Ocean
Manta Ray Night Snorkel
Float above lit ocean water after dark as Kona's resident manta rays somersault inches beneath you, the Big Island's single most unforgettable hour.
Culture
Lapakahi State Historical Park
Walk a 600-year-old Hawaiian fishing village on the Kohala coast, house sites, salt pans, and canoe sheds, with the trade winds and the sea telling the story.
On a dry, windswept point of the Kohala coast, Lapakahi preserves what a Hawaiian fishing village looked like six centuries ago: stone house platforms, canoe sheds, salt-making pans, and a game once played with stones on the ground. A self-guided trail loops through it with signs that bring daily life back.
It is quiet, uncrowded, and genuinely old, one of the most tangible windows into everyday Hawaiian life on the island. Our concierge times it for the cooler morning and pairs it with a snorkel stop at the marine reserve just offshore.
Good to know
Is it a difficult walk?
No, it is a flat self-guided loop of about a mile with interpretive signs along the way. It is hot and open, so morning is the most comfortable time to go.
How long does a visit take?
Most guests spend about an hour on the loop, reading the signs and taking in the coast. Add time if you plan to snorkel the reserve just offshore.
What should I bring and wear?
There is almost no shade, so bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and closed or sturdy sandals for the rough coral path. Reef-safe sunscreen is best if you plan to snorkel.
Is it good for kids and families?
Yes, the trail is gentle and the stories of village life, canoe sheds, and salt pans hold children's interest. Keep little ones close near the shoreline and the open lava rock.
Can we snorkel there, and is there a fee?
The park is free, and the water offshore is a protected marine area with clear, fish-rich snorkeling on calm days. Our concierge times the visit for the cooler morning and pairs it with the snorkel stop.
More ways to spend the day
Culture
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (Place of Refuge)
A sacred place of forgiveness on a lava point of carved ki'i, royal fishponds, and swaying palms. One of Hawaii's most powerful cultural sites, and its best preserved.
Ocean
Kealakekua Bay Kayak & Snorkel
Paddle a glassy marine sanctuary to the Captain Cook Monument, where spinner dolphins pass and the reef drops into some of Hawaii's clearest water.