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Kailua Pier
Kailua Pier, built in 1915, was once a major cattle-shipping area. Cattle driven down from hillside ranches were stampeded into the water and forced to swim out to waiting steamers, where they were hoisted aboard by sling and shipped to Honolulu slaughterhouses. Kailua Pier is now mainly used by dive boats and cruise ships, though its hoist and scales are still used for weigh-ins during billfish tournaments.
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Kalahikiola Church
Protestant missionaries Elias and Ellen Bond built Kalahikiola Church in 1855. The land and buildings on the drive in are part of the vast Bond estate, proving that missionary life wasn't one of total deprivation. Large portions of ththe church crumbled in the 2006 earthquake, and the congregation immediately began fundraising to rebuild. Towering banyan trees and peaceful macadamia-nut orchards surround the church, making it a worthwhile detour.
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Kalahuipua'a Fishponds
The ancient Kalahuipua'a Fishponds lie along the beach just south of the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, partly shaded by a grove of coconut palms and milo (native hardwood) trees. They are among the few still-working fishponds in Hawai'i, and are stocked with awa (Hawaiian milk fish). Water circulates from the ocean through traditional makaha (sluice gates), which allow small fish to enter but keep mature, fattened catch from leaving.
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Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Though it may appear to be desolate lava rock this national park is worth exploring. It covers 1160 acres of oceanfront and includes fishponds, ancient heiau and house sites, burial caves, petroglyphs, holua , and a restored 1-mile segment of the ancient King's Trail footpath. Visit in the early morning or late afternoon (or when it's overcast), as midday temperatures can be unbearable. Trails cross rough chunks of 'a'a lava, so wear good shoes.
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Kamehameha the Great Statue
The Kamehameha the Great Statue on the front lawn of the North Kohala Civic Center may look familiar. Its lei-draped and much-photographed twin stands opposite Honolulu's 'Iolani Palace. The statue was made in 1880 in Florence by American sculptor Thomas Gould. When the ship delivering it sank off the Falkland Islands, a second statue was cast. The duplicate arrived at the islands in 1883 and took its place in downtown Honolulu.
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Kamigaki Family's Kona Coast Macadamia Nut & Candy Factory
At the Kamigaki Family's Kona Coast Macadamia Nut & Candy Factory, you can gather some basic information about (surprise!) macadamia nuts and try out a husking machine. The dusty barn 'showroom' overlooks the real operation out back, where nuts are husked and sorted. The real attraction is the store, which sells all sorts of macadamia nut products and delectable chocolates. Be forewarned that opening hours are flexible.
Read more about Kamigaki Family's Kona Coast Macadamia Nut & Candy Factory
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Kapa'a Beach Park
This relatively unused beach park affords access to clear waters and great snorkeling if you venture past the rocky shore. The views of Maui can be spectacular. The park itself is mostly parking lot, with only a falling-apart wooden picnic pavilion and portable toilets. You will need a county permit to camp, but the beach is rocky and the ground uneven. There is only one really choice spot with a picnic table near the water.
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Kaumana Caves
Kaumana Caves are actually a large lava tube formed by an 1881 Mauna Loa eruption. The tube is extensive (enter the left or right opening), but it narrows periodically and lengthy explorations require some crawling; it's a much more evocative experience than Thurston Lava Tube in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Bring two flashlights (in case one goes out!). The caves are signposted about 4 miles along Kaumana Dr (Hwy 200).
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Kauna'oa Bay (aka Mauna Kea Beach)
Kauna'oa Bay (aka 'Mauna Kea Beach') might be the most visually stunning beach on the Big Island. The crescent-shaped cove has fine white sand and a gradual slope that fosters excellent swimming conditions most of the year. On the north end, snorkeling conditions are good during calm waters.
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Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park encompasses a wide, calm bay shouldered by a low lava point to the north, tall reddish pali (cliffs) in the center and miles of green mountain slopes to the south. The bay, which is both a state park and a marine-life conservation district, has a wide variety of life in its pristine waters, including spinner dolphins.
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Keauhou Bay
Keauhou Bay has a launch ramp and a small boat harbor, and is one of the most protected on the west coast. It has a small grassy area, a couple of palm-shaded picnic tables, showers and rest rooms. Two sand volleyball courts stand between the headquarters of the local outrigger canoe club and the lapping bay. Against the hillside, just south of the dive shacks, a plaque marks the site where Kamehameha III was born in 1814.
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Kehaka Kai State Park
For remote, pristine, white-sand beaches head for Kehaka Kai State Park. Formerly known as Kona Coast State Park, most of this 1600-acre park is undeveloped fields of chunky ' a'a lava devoid of plant life. But its beautiful beaches, only one of which has paved access, are the reason to come here. If you hike in, either set out early or prepare for punishing heat from the exposed trails and dark ground. Wear good shoes and bring lots of water.
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Kilauea Iki Crater
The overlook provides an awesome view of the mile-wide Kilauea Iki Crater, and the hike across its hardened surface is the park's most popular. One good strategy for visiting this often crowded, but scenic portion of Crater Rim Dr is to park at the Kilauea Iki Overlook and walk the Crater Rim Trail to Thurston Lava Tube and back; it's about a mile all told and easy as pie.
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Kilauea Visitor Center
Good looking after a 2005 refurbishment, the Kilauea Visitor Center is an excellent place to start. On the hour (from to ), a small theater shows a free 20-minute film on Kilauea, with spectacular eruption footage. Attractive new exhibits, listening stations and life-size dioramas introduce the area's geology, flora, fauna and conservation issues. Out front, rangers give regular talks around the scale model of Hawaii.
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Kona Coffee Living History Farm
To get an accurate feel for rural Japanese-immigrant life in the early 20th century, visit the Kona Historical Society's 7-acre, working farm. You'll get a look at the Uchida family's former orchards, house, processing mill, drying roofs and traditional Japanese bathhouse. Don't sweat the ticket price - it's worth it. Cruise ship and school groups often dominate certain time slots, so call ahead.
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Kona Historical Society
The Kona Historical Society has turned the old stone-and-mortar Greenwell General Store into a museum version of what it was in 1890. They've meticulously filled it with authentic period goods such as farm equipment and cans. The Greenwell General Store is immediately south of Greenwell Farms and the society's headquarters are behind it.
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Lapakahi State Historical Park
Lapakahi is part of a marine conservation area and certain sections are sacred. Follow the 1-mile loop trail (unshaded) past the remains of house sites, canoe sheds and fishing shrines. Learn how fishers used lift nets to catch opelu (pan-sized mackerel scad), a technique still practiced today, and how the salt used to preserve fish was dried in stone salt pans. Try 'o'o ihe (spear throwing) and 'ulu maika (stone bowling).
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Laupahoehoe Train Museum
The Laupahoehoe Train Museum evokes Hawai'i's long-gone railroad era - it's chock-full of nostalgic, lovingly tended ephemera, including 'Rusty' the switch engine, 'Woody' the caboose and a budding model railroad. The porch has kids' trains to play with.
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Lava Tree State Monument
Entering this park beneath its tight-knit canopy of monkeypod trees is an otherworldly experience. A short, easy loop trail passes through a tropical vision of Middle Earth, full of ferns, orchids and bamboo, and highlighting unusual 'lava trees', which were created in 1790 when a rain forest was engulfed in pahoehoe (lava) from Kilauea's East Rift Zone.
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Lili'uokalani Park
This lovely green oasis is named for Hawai'i's last queen. It contains manicured lawns, saltwater ponds, patches of bamboo, quaint arched bridges, stone lanterns, pagodas and a teahouse. With 2 miles of paths and ideal views of the ocean, Hilo and (on a clear day) Mauna Kea, it's perfect for a sunset stroll, an early-morning jog or an afternoon picnic with the kids (who often bring nets to snare pond fish).
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Lyman Museum & Mission House
This comprehensive museum escorts you through almost the entire natural and cultural history of Hawaii in admirably succinct fashion. Geologic exhibits begin with the first volcanic cone to break the sea's surface and include great examples of lava rock - such as lava bombs, pahoehoe toes, Pele's tears (solidified drops of volcanic glass) and Pele's hair (fine strands of volcanic glass). You even get to walk through a 'lava tube.'
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Mahai'ula Beach
Mahai'ula Beach has salt-and-pepper sand, along with coral rubble, and the inshore waters are shallow. Snorkeling and swimming are usually good, but, during periods of high surf, which are frequent in winter, surfing is the sport of choice. There are picnic tables and portable toilets. The road to Mahai'ula Beach is unpaved and barely passable in a 2WD. From the first parking area, take a five-minute walk north.
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Mahukona Beach Park
Mahukona Beach Park has a rather ratty oceanfront picnic area and an abandoned landing. Once a key port for the Kohala Sugar Company, the landing was connected to sugar mills by rail. Today locals fish off it and use its ladder to get in and out of the water to swim or spearfish. Despite the name, there is no beach here.
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Manini'owali (Kua Bay)
Manini'owali (Kua Bay) is idyllic, with crescent-shaped white sands and turquoise waters. Due to its easy access, Manini'owali packs on weekends. Most of the year, the conditions are suited to swimmers, but in winter the waves kick up for bodyboarders and bodysurfers and the storms can generate currents that temporarily strip the beach of sand. There are bathrooms and showers and picnic tables, but very little vegetation or shade.
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Mau'umae Beach
Just north of Mauna Kea Beach is delightful Mau'umae Beach, with soft white sand, shady trees and protected waters. Locals are proprietary about this beach, so don't overstep your welcome. To get here, go toward the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, turn right on Kamahoi and cross two wooden bridges. Look for telephone pole 22 on the left and park. Walk down the trail to the Ala Kahakai sign and turn left toward the beach.
