We will pass through Kona Town on Ali’i Drive. You are welcome to stop here for a bite to eat, walk around this quaint seaside town, or grab snacks for the road. If you don’t feel like exploring Kona now, no worries, this tour ends in Kona Town and you can swing by for a late lunch or some dinner.

The beach is also known as “La’aloa”, white sands, or disappearing sands, and it got the name from the sand that is pulled off from the beach during the winter or early spring, leaving the lava rock exposed. If you’re pressed for time, feel free to keep driving down the road, there are plenty more beaches ahead. Please note: there’s usually a pretty strong, potentially dangerous shore break here.

Have you ever seen a church on the beach? Well, here you can! Look out for a small white church and you’ll see the beach right beside it. This beach is a popular surf spot and also a great place to snorkel.

Notice the rock structure to the right of the church. This is a one-of-a-kind heiau thought to be dedicated to surfing.

Take a walk to learn a bit about Hawaii’s history and the story of one of its most famous kings, Kamehameha III. The walking area has historical signs and markers along the way explaining how Kona has been home to important royal sites since the 1600’s.

Pull over for a look at an ancient battlefield and burial ground. While you’re stopped, we’ll tell you the story of this historic spot. From your car, if you look over the lava field here, you will notice the terraced piles of rocks. These are the burial mounds of the fallen warriors, still visible today.

Big Island Bees makes honey from all sorts of flowers that are grown on the island. With over 2,500 hives and 125 million bees they know their stuff. Stop by to walk through the museum, look at the shop (which has body care products too!), and try some of their locally-produced honey - for free! You can also do a guided tour of the facility. There’s a guided tour of Big Island Bees that costs $25 for adults, $15 for youth (13-18) and $10 for children, expect to spend about an hour on the tour. 

Hours: 

10am - 3pm Monday to Friday
Tours available every day at 10am and 1pm

Kealakekua bay is a marine life conservation district. Because the water here is usually calm, underwater life thrives making it a great spot for snorkeling. While you’re there, look out in the distance for a white structure -- that’s the Captain Cook monument commemorating his death. You can kayak there if you want to spend a few hours on the water. Be advised: there are no lifeguards on duty here.

In ancient times, Pu'uhonua was known as the city of refuge, and offered a sanctuary to lawbreakers. Within the park are a number of historical landmarks like the grounds where the Ali’i (royalty) lived within the Pu'uhonua.

While you’re there try the guided audio tour of the park and check out the carved tiki statues. Please keep in mind that this is a very sacred spot for Hawaiians and should be treated with respect. There is a $20 entrance fee per vehicle.

Two-step is immediately after the turn for Pu'uhonua park. The beach got its name for the lava rock steps you can use to enter the bay. This beach is usually crowded but worth a visit if you plan to snorkel. Otherwise you can skip it.

This historic church was built in 1899 by Father John Velghe of Belgium. Unlike the typical stained glass windows that you’ll find in churches, this religious site is completely painted on the inside. We highly recommend going inside for a peak!

Pay close attention to the Hawaiian details - have you ever seen palm trees painted in a church? - and the vaulted ceilings. It’s truly a sight to see!

Open Hours: 
Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday - 9:30am–3:30pm
Saturday-Sunday - During Church Services

You’re in for a long drive ahead and if you’re planning on making the trip to South Point for some cliff diving or to hike to the green sand beach, this will be the last place to grab some snacks and water or use the restroom for about 30 miles.

Ka Lae translates in Hawaiian to ‘the point’, and is the southernmost piece of land in the United States. The area has a desolate beauty all on its own with wind-bent trees, an intriguing green sand beach, and cliffs that feel like the end of the world. There are two major activities that you can do at South Point, a 40-foot cliff jump or a 2.5-mile trip hike to Hawaii’s only green sand beach.

This area is a small village called Waiohinu, where Mark Twain, while he was here, planted a monkeypod tree. This little town still exists, and is home to a second-generation descendant of the monkey pod planted by Mark Twain! A hurricane claimed the original tree in 1956, and today’s tree sprouted from its roots.

At this point, you might need a bite to refuel and where better than a bakery that specializes in Hawaiian sweet bread. “Punalu'u Bakeshop” Na’alehu means “the volcanic ashes” in Hawaiian. It’s the southernmost community in the US with a post office.

There are fewer than 900 people living here, and it’s a nice quiet rural town. There's a popular bakeshop in this area called “Punalu'u Bakeshop” and Shaka Restaurant and Bar, known as “the southernmost bar.”

At this point, you might need a bite to refuel and where better than a bakery that specializes in Hawaiian sweet bread. “Punalu'u Bakeshop” Na’alehu means “the volcanic ashes” in Hawaiian. It’s the southernmost community in the US with a post office.

There are fewer than 900 people living here, and it’s a nice quiet rural town. There's a popular bakeshop in this area called “Punalu'u Bakeshop” and Shaka Restaurant and Bar, known as “the Southernmost Bar.”

Whittington is a peaceful little rest area with picnic tables and excellent views of the ocean and surrounding cliffs. If you’re short on time, you might want to skip this spot and stay on the road towards Volcanoes National Park, plus there’s a black sand beach coming up next!

Punalu'u is well known in Hawaiian culture and legends. It is known as a “Wahi Pana”, or sacred place, and was seen as an oasis in the Ka’u desert. Punalu'u beach is famous not only for its black sand, but also for its sea turtles. Green sea turtles are usually all over the place here, sleeping on the beach and swimming next to you in the ocean. If you see them, be sure to keep your distance. These are protected animals and getting too close will result in a fine. 

You can turn into Pahala Town to check out the Ka'u Coffee Mill and get some free samples of this delicious coffee and macadamia nuts at their gift shop. The visitor's center is open from 9am - 4pm. They also offer free tours at 11am and 1pm daily. The tour lasts about 20 minutes.  They offer espresso drinks, smoothies, macadamia nuts, and a free coffee tasting. If you don’t need a midday pick-me-up, skip this spot as it’s a slight detour.

Due to Covid-19, this spot's interior is currently closed, but they are still offering curbside pick up and online orders.

Approximate time: 30 minutes This is a brief stop that accompanies a mini 1.2 mile hike to see some neat lava tree molds. Lava trees form when fast-flowing lava moves through a forest and completely surrounds moist trees. The tree burns up on the inside as the lava cools on the outside, resulting in a lava shell left in the shape of the tree.

The park encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's most massive shield volcano. Over half of the park is designated the Hawaii Volcanoes Wilderness area and provides unusual hiking and camping opportunities. The park encompasses diverse environments that range from sea level to the summit of the Earth's most massive active volcano. Climates range from lush tropical rain forests, to the arid and barren Kaʻū Desert.

Kīlauea and its Halemaʻumaʻu caldera were traditionally considered the sacred home of the volcano goddess Pele, and Hawaiians visited the crater to offer gifts to the goddess. In 1790, a party of warriors (along with women and children who were in the area) were caught in an unusually violent eruption. Many were killed and others left footprints in the lava that can still be seen today

Moriyasu Akatsuka started the orchid gardens here in 1974 after running a family orchid nursery in Japan. If you stop at the gardens, you can walk through their greenhouses and view all of the different types of beautiful orchids they raise and ship out to customers across the globe. They also run farm tours and tastings, but you might need to book these in advance.

As we approach Hilo you have the option to take a quick detour to Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm. At the farm visitors are invited to walk around and learn more about this Hawaiian delicacy. You can also watch the Macadamia Nut Candy being made, see their finished products, and taste test the farm’s many assorted flavors. It's open daily from 9am - 4pm.

Just outside Hilo is the only rain forest zoo in the US, Panaewa Zoo. The zoo is free to enter and is open every day except Christmas and New Year's. This is a perfect spot to bring the kids! While you’re there look for the zoo’s stars, two Bengal tigers. The white one is named tzatziki and the orange one is named sriracha.

Open Daily from 10am - 3pm.

The ‘Imiloa astronomy center is part of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and is a gathering place that integrates science and Native Hawaiian culture. They have a visitor’s center, with wonderful exhibits, programs, and events. Since Hawaiian society was built on exploration and observation, Hawaiian cultural practices have become an important part of ‘Imiloa’s exhibits. (Hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

After Waimea Town, you’ll embark on your drive across Saddle Road, a main thoroughfare on Big Island that connects Kona in the west with Hilo in the east. This is about a 50 minute drive and we’ll tell you stories the whole way.

There are three optional stops along this road:

1) a rest stop, which we’ll point on the tour;
2) a cinder cone where you can get acclimated to the altitude if you’re embarking on a journey to Mauna Kea; and
3) Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s tallest mountain.

If you’re not planning on visiting any of these places you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the drive.

The summit of Mount Everest is higher above sea level than the summit of any other mountain, but Mauna Kea is the tallest when measured from base to summit. Astronomers from around the world explore the universe from its peak and Hawaiian’s have many ancient spiritual connections to this special site. For visitors, it is one of the clearest places on the planet for viewing the night sky and offers a rare opportunity to experience the polar tundra in Hawaii.

We do not recommend you drive past the visitor’s center to the summit, it is steep, four-wheeled drive only and not recommended for visitors. Visitors information station is plenty high to get a feel for Mauna kea. If you’re visiting during the day you can stop at the visitor’s information station where they often have one of the solar telescopes to view the sun. Call (808) 935-6268 get weather conditions on a recorded phone line.

Information Center hours:

11:30am to 7pm daily

Stop by this farm stand to try local goodies like chocolates, coffee and honey. While you’re there take a short garden stroll while you enjoy your snacks! 

Even though this trail has a name hard to pronounce and is a little ways down the road from the Visitor’s center, this hike is THE best nature walk in the park. The word Kipuka in Hawaiian means an older area of vegetation that is surrounded by a recent lava flow. So what you will find here are many beautiful old growth trees with lush tropical vegetation. You will see a huge diversity of rare plants, trees, and even animals such as peasants and a type of quail that forage the floors here.

The trail is an easy 1.2 mile loop trail that is located in a special area outside the National park. The hike should take about 1 to 1.5 hours to hike and has informative placards for various native plants and trees along the way.