This enriching day is filled with cultural heritage, natural beauty, and culinary delights on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island. Glimpse Hawaii’s ancient past. Explore Pu‘ako Archeological Petroglyph District and petroglyphs along the King’s Trail, thick with thousands of carvings left by early Hawaiians.
Peek into the Eva Parker Woods Cottage at Kalahuipua‘a Fish Ponds and explore the historic fishponds surrounding it. These unique aquaculture systems exemplify early Hawaiian innovation and offer a glimpse into their sustainable practices.
It’s all complemented by absolutely stunning beaches: Hapuna Beach, ‘Anaeho‘omalu Beach (A-Bay), and Mauna Kea Beach (Kaunaoa Beach). And it’s all complemented by absolutely phenomenal dining within the resorts and beyond.
Puakō Petroglyph Park, North Kaniku Drive, Waimea, HI, USA
Waikōloa Petroglyph Reserve, Waikoloa Village, HI, USA
Rocko's Country Cookin, Waikoloa Road, Waikoloa Village, HI, USA
Juice 101, Mauna Lani Drive, Waimea, Hawaii, USA
Kahapapa Fishpond, Puako, HI, USA
Kalahuipua'a Fishponds, Waimea, HI, USA
Eva Parker Woods Cottage, Mauna Lani Drive, Waimea, HI, USA
Lava Lava Beach Club, Ku'uali'i Place, Waikoloa Village, HI, USA
Napua at Mauna Lani Beach club, South Kaniku Drive, Waikoloa Village, HI, USA
Hapuna Beach, Hawaii, USA
Mauna Kea Beach, Hawaii, USA
ʻAnaehoʻomalu Beach, Waikōloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa Village, HI, USA
Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store, Mauna Lani Drive, Waimea, HI, USA
The Shops at Mauna Lani, Mauna Lani Drive, Waimea, HI, USA
Los Tres Mex, Waikoloa Road, Waikoloa Village, HI, USA
Waikoloa Village, HI, USA
Kings' Shops, Waikōloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa Village, HI, USA
Queens' Marketplace, Waikōloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa Village, HI, USA
The Shops at Mauna Lani, Mauna Lani Drive, Waimea, HI, USA
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection, Mauna Kea Beach Drive, Waimea, HI, USA
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Mauna Lani Drive, Waimea, HI, USA
Before Breakfast in The Big Island
Petroglyphs
The Big Island has more ancient rock tableaus than any other Hawaiian island, and you’ll find rousing clusters at a few distinct places on the Kohala Coast. The Pu‘ako Archeological Petroglyph District (Holoholokai Beach Park, within the Mauna Lani area) encompasses a whopping 230 acres and contains the largest depository of petroglyphs in the state. There’s an easy, flat short trail that begs for exploration.
The King’s Trail (aka Mamalahoa Trail) is an ancient footpath through the lava fields. It used to run for 32 unimpeded miles, and there are still more than 30,000 carvings. Expect uneven surfaces. See more details about the Waikoloa Petroglyph Field here. Park near the gas station at the King Shops, and head towards the pond and golf course.
Bring water; definitely explore in the early morning when it’s cooler; and please do not make rubbings of the fragile petroglyphs.
Best Places for Breakfast in The Big Island
Rocko's Country Cookin
Get away from the resorts and head up to Waikoloa Village to Rocko’s, a local haunt. Order a hefty burrito or eggs Benny or Rocko’s Special, a big plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and home fries.
Or, new in May 2023, the Mauka Bar (open weekends only) has outside dining overlooking the golf course. Try the mochi pancakes, avo toast, and loco moco. Quality stuff here and it’s very close to the Waikoloa Petroglyph Field.
Juice 101
Kick off your morning with a healthful meal at Juice 101, at the rotary at Mauna Lani Drive on your way to the Pu‘ako Archeological Petroglyph District. They specialize in smoothies, acai bowls, and juices made from fresh, local fruits. Their dragon fruit bowl is loaded with tropical fruits and granola. It’s a refreshing, nutrient-rich start. Commit to wellness here.
Best Things To Do in the Morning in The Big Island
Fishponds
Ancient Hawaiians were ingenious at catching and raising fish in closed and open ponds. Closed ponds were basically inland ponds, without direct ocean access. Open ponds involved the building of seawalls and gates to trap the fish. At high tide, they’d come over the wall, where they’d remain and fatten up as the tide went out and left them behind. The Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa has done a great job protecting and preserving both kinds at the Kahapapa and Ku‘uali‘i Fish Ponds adjacent to its resort.
Over at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, the Kalahuipua‘a Fish Ponds are similarly preserved and quite historic. They are adjacent to the Eva Parker Woods Cottage, a tiny 1930s beach house originally built by Frank and Eva Woods, descendants of John Palmer Parker (founder of the Parker Ranch). The cabin was later acquired by Francis I’i Brown, who used it to wine and dine with wealthy friends and visit his mistress, Winona Love, a beautiful and acclaimed hula dancer. The house contains samples of tapa cloth, household items, and displays on fishing and Hawaiian canoes.
Best Places for Lunch in The Big Island
Lava Lava Beach Club
The beachfront Lava Lava Beach Club is a fab place for a laid-back lunch with killer ocean views. It has an oh-so-tropical ambiance with direct beach access. The menu boasts island-style dishes like coconut shrimp and fish tacos. The huli huli chicken showcases local flavors. It’s the delightful experience that many cross the Pacific hoping for.
Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club
Napua offers a stunning beachfront dining experience in Mauna Lani. The restaurant specializes in Island cuisine with a focus on locally-sourced ingredients. Menu highlights include the grilled ono sandwich and the Kalua pork quesadilla. The restaurant’s open-air design allows for panoramic views of the Pacific and sounds of lapping waves. It’s hard to beat the combo of upscale yet relaxed beach dining.
Best Things To Do in the Afternoon in The Big Island
Beaches
The Big Island doesn’t have an overabundance of great swimming strands — although at last count she had about 80 beaches. The swimming beaches she does have, though, are doozies or at least quite unusual. Around the island, you’ll have a choice between white or golden sand, black or green, and salt and pepper. Here on the Kona Coast, which boasts the Big Island’s top three swimming beaches, they’re perfect golden crescents.
Hapuna Beach, at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resory, Mauna Kea area. A whopping half mile long and quite wide, this golden crescent is one of the best in the entire state for swimming and snorkeling — in summer! In winter, the gradual slope of the bay gives way to waves that can pester the shoreline. Lava outcroppings cap the north and south edges; the northern boundary has a little cove with tide pools. Given this beach’s preeminent stature, it’s always surprising that it isn’t more overrun.
Mauna Kea Beach (aka Kaunaoa Beach), at the Mauna Kea area. Nothing, not even an upscale resort located on its edge, can take away from the splendor of this near-perfect beach. The white crescent is generally calm for swimming year-round and attracts manta rays in the evening (thanks to hotel floodlights that draw the gentle creatures) and sea turtles by day. It’s bookended by lava-rock promontories, which attract colorful fish.
‘Anaeho‘omalu Beach (aka A-Bay), at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. The best Waikoloa area beach (and one of the Big Island’s top three) offers great swimming, snorkeling, lots of water activity rentals, and lots of palm trees. It rarely gets more picture-perfect. A-Bay has the added bonus of being surrounded by ancient fishponds and petroglyphs. At the southern end, snorkelers can watch endangered sea turtles.
Best Places for Dinner in The Big Island
Tommy Bahama Restaurant | Bar
Located at The Shops at Mauna Lani, Tommy Bahama’s will probably end up being a favorite dining experience on the Big Island. And that’s saying a lot. From coconut shrimp and crab bisque soup to mac-crusted catch of the day, you can’t go wrong with an eclectic and varied menu. Their tagline is apropos: where flavor meets paradise. Make reservations early and bring sunglasses to tamp down the sunset views. The second-floor location allows for great views of the surrounding landscape and water. service is always exceptional.
Los Tres Mex
Craving Mexican cuisine in Hawaii? Stop in at warm and colorful Los Tres Mex in Waikoloa Village. The restaurant offers an extensive menu featuring classics like enchiladas and tacos al pastor, as well as local fish tacos. A well-curated tequila selection and handcrafted margaritas make for perfect accompaniments.
Best Places to Stay in The Big Island
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is an oasis of natural tranquility. This luxury resort offers beautifully appointed rooms and suites with private lanais offering stunning views. Guests indulge in world-class spa treatments, golf at the resort’s championship course, or dine at exceptional restaurants. Mauna Lani provides a distinctive lodging experience that also encapsulates the spirit of Hawaii through its turtle sanctuary and a fishpond,
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection is a timeless retreat. This iconic property boasts spacious rooms and suites with sleek, tropical decor and private balconies with breathtaking views. The white sands of Kauna’oa Bay are only steps away, and the resort’s championship golf course is a must-play. With plenty of on-site dining and their indulgent spa, the hotel offers an immersive Hawaiian experience. The charms of this historic property combined with modern luxuries are unforgettable.
After Dark in The Big Island
Shopping
King’s Shops, Waikoloa Beach Dr., Waikoloa area. This pricey, pleasant outdoor mall has upscale gift shops, upmarket retailers, and several restaurants.
Queen’s Marketplace, across from the King’s Shops, also has a strong collection of boutiques, art galleries, and stores.
Shops at Mauna Lani, a high-end retail and restaurant complex, include chains like Tommy Bahama as well as locally known eateries. Look for galleries and jewelry too.
Shops typically close around 9 pm.
Bonus Pro Tips
Lava: Resist the temptation to take a piece of lava home as a souvenir. Madame Pele doesn’t take kindly to it and seeks retribution. You’ll hear stories about folks who ignore the warning and fall prey to an unusual string of bad luck. The stories usually end with a Priority Mail package to a U.S. post office on the Big Island with a note that says, “Would you please leave this rock on the side of the road? Thanks.” The Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa ceremonially repatriates lava rocks that they receive in the mail.
Big Island Exploring: Kealakekua Snorkeling & Manta Ray Swimming