Built in 1917 by a Japanese mail-order bride and her husband, the late Kinzo and Osame Manago, as a restaurant with futons for their customers to sleep on, this still has the feel of old Hawai‘i. The Manago Hotel endures as a piece of old Hawai‘i attracting visitors from around the world. Located in the heart of Captain Cook, the hotel sprawls along the makai (ocean) side of Highway 11 across from Arthur L. Greenwell Park. Large portraits of the late founders greet guests who enter the high-ceilinged lobby, along with dark wooden counters and cabinetry. At the helm of the Manago today is the couple’s grandson, Dwight, 62, who is often seen manning the front desk.

82-6155 Mamalahoa Hwy, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704 

(808) 323-2642 

https://www.managohotel.com/

Keoki's is a cute little place next to the main highway, with a sign that says they serve the best fish & chips on the island.  Keoki’s has the freshest fish. They give you big portions and offer a  special that’s perfect for 2 people. They also have kids’ meals, sweet potato fries, and a baked fish taco that’s to die for.

83-5315 Mamalahoa Hwy, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704

(808) 328-9000

Well-known for their pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches, half-rack ribs, baked beans, and tangy coleslaw. There might be a line but it’s worth the wait.

83-5308 Mamalahoa Hwy # B, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704

(808) 328-1227

https://www.facebook.com/Big-Jakes-Island-B-B-Q-189247791108226/

For authentic hawaiian food, head to They’ve been featured on the food network’s best thing I ever ate. Pork laulau’s are made daily, and you’ll feel like you’re eating at a hawaiian aunty’s house. They’re closed on sundays. The coffee shack has an island-style breakfast and lunch menu, pizzas, salads, and desserts. If you eat out on their lanai, you’ll have a beautiful 26-mile view along the kona coastline.

83-5409 Mamalahoa Hwy A, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704

(808) 328-9566

Their poke is super fresh, but they have way more than poke to offer. The food here is straight from the ocean to the table. They have a fish sandwich like no other, and their crab cakes are stuffed with fresh crab meat. 

81-951 Haleki'i St, 

Kealakekua, HI 96750

(808) 323-3512

Have you ever dreams of eating donkey balls? Probably not. But on Hawaii’s Big Island, it’s a must-have experience. Don’t worry, it’s not what you think. The Donkey Balls Factory and Store is a Big Island staple, paying homage to the destination’s go local, made fresh philosophy. Based on local legend, the crude-sounding store actually sells artisanal chocolates, made in-house from Guittard Chocolate. Best of all, visitors to the store can watch the candy being made through the clear glass factory room, as well as enjoy free samples of numerous varieties at the counter (if you don’t see the kind you want to try, just ask!)

79-7407 Mamalahoa Hwy, 

Kealakekua, HI 96750

(808) 322-1475

https://donkeyballstore.com/ 

Your go-to place for fresh fruit, maybe even some you’ve never seen, like dragon fruit and star fruit or have you ever had a rambutan? Their sandwiches are great - you might want to pick up some for the drive. They have amazing fruit options and it is always fresh. South Kona Fruit Stand is a great option after a couple hours of snorkeling or visiting great spots in the area.

Google Maps: 19.413031, -155.880658

This is a great stop on the way from Kailua-Kona to the local Beaches or Volcanoes National Park. Many specialty desserts are available as well as sandwiches and made to order food to take with you on your journey. They offer salads, sandwiches, and of course - Malasadas! An absolute must stop when driving along the south shore!

Punalu'u Bakeshop (Naalehu Town)

95-5642 Mamalahoa Hwy, Naalehu, HI 96772, USA

https://www.bakeshophawaii.com/

Kealakekua Bay is a marine life conservation district. Since the water at the bay is usually calm, underwater life thrives, along with the coral reef, making it a wonderful spot for scuba diving and snorkeling. Hawaiian spinner dolphins often come into the bay, especially in the morning.  Kealakekua is also a wonderful place for kayaking - you can rent Kayaks here and paddle over to the Captain Cook Monument. At the bay you can also find restrooms, showers, a few picnic tables, and barbecue grills.

Have you ever been to a beach with black sand? Punalu’u is an easily accessible black sand beach you definitely would want to visit. A great place to go for a quick hike, swim, snorkel or to stop for a picnic.

In between the towns of Pahala and Naalehu, Punaluu Black Sand Beach's jet black shores are an amazing sight. See coconut palms line up the upper edge of sand and check out large honus, (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles), basking on the beach. Please note though that it may be tempting but do not touch these protected turtles and do not take any black sand from the beach.

Google Maps: 19.135778, -155.504769

Due North of Naʻalehu, check out the tide pools, an ancient Hawaiian fishpond frequented by birds, and the photographic ruins of a historic pier. Despite the name, there isn’t an actual beach and swimming is limited. The place has restrooms, outdoor showers and picnic areas, but no drinking water. Camping requires a county permit requested in advance. A unique wonder about this place are the Hawksbill sea turtles that can often be seen here. Hawksbills are much less common in Hawaii than the green sea turtles and usually can only be seen around this part of the island.

Whittington Beach Park

Naalehu, HI 96772

Hawaii County, HI

Give yourself an adrenaline rush and cool off from the hot Hawaii sun by cliff jumping! Wouldn’t you like to have the confidence to say you jumped off the southernmost point in the United States? The jump is only about a 40-foot-drop where the water is about 20 feet deep, so there is plenty of room for you to jump in. There are no rocks to look out for, making it the perfect spot to take the plunge.

If jumping is not something you would want to try, the area is still fantastic for taking pictures and picnics. Enjoy the view and remember - you're in the far south of the United States!

Google Maps: 18.914871, -155.682967

Green sand beach came from the green olivine crystals that make up the sand. The crystals are from the cinder cone beside the beach that formed during an eruption 49,000 years ago. Green sand beach is also known as “Papakōlea Beach” - a mix of the words papa and kōlea. Papa means ‘flats’ while kōlea is the Hawaiian name for the Pacific golden plover. Go swimming in an ancient volcano’s cinder cone with green sand. It is a spot not to be missed when traveling to the Big Island.

Google Maps: 18.936161, -155.646446

Created during the 1801 Huehue flow from Hualalai’s northwest flank, the lava tube is located about 2 miles north of Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, and attracts visitors and residents alike curious as to what is within. In recent months, especially with the closure of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the site has become increasingly busier causing state transportation officials to assess safety concerns along the highway.

Ka'ahumanu, Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy, 

Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Pu'u Wa'a Cinder Cone Trail is a 8 mile daint circle trail situated close to Waikoloa, Hawaii that highlights excellent wild flowers and animals. The trail is essentially utilized for climbing, strolling, nature trips, birding, and steeds and is open all year. Steeds are likewise ready to utilize this trail. This is a one of a kind topographical trail that resembles jello! It used to have an obsidian mine is still a piece of a working farm. This is a simple climb to the top where you can see Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalei and North Kohala.

Pu'u Wa'a Wa'a Cinder Cone Trail

19.801463, -155.839652

Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA

Throughout the years Mauna Kea has turned into a top destination for guests and local people alike on the Big Island. It is an engaging spot that can be a ton of fun. Guests to the Big Island can stargaze alongside space experts at the Mauna Kea Visitors Center at no cost. Situated at the 9,000 ft summit, the visitor center is open each day of the year between twelve noon and 10pm. The center's fundamental attraction is after sunset, when the Stargazing program opens to guests. The program, which is welcome to all ages, lets everyone have the opportunity to see cosmic systems and other space wonders with the guide of the pre-calibrated telescopes. Normal sights include the spiraling arms of the Andromeda Galaxy.

Mauna Kea Visitor Center

(808) 934-4550

http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/visiting-mauna-kea/star-gazing-program.html

Lava tree molds are created when hot fast-flowing lava engulfs a moist tree. The layer of lava next to the tree cools and insulates the tree 'from the heat of the oncoming flow'. The lava solidifies as the tree eventually burns, leaving behind either a lava shell of the tree or a mold.

Google Maps: 19.434480, -155.281158

The park encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's most massive shield volcano. Over half of the park is designated the Hawaii Volcanoes Wilderness area and provides unusual hiking and camping opportunities. The park encompasses diverse environments that range from sea level to the summit of the Earth's most massive active volcano. Climates range from lush tropical rain forests, to the arid and barren Kaʻū Desert.

Kīlauea and its Halemaʻumaʻu caldera were traditionally considered the sacred home of the volcano goddess Pele, and Hawaiians visited the crater to offer gifts to the goddess. In 1790, a party of warriors (along with women and children who were in the area) were caught in an unusually violent eruption. Many were killed and others left footprints in the lava that can still be seen today

Google Maps: 19.419371, -155.288494

This 1.2 mile (1.9km) loop trail reveals a story of struggle and survival for some of Hawai‘i's rarest plants and animals. This "bird park" is a kīpuka created by the Keamoku flow from Mauna Loa. A kīpuka is an area of old-growth forest spared between lava flows. Kīpuka Puaulu became the Park's first Special Ecological Area in 1985. The main attractions for this easy hike are the stunning amount of birds in the area and the well-protected native rainforest. Even if you're not a bird expert, you'll enjoy hearing and seeing the diversity of the avian life in the kīpuka.

Google Maps: 19.437641, -155.303050

In ancient Hawaii, there were strict laws or kapu that helped to keep order in an isolated island society. When laws were broken that threatened the peace and safety of others, a swift death was the usual punishment. But if a lawbreaker reached a Puuhonua or place of refuge, he was safe, and forgiven. The lawbreaker would be cleansed by kahuna or priests, and allowed to return home without any punishment hanging over his head. Inside the boundaries of a Puuhonua, no one was harmed for any reason. Defeated warriors who survived the battlefield could escape to a Puuhonua and be free to live without fear of revenge. Commoners caught in battle would often seek refuge at a Puuhonua until the fighting ended.

Big island bees is one of the most unique enterprises on the big island. From a few hives in the 1970’s, they have grown to have 2500 hives and 125 million bees today. Flavors include Ohia Lehua honey, from the native Ohia Tree; Hawaiian Chili Pepper Honey, Hawaiian Honey Mustard, Macadamia Nut Blossom Honey, and even Hawaiian Honey Caramel Drizzles. Big Island Bees also has body care products using ingredients from their hives, like Lehua honey bar soaps, cuticle and hand lotions, and bee balm. The bee museum and gift shop are free to enter and look around, they also offer tours of their bee farm. Reservations are recommended and there’s a fee.

82-1140 Meli Road #102, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704 

https://bigislandbees.com/

(808) 328-1315

Built in 1917 by a Japanese mail-order bride and her husband, the late Kinzo and Osame Manago, as a restaurant with futons for their customers to sleep on, this still has the feel of old Hawai‘i. The Manago Hotel endures as a piece of old Hawai‘i attracting visitors from around the world. Located in the heart of Captain Cook, the hotel sprawls along the makai (ocean) side of Highway 11 across from Arthur L. Greenwell Park. Large portraits of the late founders greet guests who enter the high-ceilinged lobby, along with dark wooden counters and cabinetry. At the helm of the Manago today is the couple’s grandson, Dwight, 62, who is often seen manning the front desk.

82-6155 Mamalahoa Hwy, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704 

(808) 323-2642 

https://www.managohotel.com/

Throughout the years Mauna Kea has turned into a top destination for guests and local people alike on the Big Island. It is an engaging spot that can be a ton of fun. Guests to the Big Island can stargaze alongside space experts at the Mauna Kea Visitors Center at no cost. Situated at the 9,000 ft summit, the visitor center is open each day of the year between twelve noon and 10pm. The center's fundamental attraction is after sunset, when the Stargazing program opens to guests. The program, which is welcome to all ages, lets everyone have the opportunity to see cosmic systems and other space wonders with the guide of the pre-calibrated telescopes. Normal sights include the spiraling arms of the Andromeda Galaxy.

Mauna Kea Visitor Center

(808) 934-4550

http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/visiting-mauna-kea/star-gazing-program.html

This is an astronomy and culture education center situated in Hilo. It has displays and shows depicting Hawaiian culture, history and astronomy. Guests to 'Imiloa will leave with better understanding of the early Polynesians, who utilized the stars to locate these confined islands amidst the huge Pacific Ocean. Hawaiians allude to these long-separate kayak wayfarers as "our first astronomers". The center is an incredible place for children and grown-ups of any age to learn and experience the various astronomical wonders we have learned and are trying to figure out still about our universe.

Google Maps: 19.700805, -155.088844

Have a great learning experience in a full service coffee mill with farm and coffee production tours, a stunning gift shop, fresh broiled espresso, and world wide delivery. Stop and get your free coffee samples, macadamia nut treats and a lot more.

Enjoy a soothing landscape while you voyage through the grounds and offices to learn everything about the coffee industry and of the people that make them.

Google Maps: 19.238094, -155.478637

The living history museum provides self-guided tours covering many amazing locations like the coffee orchard, farmhouse, and coffee mill. You will also see an open-air agriculture museum where you can learn more about the daily lives of early Japanese immigrants to Hawaii era 1920-1945. A kiosk is open to visitors, and a full tour by inspiring members of the Kona Historical Society is available at limited times. KLM is an amazing place to slow down and learn about the past and how it influenced the present agricultural life in Big Island.

Admission is $15 for adults, $9 college student (w/ ID), $5 for youth, 7-17, Free for children under 7 and KHS Members.

Google Maps: 19.491054, -155.914275

Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens in Hilo is the only tropical rainforest zoo in the United States. A good time for the whole family, the Hilo zoo is home to over 80 creature species. The rainforest zoo is lavish and tropical. Enjoy walking around the thick rainforest gardens with an amazing presentation of different Orchid collections, Tropical Rhododendrons and Clumping Bamboos. Cookout under the shade of over 100 assortments of Palm trees.

Even though the zoo is a bit small (just 12 sections of land), it is full of fascinating and strange creatures, for example, Honeybears, Spider Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys, 2-toed Sloths, Giant Anteaters, a Green Iguana, a Leopard Gecko, Snapping Turtles, Box Turtles, a couple of Red Tegus named Mr. & Mrs. Pickles, and Ringtailed Lemurs.

Google Maps: 19.653765, -155.073728

For more than 30 years, the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation has brought delectable macadamia nuts simmered to brilliant flawlessness. Visit the processing facility, enjoy free examples and shop a great cluster of island treats and gifts including the exclusive line of Mauna Loa items available in no place else. From a 3 mile drive through macadamia nut plantations, you will arrive at the Visitor Center. View their nut and chocolate handling plant where they husk the nut and cautiously dry it to correct dampness details and afterward watch as they make a delightful exhibit of macadamia nut items that are bundled directly from there at the plant. Savor the experience of chocolate production where Mauna Loa specialists hand-plunge delectable macadamia nut shortbread treats into unadulterated rich drain chocolate and see exactly why quality and taste are everything!

Google Maps: 19.657198, -155.009278