We went to this place 3 consecutive days for our morning coffee ☕️ they have free samples inside the shop as well. A very good concept to try the different flavour of manufactured coffees : It’s a coffee plantation. We didn’t do it, but you can also visit the area with a guided tour. We didn’t try the food, I think they are only selling muffins. Coffee prices was correct : around 6-7 USD for each.

Take a short, scenic drive through the lush Ka'u countryside, past dark macadamia nut forests and impressive stands of banana trees, and you will find yourself at this cozy welcoming center. Clean restrooms and a large outdoor pavilion adjoin this coffee shop/gift store. The owners are extremely generous with their coffee samples! There were six different flavors available to try (for free) on the day I visited. They provide several sweetening options, but unfortunately, no milk or creamer. If you want that, you'll have to purchase a beverage from their extensive menu. I really enjoyed browsing through all the high quality, locally made food items. The highlight was their signature brand chocolate bars. I got a Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream Bar, which was made with a few simple, clean ingredients and very reasonably priced for that caliber of chocolate. I loved how relaxed the atmosphere was. Nobody was pressuring me to buy anything, and I could just relax while happily sipping coffee and shopping.

While heading down to the coast, a large sign pointed at this coffee stop. Mainly, I was intrigued by the free restroom, for I am NOT a coffee person. However, what a great place! The landscape is so beautiful, and the store inside had me enamoured by the different coffee novelties that I almost have converted into a coffee person. I even tried a free sample of the macadamia vanilla coffee. Very tasty! They have several coffees to sample from. The atmosphere is very non-invasive: spacious and roomy. There is an outdoor seating area with the restrooms connected, and the restroom was very nice and free to use (no purchase required). I got myself a mango smoothie and chilled outside. It was a bit busy when I got there and was told it may take a while to get the smoothie, but the guy was speedy I guess and made haste to get me it pretty quickly. I was grateful. And smoothie price was fair, too.

During our time on the big island, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. We had the opportunity to sample various flavors and indulge in the gift shop. The guy who toured us was very knowledgeable about coffee. Additionally, we explored the property, observing coffee plants at various stages of the harvesting process. For coffee enthusiasts, this visit is a must-see experience.

I love this coffee farm, free tasting 😋. The lady working was very nice & helpful. The sitting area was nice & relaxing. Loved the nature of the farm. Coffee was great. Will go back again. A most go to when on the Big Island Hawaii.

Great place to see a coffee farm, get FREE coffee tasting, and buy handcrafted drinks. There are two free coffee farm tours a day at 11am and 1pm. They don't have coffee tours on the weekend though. The gift shop smelled like coffee heaven! There is outside seating to enjoy your drinks, and they have a very clean public restroom. They also have a store in Kona if you just want to get some of their coffee.

Free coffee samples and an okay tour. Coffee tasted good, but not quite as good Kona (on our humble opinion). Price was good though and the place is worth checking out.

The Temple was outstanding, a place & experience that I will never forget. I never wanted to leave. I felt touched by heaven surrounded by light, peacefulness, and happiness. The peacocks walking around me were magnificent. I will love this spiritual place and felt honored to have visited.

Beautiful space to reflect. Donation suggested if you step into the meditation room. A monk was there to greet and open up shop

The best place to stay if you’re visiting the Big Island!

We had a lovely, peaceful stay at Wood Valley temple - the rooms were clean, the kitchen well equipped, and the gardens lush and beautiful. It was also a convenient base for exploring Volcanoes national park. Marya and Miguel were kind and welcoming, we really enjoyed getting to know them and learning the history of the temple. Would highly recommend!

An amazingly peaceful retreat. We have been here many times over the last 12 years. A perfect place to get away from it all, but close enough to use as a home base when exploring the south part of the BIG Island. I can't say enough good things about this beautiful place.

Nice drive up the mountain. Area called Wood Valley. Located above Pahala Community /Town. This Temple is where the Dali Lama had been to. Nice peaceful place. Closes at 3 PM. Open to the public & Donations are welcomed. Has a nice little shop to buy souvenirs regarding the temple.

My family and company have stayed at the Wood Valley Temple and Retreat many times. We reside on the other side of the island and we often stayed there when we visit the Volcano Park or going to south side of the Big Island to conduct business. We appreciate the easy going and tranquility of the space offered. For a family or as a working group, we usually stop by Hilo or Kona to stock up supplies and just spent a few home like relaxing days at the temple retreat without the distraction of hotel personnel/ procedure, commercial advertisement, TV or over-priced hotel menu. My child got to hang out with the temple monk Deapala a few times. One of which was during a full lunar eclipse when he was performing a Tibetan ceremony. He allowed my child to participate in the ceremony for which I will be forever grateful for the his allowance for innocent blessings. We are a do-it-yourself and travel experienced family so the fact that we have a full kitchen to work with, a common dining area with eclectic music and spiritual book collection, clean water, simple rooms is a perfect set up for us. My work group also appreciate the fact that we have time to focus on interactions with each other instead of the oversubscribed mass entertainment and when needed, space for self-reflection or peaceful meditation. These are the reasons that attract us to come back again and again to the Wood Valley Temple and Retreat.

This place was not on any of the guidebooks or suggestion when coming to Kona. If you like learning about history or cultural information this spot is for you. Going in the morning is best if you don’t like to get too hot as there is minimal shade. There are a few benches throughout for sitting down but mostly you walk through to learn about the site. I watched the video the day before from the website which talked about the significance of the place of refugee and I think that helped me to understand where I was going and why it was so special. I am really glad we came here. They have some cultural classes during the week that looked interesting and we spoke with one of the staff who carved all the poles in the park that rope off the areas, it was nice hearing how important this place was to him.

Great history. If people were banned from their clan they had the chance to swim to the Place of Refuge to be forgiven from the priest and were safe there. Many people didnt make the swim. I went on a Sunday so it was free to just walk in and explore. TIP- be quiet when you enter this place as it was a sacred ground.

Absolutely love the history of this place. Very beautiful. It was during the government shutdown unfortunately but they had an audio tour you could do. No ticket needed. It’s a must see excursion

A lovely park loaded with cultural history and well-tended facilities. We stop here every time we're on Hawai'i because it changes based on weather, time of day, and season. Well worth a visit if Hawaii culture and traditions are of interest. One challenge was paying the entry fee online when the cell service there can be spotty. Good bathrooms, helpful rangers, beautiful scenery, informative displays. A+

My SIL from micronesia said she could live here. It was very authentic. There were many details that were implemented. Cordage was handmade, stakes were hand carved, tikis wère awesome, boat houses made in a accurate island tradition. Schools of fish visible from shore.

In February 2023, I visited Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park with my mom and dad, and it was one of the most peaceful and meaningful places we saw on the Big Island. Walking through the grounds, we admired the lava rock walls, reconstructed temples, and wooden kiʻi statues, while learning about the history of the “Place of Refuge.” The oceanfront setting was stunning, and the atmosphere felt both sacred and serene. It was a very educational and spiritual experience, and we left with a deeper appreciation for Hawaiian culture and history. 🌺🌊

We went here on July 28th 2025. It was like waking back in time. Tickets are purchased online, adults differ in price as well as children and age of child. You can use the QR code and listen as you go around each station. There's a gift store, bathrooms, cultural demonstrations. Very beautiful and a must see. Take your time to absorb scenery and feeling 🌜🙌🌛

Came here based on google reviews however we didn’t get the same experience (obviously Mother Nature so unpredictable!) we got cloudy day with choppy waters especially on the left side where you’re meant to swim. Couldn’t swim near the coral as they are regenerating. Rocks were sharp and parking limited.

We went and toured the historical park first then snorkeling at the beach. Beach access is outside of the park. Parking is very limited. Beach is rocky. There is a small area of sand. Water seemed cooler than other beaches, but nice and clear.

Honaunau Bay is perfect for watching tide pools and light snorkel in shallow waters. There is plenty of sunshine and sea creatures to see here. It's the idea spot to spend the afternoon. 🚗 Plenty of parking near the bay for a small fee. 🗑 Trash receptacles nearby. Leave no trace!! Consider stopping across the way at the National Park as well. There is plenty to see there too.

Fantastic snorkeling spot. We swam with dolphins for more than an hour, and there are great coral reefs that draw turtles and many fish very close to shore. The dolphins swim out in the deep water to the far right. The beach can get crowded early, so try to get out there soon after sunrise.

Quite nice snorkeling with colourful fish.

Beautiful spot to snorkel. There is a lot of marine life here and the area is kept clean. We swam out a bit where we saw dolphins jumping out of the water and ended up witnessing a pod of dolphins swim right in front of us! Amazing experience.

One of the best beaches on the big island here. Big waves rolling in perfect for boogie boarding. Lots of nearby facilities and lifeguards keep a watchful eye on things to insure your safety. White sand and cool breezes, wish I was there now! 😍

My husband and I came for a coffee tour during our visit to Hawaii and agreed that this was one of the highlights of the trip! After a long and winding road up the hill through several fields of coffee trees, we arrived at Rooster Farms and were warmly greeted by Ed, the owner and “professional weed whacker” of the farm. While brewing freshly ground coffee for us to sample, he taught us about what makes Kona coffee so unique (and so good!) as well as sharing how he and his family ended up owning a 6 acre coffee farm. So friendly, and the coffee was SO GOOD. We walked around a bit after tasting the coffee and bought a bag of coffee beans to take home. We would highly recommend touring this farm! The process to make a reservation online was very easy and we received a text message the day of with instructions for navigating there. In short, every detail was carefully planned to give us the best possible experience.

This little farm is nestled pretty far back into the hillside, but is well worth the drive out. Ed, the owner, provided us an amazing one-on-one experience, explaining all about his growing process and what makes Kona coffee so special while giving us samples of the beans he grows, harvests, and roasts all himself. The dark roast was so good we had to take a bag home (and will undoubtedly be ordering more online when we run out). Would highly, highly recommend Rooster Farms.

After a lovely drive up the hillside through a collection of other small coffee farms, almost near the top of the road you will find Rooster Farms! Ed, the owner/farmer was super nice! He is very knowledgeable and open about his farm, their processes and how the coffee growing industry works in Kona. I learned so much in our short visit! Ed offered us a fresh pour-over tasting of the coffee from his farm! We got to taste a dark and light roast. Delicious taste and beautiful aromas. I usually don’t like dark roast but it was great. Then we walked amongst the coffee plants for a while by ourselves. No gimmicks or anything like that, very warm and inviting. Jump in your rental car and spend a few minutes at the farm, and buy a few bags of coffee! We will be back

Ed is very knowledgeable and provided an excellent FREE tasting. It was neat learning about what makes Kona coffee different than other regions of the world. Yes, you will need to be comfortable driving up a one lane road that is not evenly paved. It’s unfortunate to see reviews complaining about the road. The coffee is tasty. Bought a 12oz bag.

Loved this place!! The owner is very friendly and knowledgeable, the farm is gorgeous (bring your good camera!!), but the star of the show is obviously the COFFEE!! it is so incredibly delicious, I bought the dark roast in person and ended up ordering more when we got back home. Must try!

For our first time being in Kona it’s a great experience! We wanted to enjoy great coffee tasting and ended up at Kona Rooster Farms. Ed is very nice and informative.

Had a most informative visit and wonderful tasting at Rooster Coffee Kona today with Ed this afternoon. Turns out Ed grew up a few towns (Old Tappan) away from my home town (Demarest) in New Jersey. Looking forward to enjoying our Dark Roast coffee when we get return to New York City and Long Island North Fork. All the best to Ed and Tara. Mahalo Joanne and Steve

Two sacred places in Honaunau - Puuhonua Refuge and Painted Church built - are best visited together experience the spiritual life on the Island. One Hawaiian and one Western, both serving higher powers till today... by visiting them you'll forever become part of its history by observing the unity, where people saw differences. Overlooking the Kealakekua Bay, the very place where Captain Cook took his breath for his arrogance, there is a sense of tranquility. There is peace and harmony here as if Christian Saint Benedict, the founder of monastic order, chose this place himself.

Beautiful church! Craftsmanship is amazing. There is an old cemetery in the lava out front. Plants and trees make for a beautiful setting. Well worth the visit.

On our first trip to Big Island, we stumbled upon this beautiful and historic church after visiting the banana bread spot on our way to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park. The second time around, we attended the 4pm Saturday mass and were warmly welcomed with aloha from the parishioners and priest. It was a wonderful service and enjoyed the printed photos that went along with the homily. Beautiful old church.

First time visiting big island but most importantly this amazing church. The history behind this is stunning. If you are visiting the islands don’t forget to see it . 🙏🙏🙏

Adorable little church! Completely hand painted and wooden, a lot of care was put in preserving the building, and you can feel a sweet spirit inside♡ they still have service on sundays and there is also a little book you can sign when you visit

Ample parking, restrooms, and tour information There is even a gift shop station.

A pleasant, free little experience with ample parking...kinda hard to find such a thing these days. It's an interesting church that can, at a minimum, be a comfortable place to stop and take a break. Plenty of souvenirs, too, if you're into that. Not a bad side quest if you're going to nearby Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park anyway.

This place was amazing! So happy I visited this farm and was informed on the process of making Kona region coffee. Very beautiful property and well kept. The staff was super friendly and they have great coffee and banana bread. I enjoyed the gift shop and even picked up a sticker with their farm dog Honey on it. Definitely worth checking out if you’re on the Kona area and want good coffee.

Small farm with delicious coffee! You can taste medium and dark roasts of their coffee for free. They have the store there where you can buy coffee and their other products. I recommend chocolate covered peaberries. They are so delicious. You can also go for a tour farm for free here. We really liked it! The lady who showed us around was really friendly and we learned a lot. They also have the beautiful bay view.

We did a tour through wasabi tours and this was one of the stops the wonderful little coffee farm. My wife bought some and she loves it now the little on the pricey side, but it’s wonderful coffee.

We visited a very friendly coffee farm today, run by the most interesting host. Mama Kitty was in charge of our tour while her daughter remained on Hawaii time, dozing. Security detail was run by the little pup pictured. We loved visiting this wonderful welcoming farm. If you're in the area, stop on by for a free tour and coffee! Aloha

This place is awesome. We can chill and hangout at the balcony with amazing views. Besides, the lady gave us an excellent tour of the coffee farm for free!

Bay View Farm is amazing! The staff is so friendly and the farm tour was great! Our tour guide was knowledgeable and personable - we had a great time with her! Highly recommend checking out the farm and buying some Kona coffee from them.

The coffee was amazing! I really enjoyed the flavor of the medium roast. Please keep your cup after the sample in case you would like another sample. The worker seemed pretty disappointed that we didn't keep our cup, but I didn't realize we would have another opportunity to sample more coffee. It would have been nice to be informed ahead of time. The views are beautiful to sit and have a sip of coffee. The shop had a few other local products to try as well. I highly recommend getting the banana bread! That was the best banana bread I have ever had!

There is a beautiful array of plants that are so beautiful. In some areas, you can see all the way to the ocean. They just put in a butterfly garden and all the butterflies were around. It was very relaxing. I highly recommend the visit.

Beautiful garden with a cool yoga studio. I accidentally found Joanne’s class on Kona Yoga website. It was just my hubby and I attending the morning class on Wed. It starts at 10:30am. This slot isn’t listed in the Paleaku Garden’s website. Joanne is very friendly and personable. She immediately learned our levels and taught us poses best for us. After hours of flight, I was feeling still on my whole body and the practice helped ease it. Great class! After the practice, we explored the beautiful garden. It was very nice and healing.

What a lovely garden. There are so many beautiful native plants & flowers & nice views & spots to be still & soak up the beauty & peaceful energy.

Beautiful, peaceful, and absolutely worth the stop!!! They have workshops and outbuildings for events. If you need a quiet place to meditate, read a book, or just a stroll through the gardens, this is the place!! There are so many varieties of plants and fruits to admire, even kids will love it (as long as they are respectful). Has a cute little gift shop and clean bathrooms. Barbara was super knowledgeable and friendly!!

So gorgeous and serene! Great place for a leisurely stroll or check out the library for some quiet time and interesting books! Great gift shop and grab some local fruit, coffee, or tea while you are there. Beautiful view of kealakekua bay.

Beautiful gardens. Would have spent a lot more time there, but I forgot bug spray and the mosquitos decided I was a prime snack for the afternoon. The gift shop is a bit dated but I did find some yummy cookies to nosh on, on the drive home. Would be a peaceful place to sit and have lunch, do some art, it6 just "be". If you want to spend a lot of time here, I'm not sure I would recommend kids-unless they are really into plants and nature.... Like I said, I could have spent much longer here, but my kids wouldn't have lasted more than an hour or so at the most.

So pretty. Worth the money for even just the entrance area. Full of geckos and tropical birds. Huge blooming flowers. Cute fountains with fish. Little statues covered in gentle moss. Whole area is tipped down, so you can see the ocean in the distance. Friendly little bird was very talkative. Small butterfly garden. Saw some large intricate moths in the underside of the library eave. Bring shoes like sandals or stronger, cold water, and a hat. It’s a beautiful garden but a bit tiring to explore the whole thing in the heat so just be prepared. Took around 30 minutes but you could spend a lot longer lingering in certain areas just taking it in if you wanted to.

A must stop on Big Island. They offer free coffee samplers. We visited the small but very interesting museum - it's all about coffee! They sell deliciously roasted and locally grown coffee. It's the world-famous Kona coffee. We could not resist and bought two packs. There is plenty of parking in front of the coffee center. Other visitors told us that a lava tube can be visited as well. Obviously, it's just around the corner. We skipped it as we ran out of time.

Very cute place! There were some free coffee samples, a cute shop that has a lot of merchandise, coffee products made to order, a coffee museum, and even a lava tunnel. So much to see in just one shop and totally recommend checking it out while in Hawaii!

Great coffee! We stopped here on our last day. Was a bit bummed to find out that you can't tour the grounds anymore, so all we could do was see it from above at the gift shop. We did get to walk to the lava tube which was cool. There were lots of free coffee samples to try. & I was able to buy lots of things at their gift shop, which I loved. I would definitely recommend making this a stop, unless you are wanting a tour of the grounds.

Great pit stop on our drive to Kona.. they have alot of great coffee samples and also have a tea sample. Also, have a small lava tube which is great little walk to stretch your legs and beautiful views.

Great place to visit. Fabulous little museum about Kona Coffee. Free tasting of their varieties. Other noice tourist stuff to buy there. Good rest room facilities and a little lava tube to walk through (it was a little unkempt on our visit - which was fine for us but dark in places with uneven path. Not advisable for those with any mobility difficulties)

Taste test all the types of Kona coffee here, see coffee trees and also visit the Lava tubes on the grounds!

I sampled different flavors of coffee here. I bought coffee, macadamia nuts, and chocolate covered coffee beans. The cashier was very friendly and helpful. It's a coffee plantation and Museum you can tour. It also has a lava tube.

We came for the homemade ice cream, stayed while we were given free samples of *everything*, and left with a $5 basket of amazing tropical fruits. You can also take a walk around the fruit gardens and learn about some fruits you might never have seen before. The lady working there, Lisa, was a wealth of local information and the fact it's a coop of local farmers selling great produce at local prices makes it even better.

This place is great to buy macnuts, coffee and an assortment of locally backed goods and candies. They have beautifully maintained gardens and the oldest coffee mill on the island. Everything here is a example of local business and local hours, nobody is in a rush and they have strange operation hours. The people are friendly and can answer all kind of questions about the coffee making process because they are involved personally. The tours of the coffee mill/ organic garden are self guided and marked out so you always know what you are looking at.

I have not been here in years and it is exactly like I remember it. It is a great place to stop on the way to Captain Cooks or Kealakekua bay. Mainlanders will not believe how big Avocados can get and how good they are compared to the Haas Avocado we are used to. There are a lot of things here to sample and you will learn so much out of fruits grown on the island. If you can not get to the local Farmers Markets, stop here so you can enjoy true Hawaiian produce.

Great place to sample and buy Kona coffee and macadamia nuts. The medium roast is delicious. See if they have a half price batch in between medium and dark roast.

What a nice stop from the beach, lot of delicious staff to taste and to take home, like chocolate covered peaberries or "Rock Salt MacNuts". I am eating them right now ;o).

Products here are way good. Enjoyed all that we tried. Chocolate covered beans and macN's super good quality.

Truly great products, at better prices than all of the touristy spots. Be sure to try the ice cream!

Great Bay, the very Rocky beach is not easily enjoyable since there is no sand but it's all big rocks. But the view is worth the drive i. Oh by the way the phone map takes you through a private one lane road, very narrow, so please don't follow the road of the main highway if you're going north on hwy 11 don't take the first exit to 160 but the second exit. The Bay water was really clear we could see fish from the dock/stone wall barrier. It is absolutely a beautiful place/Bay, I enjoyed the little time I spent in there.

Lots of ways to visit the bay, cruises, hikes, kayaking, etc. A lovely location for snorkeling

Perfect water temperature and so many fish to see! Crystal clear water and beautiful coral.

Good beach to snorkel, not a ton of fish compared to 2 other places I went near by. Pretty black white lava rock beach near to it.

It's exotic bay that you could watch Captain cook! It takes about 15-20 minutes from the two step beach. Very peaceful and calm place. If you need to take a break with the sound the wave crush to the stones, you may need to consider this spot to visit.

The best snorkeling place at big island. It’s only reachable through foot (a nice hike to see the lava and the bay view), boat or kayaking. We hiked down and it’s totally worth it. One can even see the fishes from the shore. Things to take: water to drink, snorkeling set. Recommend to take: water shoes, hammock, reef safe sun protection.

Went on snorkel cruise here. Very dirty on top of water with leaves and bark. Saw alot of great fish and an octopus but were covered in dirty stuff

The hike down to the water was pretty easy but the hike back up was much harder! Be sure to bring a ton of water and snacks with you. Once at the bottom, the snorkeling is great! Make sure to keep any food securely packed away because mongoose did steal my sandwiches lol.

05/08/2025 (Thu) We chose to reach the Captain Cook Monument by hiking down the trail rather than joining a boat tour, since it's said that landing on the shore is not allowed for those arriving by sea. (We’ve shared more about the hike itself in our post on the Captain Cook Monument Trail, so we’ll skip those details here.) Once we arrived, we were amazed by how clear and inviting the water was. Even from the shore, you could easily spot schools of fish swimming close to the shallows. The water temperature was pleasantly cool, and as a snorkeling spot alone, it’s truly hard to beat. Swimming here felt like being in a giant aquarium — you can explore both shallow and deeper areas depending on your comfort level, and the marine life is abundant and diverse. While many tour boats were anchored offshore, they don't approach too close to the monument itself, so the area never felt crowded. 🐟🐠🐡 One thing to be aware of, however, is that the site is completely undeveloped. There are no lifeguards, no restrooms, no food stalls, and not even trash bins. Be sure to bring plenty of water, reef-safe sunscreen, and definitely wear water shoes, as the shoreline is rocky and uneven. 🐟🐠🐡 Also, watch out for the local mongoose population. These clever little animals will go after any food they can smell. We’d been warned to keep our backpacks zipped, and although we thought we were careful — even using zip-lock bags — we returned from the water after 20–30 minutes to find our backpack opened and our snacks completely gone.🤣 Mongoose here are quick and determined, so keep your bags sealed and secured, ideally off the ground.🎒 🐟🐠🐡 Despite that little surprise, the experience was nothing short of magical. The natural beauty of Kealakekua Bay, the calm waters, and the chance to swim among so many colorful fish made this one of the most memorable parts of our trip. It’s a place we’d love to return to — even with the demanding hike, it’s absolutely worth it.😊✨

The best area for snorkeling should visit in the morning the water is clam . I recommend to buy tour. I don’t like to hike this place

This is an absolutely essential spot for anyone who loves the ocean! The area surrounding the Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay offers an unforgettable snorkeling experience. The conditions are usually perfect—the water is calm and exceptionally clear, allowing for ample time to explore the vibrant, colorful sea life and the vast underwater area. The lava rock outcrops and reefs here are truly teeming with fish and beautiful corals. It's a gorgeous and historic location that delivers on an amazing water experience every single time. If you love to explore marine life, this bay is the place to be! Be sure to book with Captain Zodiac!

1.5 hours to hike down and 3 hours to hike back. Holy Shit! Definitely not the worst hike but the elevation change along with the heat. It's like through the tall grass and Forest wasn't bad. But the desert clif sides were brutal. We (Wife and I) drank 10 bottles of juice/pop/water in a 8 hour Trip. We were there snorkeling, snacking and taking pictures for 3 hours. The hike was longer than the visit. What a beautiful place though, I will add pics and they speak for themselves. We went back by boat and so much easier of a time getting in and out of you got $250

Such a beautiful location! Loved the hike in and out. Definitely worth it!

Kayaking there was a great option. Elu and kai was easy to use for kayaking. Snorkeling there was amazing. Make sure you pick up any stray plastic you find and use reef safe sunscreen!

Loved visiting the cosy coffee farm and learning the process of how coffee is made. The experience is completely free and the guides are very knowledgeable. Not only do they grow coffee but they also grow black pepper, bananas and the property is also home to some many beautiful flowers and plants. They have lots of coffee to sample and purchase and other coffee flavored snacks.

We opted for the private tour & coffee tasting experience and thought it was FANTASTIC. All in all it took about 3 hours and was well worth the money. Our tour guide was incredible and so knowledgeable, we got to see so much more of the farm and operation than the free tour *and* try some fruits that were growing on the farm along the way. The coffee tasting was delicious and as a coffee fan, it was really neat to learn how roasters taste coffee and how the smell changes throughout the brew process. Highly recommend touring this farm, and their coffee is excellent too!

This place is a gem! We planned poorly and missed the tour, but still got delicious (free) samples of their coffees and were able to chat with the folks running the counter and purchase some bags of coffee. Delightful people in a beautiful setting, they were a joy to meet. I’m so glad we were able to stop by, and extra grateful for the one on one conversations. Totally worth a visit! (Photos are of a funny sign on the property and a gorgeous hibiscus flower near the shop!)

We had an awesome experience on the free tour here! Our guide was awesome and taught us a lot about the history of the farm, the coffee making process, and the different crops growing on the property. As someone who really enjoys coffee, I found it valuable to learn about all the different inputs and techniques that go into making something I take for granted every day. I would definitely come back to Greenwell and will highly consider booking a private tour in the future.

The complimentary tour was nice; they had a wide variety of coffee to taste. The farm itself is amazing and our tour guide was awesome.

We really enjoyed the free tour and coffee tasting. Our tour guide was funny and informative. We ended up buying a few bags to bring home with us.

Guided private tours here are an excellent way to learn more about Kona coffee production. Very friendly staff and the gift shop features some excellent local products such as coffee and black pepper.

The only beach park in Kona that has a decent sandy beach. Most beaches consist of lava rock. Not very large and be crowded especially on weekends. The volleyball court takes up some of the space. There’s parking along the road, a small lot on the beach side and a larger lot across the street. Waves could get large at times for boogie boards and bodysurfing. Be careful of rocks near the shoreline.

This beach is absolutely amazing and still a hidden gem that not many people know about. Parking is easy and located right across the street, though it can get busy. The atmosphere is calm, romantic, and perfect for watching the sunset. The waves are gentle and safe for swimming. It’s an ideal place to relax, take photos, and enjoy the view. I watched the sunset here and honestly think it’s one of the best spots on the Big Island. Highly recommended for a peaceful evening by the ocean.

Small beach limited parking but worth every minute spent here. Water was crystal clear, turtles swim next to you. Waves were awesome not to me lion the beautiful sunsets. If you have a chance this is one of the best beaches to visit

Not for the faint of heart and the (excellent) lifeguards are sure to make you aware of the ever present danger of the combination of strong waves and large stones near the break. The water is warm and clear past the break but it does get crowded by tourists searching for that boogie boarding experience. The waves I got to ride were excellent and fun but after about thirty minutes, and the consistent warning from the lifeguard megaphone, I decided to try out some spots further north. In and out safely but it’s easy to see the risks.

Good wave activity here. Be cautious with your kids under 2 years old; I wouldn't recommend bringing them out. There’s a strong current, and your feet could be touching the ground, and the next thing you know, you’re struggling to keep your head above water—especially if you can't swim. The floor is uneven. So, it's not very safe if you're holding little ones. Trust me, if I hadn't been close by to my wife and son, they both would've drowned. Keep safe.

Mainly for boogie boarding. There were people snorkeling but I’m not sure how great it is! The waves get pretty big so I didn’t feel comfortable letting my little kids go out without someone with them but my husband and oldest kid had fun! I wouldn’t recommend this beach if you have small kids because the waves will pull them into the water. There was a lifeguard there though which was comforting.

Beautiful place, ocean is strong but clear blue water. Has life guard and great pic opportunities. Also has natural shade which is a huge plus!

We visited this palace on a Friday in early March and had no crowd problem. It was a very interesting look at how the Royal family lived. The museum was very well done and you could walk around the whole grounds. It took us about 2 hours to see and read everything. Very nice.

We had an amazing experience here, we booked the docent guided tour for about 20 bucks and it was absolutely worth it. Our tour guide had so much knowledge, down to the lineage and relationships of every member of the royal family whose portraits are on the upstairs walls which was very interesting. The tour was just over an hour, and we learned so many things. The upstairs room that houses the dresses shows what incredible style the royal family had. We would absolutely recommend doing the tour instead of the self-guided.

Hulihe'e place is located downtown Kona. It pro ides an historic look at the summer home of the past royalty of Hawaii. Very intriguing furniture and clothing the royalty wore and used. I enjoyed walking through the palace.

Hulihe‘e Palace is a beautiful historic site in Kona with well-preserved artifacts and stunning oceanfront views. It’s a peaceful place to learn about Hawaiian royalty and culture—worth a visit if you enjoy history and local heritage.

Loved the palace, we had a friendly welcome and took the self guided tour by scanning the QR how ever a lady was there to provide more information, I was impressed by the history and the view from this point, we also went during the weekend of the King Kamehameha's parade and there was live music, really enjoyed the visit

Wonderful cultural site in downtown Kailua-Kona. We booked the docent guided tour and we were glad we did. Sunshine was our guide and did an excellent job especially with our oversized group. Sunshine answered all our questions and added anecdotes about each room. Not a big palace but significant in Hawaiian history and culture.

While the interior was somewhat interesting, the space was very small and the price tag was way too high. Unless you're in the area and have nothing better to do, I recommend saving your time and just admiring the exterior instead. It's free!

This church is rich in history, being billed as the first Christian church in Hawaii. It was undergoing intense remodeling while I visited, so I was not able to freely tour. I do recommend visiting when you can, as it provides a glimpse into Hawaiian history that is rich and intriguing.

This church welcomed us, tourists from Virginia, with open arms. The worship and the community were amazing. The service is definitely more “Pentecostal” feeling (at least I presumed it that way), so if you’re looking for something more traditional, it might not be for you. I personally found the sermon the day I went more of a testimony-style rather than expository, but it was a guest speaker, so I’d imagine with the pastor it’s different. Regardless, it was an amazing experience, full of grace, and I highly recommend learning about the church and the history of how Christianity began in Hawai’i because it is a wild story. Thankful for all who made our experience wonderful. Mahalo!

Worth checking out if you are in Kona. Very cool and super pretty.

Fun place to stop for a quick history lesson Did you know Christianity was introduced to the Hawaiians back in the early 1800s? That was something I learnt. The church is the proof of it. The church is not that big so it will take you 5min although the introduction video by the entry is worth the few minutes. It is impressive to see the structure and learn its history. A fun stop on the big island. Happy travels

Mokuaikaua Church is a must-visit in Kona! Attending the Sunday service was the highlight of our trip—the worship and sermon were so beautiful and uplifting. The church is rich in history, peaceful, and truly makes you feel connected to the spirit of Hawai‘i. Highly recommend stopping by!

I love history and this church is living history. Great service and met real people doing God's work! Every time we come back to the Big Island this is our church home. Always see a multicultural gathering with a strong missions application. The building is beautiful and the people are very warm and inviting. Very blessed to have found this church so far from our church home of 29 years on the mainland.

It was my wife and I's first service which happened to be for Father's Day, and what a blessed community this is! God Our Father Is Good!! God Bless Now & Always 🙏

Arrived via cruise ship, lovely little town to wander through. This cultural heritage site is a very short walk off the pier. Historic temple and royal Tahitian site. Walk through from beach side and respect the signs to not enter areas.

This pier is free and open to public foot traffic. On either side, you will find beautiful, sandy-bottomed beaches with shallow turquoise water, nicely protected from big waves. Although it is used for commercial purposes, like docking tour boats, it's also a fun place for locals and tourists to enjoy the ocean. You will see people fishing, launching paddle boards, and kids jumping off the railings. The water is so astonishingly blue, it doesn't look real! And, the views of Kona and the King Kamehameha temple are stunning.

Came in on a Norwegian cruise ship. Nicest pier in Hawaii so far as most were commercial and warehouses. This pier was like a small town with plenty of shops and restaurants.

Great place to go with kids to a safe secluded beach. It is also a fun site as it is where the Ironman swim is held. The pier itself requires a key to park on but still fun to walk on and view the historic structures. It is also a great place to dive, just make sure to bring a flag and float as it is an active boat channel and ramp.

Spent the day exploring this small town of Kailua Kona Hawaii and learning about it's history, some of the best coffees in the world is produced here. Hulihee Palace a former royal vacation home and a world heritage site and museum, the Mokuaikaua church the oldest in hawaii is located here, on Kailua bay/pier seems to be quite bustling with seabathers on a hot day and moorings for small boats. Nice area with cafe's, shops and restaurants with a complimentary bus shuttle to take you around town on a narrated ride. Lovely day was had in this picturesque town full of history with beautiful sunsets.

Beautiful pier. It is a nice place to watch the sunset, watch people fish and admire the ocean views. The water was an unreal shade of blue and there were tons of fish to watch.

I recently experienced the Body Glove Historic Dinner Cruise with Captain Rick, and it exceeded all expectations. The historical insights shared by Captain Rick added a fascinating layer to the scenic journey. The dinner was not only delicious but also served with impeccable hospitality. The combination of a stunning sunset, rich history, and Captain Rick's engaging narration made this cruise a memorable and highly recommended experience.

An iconic brewery that I was happy to visit on my trip to Hawaii. The decor was amazing and the atmosphere was great. The beer was crisp and refreshing as expected but their beer cheese nachos stole the show. Unique and tasty. So good.

Stopped into Kona Brewing during our cruise and it did not disappoint! I’ve always been a fan of their beers, but having one fresh at the source was amazing. The pizza and pizza rolls were delicious, and the staff was super friendly—top notch service all around. The whole vibe was relaxed and welcoming. Definitely a must-stop if you’re in the area, and I’ll be back for sure!

Large brewery and restaurant in a trendy new area in town. We had a Hanalei IPA brewed with POG that was refreshing but not too fruty and a Black Sand Porter. The porter was very good. We also tried the smash burger, which wasn't so much a smash burger as a pork/beef burger on an ube bun. The ube bun was interest - not the most appetizing color on the outside but super cool on the inside. The flavor of the patty, the aioli and the bun together was great. The kettle chips were good. The fish tacos with the mac salad needed a hot sauce but were tasty, if a bit small. Service here was good.

Stopped in on a Thursday afternoon with a group of 8 and seated right away. Very nice outdoor table area and cozy, tropical vibes inside (smelled amazing). Service was friendly and attentive. Enjoyed our food and cocktails! Decent prices. Daily weekday happy hour from 3-5 PM with $2 off select appetizers, cocktails, and pints. -Pepperoni Rolls (delicious!) -Captain Pizza (good) -Frozen Mai Tai (strong, good) Edamame (nice flavor) Overall, would recommend for a medium sized group to enjoy drinks and food.

We had a wonderful time enjoying lunch at Kona Brewing, a Kona icon! Our family enjoyed two pizzas, beers, and soft drinks. Our server recommended the avocado fries as a starter. It was our first time trying this dish, and it was delicious, along with the other dishes. The service from the staff was also excellent. We felt their aloha spirit, and it made our trip perfect! I regret not buying any merchandise. I definitely want to get a t-shirt on my next visit :)

We love Kona brewing. This is our 2nd visit (first in 2018). The staff are always so free, beer cold and delicious, and the food makes for happy bellies! The kalua pork nachos are the best we've had - get the large (we blew it on the size we ordered, lol).

Kona brewing has a lovely outdoor sitting area that is very large and welcoming. All the staff was very awesome and friendly. The nachos with the beer cheers were excellent. The pizza and the crust was very good and fresh. The seared ahi was also very good. The one downside was they were out of their top two beers which was disappointing but it was still a great experience.

A Must-Visit for Coffee Lovers We took the tour with Sue, and I have to say—you absolutely get your money’s worth. The tour was informative, engaging, and gave us a deep appreciation for what makes Hula Daddy so special. Sue was fantastic—knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about Kona, the plantation, and the plants. The property itself offers an incredible view of the island, and the care that goes into their coffee process is unmatched. Hula Daddy is clearly a selective, high-quality operation, and the taste of the coffee speaks for itself. We even learned that light roast contains more caffeine than dark—proving to me that coffee can be enjoyed without cream! We purchased a coffee flight and some chocolate-covered beans to bring home for family, but honestly, I already wish we had gotten more. I would absolutely visit again. Thank you, Hula Daddy, for raising the bar on coffee!

We had a lovely tour this morning with Nicole. She was so informative as she showed us the fascinating ins and outs of Hula Daddy’s coffee production. We got to meet the owners and the roaster, learn about the farm, and taste some chocolate covered beans and freshly brewed coffee on the relaxing porch. Highly recommend! FYI might not be AS interesting for little kids and teens. But for coffee loving adults. 10/10!

We visited on 9/2 for a tour and coffee purchase. Danielle was our fantastic tour guide, and it was just my husband and myself at the time slot we selected. The grounds are beautiful, maximizing the space for lovely plants and coffee trees growing with a view of paradise, straight down to the coast below. Perhaps this is why the coffee is so good: it’s returning the beauty it’s been given. The owners are wonderful stewards of the land, taking great care to curate the best product. Laura, the esteemed roaster, is a delight. Don’t miss the chance to talk story while she works. You won’t regret learning about her and the roasting process. I also purchased chocolate covered macadamia nuts, chocolate covered coffee beans, and two coffees: Kona Sweet and Ohana. I left reviews for both roasts on the Hula Daddy site so I will not review here other than to say it was a delicious splurge, well worth the expense, to share some aloha with friends and family after reluctantly returning to the mainland. I highly recommend any coffee lover visit the Hula Daddy farm and tour it. I enjoyed myself tremendously!

Another great stop on the "Big Island" when visiting Hawaii. Hula daddy is just an easy few minute drive up the mountain from Kona. Very well kept farm and grounds, friendly staff , and a great view across the coffee trees looking down towards the ocean. Their chocolate covered coffee beans are really good! Nestor place with a very interesting clock , and liked the pineapples growing in the garden area.

Holy cow! The best coffee I've ever tasted in the world, and I'm a coffee snob! You won't find their coffee in the grocery stores as it's not mass produced. It's very niche and rightfully so has won Coffee Review awards. If you want a more intimate coffee farm tour, come to Hula Daddy in Kona! Danielle was an amazing tour guide and let us pick the coffee cherries off the tree and taste them. The flesh from the coffee cherry taste like fruit! Who knew! Hula Daddy does not cut corners when it comes to quality. They hand pick and hand sort every single coffee bean. Get the pour-over flight and try the Kelly J. Bourbon coffee (bourbon - pronounced ber-bone -is a coffee varietal, not the alcoholic drink, LOL).

This farm offers a stunning view and a good coffee experience. While the environment is pristine and the visit itself deserves 5 stars, the coffee is just average, and the pricing feels a bit high, that’s why leaving the review with 4 stars.

A family owned coffee farm and shop. They show you the process and step off making a delicious coffee. Nice people, nice place and awesome views!

Gorgeous location. Sensational view of the ocean and of Kona. Warm waters and sandy shoreline. Great area foe snorkeling or marveling at the aquatic life in the Lava-flow ponds. Mild waves in this gulf. While we were there, we saw 2 sea turtles, one of which popped up just a couple feet from us.

First, hot so bring your hydration of choice. And bring some back up H2O just in case.. It’s a seriously understated National park in my opinion. Very sacred space please keep that in mind when looking at how undisturbed the vast terrain appears. Staying on the path you can spot some subtle natural pools coming up from an underground network of water. Nothing h you can drink. But interesting to hear from the teacher that the early days when locals were in need of fresh water, this was the place to drink. The fishing has was “huge” with one of the largest fish pond I hear.

Great location to visit not too many tourists and the beach is nice. The hike is not the easiest on unimproved path with a lot of lava rocks and it very exposed to the sun. Need to bring water and wear sturdy shoes. Came during the gov shut down so the parking lot, visitor center, and restrooms were all closed but at the turn around you can fit ~10 cars along the shoulder.

Beautiful beach and park with a great chance of seeing turtles and other wildlife. THIS IS A HIKE FIRST and a beach second. Make sure to wear good hiking shoes and clothes. Bring beach stuff with you to change into if you want to swim and get your feet wet.

Historical, so nothing like the Volcanos or big park. We had the tripark pass so it was included but I won’t pay 30$ just because I’m not that into even it was beautiful to see. You can’t swim but there is a public beach next to it. The ranger let us keep the car in the parking when we went to the public beach. That was the sun was very hot, not too much shade places. Also not recommend with a stroller.

What a hidden gem. I was just killing time before my flight home and on a whim stopped at the park. I cheated when I saw there was parking closer to the beach, so I moved my car to the marina and walked to the beach from there. The morning time is breakfast for sea turtles. I must have seen 15-20. This was a happy little accident to have this be my last stop before returning home.

Visitor center is well maintained. There’s a small gift shop, information about the area and restrooms to use before your hike to the beach. It is a hot, sunny walk. The fish pond and beach area is beautiful. Restroom facilities near beach, as well.

Visited the plantation on a cool rainy day last weekend and loved every minute of our tour. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the coffee production process and was even kind enough to answer my questions on some of the other random plants you can find around the plantation and nature trail. The coffee though…11/10, I purchased the peaberry after the tour and have found it to be the only coffee I have ever been able to drink black. Take the time and visit this place ASAP! Also, drop the extra $ and get the peaberry it is awesome!

Thank you for the wonderful tour and experience! We learned a lot about coffee during the free tour, makes me appreciate my cup of joe even more! We also decided to take the paid Natural Trail ($10 per party). The self guided tour book was so helpful, it explained each plants or scene along the way, you can really take your time and enjoy the nature while filingl in with some knowledge. Of course you cant miss the free coffee tasting and the gift shop! And if you're lucky like us lol, you'll have a chance to play and take some picture with Mr.Kitty while he is not asleep! 😻❤️

We visited the Thunder Mountain Coffee Plantation while visiting the Big Island. They're neat and organized business really fits the agra/ tourist model. They were doing free tours while we were there, and had a small store showcasing their products. I picked up a bag of their whole bean Expresso Dark which has good flavor , is very smooth, only not as bold as I would have imagined. Good stop while visiting , very nice landscape and flowers.

On a warm, rainy Thursday afternoon, we decided to explore Mountain Thunder Coffee—and what a hidden gem! Tucked up in the mountains, it was noticeably cooler than down by the coast, creating a refreshing and peaceful escape. The moment we arrived, we were welcomed with a tasting station offering four delicious coffee samples. The hosts were warm, inviting, and incredibly knowledgeable. Even with the rain, they had us covered—literally—with free umbrellas and $2 ponchos available in the gift shop. Our short walking tour was informative and fun, as our guide walked us through the process of making coffee from start to finish. We especially enjoyed seeing the roasting shed. And the best part? The tour was completely free. We didn’t get to explore the full coffee grounds due to the downpour, but there's clearly more to discover next time. There's a cozy lunch area, clean bathrooms, and a gift shop filled with great coffee and collectables. Between the misty jungle atmosphere, the cooler mountain air, and the genuine hospitality, it felt like a Jurassic Park adventure—in the best way possible. We’ll definitely be back. Mountain Thunder Coffee is a must-visit—great coffee, friendly staff, and a one-of-a-kind mountain experience. 5 out of 5! ☕🌿

Visiting this coffee farm in America’s only cloud forest was nothing short of magical. The free tour was incredibly informative — we learned all about the coffee-making process from passionate guides and got to sample some of the best coffee I’ve ever tasted. There’s a small shop where you can buy beans and local goods, and for just $10, you get a charming booklet and access to a peaceful trail through a garden that ends at a scenic observatory deck. We arrived in the morning with sunshine, and by the time we left, we were literally in the clouds with a light mist of rain — a surreal and beautiful shift that made the experience even more memorable. I can’t recommend this place enough. It’s authentic, educational, and absolutely worth the visit.

Fun experience. Coffee tour is free and describes the farming, cultivation, market and sale of Kona coffee. The mill itself was not impressive, but I found the presenters and staff to be true masters of their craft, with a high degree of knowledge. They were all extremely friendly and inviting. There is complimentary coffee that you can taste before and after the tour. Options include the light roast American, French, Vienna and my favorite, the Black & Tan (mix of the American and French). The only costs are the self-guided nature walk and of course any purchases from the gift shop. The tour was honestly quite short and modest, but I would do it again to support the business, and it’s only $10. I also had a bunch of samples, so I was rather eager to just “go.” I could fairly see others concluding otherwise.

We visited Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation in Kona and had such a great time. We took the free tour and it was unbelievably informative. Learned so much about how coffee is grown, harvested, and refined, and it was really cool to see how particular they are with their process. Our guide was amazing. She knew so much and answered every question in detail, even taking extra time to explain things further. You could tell she really loved what she does and made the tour super engaging. The shop was also really nice. We picked up a few coffee candles and they smell incredible. Excited to light them at home and bring a little bit of Kona back with us. If you’re in Kona, definitely worth a stop whether you’re a big coffee drinker or just curious about how it all works.

Search for "Jack Jeffries birdwatching" to find the best tour. Jack was the lead ecologist for the reserve for decades. He's now retired, but still leads small tours (max 4 people). His knowledge of the birds, the plants, and the land is unparalleled - not least because he was instrumental in saving and restoring this reserve. My partner and I are both scientists, and we were beyond thrilled with our expedition with Jack. There are other tours available, but Jack is the real deal, and the birds and plants you'll see are so worth it.

You don't need a guide or any special permission to drive the 40 mile Mana Road through this gorgeous area. You just need a high clearance 4WD truck or Jeep. You can pick up the Mana Road off the Mauna kea Access Road. After following the road for 4 or 5 hours, you will exit onto the main highway in Waimea. It can get a little crowded on the weekends as this activity is popular with local families. During the week you will have it to yourself. It is a bit tricky in a couple spots, but totally doable for anyone with 4WD off roading experience.

Beautiful native hawaiian forest with the best forest birding on the island. 100% worth getting a tour to visit if you are a birder - saw 2x akiapola'au, akepas at close range, and lots of alawi creepers. I went with Jack Jeffrey and it was awesome! Visiting here was one of the highlights of my Hawaii trip

The best place to see the rarest native forest birds on Hawai'i Island (except for the Pālila on the other side of Mauna Kea!-)

A beautiful and special place. It is a highlight of our Hawaiian birding trip. Thanks to Hawaii Forest & Trail and Victor Emanuel Nature Tours for sharing this incredible place with all of us.

Shows what conservation can do in a relatively short amount of time. 35 years. Beautiful park, amazing bird songs, and sightings. Rough road to the park!! The park used to be ranch land 35 years ago.

Since access is by permit, which really means a guided tour, this is both special and expensive. It's worth it to spend a day getting introduced to native flora and fauna in a rainforest at 7200 ft above sea level. The birds are spectacular. The trees and shrubs that sustain them are beautiful and fascinating. The park evidently was a large ranch that the Nature Conservancy acquired and that is now a national park. Serious work goes on to reestablish native species and exclude others, i.e., the entire refuge is tightly fenced with hog wire to keep out the feral pigs that have done so much damage to native plants. Likewise, while hiking it's not unusual to come across mongoose traps. Between the pigs and the mongooses, many native birds and other critters have gone extinct over much of their original ranges. For further control, there's cross-fencing. Access is strictly through locked gates. Of course, anything that flies and can live there, moves freely about, and the island(s) are overwhelmed with non-native birds, particularly because of released or escaped "pet" birds. Mosquitos are also an introduction that's doing great harm, carrying diseases into local bird and mammal populations that have no resistance. When one thinks of a rainforest in the tropics, it's probably of low-land, super-saturated kinds. This one if quite open, and on a sunny introduction, looks more like some dry-land savannah than what it is, which you appreciate when a shroud of fog rolls down the much higher peak and begins a steady weeping, without or without real rain. In that respect, it's reminiscent of the coastal temperate rain forests of the Pacific Northwest, only with totally different flora and fauna.

I visited the Ocean Rider Seahorse farm on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tour was informative. Jasmine the guide was fun and knowledgeable. Facts about the potential loss of the seahorse were alarming. So were changes in the seahorse from wild to industrial production to "Preserve the Species": 1. Wild seahorses mate for life. Industrially produced products are polygamous. 2. Wild seahorses are hunters and only eat live food. Industrially produced products eat frozen food. Which brings to mind the question, are we saving the seahorse, by industrial production? Possibly, if industrial products go to pet aquariums or to supply alternative medicine, sparing native wild seahorses. If wild seahorses go extinct, will we be left with only industrial product seahorses? The tour was fun. You do get to see and hold seahorses. You see what they are being fed industrially (not what they eat in the wild). Interesting but pricey, in the off season approx. $75/ per adult. No kids go free, $5 discount? More expensive for the deluxe tour where you get to hold more than just one seahorse. The touchy feely tide pool was fun: sea urchins that collect things and decorate their bodies, clown fish, various starfish, the sea cucumber. Fun for kids. Step stools for kids. I saw several families there. Educational experience where you see & touch things. You even get to eat seaweed😬 Flat access with walkways. Handicapped access is fair. May require standing to see what is in large tanks. Some places too narrow for a wheel chair. Plenty of free parking. A bit difficult to find without google maps. Road there is bumpy.🤯 *Check out the photos!

We hesitated to book this one until our last few days on the island, knowing we had to fill out our day after checking out and before our flight. It seemed a bit steep for "holding a seahorse", but we figured where else would we get the opportunity? We booked only a day in advance with no issue. Easy to find out by the airport on the west coast of Kona, it was a small little building and from the front didn't look like much. However, our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and every detail she shared was fascinating. The birthing and growth pools, the feeding, and the displays were all very fun and exciting. I was right, though, holding a seahorse was cool but... it was over in less than 60 seconds (I'm glad I didn't pay for the option to hold one twice - for four of us I think that would have cost an extra $160). I was glad we did it, and would recommend it for sure if you love seahorses and aquatic facts. And it felt good to support them as their initiative is to sell domesticated seahorses to prevent the capture of "wild" ones that are already endangered.

This was such a fun tour. They were so informative and it was neat to see the sea horses at all different stages of development. It was amazing to hold a little sea horse. They do great conservation work here!

We went to Ocean Rider’s Seahorse farm today and really enjoyed ourselves. So interesting to learn more about them and get to look inside the tanks and see them from little babies (fry) all the way up to adult hood. We even got to have a couple wrap their adorable tails around our fingers. They even had some Weedy Seadragons and you just can’t believe that they’re real. If you like seahorses then this is the experience for you!

What a great tour! While it's a bit pricey, I found it to be very informative and their operation very solid. The sea horses are simply amazing and also very healthy looking.

What a lovely find! Friendly employees and cutest gift shop EVER! This may be possibly a core memory for our 5 year old. For the next 4 days she showed everyone how to hold her hands and hooked a little rubber seahorses from the gift shop to her fingers just like her real life experience. While I am a beginner home aquarist myself, it was inspiring to learn of their husbandry practices and see their huge success rate in real life! Maybe one day! 😍 Would love to come back again.

The pricing is absolutely predatory. $48 for a seahorse stuffy!? $300 for a family of 4 for barely one hour!!!? During that hour, only 5 minutes of that was interactive: - 30 seconds of feeding a small cup of shrimp to a vat of seahorses from top down so there wasn’t much to see, - 60 seconds getting your hands ready for a seahorse, - 30 seconds of actual seahorse holding, - 3 minutes of sea urchins in a touch tank. Honestly this could have been just a short talk in the room with display tanks at the end showing shrimp (their food), babies, and adults; and then wash hands and hold the seahorses a few times (not just once). For half the price. However, giving this 4 stars because the kids were delighted that they held a seahorse and I don’t know anywhere else in the world where they can touch a seahorse.

Very nice people. We were allowed to go in to see the vines growing and developing beans. There were beautiful orchids growing in pots. It was nice to be able to look at merchandise without the hovering employees and locked cabinets we encounter in Las Vegas. I bought some vanilla beans and intend to make vanilla extract.

We loved our visit to The Vanillerie! Our guide, Aurora, was knowledgeable, engaging, and even added some fun puns along the way. We learned so much about how orchids produce vanilla beans and appreciated supporting a local farm. The tour ended with vanilla ice cream—don’t miss trying it with the vanilla salt and pepper, it was outstanding!

We had a great time at The Vanillerie with Candee as our guide. Who knew vanilla was so complicated and amazing! We learned so much, Candee was extremely knowledgeable, funny, and engaging. Great gift shop will all things vanilla and more. I highly recommend this as a must do activity while in Kona!

🌟 My Experience We had such a fascinating and educational time at The Vanillarie! 🍃 The tour was led by Candy, who brought so much passion and knowledge to the experience. Learning about the process of growing, harvesting, and curing vanilla beans right in Kona was truly eye-opening. 🌺 🍽️ Tasty Treats At the end of the tour, we got to enjoy a delicious tasting of vanilla bean ice cream 🍨—creamy, rich, and full of real vanilla flavor! It was the perfect way to wrap up the experience and truly taste the fruits of their labor. 🙌 Outstanding Guide Candy was phenomenal! 👏 Her expertise and warm, friendly personality made the tour feel personal and engaging from start to finish. You can tell she loves what she does—and it shows! 💰 Great Value This tour is an incredible bargain for the amount of insight and tasting you get. 💵 Educational, fun, and budget-friendly—what more could you ask for? 💬 Final Thoughts & Recommendation If you’re visiting the Big Island and want to do something a little off the beaten path, The Vanillarie is a hidden gem 🌿. Highly recommend this tour to anyone curious about local agriculture, gourmet ingredients, or just looking for a sweet afternoon. Mahalo, Candy! 🤙🍦

Near the Kona airport. Informative and fun. Aurora our guide spent time educating us about the history of vanilla. Growing vanilla orchids. You get to see the plants and growth in all stages. Learn why vanilla is one of the most expensive spices in the world! Family friendly. Two hour tour. Reasonable cost $25. Flat access, however, gravel walk makes it unfriendly for strollers or wheel chairs. Best of all you get to sample their vanilla icecream. It was made with beans grown at the farm.

Candee was great guide telling the story of the diva known as Vanilla. The premises were organized and they had a lovely gift shop to try and sample products. They provided vanilla ice cream made using their own vanilla at the end of the tour that was the best my wife has had (and vanilla is her favorite so she's had some good ones). We are so excited to share the gifts of vanilla we bought here with friends and family back home.

My husband and I loved our tour here with Aurora! I had no idea harvesting vanilla is such a time intensive labor of love. The Vanillerie does everything by hand, and encouraged us to look into buying our own beans and making our own vanilla as well! Aurora was a great guide, fun and conversational while also getting granular about the process of growing, harvesting, and curing vanilla beans. Would highly recommend, especially if you’re looking to kill some time before your flight as it’s right by the airport!

A pleasant visit with students to learn about the science happening here on the island. Ms.Candee was our guide; it wasn't a long experience but great views.

This is well worth a visit - the tour was fascinating and encouraging - excited to see hydrogen as a viable alternative fuel. Even the 3 teenagers I dragged along learned a lot and one of them named it as their most favorite activity after 12 days in Hawaii. Highly recommended.

We were in Hawaii for three weeks and this was the only disappointment. We had seen great reviews for the tour so signed up. We were the only ones there and the director made comments that "normal" people don't take this tour. A bit off-putting! We were shown a slide show that she commented on. There was quite a bit of pushing of salt and supplement products for sale that were produced by start-ups in the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology park. We did enjoy the bits about energy generation from the deep, cold seawater and the efforts at sustainability. But whatever this tour was before Covid, it is no longer, and we generally felt we wasted both our time and money on this.

We took the NELHA / Host Park tour yesterday and it super interesting. We learned so much about the different fascinating research and conservation ventures on the site. And how many great career opportunities there are for young people, so important to the island!! Candee was amazing, very knowledgeable!! We got to taste the deep ocean water too that just came up from 3,000 feet. I was so surprised how different that tasted compared to surface water. If you do the tour, be sure to taste it.

If you're a nerd or engineer like me and enjoy science and leading edge technologies, you will enjoy going to this. You can read and see the latest technologies being developed and talk with many experts.

The tour of this facility was outstanding! The guide, Candee, was very knowledgeable and very passionate about educating the group and her enthusiasm was very contagious! I found the best parts of the tour were going underground to see how the faculty was cooled and the other tours down the road!

The tour was very very rushed. My 6 year old and 11 year old couldn't understand the content as presented because it was way over their heads. I could barely keep up because it was going too fast even for me. We were the only ones on the tour and it finished 35 minutes early. The information that I did understand was very interesting. I wish I had a recording of the tour that I could show my kids to slow down and explain. As it was, my kids didn't get much out of it unfortunately.

The visitor center itself doesn’t have much just restrooms, a small selection of merchandise, and a very brief explanation of the area. We mainly went to see the sunset, and I recommend walking up the mountain in front of the visitor center for the best view. Just be prepared it’s windy and gets cold, so bring a jacket. We stayed after to see the stars, but you’ll need to wait around 45 minutes to an hour after sunset for it to get dark enough. There’s no designated stargazing area, so most people gather in the parking lot or nearby. The only downside is the car lights going on and off, which makes it a bit hard to fully enjoy the stars but they are absolutely beautiful!

We visited just before sunset and walked up to the viewpoint near the Visitor Center with our 4 year old. It took around 20 minutes at a steady pace and the track was manageable, even with a young child, though we took our time. Reaching the top was absolutely worth it. The views stretched right across the island, with the colours of the sunset spilling over the clouds and the mountain ranges. It felt peaceful, almost otherworldly, and gave us one of the most beautiful moments of our trip. As the evening set in we joined the free stargazing session. The night sky here is unlike anywhere else, the stars are so clear and bright you feel immersed in them. It was stunning to see constellations and planets with the naked eye and with the telescopes provided. Our child loved it too, which made it even more special as a family experience. The Visitor Center itself is welcoming with friendly staff, restrooms, a small shop and cultural displays that explain the significance of Mauna Kea. The team there gave us good advice on acclimatising to the altitude and on driving conditions. If you have the right vehicle you can continue on to the summit, but even if you stay at the Visitor Center the beauty, the views and the night sky make it an unforgettable stop that we highly recommend.

We stopped at the Visitor Center on our way to the summit for the recommended 30 min altitude acclimation. We used the restroom and refilled our water bottles. On our way out of the Visitor Center to go up to the summit to watch the sunset, the Rangers gave us a safety briefing. Everything went well. It was early August, and the summit temperature was in the 40s, very cold and windy. It was a beautiful sunset. Definitely worth the trip.

Both times we visited the island we stopped here. It's a beautiful place to watch the sunset above the clouds. After dark an astronomer gives a talk with a laser pointer showing you highlights of the night sky. If you have a vehicle that is 4x4, good health, and extra time; go to the top with the telescopes. If you don't have all of those, this is a great stopping point worth the trip to experience the dark sky and sunset above the clouds. If you're going to be there after sunset, bring warmer clothes. At an elevation of over 4000 feet, it's colder than the rest of Hawaii. If you are going to the top, you'll stop here for at least a half hour to acclimate. There is a gift shop here..

Absolutely breathtaking experience! The Maunakea Visitor Information Station is one of the best spots on the island for stargazing. The skies here are unbelievably clear, and you can see more stars than you ever imagined. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they provide great tips about the mountain and night sky. It’s also a good place to acclimate before heading up to the summit. Highly recommend stopping here if you want to experience the magic of Maunakea and the stars above Hawaiʻi.

There are a lot of information signs to read during the day and a fantastic view of the sky at night. Even if you don't go up to the summit, you can enjoy the Milky Way from here plus more stars than you can imagine. Make sure to bring your credit or debit card because they don't accept cash for souvenirs.

Worth the drive! Breathtaking views! We went for sunset, it was beautiful! Then the night starry sky was a memorable experience. Feels like another universe.

The visitor center itself doesn’t have much just restrooms, a small selection of merchandise, and a very brief explanation of the area. We mainly went to see the sunset, and I recommend walking up the mountain in front of the visitor center for the best view. Just be prepared it’s windy and gets cold, so bring a jacket. We stayed after to see the stars, but you’ll need to wait around 45 minutes to an hour after sunset for it to get dark enough. There’s no designated stargazing area, so most people gather in the parking lot or nearby. The only downside is the car lights going on and off, which makes it a bit hard to fully enjoy the stars but they are absolutely beautiful!

We visited just before sunset and walked up to the viewpoint near the Visitor Center with our 4 year old. It took around 20 minutes at a steady pace and the track was manageable, even with a young child, though we took our time. Reaching the top was absolutely worth it. The views stretched right across the island, with the colours of the sunset spilling over the clouds and the mountain ranges. It felt peaceful, almost otherworldly, and gave us one of the most beautiful moments of our trip. As the evening set in we joined the free stargazing session. The night sky here is unlike anywhere else, the stars are so clear and bright you feel immersed in them. It was stunning to see constellations and planets with the naked eye and with the telescopes provided. Our child loved it too, which made it even more special as a family experience. The Visitor Center itself is welcoming with friendly staff, restrooms, a small shop and cultural displays that explain the significance of Mauna Kea. The team there gave us good advice on acclimatising to the altitude and on driving conditions. If you have the right vehicle you can continue on to the summit, but even if you stay at the Visitor Center the beauty, the views and the night sky make it an unforgettable stop that we highly recommend.

We stopped at the Visitor Center on our way to the summit for the recommended 30 min altitude acclimation. We used the restroom and refilled our water bottles. On our way out of the Visitor Center to go up to the summit to watch the sunset, the Rangers gave us a safety briefing. Everything went well. It was early August, and the summit temperature was in the 40s, very cold and windy. It was a beautiful sunset. Definitely worth the trip.

Both times we visited the island we stopped here. It's a beautiful place to watch the sunset above the clouds. After dark an astronomer gives a talk with a laser pointer showing you highlights of the night sky. If you have a vehicle that is 4x4, good health, and extra time; go to the top with the telescopes. If you don't have all of those, this is a great stopping point worth the trip to experience the dark sky and sunset above the clouds. If you're going to be there after sunset, bring warmer clothes. At an elevation of over 4000 feet, it's colder than the rest of Hawaii. If you are going to the top, you'll stop here for at least a half hour to acclimate. There is a gift shop here..

Absolutely breathtaking experience! The Maunakea Visitor Information Station is one of the best spots on the island for stargazing. The skies here are unbelievably clear, and you can see more stars than you ever imagined. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they provide great tips about the mountain and night sky. It’s also a good place to acclimate before heading up to the summit. Highly recommend stopping here if you want to experience the magic of Maunakea and the stars above Hawaiʻi.

There are a lot of information signs to read during the day and a fantastic view of the sky at night. Even if you don't go up to the summit, you can enjoy the Milky Way from here plus more stars than you can imagine. Make sure to bring your credit or debit card because they don't accept cash for souvenirs.

Worth the drive! Breathtaking views! We went for sunset, it was beautiful! Then the night starry sky was a memorable experience. Feels like another universe.