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! 😍

If you want to see Captain Cook’s Monument but don’t want to hike down & up the rocky 3.8 miles trail, you can drive to Kapahukapu Manini Beach. You can see the white monument with naked eyes!

Nice place to swim on a calm day. If you snorkle, you can also often find turtles and beautiful fish right off the shore

One of the best snorkelling places for beginners in all of the Hawaiian islands

Did my first open water swimming here. Had a great experience and lots of fish.

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!

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!

Amazing experience! We were offered a free tour and they really focused on coffee education and not on sales. She went through the entire coffee making process from farming to sorting to roasting. We were all stunned by how much we learned and after tasting the coffee, we ended up buying several bags. Overall such quality people and coffee. Super warm and friendly

I bought this coffee as Christmas presents last year and got rave reviews! This morning, I finally got to try a cup and it did not disappoint. It was smooth and bold and has now ruined all other coffee for me! I can't wait till tomorrow morning to have another cup! Thanks Pele Plantations!

After looking at many places in Kona to tour a coffee plantation, we settled on the Pele Plantation. I decided to send out an email from their website to see about taking a tour later that day. Within 20 minutes I had a reply and a time scheduled. We were sent detailed information on what to wear, directions, and if our teenage girls would like anything else to eat while we were there. The owner of the Pele Plantations (Melanie) greeted us and took us on a tour of her and her husbands coffee plantation. She was very informative on her knowledge of growing and producing coffee. You could also tell that she makes sure, she is putting the best organic Kona coffee product that she has to offer to her customers. Melanie is very meticulous about ever bean that gets picked and how it is roasted before sending it out to her customers. After our tour Melanie opened up her home and introduced us to a couple of flavors of her coffee and how it should be brewed to get the full flavor of the coffee. All in all we had a magnificent trip and tour of their Plantation and I would recommend a tour and their coffee to anyone that visits. -C

My wife, Angela and I visited Pele Plantations when vacationing on the Big Island in late April of 2018. I knew I wanted to tour a Kona Coffee plantation, but we had no idea how blessed and impressed we would be by the hospitality of Melanie and Vikram, the owners. Vikram gave us a comprehensive tour of the estate but also went into great detail about the planting process, coffee cultivation, and roasting dynamics. He also gave us an eye-opening explanation about the requirements of being Certified Organic, and then the additional steps that Pele takes (the Japanese way), above and beyond what's required, in order to produce a bean that is recognized among the best in the world. There was science, there was spirituality, there was friendship between complete strangers! At the end of the tour, we were treated to several cups of the fruit of their labor. Excellent. They gave us great local advice on things to do and places to see for the rest of our stay on Hawaii. But looking back, this unexpected expedition was the big hit of the Big Island! Highly recommend contacting for a tour, if you visit Kona. I know if we go back, there is no question; we would (will) return to Pele Plantations. PS...the coffee is worth every penny. We're out of our stash that we brought back from our trip, but we'll be making a bulk order in time for the holidays! ☕😋

I love Pele Plantations which I found online. I was buying Kona from another distributor and read that the best and freshest came from Hawaii so....I picked Pele. I joined the coffee club as Melanie was so pleasant and helpful in recommending a coffee for me. My orders come on time, are packaged well and smell so wonderful before I get them out of the mailer box. I began with medium roast but tried Pele Roast and it's my new go to. I'm into my second year of membership and look forward to the arrival of my order...as does my husband and my adult son. Now and then I run out before I get my order and after drinking Kona regularly, it is impossible for me to be satisfied with anything else out there. Price wise, it's an indulgence that I believe I'm worth and if it weren't for the shipping cost to Southern U.S, it would be almost practical :) If you are a Kona drinker, I highly recommend Pele Plantations and if you want to try something extravagant for your taste buds, I highly recommend Kona.

Recently I purchased another brand of coffee beans to support a great mission and see if my Kona addiction was real. Although I enjoyed the other coffee, I didn’t realize how much of a Kona fan I was until I brewed the first pot of Pele Plantation coffee after drinking the other coffee for a few weeks. What a difference. Everyone who drinks coffee at my house loves it but most are not willing to make the investment in perfect beans. They wonder why my coffee is so good. It all starts with the Pele Plantation beans. They are never bitter and are always smooth.

I've had the opportunity to try 8-9 roasts and they have all been unique and delicious. Connoisseur, special batch goodness.

My family and I wanted to go on a coffee tour while on our Big Island vacation, and I'm so glad I was able to find Pele Plantation while I was doing research. Melanie and Vikram welcomed us with open arms and gave us a very informative private tour of their family owned farm. After learning about their 100% organic growing and roasting process (which is amazing - its so much work to stay certified year after year), we were treated with a coffee tasting on their lanai with amazing views of their property and the ocean. They have so much passion and dedication for what they do, and you can really tell in the quality of their coffee. We left with many bags for ourselves and for gifts, and signed up to be part of their coffee club. We all can't wait to enjoy the fresh Kona coffee at home and continued correspondence with Melanie and Vikram. If you're looking for a really unique Kona coffee experience run by inspiring people and is not a cookie-cutter tourist trap, definitely try to stop by Pele.

Excellent snorkeling. We've had the good luck of being in the water the same time a pod of dolphins came in also. Be warned, there is a crazy lady there who comes up and tells everyone not to pee in the water, use non reef safe sunscreen, and only enter at one location. Basically trying to dissuade people from using Two Step. She even was telling people this was not Two Step, which everyone, including the National Parks Historic Site next door called this area Two Step. She meant well, and was not 100% wrong, she was just a little over the top. Highly recommended, some of the best snorkeling on the island.

Beautiful beach area where you can sit on the edge or go in and snorkel. Can't believe we forgot our snorkel that day! The water color is amazing.

The best snorkeling! You will see all the fish! Bring water shoes to walk over the rocks and only enter at the "two steps" location. Be very careful on the steps as they are slippery.

Great snorkeling! Tide pools are fun for kids too. Was concerned about the steps to enter and get out. For us it was not a problem... higher waves would make it more difficult.

Great snorkeling. We were lucky to see a Hawaiian munk seal, a turtle, and so many fishes. We saw more sea life here than in the bay by the Captain Cook memorial. It does get a little rough in the afternoon so I would go in the morning.

Great place for snorkeling. Get there before 9 am for a parking spot in the $5 lot. Not for beginners. The entry can be rough and is immediately too deep to touch the bottom.

Gorgeous water, awesome snorkling, addl parking at Natl park sacred site next to swimming area. Experienced snorklers advised as no beach entry, must go off steps of lava, no chairs or umbrellas allowed on lava, minimal sitting areas