| Approximate minimum time start to finish (to see | | | | has a Visitor's Center and bookshop, full picnic and |
| every site): 12 hours | | | | restroom facilities. Although no swimming or |
| Connect to Highway 11, driving south 20 minutes, to | | | | snorkeling is allowed within the Park, adjacent is |
| sample Kona Coffee. Numerous farms offer tours to | | | | Two-Step Beach on Hounaunau Bay, one of the |
| discover the history and processing of this highly | | | | premiere snorkeling spots on the Island. |
| prized beverage. In this region are Kealakekua Bay | | | | Leg 3) Return to Hwy 11 via south leg of Hwy 160, |
| and the Captain Cook Monument, the locations where | | | | continue south on Hwy 11 to Ho'okena Beach Road; |
| Hawai'ian history was forever changed and the best | | | | Ho'okena Beach Road west to Ho'okena Beach. |
| snorkeling in the state. Follow the beach road 10 | | | | Ho'okena Beach County Park |
| minutes to Pu'u Honua 'O Honaunau National Historic | | | | Brilliant snorkeling, decent boogie boarding, passable |
| Park. Discover why this spiritual complex was a "place | | | | shell collecting and wonderful camping-it's a wonder |
| of refuge". Continuing south 1 hour, after some | | | | Ho'okena Beach is not more popular with visitors. |
| beach time and a short hike, is South Point Road. | | | | Nestled alongside the ruins of Ho'okena Village, this |
| This is where early Polynesians arrived and started a | | | | beach is a wonderful place to spend a morning or a |
| village based on the rich fishing grounds offshore. | | | | weekend. |
| Nearby is the trail for a 3 hour round trip hike to a | | | | Frequented by dolphin, stuffed full of pelagic and reef |
| Green Sand Beach (bring drinking water). Then drive | | | | fish and turtles and boasting crystal clear, warm and |
| 30 minutes south to visit endangered Hawksbill Sea | | | | calm waters, Ho'okena is a must-see beach for avid |
| Turtles at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. From Punalu'u it | | | | snorkelers and divers as well as sea kayakers. During |
| is a 2 hour drive back to Kona. | | | | the winter months, female Humpback whales and |
| Leg 1) Start at north end of Keauhou Historic District | | | | their babies frequent the waters off this bay. |
| on Ali'i Drive, head south on Ali'i Drive to jct with | | | | Wonderful beach camping, new showers and |
| Kamehameha II Hwy; east on Kamehameha III to | | | | restrooms, picnic tables and abundant fresh water |
| Hwy 11. Take Hwy 11 south to jct with Hwy 160, | | | | make this county park a gem. Camping is by permit |
| just south of the town of Captain Cook. Head | | | | only on a first come-first served basis. |
| downhill on Hwy 160 to Napo'opo'o Village, turn north | | | | Leg 4) Return to Hwy 11 via Ho'okena Beach Road; |
| on Pu'uhonua Beach Road to Kealakekua Bay State | | | | continue south on Hwy 11 to Miloli'i Road; Miloli'i Road |
| Historical Park at end of road; this is where you view | | | | to Miloli'i Beach Park; trail to Honomalino Beach. |
| the Captain Cook Monument. | | | | Honomalino Bay |
| Keauhou Historic District and Kona Coffee | | | | A true gem of West Hawai'i and rarely crowded, |
| For almost 400 years, temples and palaces along the | | | | Honomalino Bay is reached by a 20 minute hike from |
| Kona coastline served as a kind of "Rome of the | | | | the south end of Miloli'i Beach County Park. The hike |
| Pacific", a great political, religious and cultural center in | | | | starts between the bathrooms and a yellow church |
| Polynesia, until the capital was moved to Honolulu in | | | | and is always along the right fork of the trail, in and |
| 1850 by Kamehameha III. The most important, | | | | out of the surf line, to avoid private property. |
| interesting and best preserved historical and cultural | | | | Snorkeling is very interesting on the north side in the |
| sites lie within the Keauhou Historic District, between | | | | rocks, when the surf is low. The water, though very |
| Kahalu'u Beach Park in Kailua running south 6 miles to | | | | clear, is sometimes quite cold due to spring discharge |
| Kuamo'o Bay in Keauhou. The District contains | | | | in the sand on the beach. There are no services here, |
| perhaps a dozen fascinating sites that are easy to | | | | leave no valuables in your car. |
| walk to, well maintained and quite interesting. | | | | Leg 5) Return to Hwy 11 via Miloli'i Road and continue |
| To see the numerous fascinating and important | | | | south on Hwy 11 to South Point Road; South Point |
| archaeological sites in the Keauhou Historic District, it | | | | Road to South Point. |
| is necessary to park your car in the free parking at | | | | South Point (Ka Lae) |
| either Kahalu'u Beach Park or the Keauhou Beach | | | | Haunting, windswept, wild, empty, beautiful. Imagine |
| Resort and explore on foot. | | | | the gratitude and wonder of the first Polynesians |
| Just uphill from the Historic District is the Kona | | | | who, after voyaging at sea without sight of land for |
| Coffee District. Hawaii is the only state in the union | | | | more than a month, finally made land here at Ka Lae. |
| which produces coffee, and Kona coffee is perhaps | | | | Polynesians established a thriving colony based upon |
| the finest in the world. Over 2 millions pounds of | | | | the incredibly rich fishing grounds just offshore. South |
| coffee a year are produced on about 600, 2-3 acre | | | | Point is the farthest point south in the entire United |
| farms; tours of coffee farms and roasteries are | | | | States. The road to Ka Lae from the Hawai'i Belt |
| available. | | | | Road is infamous although greatly improved in recent |
| Kealakekua Bay Historical District and Captain Cook | | | | years; check your rental agreement before driving |
| Monument | | | | here. There are no services...plan and act accordingly. |
| A place of both dramatic historic events and | | | | Leg 6) Head back north on South Point Road to |
| unparalleled scenery, beautiful and now peaceful | | | | Kaulana Boat Launch Road; take road to boat launch, |
| Kealakekua Bay (Pathway of the Gods) opens | | | | Green Sand Beach trail to Green Sand Beach. |
| beneath steep, beetling cliffs on the ancient surfing | | | | Trail to Green Sand Beach |
| beach along the shoreline of Napo'opo'o Village. The | | | | Absolutely unique to the island of Hawai'i are the |
| site of arguably the most important event in the | | | | handful of green sand beaches composed of crystals |
| history of Polynesia, home to pods of frolicking | | | | of the semi-precious mineral olivine (also known as |
| dolphins, providing some truly breathtaking snorkeling, | | | | peridot). The green sand beach at South Point is the |
| Kealakekua Bay is one of the most magical spots in | | | | best known, largest and most accessible of these. |
| the State of Hawai'i. | | | | The bizarre color of the water shrieks for |
| Across the bay from Napo'opo'o stands the solitary | | | | underwater photographs. Watch for strong currents; |
| white obelisk that marks the lonely Captain Cook | | | | do not go out far nor if the surf is high or there are |
| Monument. It was in this broad bay that Captain | | | | strong winds. |
| James Cook made his deepest impression on, and | | | | To get there, follow signs to Kaulana boat launch; |
| longest visit with, native Hawai'ians when he first | | | | park left (south) of the boat launch. Hiking distance is |
| arrived late in November of 1778; and it was here | | | | 2 ¼ miles each way along rolling tropical prairie. |
| where he met his tragic end in February 1779 during | | | | Stay in sight of the shore and you cannot get lost. |
| his second visit. At the State Park at the end of the | | | | Although tricky to spot on the way down, from the |
| road in Napo'opo'o are picnic facilities, pavilions and | | | | beach looking up the way back to the crater rim is |
| restrooms. | | | | easy to follow. There are no services here; plan and |
| Leg 2) Return south on Pu'uhonua Beach Road to jct | | | | act accordingly. |
| with Hwy 160; Hwy 160 south to Pu'u Honua O | | | | Leg 7) Return from Kaulana Boat Launch Road to |
| Hounaunau National Historical Park-this is the Place of | | | | South Point Road to Hwy 11; proceed southeast on |
| Refuge. | | | | Hwy 11 to Punalu'u Road; Punalu'u Road to Punalu'u |
| Place of Refuge: Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National | | | | Black Sand Beach Park. |
| Historic Park | | | | Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park |
| A beautiful, peaceful, restful piece of Old Hawai'i, Pu'u | | | | A truly remarkable place of great peace, beauty and |
| Honua O Honaunau is a place of ease and | | | | spiritual healing, Punalu'u's black sand beach is |
| regeneration for weary and jaded souls. Of | | | | world-renowned. Endangered Hawai'ian Green Sea |
| enormous historical and cultural significance, the | | | | Turtles swim the waters here and bask on the |
| sacred grounds at Honaunau are the best-preserved | | | | beach. The wildness of the ocean and the serenity of |
| remaining Pu'u Honua, or Place of Refuge, complex in | | | | the freshwater fishpond and coconut palm-shaded |
| Hawai'i. It is also a wonderful area to wander, snorkel, | | | | beaches make this an ideal place to spend some |
| relax and picnic. For anyone who had any doubts | | | | soul-recharge time. The ocean here can be rough, so |
| about what Old Hawai'i was like, a trip to Honaunau | | | | use caution when swimming. |
| will fill your imagination, your camera and your spirit. | | | | Available services include water, picnic tables, |
| A complex and strict order of law, known as the | | | | restrooms, electrical outlets, and pavilions, parking; |
| kapu system, controlled and governed everything in | | | | camping is by permit only. During peak tourist time, |
| ancient Hawai'i. Under this system, judgment was | | | | there is a souvenir stand with some packaged food |
| death, immediate and final, unless the accused could | | | | items and canned drinks for sale, otherwise the |
| escape to one of the designated places of refuge. | | | | nearest food, gasoline and other services are in |
| There the accused would undergo a cleansing | | | | either Pahala or Na'alehu. |
| ceremony, be absolved of all crimes, and allowed to | | | | Leg 8) Return Punalu'u Road to Hwy 11; take Hwy 11 |
| return to his family free of onus. The National Park | | | | west and north to Kailua Kona. |