Know Before You Go, Kohala Coast Backcountry Tour

Start Planning!

You’re about to go on an awesome adventure along both beautiful coastline views and rolling green hills, but there are a few things you should know about the tour before you get started.
This tour starts and ends in Waikoloa and travels counterclockwise only.
The best food stops are in Hawi or Waimea Town.
There are no entrance fees to any of the parks on this tour, but you might want to bring some cash for snacks and gifts — there are shops that are cash only.
Bring hiking shoes and water.
There’s only one hike on this tour: the Pololu Valley Hike. This is a 0.9-mile roundtrip hike that’s considered moderate due to its steep elevation.
Kohala Welcome Center is the only public restroom in Hawi Town. It’s open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

What to Expect!

To Spend 3-5 Hours Exploring

This bite-size tour takes about a half day to complete, depending on how much time you spend at each spot.

The tour is concentrated on the Kohala Coast, so the drive time is minimal. You’ll spend most of the time exploring the fun stops we’ve picked out for you.

The last stop is beautiful Hapuna Beach, one of the island's most popular white sand beaches!

If you have time and want to keep exploring after this tour, you could do the Waikoloa part of the Kona Big Kahuna Tour.

We don’t, however, recommend combining this tour with the North Island Jungle Adventure Loop.

To Be Active

Although this tour has only one major hike -- the Pololu Valley Hike -- there are two major historic sites with walking trails that you’ll want to explore.

These are Lapakahi State Historical Park and Pu’ukohola Heiau. You can also walk around Hawi and Waimea Towns to get a feel for the quaint communities that make up the Big Island.

Make sure to bring enough water!

If you plan on visiting Pololu Valley, please be respectful. If you get to the parking lot and there's no space, turn back around and try again another day or wait for a spot to open - don't park on the side of the road. Also, be sure to take out what you bring in and leave the trail better than you found it.

To Learn Hawaiian History

This may be our shortest driving tour in terms of length, but it packs in LOADS of history.

Visit an ancient Hawaiian fishing village, learn about the paniolos that brought cattle ranching to Hawai'i, and discover the prophecy that led King Kamehameha the Great to unite the Hawaiian Islands.

To Try Local Food

There are two stops on this tour for food or snacks: Hawi Town and Waimea Town. If you’re stopping in Hawi, we recommend grabbing ice cream at Our Founding Farmers, a premier "Farm-to-scoop" ice cream shop. Or, check out the Koa Tree Cafe just down the road for shave ice or gelato.

But if you’re looking for a sit down restaurant, we recommend waiting until the end of the tour when you reach Waimea Town.

There you can visit one of the many restaurants that source their food locally (i.e. grass-fed burgers!).

Budgeting

How much you spend truly depends on what you do along the tour route, but here’s a breakdown of some costs:

$15.00 per person: Lunch
$5.00 per person: Local snack or cup of coffee

Start Packing

Here’s our packing list for this tour. It may seem a little long, but remember, what you bring depends on the activities you choose to do for the day.

Sneakers
Hiking Clothes
Jacket or Layers, temperatures vary drastically across the island
Water Bottle
Bug Spray
Towel
Bathing Suit
Sandals
Sunscreen
Sun Glasses and/or Hat
Snacks
Cash
Car Charger *Very Important*
Phone Mount

Malama 'Aina

In Hawaiian, the word malama means “to take care” and the word 'aina means “land.”

When you’re in Hawai'i, we ask that you practice this and pick up your trash; respect the marine life, plants, and animals; and avoid spots that are unsafe.

Hawaii’s natural resources are precious. It’s up to all of us to help preserve these resources for generations by respecting the aina when you visit.

We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.

For more help planning your day check out our Kohala Coast Backcountry Tour suggested itinerary.

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