Immerse yourself in Hawaiian Culture. This National Historical Park is made up of 180 acres and was once home to royalty and a place of refuge for ancient Hawaiian lawbreakers. Trails will lead you through to the historic grounds bringing you face-to-face with wooden images of Gods and a Heiau (sacred temple) from old Hawaii.

As you continue south on your journey, you will come across the famous Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Park encompasses 333,000 acres and runs from the peak of Mauna Loa to the sea. Explore lava tubes, craters, petroglyphs and active volcanoes through over 150 miles of hiking trails. If you’re lucky, you will catch a glimpse of the splendor of Kilauea, which has been erupting since January 3rd, 1983.

Nestled at the edge of South Kona, Kealakekua Bay is a must-see. Pristine waters feature an abundant marine wildlife. Captain Cook Monument was built in this remote location unreachable by road. Visitors can either hike down a steep trail or access the monument by water.

Step back in time and experience living in Hawaii’s past. Kona Historical Society offers a number of tours and programs including The H. N. Greenwell Store Museum and the Kona Coffee Living History Farm.

A 15-acre botanical garden, the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is home to over 200 species of endemic, indigenous and Polynesian-introduced plants that grew in Kona before Captain James Cook’s arrival. The garden’s landscape includes four ecological zones: coastal, dry forest, agricultural, and upland forest. On Sunday, the garden sponsors a farmers’ market known as the South Kona Green Market.

Take a break from your travels and stop by Greenwell Farms. Here you can take a short tour of their coffee farm. Greenwell Farms offers an interesting personal walking tour of coffee fields and the processing facilities, enjoy free samples of various coffee products, and see a working Hawaiian farm. Learn about each stage of production of Kona Coffee.

The historic Manago Hotel is located in Captain Cook Town on the slopes of Mauna Loa at an elevation of 1,350 ft. making it an ideal location with cool, quiet nights and sunny days, where travelers can relax and sleep comfortably. It has quaint rooms with expansive views of Kealakekua Bay. Don’t forget to have breakfast, lunch or dinner in their restaurant with a scrumptious menu selection.

Originating in 1986 and opening in 1993 is the Volcano Winery where Paradise is just a sip away. Be sure to taste the local wines inspired by volcanic fire and the bounty of the island. Tropical fruits like yellow guava and the exotic jaboticaba berry are blended with traditional wine grapes and transformed into vibrant creations that capture the playful spirit of Hawaiian paradise – and the relaxed, laid-back atmosphere is the perfect place to try them. The Volcano Winery is located in Volcano just mauka of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Kona is home to the world renowned Kona Coffee where growing conditions are excellent from the fertile volcanic soil to the sunny mornings followed by cool overcast afternoons up mauka. There are a host of coffee farms that offer tours. Every year Kona holds the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival. Many events are held at various locations around Kona with entries from the many coffee farms as well as art shows. The festival information can be found on the web at

Located about 12 miles south of highway 11 on the south side of the island down a narrow road lined by ranch land and windmills is South point or Ka Lae. This is the southernmost point in the United States. This area is a National Historic Landmark and is believed to be the spot where the first Polynesians arrived. Offshore currents and winds are notoriously powerful here and swimming is not advised.

While visiting the south side of the Big Island be sure to stop at the Southernmost Bakery, Punaluu Bakery on highway 11 in the town of Naalehu. Here you can purchase coffee and a variety of wonderful fresh baked goods or lunch plates.

Kau is on the southern side of the Big Island of Hawaii just south of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is between the Green Sand Beach and the Black Sand Beach. Be sure to check out the Ka`u Coffee Festival as they have a variety of exciting events.