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
Puakō & Waikoloa Petroglyphs
Thousands of figures carved into the lava centuries ago, canoes, dancers, and voyagers. Some of Hawaii's richest petroglyph fields sit within a short walk of the resort.
Long before the resorts, Hawaiians crossing this lava left a record of themselves in the stone: human figures, canoes, turtles, and dancers, thousands of them, pecked into the pāhoehoe. The Waikoloa preserve sits right by the Kings’ Shops, a flat and easy walk from your suite, and the larger Puakō field is a short drive north.
These are sacred, fragile places. View them from the marked paths, never touch or make rubbings, and take only photographs. Our concierge can set up a guided walk with someone who reads the stories in the stone.
Good to know
Which field is easiest to see?
The Waikoloa Petroglyph Preserve by the Kings' Shops is a flat, easy stroll right at the resort. The Puakō preserve a few minutes north is larger, with thousands of carvings.
What will we see carved in the stone?
Human figures, paddlers and canoes, turtles, and dancers pecked into smooth pāhoehoe lava, many of them centuries old. Low, raking light in the early morning or late afternoon makes the shapes far easier to read.
How should we treat the petroglyphs?
These are sacred and fragile. Stay on the marked path, never walk on or touch the carvings, do not make rubbings, and take only photographs so they endure for the generations to come.
When is the best time to go?
Go early or toward evening. The lava field holds the heat and offers no shade, so midday can be very hot. Closed-toe shoes, water, and sun protection make the walk far more comfortable.
Can someone guide us?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a guided cultural walk with someone who reads the stories in the stone, which brings far more meaning than viewing on your own. It suits older children who can stay on the path.
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.