Hawaii (Big Island) Guide

Salt in Hawaii is traditionally used in ceremonial blessings, to purify and to preserve an abundant catch of fish. The Kona Sea Salt farm is located on the site of an ancient and vibrant Hawaiian settlement that was covered in lava by the 1801 eruption of Mount Hualalai. Now, salt is made by evaporation of pristine ocean water extracted 2200 feet below the surface.

During the tour of their facility you will learn about the role of salt in Hawaiian culture, about their special water source, and about the salt harvesting process. You will also get to taste several of the flavored salts they produce.

2 big tide pools, 1 good at high tide and 1 good at low tide. Also a water channel in the lava close to the restrooms that you can wander in.

At the far end of the runway is a cove with good snorkeling (good fish counts). Snorkeling on the way to Pawai Bay is supposed to be very exciting (clear water, lots of life, caverns, arches, drop offs, caves), but go in good conditions (for experienced snorkelers). You can also drive over and snorkel at Pawai Bay.

Kona coffee tours (near Kona)

The Aliʻi garden market place is not a farmers market but mostly (and as the name suggest) an open air marketplace. There are many stands here selling local arts and crafts (souvenirs!), as well as some good places for a quick bite. They were voted the “best open-air market place” by the readers of the west Hawaii today in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and at the time of writing they have 25+ unique and local vendors on the market grounds.

Prices at the boots are about the same as those in downtown Kona and the local food is good. For example, TJ’s BBQ is the #1 rated restaurant in Kona on TripAdvisor (last checked January 2018). Other vendors include Swami’s Dosa Grill (vegetarian/vegan Indian cuisine), Melba’s Vegan & Gluten Free Bakery, Big Island Sweet Treats with  Shave Ice, Kettle Corn, Ice Cream and dessert creations., etc. From November to April during whale season, Whale of a Crepe is on site with fresh dessert and savory crepes.

Aliʻi Garden Market Place directions

The market place is located at  75-6129 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona. There is plenty of free parking available on the grounds and there is a free “Hop on Hop off bus” (Clark’s) driving between the Kailua pier and the market place every 20 minutes, pick up and drop off from the pier on Wednesdays & all Cruise ship days.

Opening hours are between Tuesday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For any questions, please get in touch through (808) 937-8844.

Be sure to get there before they run out of fish and sides for the day!
Parking in this area can be challenging.

Park at the beach at Kekaha Kai State Park and walk along the shoreline for 15 minutes to get to this beach (at one point the trail ends and you need to walk on the lava behind the beach boulders). Just before the black sand beach is a small cove that is protected. Snorkeling is supposed to be good at the black sand beach (there is a spot of coral to the N, right of the beach). You can cut across the lava field to return to your car.

The Hoʻoulu Community Farmers Market in held every Wednesday and Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the on the Lawn in front of the Outrigger Kona resort. The location provides plenty of free parking.

At the Hoʻoulu farmers market you can find between 20 and  40 vendors who sell local produce, coffee, macadamia nuts, and locally produced arts and crafts. Compared to other farmers markets around the Big Island, this one offers more locally made arts & crafts and less fresh produce.

The Keauhou farmers market is held at the parking lot of the Keauhou Shopping Center. This is a smallish farmers market with a good selection of e.g. fruits, bread, fish, flowers and Kona coffee. You can listen to live music while you have your breakfast at the market, or drink a freshly squeezed glass of juice.

All in all a good way to spend your Saturday morning, especially recommended if you are staying close by.

* My favorite place to snorkel in Hawaii - lots of fish (especially yellow tang) and very clear water. 
* Not easy to get to - access is via a very steep hike or by kayak
See Hawaii the Big Island Revealed p. 209 for a list of kayak outfitters

Place to explore, lots of things to see. 

Near our Air bnb

Per Trip Advisor write up: "Just a short 20 minute drive South of Kailua Kona, past the "Place of Refuge" is Manini Kapahukapu Beach - simply turn off the highway for "Painted Church" and continue down to the ocean, keeping to the right, eventually the road becomes a 1 1/2 lane paved road for a few miles, leading to a small community of homes, then the water. If you get to the end of the road, overlooking the bay, with a heiau (regarding Cpt. Cook) and park beside the parking area, then you are at Kealakekua Bay Park and have just gone past the turn-off to Manini Kapahukapu Beach by a couple hundred yards - no worries, just drive back to the first turn-off road to the right, keep right, and in a minute you're there. There's only parking for about a dozen vehicles on the sides of the road (don't block resident's driveways please!) and the sign and gate welcome you at this terrific beach area, complete with outhouse/toilet, picnic tables, swaying palm trees, grassy and sandy areas for the kids! An easy entry for snorkeling is a wide/sandy corridor (compliments of the 2011 tsunami that struck the area), with best snorkeling about 50-100' feet off the shoreline where reef fish such as Yellow Tangs, Trigger fish, Moorish Idols, Puffers, Banner Fish, etc are prevalent in good numbers... Closer to shore, the fresh water springs make the water murky (and darn cold too as this colder, lighter freshwater floats on top of the heavier/warmer saltwater...) "

Just up the road from Two Step beach there is a 2.5 mile loop to see sea arches.

Set on the rugged and beautiful south Kona coast, the ‘place of refuge’ or ‘city of refuge’ was a safe haven for those that broke the Kapu laws, which in old Hawaii were punishable by death. If you reached the Puʻuhonua, you would be pardoned by Kahuna and given a second chance at life. A sacred site, carrying the powerful mana of 23 interred Aliʻi chiefs, the Puʻuhonua and Royal Grounds were used by the Hawaiians for centuries.

Visitors can walk through the park on a self-guided tour on a 0.5 mile trail. Be sure to grab a park map that corresponds to numbered markers along the trail so you can read about different points of interest (or have a look at page 4 and 5 of the online version here). You can also access a narrated tour by phone that follows the numbered stops on the map by calling (808) 217 9279.

Park Ranger talks on the history of Hawaiʻi and the park are offered daily in the Amphitheater next to the Visitor’s Center. Times for these talks are posted outside the Visitor’s Center, which is open 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

The south Kona fruit stand is not a farmers market but a single fruit stand. They are open open 7 days / week and offers a good selection of exotic fruits, baked goods and smoothies.

Their prices are a bit higher than those on farmers markets but the smoothies are world class and the have a sitting area that overlooks the ocean. This is a good place to stop for a snack (try some new fruits you have never tasted before), but less of a place to stock up on fruits for the week.

The Waikoloa petroglyph preserve is one of the two petroglyph fields north of Kailua-Kona (south Kohala). The petroglyphs around the trail are scattered like graffiti everywhere you look. Some are graphic (humans, birds, canoes) and others cryptic (dots, lines). Western influences appear in the form of horses and English initials.

The Waikoloa Petroglyph Field is one of the best preserved petroglyph sites on the Big Island. Other nearby petroglyph fields are the Pukao Petroglyph field and the Pu’u Loa petroglyphs near Volcano Village.

Directions to the Waikoloa Petroglyphs:

To get to this field from Kailua-Kona, take Highway 19 north for 25 minutes to the first stop light after the airport, and turn left towards the Waikoloa beach resorts. Continue for about a quarter mile and then turn right at the first parking lot next to the gas station, park and then walk to the right of the station and pick up the Kings trail (also known as the Kiholo Puako trail).

You can find a large number of about 1,200 petroglyphs in the public section of the Puakō Petroglyph preserve. The whole preserve hosts over 3,000 designs, including paddlers, sails, marchers, dancers, and family groups, as well as dog, chicken, turtle, and deity symbols.

The Puakō petroglyph preserve is one of the two petroglyph fields north of Kailua-Kona, in the South Kohala district. You can find the Waikoloa Petroglyph field relatively close-by, and the Pu’u Loa Petroglyph field inside the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Directions to the Puakō Petroglyphs:

The 1 1/2-mile “Malama Trail” starts north of Mauna Lani Resort. Take Highway 19 to the Mauna Lani resort turnoff and drive toward the coast on North Kaniku Drive, which ends at a parking lot. The trail head is marked by a sign and interpretive kiosk.

Go in the early morning or late afternoon, when the temperature is cooler. Make sure to wear sun screen and bring water. There is no shade and it’s usually hot out on the lava.

About 1.5 miles rt from this trail head to the footprint shelter

Check out Kilauea Iki hike (3 miles across an old crater floor) and Thurston Lava tube

* Requires climbing down a ladder into the lava tube

The Pu’u Loa petroglyph field in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the largest petroglyph field of Polynesia, and it is easy to visit once you are in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. A 0.7 (or 1.4 round-trip) mile hike takes you to a boardwalk that encircles ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs.

The early morning light is for the best photography (rainbows).

Beautiful botanical garden and part of a 4 mile not-to-be-missed scenic drive that starts at mile marker 7 - see p. 124 of Hawaii the Big Island Revealed

The Hilo Farmers Market is a must-visit if you are in Hilo on a Wednesday or Saturday. Over 200 local farmers and crafters sell their produce, crafts, gift items and tropical flowers in a festive outdoor atmosphere that recalls back to the old “plantation” days of early Hilo.This market is a favorite of both locals and visitors, and a great place to pick up gifts and souvenirs for your loved ones back home! The Hilo Farmers market is the largest and  most popular farmers market on the Big Island for a reason.

The Hilo farmers market is located at the corner of Mamo Street and Kamehameha Avenue in historic downtown Hilo in front of Hilo bay. Big market days are Wednesday and Saturday between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. The market is also open all other days of the week between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., but there will be less vendors.

There is free parking at the market.

Here are other markets near Hilo:

The Online “Farm-to-Car” market (Keaʻau)

See p. 116 of Hawaii the big island revealed for more info