Top 16 things to do and attractions in Pahoa

Jesse the Cashier of the day has just solidified my loyalty to this store! Even with ALL the drama to boycott a big corporate store 20 miles, still had me going to it, because of a little price difference. Though because of this transaction today, I will be shopping here! Super clean, modern, and amazingly authentic friendly service! Great job Management!

The prices aren't as good as stores up the road in Hilo, but otherwise it's a great grocery store.

I just moved here yesterday 11/12/2025...Needed some groceries to start eating healthier...This market has everything you could ever want in a market it has a bar with draft...Very clean and the workers are real helpful

Malama Market in Pahoa offers an exceptional shopping experience. Their outstanding customer service and diverse selection truly stand out. The poke they serve is among the best you'll find, making it a perfect place for a quick and delicious lunch stop. Additionally, it's a fantastic spot for stocking up on groceries, meeting your every need. A gem in Pahoa for both locals and visitors alike!

EXPENSIVE. This is the highest priced grocery store on the easy side of the island....likely the entire island. Also; note to corporate management: Know your clientele. Quit making greedy decisions. This is Pahoa and there's a lot of lower income people in the area. You all used to offer a 50%discount on OLD food at 7pm and locals really appreciated that. Food wasn't wasted, and you made money off OLD food from lunch. Fast forward you guys in corporate come visit from another island and change the markdown to 25%.....the excuse being you're loosing money.....albeit on OLD food that will get thrown away if not bought. I go in one day and am told there's no discount allowed anymore and loads of food is sitting there that likely will get tossed. Add to this you all told your employees you'd be doing self service food? You obviously don't care about sanitation if you knew how unsanitary that could be in this area. *Fast forward when visiting the store a man with a long beard was taking bites from produce and spitting them back into the produce area. Though 3 employees spoke to him he was allowed to continue to shop. This is yet another example of how this store puts the health and safety of patrons last. There's people like this around the store and they add a self serve food area. The decisions of upper management here are insane. The prices are insane. Overall, people shop here out of necessity and convenience because this store has a monopoly locally.

Very expensive they do have a lot of fresh Pokey have a hot food bar that's great they have an extensive Sushi items they have a bar that serves all kinds of different cocktails that you can buy by the quart or even half gallon also many beers on tap that you can fill your Growler with an espresso machine is very reasonably priced coffee lattes all that

Lovely - clean and lots of goodies not offered at usual grocery stores. Sept 27/25 aft- have to add: gal working at smoothie bar is a definite guarantee to no repeat business at that section!

The 2018 eruption of Kilauea's lower east rift zone made news headlines around the world. Epic lava destruction took place inside of formerly cozy and tranquil neighborhoods. This museum is dedicated to preserving the memory of this tragic event. The loss was very sad, while at the same time, the volcanology was fascinating. I was fortunate to have visited on a Sunday when I got to meet a volunteer named Kevin. He shared his own story of having lost his home, which broke my heart. He also entertained me with a wealth of crazy and interesting facts. (Be sure to ask him about all the weird things that came out of Fissure 17!) I really loved being able to admire and touch all the local lava specimens. If you visit Pahoa, you simply must stop here. Don't miss out on this amazing experience!

Small museum but had the best guide and exebition. I loved every bit and amazed by the devastation the lava made. Mother Earth gives and takes, and we need to remember she is in charge.

What an awesome find! After visiting the National Park, we made our way to Pahoa and stopped at the Filipino food truck out front. Drawn in by the word LAVA, we couldn’t resist—and it did not disappoint. Jackie gave us a personal tour and was incredibly knowledgeable, weaving together Hawaiian legends, the history of eruptions, and the story of the islands themselves. From myth to modern-day, this small but mighty museum is an absolute must-see!

Thank you Uncle John for welcoming us today.

As a former aspiring volcanologist, I spotted this museum from the road and couldn't resist checking it out. I didnt know that it was the exhibits relocated from the Jagger Museum, this should really be better publicised by VNP. Jackie gave us an excellent tour of the museum, she is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The museum is free entry, but I encourage you to leave them a donation when you visit.

If you like geology, this is great. If you like local history, it's even better. The curator is incredibly well informed, and is more than happy to answer questions. It is supported by donations

It has a beautiful mural. All the different types of lava rock and history. They also play live feed of the volcano!

Love this Mall! Very clean and safe looking!

The reasoning behind the three stars is because parking is horrible in the slot. There's so many stores in a very small parking lot and it is always a challenge to find parking there. I've been here many times because there's no other options that are closer to me. But sometimes you have to drive around for a number of minutes to find a decent parking spot.

Malama Market is the best organic store Eva!!! Malama Market has drafts while you shop...So much generosity I could not afford $17.99 Rumbutan the young lady behind me paid it forward and hooked me up on the 12th of November...Thank you to that young woman who paid it forward.Those Rumbutan were so good...The staff was so friendly.. This was no passion fruit lillikol though... Definitely coming back when I have money so many healthy alternatives...

a bunch of different little stores plus one grocery store all within walking dostance of each other...lots places to eat..kinda spendy but eh what can u expect coming from pahoa...there is mcds and a taco julios place that isnt big $$ both are fair priced actually...anyway, malama market is the most expensive store there is out here honestly...in my own expierence shopping there a lot due to living out here and also from everyone i know and what they have to say about it as well ...its not cheap more so their meat section but wjat do you expect out here they have NO competion out here with any other store selling meats and stuff ...anyway parking isnt so great here at punakai very tough finding great parking anywhere no shady spots half the time n its usually crowded or over crowded...late nights there are a lot of people being dumb in the parking more so night time crazy kine acting loud music speeding major kine ect in the parking lots then the daytime...but friday nights every other friday nights when they do the live music show and free thing there at the punakai thats the busiest time of all i try to avoid ...anyway nice place tho even get a place under tents and on fake grass can go take the family for eat take out food ect if you no like go home and eat ect...

We love Puna Kai! Great Play it's to come get lunch, hang out at the tables and eat with friends for meeting, sometimes live music... Always very clean and always something fun to do.

Puna Kai is thee spot for all convenience kine shopping when living or visiting in the beautiful lower Puna area, where I proudly call home... Mahalo nui loa ND much love to all that read this...

Small strip mall in Pahoa district. They have a little bit of everything so you don’t need to drive into Hilo for small errands.

Neat little park. It takes about 20 minutes to walk through on the paved path. The lava trees are fascinating especially if you love geology. The locals were having a musical jam session when we were there. Remember it is the rainy part of the island.

I saw ‘Io (Hawaiian Hawk[Buteo solitarius]), I think he or she lives there, if you come to the park during nesting season you might can see more thank one, even the little one. This place is really good for kids, quite and close to nature~

A short hike on a paved walkway offers wonderful views of the lava trees. Be sure to look for flowers, lizards, and other natural phenomena!

Small but beautiful park with numerous, well-preserved lava trees. The trail only takes 20-30 minutes max to walk around, so it’s much more of a pit stop or place to kill a bit of time than a standalone attraction. It is cool to see though, and I appreciated the informational signs explaining what lava trees are and how they are created. While it’s not a must-see by any means, it’s a great way to start or end a day of exploring the Big Island!

Nice little stop to see some lava trees. Short loop around a flat trail.

Beautiful short walk around paved pathway and lava encased trees.

Well worth the time spent if you like history.

The volcano wasn't spewing any lava, but it was still remarkable. We used a guided tour to go, which i highly recommend, but even if you go on your own, the steam vents and the path around the Calderon are really neat. The wildlife and plants are really interesting as well. The lava tube is also quite interesting. Though I wish I could have seen lava, I would do it all over again. Once in a lifetime experience.

The Steam Vents are a fascinating stop on the way to Halemaʻumaʻu Crater! You can literally feel the warm breath of the volcano rising from the ground — especially impressive in the cool morning air. The mix of lush green vegetation, steaming earth, and distant crater views makes it a surreal experience. Definitely worth a short stop and a slow walk around.

I was born on Maui and rarely visited the Big Island. I returned for a family reunion and decided to visit Kilauea since it has been over 35 years. The volcano was active and erupted the day we arrived. Unfortunately, we had no time to see it for 3 days after arrival. Once we did visit, it stopped erupting and only had the leftover smoke. The weather was beautiful, and the vents were actively smoking. If you visit the Big Ialand, make sure you put this down as a place to visit.

An amazing volcanic site that’s well worth stopping by. The overlook gives you a chance to embrace the raw, majestic beauty that Mother Nature has to offer. A peaceful yet powerful reminder of the island’s volcanic energy.

Early morning was quite and peaceful and at night you can see the milky wat the sky was so clear. Great spot to see the volcano it was only sputtering when i was there.

An easy place to get a good view of Kilauea's main eruption site (as of July 9, 2025). Lots of parking and a short walk (150 yards?) to the rim of the caldera.

Volcanoes National Park: We visited the park during the government shutdown and did not have to pay for entry into the park. Some of the buildings and trails were closed for maintenance. There were port-a-potties behind the main store building nestled within the military rental cabins. We also found a nice, clean restroom at the Kilauea overlooks. I recommend visiting the store. There are ‘rangers’ there who are extremely helpful. They answer any of your questions and will go over the different locations within the park and provide you with a park map.

Free place to enjoy hot springs and the views of the ocean waves smacking against the lava rocks. You can swim in the large hot spring near the parking lot. There is a sign warning that they don't disinfect the hot springs and ask for you not to get in if you have an open wound. They have a lifeguard here, but I personally wouldn't venture out into the ocean at this location.

Amazing experience to see the black sand and feel it in between my toes… much easier to deal with than white sand 😂 The way the waves hit the shore is breathtaking and scary!! I could sit all day and enjoy the view…. Oh and I can’t forget the sea turtles! 🐢 ♍️♥️ Perfect Birthday Getaway

Very nice place with long beach and hot water behind the beach. Big wave many ppl surfing.

The host at Open gate hostel so highly recommended this place. It was not a highlight of our trip. The water was hot and you better have water shoes because the rocks are super slippery. My husband and I sat in the water for 10 min and got out and something bit us up on our legs! The drive there honestly was the prettiest part !

Probably a highlight of Our trip. For many years we used to go to the other park where the hot springs were. Unfortunately, that park was consumed by the lava flow back In 2018. Glad this park still has the hot springs. I believe there are 5 in this area. Some are very hot, the big one it’s just perfect! Probably 85 degrees! Good place for a nice swimming

Beautiful and rugged. It was really lovely to experience the cool ocean a few steps away from the hot springs. There aren’t signs marking the springs, but if you go along the tree line near the boat launch, you’ll find them. They were silent in a beautiful, surreal kind of way. A few things to keep in mind: - The walk from the parking lot to the black sand beach involves a short scramble over large (up to basketball sized), rounded lava rocks. This can be fun, but would be tricky for anyone with mobility issues (or a toddler). - If you opt to use your car GPS instead of Google Maps, double check the route. Our car GPS took us via a route that was decimated in the 2018 eruption and we had to backtrack.

Wonderful! Great view! Great water! Nice place to chill and check out lava rock. There is a lot of parking. There is a kiddie pool. Fun to watch people surf and boogie board, too! The drive is very nice as I cuts through the forest, just be careful when going around corners since it is a one lane road in some places. This beach was impacted by the most recent lava flow so it is a must see!

The beach itself is beautiful. A few important things to note: 1. If you are staying on the Kona side, don't drive all the way here for this. Beautiful, but you have nice beaches there as well. 2. Clothing optional beach. You WILL see nudity. If this bothers you, don't go. 3. No facilities and minimal parking area. It is a small beach.

If you're looking for a unique, alternative beach experience and don’t mind a bit of a hike, Kehena Beach is a must-see. Just come prepared for nature in its raw form—and an open-minded crowd.

Little hike down but definitely worth it, this is a nude beach pretty sure they said Sundays are a good day to go with no nudity

Super chill beach, very secluded. Tiny climb down but easy to get to. Clothing optional and everyone is friendly. The wave break is pretty strong and all the danger is closest to the shallows.

Lovely beach. Little tricky to get down to but worth it. Total sun / heat trap. Water was a bit too choppy.

Please be aware this is a nude beach. The black sand is very beautiful and the beach itself is quite secluded once you make your way down the trail on the small cliffside. There is also a little public outdoor workout station at the beach as well.

*** Clothing Optional Beach *** This beach is a little GEM hiding behind the Escarpment and jungle. The black sand is one of the finest you can get. The wave brake is powerful. No lifeguard on site. No washroom onsite. Bring your own water. You will need to do a little hike to access the beach. As mentioned at the beginning, there is no advertising or warning about the clothing option. You can be surprised. That's been said, people are respectful and friendly. Parking is limited and very popular from Local.

Super cool and lowkey place with kind people and good food. The place was a little small with few options, but the options that were there were solid choice regardless of what you picked. It was a bit pricey ($10 per person) to get in given what/how much was available, but it's nice knowing the money you spend there goes straight into people/family's wallets rather than a major corporation. Take cash - that is a must if you want to buy anything!

Maybe we were here on the wrong day. But all we saw were hippies and a few drunks hanging around looking at us with an unwelcoming look. So we got back in the car and left after a few minutes. Very strange atmosphere.

Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar and Farmers Market is one of those must-experience spots on the Big Island. It’s not just a market — it’s a whole vibe. The energy here is amazing, filled with live music, local food, and a real sense of community. The stalls are packed with local vendors offering everything from fresh produce and handmade crafts to incredible island-style plates. The smells alone are enough to make you hungry! I grabbed some food, a fresh drink, and found a spot to sit and take it all in — the music, the dancing, the laughter. You can tell this is a place where both locals and visitors come to connect and unwind. The Awa Bar itself is such a unique experience — the drinks are fun and playful, the vibe is so chill in the best way. The staff and vendors are so welcoming and genuinely happy to have you there! If you’re in the area, do not skip Uncle Robert’s. Go hungry, bring cash, and plan to stay a while — it’s the perfect blend of local flavor, culture, and good vibes.

Cash preferred. This place is a local spot and that needs to be respected. If you’re seeing mixed reviews - it’s because you are not going to be “served aloha” here. This isn’t the space for that. You have to bring the aloha with you. My husband & I had the most amazing time Wednesday evening, which happened to be our last night on island. We brought the remaining food & drinks from our trip to give to people who wouldn’t let them go to waste. There was always a handful of talented local musicians playing. We bought fairly priced & handmade gifts from local vendors. We tasted home-cooked cuisines & enjoyed a pour from the bar. Keiki (children) running around, a grooving dance floor, and some all natural hippy vibes.✌️It was a perfect send off and we feel so lucky to have been guests in this vibrant communal space.

The best local market on this side of the island on Saturday mornings. Get there early, things start winding down around 10-11. Also a really great spot to spend a Wednesday evening with live music and good food. Worth the trip if you’re debating it either day!

We had a fun time at the Wednesday night market. Great food, drinks and music. The two live bands were a pleasure to listen to.

10 bucks for entrance to see about 2-3 vendors?? This place has severely fallen off post covid. They should not be charging 10 dollars when there is nothing buy or do. This market should be free. Hard pass. Don't waste your time.

Incredible pottery with gorgeous glazes and designs as well as many other items to consider. (Rica is so sweet!) I am SO happy that they are still there and open for business! I LOVE my beautiful large sea turtle platter!!!

A fantastic little arts and craft shop, sadly though they are relocating to the mainland because of covid-19 restrictions have shut down much of the tourism. Especially the kalapana night market at Uncle's. They are currently liquidating much of the current inventory so some great bargains to be had.

Wonderful Gallery and great selection of local arts, we love the beautiful ceramic pieces. Check out during Uncle Roberts Wednesday Night Market or anytime of the week.

Wonderful pottery store with artists in house. Beautiful gifts for friends and self alike. The coffee cups are gorgeous.

Amazing gallery full of very unique art. The glass blown artist here is awesome. There's also a number of different artist work here definitely worth checking out.

Very cool little shop! Local artists are owners and makes for an awesome souvenir rather than buying some cheap PRC junk that says "Aloha". Support local!

Has original art work, not overseas knockoffs. Staff is pleasant to talk to and they now have a water meter I had just installed.

Beautiful works of art, talented eye for fantastic picture. Harry and Mouse are very welcoming.

Nice down to earth local people. Good service, professionalism and atmosphere. If your looking to find great local art....look no further.

Hospitality and art. Who could ask for more? Harry and Mouse got it going!

Harry has an eye for capturing the beauty of Hawaii.

Beautiful art and magic!

Wonderful prints and frames

This back sand beach has impressive waves . Important to mention , it can be really windy, and some wind gust can be very powerful. They have washrooms (Big blue) available, but they are about 10 min walking distance from the car parking lot. You will have access to see the destruction of the 2018 lava flow make on the old park facilities. The parking is a great size. They have lifeguard on site but will not recommend to swim as the most of the beach is big lava rocks.

If you want to see black sand, this is your place. Also a mesmerizing small stone labyrinth, and natural hot pool. Very hot.

This beach is new and takes a good minute to get to. The day we went the surf was high and no one was swimming but there is a lifeguard there. If you remember the old Isaac Hale boat launch, it is now almost fully covered with lava, hence the new black sand beach. There were a few natural hot springs right near by with about 10 people enjoying them. The views of the ocean are magnificent, but the real treat was driving through the lush area and covered roads to get there and back. Passing through the recent lava flows was a bit heartbreaking. It's worth the trip but go with plenty of fuel in the car.

Beautiful spot as always. Hot springs are there, but swimming in the ocean is very limited as the lava from '18 has changes it. Although, bay 3 down towards the end is doable, but swimming is usually questionable due to rough wave break, tide, etc. Beautiful spot to lay out at and at least dive into the break as it comes on shore, but u betta get ur ass up in a hurry and move..lol plenty of parking as well

Brand new black sand beach that is being made every day since the most recent 2018 eruption on the big island. Its a long ways out of town and the roads are not the best, so go slow and take your time. Lots of people walking and biking and the road is very narrow and winding. Definitely worth the drive out.

We were excited to see the newest black sand beach formed after the 2018 eruption. There were lifeguard on duty. Good parking, just follow signs to Isaac Hale park... which really didn’t exist anymore as the lava flow covered it. There are spots on the beach where you can hear the waves pulling the lava rock in and out, grinding it into more black sand. Not very crowded and really picturesque!

Quite the transformation to the geography to the area. A boat ramp to nowhere, new black beach, and roads and sidewalk to dead ends. I must include the corroded showers that served swimmers at a different time. Now, they are sentinels of copper corrosion standing nowhere near water. It is amazing to see new lava all around and the red house untouched by it, by chance? It certainly is a reminder of how vulnerable people are to the elements. For people who are here for the first time, imagine what this place looked like at one time, for those who were here prior to lava flows, remember the lushness of the place, the hot springs, all that once was. It is exciting to think about what this place will be like 20 years from now, like a marker in time waiting for change. About the boat ramp area, it makes for a great swimming hole, I wonder if there a possibility of extending a breakwater and a channel to the ocean once more? There are so few opportunities to launch a boat on this side of the island. I hope to make an annual trip here to mark the changes that will occur.

Multi-use area no public facilities used by off road enthusiasts when access is gained periodically but inadvertently? 📷's to be able to make sure you can find it

Lovely little park to walk through. They have only one porta potty 😞

Excellent, primitive but excellent views of the ocean.

Beautiful but hard to access. The road has been upgraded alittle but it is still rough on your car. But it is beautiful n quiet. Parking may b a problem as i found only one stall lol.

Both inspiringly beautiful, and devastatingly sad. Humans have been appallingly destructive to these sacred places

The red road through the jungle is a gorgeous drive. It end at the spot the recent lava flow crosses the road.

Very hard to find small path local hole no beach rock be careful . Sides are unstable

Great place. Excellent people and it has basketball, a pool, soccer, and a place to play football along with a skateboard park and playground for the kids. Security is great and keeps an eye on it as well, giving it a safe feel.

Very nice! Only public restrooms in town. Picnic table to eat at, swimming pool that is free! Skateboard park up above and a gym for basketball and etc. Might be a playground too

This is a really upscale, new and beautiful sports complex with a venue for almost any sport you can think of. The grounds and facilities are meticulously maintained. My favorite feature is the skate park! It's awesome and gets tons of enjoyment from not just the kids skating, but all the delighted onlookers!

Bathrooms are very clean. The covered basketball courts are closed due to Covid but the little playground & skate park is open.

Great place to play Disc Golf Pop-up Safari courses

Awesome place to take your kids and family to have fun...great place when the Security ain't Bullying your children and You... security yelled at my children and me said we can't play or exercise on the Hills, I've trained on those hills for 22years with out problem until that day!...um can someone from P&R please show me the posted signs that say do not play or exercise on hills? Because there is none I've brought this up to the office staff the day it happened and asked them to please put posted signs up saying do not play or exercise on hills so the people can know...if there are no signs up than why yell at the people that bring there families, children to play there... it's called being bullied by tyrant security guards. Have a great day.

Huge park. Baseball diamonds, soccer field, football field, covered basketball and volleyball gym. 2 playgrounds. Tables benches bleachers everywhere. Located just behind skatepark and swimming pool.