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ABOVE PAHALA (please make an appointment first)

Ka’u Coffee Farms (5-10 mins)

Acres upon acres of coffee grow just above Pahala in Wood Valley and Moa’ula on the slopes of Mauna Loa. Let us know you’re interested in advance and we’ll set up a tour for you. (808) 928-9811.

Ka’u Coffee Mill (3 mins)

Visit the Ka’u Coffee Mill just 3 minutes above Pahala, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. See how coffee is processed (pulping, drying and roasting) and sip a delicious cup of free freshly brewed coffee as you sit back at the Koa coffee bar and enjoy original murals by Kathleen Kam.

Wood Valley Temple (5 mins)

Past the coffee mill, more macadamia nut orchards and cattle ranches sits a historic Buddhist retreat center and temple that is open to the public. The Dalai Lama visits here.

NORTH ALONG HWY 11

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (30 mins)

Halfway through the Ka’u Desert you’ll enter the park boundaries, and in another 15 minutes you’ll reach the entrance. This part of the park encompasses Kilauea Volcano, one of the world’s most active volcano (it has been errupting since 1983), but don’t worry, it’s also the safest.

See Halema’uma’u vent (left) let off steam and gasses that glow at night due to the lava lake below. Walk through rainforests, lava tubes, among steam vents and sulphur banks (left) and drive down to the coast to see petroglyphs and sea arches (right).

Make sure to bring a flashlight, proper walking/hiking shoes, a rainjacket and sunscreen. It’s known to be wet up there, but it could also be sunny.

Volcano Village (30 mins)

Just a mile past the entrance to the national park you’ll find yourself in an artsy town surrounded by rainforest. There are several eating places here, a perfect stop for lunch while you visit the park.  

SOUTH ALONG HWY 11

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach (8 mins)

A few minutes away lies a beautiful black sand beach, coconut groves and resting sea turtles (right). Snorkel with Hawai‘i state fish humuhumunukunukuapua’a (left), Hawaiian green sea turtles and much more.

Kawa (10 mins)

Park along the highway outside of the large yellow gate around the 59 mile marker. Walk about a quarter of a mile in to find yourself at one of Hawai’i’s most pristene estuaries (right) and a great surfing beach (left).

Honu’apo/Whittington Beach Park (12 mins)

A place where monk seals (Hawaii state mammal) have been seen, this park has one of the healthiest estuaries on the island. Community members and organizations came together to purchase the land for the county, saving it from development. Ka’u has the longest undeveloped coastline in the state.

Na’alehu Town (15 mins)

A great place to go out to eat. Here you’ll find the southernmost bakery Punalu’u Bake Shop (a popular stop to pick up sweetbread and malasadas), the southernmost restaurant Hana Hou (a local favorite with delicious pies) and the southernmost bar Shaka’s. Get fresh local veggies at the farmers market on Wednesday mornings.

Kalae/South Point (40 mins)

The southernmost point of the USA, Kalae is thought to be the first landing place of early Polynesians. It is a popular destination for fishermen and thrill seeking cliff jumpers. Make sure you have a local guide show you where to jump.

Green Sands Beach (70 min hike/4WD)

From Kalae, visitors can hike or take a very bumpy 4WD trail out to Greens Sands. Walk down a steep hillside (makeshift stairs and steps) to a the green sand beach (left) made up of tiny olivine crystals (right). We advise the hike since the trail is tricky and dangerous to drive, especially after it has rained. It is prohibited to remove the sand, but pictures are welcome!

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (40 mins)

The Kahuku side of the national park is open on Saturdays (except the first Saturday) and Sundays from 9am to 3pm. Hike or drive around historic ranch land and peer into forested pit craters filled with native plants.

Make sure to bring a flashlight, proper walking/hiking shoes, a rainjacket and sunscreen. It’s known to be wet up there, but it could also be sunny.

Average drive time from Pahala to Kona: 1 hour 45 minutes

Average drive time from Pahala to Hilo: 1 hour 15 minutes