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ATV Outfitters 808-889-6000 ATV guided tours in Kohala, 1 ½-5 ½ hour
tours , min age 16 to drive under 16 on a guide driven ATV, 15 mile
waterfall and rainforest waterfall advanced tour. |
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Hawaii Forest & Trail Van/Hiking 808-331-8505 Offering a wide variety of guided hiking experiences
min age 8 , bird watching, cloud forest, lava tubes, star gazing,
mule rides, rain forest, valley waterfall and volcano hikes. From
3 hour to 12 hours tours. |
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HMV
Tours 808-889-6922 Guided tours in a Hummer in the Kohala Mountain
area. Offered Tues-Sat. 3hours. Child min age 5 child 5-18. |
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Kukuihaele Ranch Adventures 808-775-1701 ATV guided Waipio Valley rim trail, min age
16, tour time 2 hours. |
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Mauna
Kea Summit Adventures 808-322-2366 Guided van tour up Mauna Kea for sunset and
stargazing Sun - Sat. 7 hours min age 13. |
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Kona Coast
Cycling Tours 808-327-1133 Daily Bike Tours around the Big Island. |
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Waipi’o Valley Wagon Tours 808-775-9518
Guided Mule drawn wagon down in the Waipio
Valley, 1 ½ hours Mon-Sat. four times a day. |
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For Photo & Description|
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The
Gathering of the Kings 808-326-4969 Legends and dances of Polynesia. Sumptuous Buffet,
Authentic Dishes from 3 islands. |
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Island
Breeze 808-326-4969 Opening Ceremony, buffet, open bar, entertainment
Polynesian review about 3 hours Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri. |
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Royal Kona Resort 808-331-1526 Lava Legends/Legacies Buffet, open bar and
entertainment. |
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Kohala
Na’alapa Trail Rides 808-889-0022 Guided open range rides on the Kohala Mountain,
1 ½ -2 ½ Hours, Sun- Sat. min age requirement 8yrs. Closed toed
shoes, long pants required. |
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Paniolo
Adventures 808-889-5354 Open range riding morning and afternoons as
well as picnic rides and sunset rides. Tours range from 1 1/2 to
4 hours. Closed toed shoes, long pants required. |
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Waipi’o
Na’alapa Trail Rides 808-775-0419 Guided trail rides down in the Waipio Valley,
2 ½ Hours, Mon- Sat. min age requirement 8yrs. Closed toed shoes,
long pants required. |
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Waipi’o
Ridge Stables 808-775-1007 Guided trail rides up above the along the
ridge, longer ride to hidden waterfall Waipio Valley, 2 ½ - 5 Hours,
Sun-Sat. min age requirement 10yrs. Closed toed shoes, long pants
required. |
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Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
808-964-5233
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
808-985-6000
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Hulihe’e Palace 808-329-1877
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'Imiloa Astronomy Center 808-969-9700
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Kona Coffee Living History Farm
808-323-2006
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Kona History Center 808-323-3222
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Laupahoehoe Train Museum 808-962-6300
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Lyman Museum 808-935-5021
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Nani Mau Gardens 808-959-3500
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Onizuka Space Center 808-329-3441
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Pacific Tsunami Museum 935-0926
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Panaewa Zoo 808-959-7224
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Parker Ranch Historic Homes
808-885-7655
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Parker Ranch Museum 808-885-7655
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Pua Mau Place 808-882-0888
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Pu’uhonua O Honaunau 808-328-2288
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World Botanical Garden 808-963-5427
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This
nature preserve has been created to protect the beauty and harmony
of a tropical Hawaiian rainforest. Visitors can enjoy the wonders
of a natural, unspoiled, tranquil environment with its living collection
of tropical plants, birds, and marine life. This tropical jungle
is truly a place of spectacular beauty, situated in a lush valley,
accented with gurgling streams and cascading waterfalls, bordered
by the Pacific Ocean. 964-5233. o Route 11, south end of Onomea
Bay Scenic Drive. 
According
to Hawaiian legends, this is the home of Pele, goddess of fire.
Her first home was on Niihau, but the goddess of the sea chased
her from island to island, destroying each dwelling that Pele created
until she finally came to Halemaumau in Kilauea Caldera, where she
resides today. Volcanoes National Park was established in 1916 to
preserve the unique volcanic features, the early human history,
and the plant and animal life of this special region. 985-6010.
o Route 11, Volcano. 
Built
in 1838 by Governor John Adams Kuakini, Hulihee Palace remained
a vacation spa for Hawaiian royalty until 1916. The historic two-story
structure, now a museum, displays a collection of former Hawaiian
royalty's furniture and effects, as well as ancient artifacts owned
and maintained by the Daughters of Hawaii. Surrounded by an elegant
expanse of lawn and trees, the palace is on Alii Drive across from
Mokuaikaua Church, a handsome coral-and-lava sanctuary Kuakini constructed
for the island's first Christians. 329-1877. 
'Imiloa
offers visitors an authentic Hawaiian journey through time and space.
This experience includes the Kumu Lipo chant and astronomers' insights
into the origins of the universe from a scientific point of view.
Visitors will know what it was like to go on an ancient canoe voyage
charting their course by the stars, and learn of thirteen observatories
on Mauna Kea. Charting new courses of discovery today, visitors
also traverse the universe in four dimensions in the 4D2U Theater,
a presentation from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.
969-9700. 
"It's
not just our history-it's our way of life!" is the motto of this
authentic seven-acre working coffee and macadamia nut farm, where
you can learn how coffee was grown, harvested, and processed by
Japanese immigrants at the turn of the 20th century. You'll enjoy
their educational, fun guided tours of the orchards, farmhouse,
and coffee-processing mill, plus free samples of farm-fresh 100%
Kona coffee. 323-2006. o Route 11, Captain Cook. 
Want
to find out about the fiercely independent pioneers who've made
Kona what it is today? Then stop by Kona Historical Society's headquarters,
which features Kalukalu Homestead(est. 1850) and Greenwell Store(est.
1875), home to their Museum Gallery, Research Archive, and Gift
Shop. View their short video and photograph and artifact exhibits;
maybe you'll be motivated to take a tour or participate in a living
history program. 323-3222. o Route 11, Kealakekua. 
This
is an official visitors center for the Hilo-Hamakua Heritage Coast
Trail and this museum is dedicated to the area's one-time dependence
upon railroad transportation and related commerce. With the emphasis
on artifacts and photographs, train lovers will find the museum
a fascinating place to spend a few hours. Enthusiastic volunteers
are even in the process of restoring some old train rolling stock
and related equipment. 962-6300. o Route 19, Laupahoehoe. 
This
treasure trove of Hawaii's cultural and natural history is not to
be missed. Beautiful exhibits of art, astronomy, Hawaiian ethnicity,
minerals and rocks, shells and volcanology abound in a nice new
building, constructed to reflect the architecture of an earlier
time. Next door is the old New-England-style Lyman Mission House
(est. 1839), built for Hilo's first Christian missionaries. Knowledgeable
docents give you a great sense of what life was like back then.
935-5021. o Route 19, Hilo. 
Nani
Mau Gardens, located in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, has evolved
into an island showplace with 20 acres of many-splendored tropical
flowers and trees, pools and waterfalls and sun-dappled paths. Here
are orchids, anthuriums and native Hawaiian plants. You can ride
around the beautiful gardens on a tram or stroll around in your
shoes. Added attractions are a Polynesian buffet, gift shop, and
greenhouse. 959-3500. o Route 11, Hilo. 
On
January 28, 1986, all seven crew members of Challenger's 51-L Mission
perished when their ship was destroyed during its launch into space.
Dedicated to the memory of Hawaii's first astronaut from the Big
Island, Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center is an educational
facility where both children and adults learn about the manned space
flight program. Numerous videos, exhibits, displays, and hands-on
activities encourage your direct participation. 329-3441. o Between
terminals at Kona Airport. 
Probably
among the most unique museums you've ever entered, this one's in
the former First Hawaiian Bank building. Much of the bank's oringinal
flavor remains and staff members seat you in the old vault to show
you a tsunami movie. Many of the docents who escort you around the
exhibits, answer questions and provide interesting narration have
lived through a tidal wave, so they know first-hand what it's like
to survive one. 935-0926. o Route 11, Hilo. 
Welcome
to the only tropical rainforest zoo in the United States. Residing
in the lush habitat of the Panaewa Rain Forest are many species
of animals, birds, reptiles and endangered Hawaiian birds. The beautiful
plants are native to Hawaii and enhance this peaceful park-like
zoo. Visit the unique zoo gift shop after your journey. Open 9:00AM
- 4:00PM daily, except Christmas and New Year's. 959-7224 o Route
11 to Mamaki Street, a few miles south of Hilo. 
Introduce
yourself to the interesting saga of Parker Ranch, the largest privately
held property of its type in the United States. This tour includes
a pair of houses among gorgeous gardens. The first structure, which
features a fine koa wood interior, is Mana, home to family patriarch
John Parker. The second building, which belonged to influential
family member(and cabaret and musical comedy star) Richard Smart,
is Puuopelu; it contains extensive collections of Hawaiian artifacts,
Asian jade, and French impressionist art. 885-7655. o Route 190,
Waimea. 
The
focal point of the remodeled Parker Ranch Shopping Center, the John
Palmer Parker Museum celebrates the over-150-year legacy of the
Massachusetts sailor who started the dynasty of Hawaii's cattle
kingdom. Artifacts from more than a century of ranching are on display
alongside weapons, quilts, photos, correspondence, clothing, Bibles,
and stuffed animals. A separate area spotlights the legendary Duke
Kahanamoku, Olympic swimming medallist and father of modern surfing.
View a fascinating 15-minute video in the comfortable Thelma Parker
Theater. 885-7655. o Route 19, Waimea. 
Add
enchantment and surprising discoveries when visiting the Big Island.
Along the Kohala coast, where (in whale season) you can view the
humpbacks, you will find Pua Mau Place. A burst of color, sights
and smells on 15 beautiful acres. This is not just a garden, but
so much more. As you walk along the path, you will encounter amazing
sculptures, an aviary, amphitheatre, and a Hibiscus Maze. Fun for
the whole family. Open daily 9am-4pm. 882-0888. o Highway 270 on
Ala Kahua Drive (Kohala Estates) just north of Kawaihae. Turn at
the 6 mile marker, 1/2 mile up the hill to the gate at a lava rock
wall., North Kohala. 
This
sacred Place of Refuge was a sanctuary for noncombatants and defeated
warriors in ancient conflicts, as well as a haven for breakers of
the strict kapu(laws). Here gods could be appeased and wrongs put
right by resident kahuna(priests). This restored historic site has
a heiau(temple) that protects remains of past chiefs, along with
an enormous rock wall that encompasses the heiau, palace grounds
with thatched houses, and a small beach reserved for royal canoe
landings. 328-2288. o Route 160 to end. 
Three
hundred acres of what was previously a sugarcane plantation are
in the process of conversion into a world-class botanical garden.
The trails and paths of the Rainbow Walk surround you with thousands
of flowers and lead you to a lovely lookout point close to the 300-foot
triple cascades of Umauma Falls. Spend an hour or two strolling
through the grounds and witness some beautiful Hawaiian countryside
in transition. Friendly people and pastoral views abound. 963-5427.
o Route 19, Hamakua Coast.
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©Copyright 2002-2003 by Alaka'i Publishing. P.O. Box 5516, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745. Phone 808-334-0344, Fax 808-327-9411, Email: mail@beachactivityguide.com All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. So there! |