home of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire. Created to preserve the region's unique volcanic features and the plant and animal life of this extraordinary bio-region.

   

Waipi'o Valley
An ancient meeting place of Hawaiian chiefs, one of the most beautiful places on the face of the Earth.

Akaka Falls
A short walk through lush vegetation and streams leading to the free-fall plunge of the 420 feet.

Surfing at Honoli'i Beach Park
The best surfing and boogie boarding spot on this side of the island.

Sea Kayaking

For the best sea kayaking, we suggest a trip to Kealakekua Bay on the west side of the island south of Kona.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
Found along the breathtaking 4-mile scenic route at the north end of Hilo, take the self-guided tour through over 2,000 exotic types of marked flora.

Whale watching
Humpback whales migrate from Alaska to the cool, nutrient rich waters of the Hawaiian islands from about Christmas to March.

Stargazing on Mauna Kea
The summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii hosts the world's largest astronomical observatory, with telescopes operated by astronomers from eleven countries. The 4,200 meter (13,667 feet) high summit houses the world's largest observatory for optical and infrared astronomy. The combined light-gathering power of the telescopes on Mauna Kea is fifteen times greater than that of the Palomar telescope in California -- for many years the world's largest -- and sixty times greater than that of the Hubble Space Telescope.