Napoopoo Park Loop

Finding the location is fairly simple. If you are just going to snorkel and relax you don't need to go into Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Park. Instead park just outside of it and facing the entrance of the park you will walk down a one way street on the right. You can attempt to park down the one way street but you will have to pay for parking.There isn't a sandy beach at Two Steps. You will h...

Stop first at Hal Ho'okipa, the park visitor information center. It[s about 4.1 miles south of Kona Airport. Its a neat little building where you can pick up a map and learn more about the area. From there you can take the 0.5 mile Ala Hele Ike Hawai'i trail that leads to the coastal trail (Ala Hele Kahakai). From the coastal trail its approximately .33 miles south from the intersection. Altern...

Located just south of Kailua-Kona International Airport, Wawaloli Beach is a hidden gem that many tourists miss completely on the way out of the airport.   To get there just simply turn into the Natural Energy Lab on Makako Bay Dr from Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway (HI19). About a mile down the road is beach front parking and a small lot.   There are grills and picnic tables available to use. Many p...

From the parking area at Kekaha Kai State Park, it's about a 20-30 minute walk to the beach. The walk is through black lava fields and is very exposed. Depending on how much gear you're carrying, it could seem like an eternity by the time you hit the beach. If you have a 4-wheel drive car with good clearance, you can actually drive up to the beach by taking highway 19 and turning off between mi...

This beach is a great if you're looking for a more secluded beach in Waikoloa Village.  Rarely are there more than ten people there even during sunset when people flock to the beach.   If you aren't staying at the Hilton next door then this spot is a little harder to access. There are two beach access parking lots: one located right off of Waikoloa Beach Rd and the other right across the street...

Mauna Kea is one of the volcanoes that helped form the Big Island of Hawai’i. However, its last eruption was around 2600 BC. Mauna Kea sits at an elevation of 13,796ft above sea level making it the second highest mountain I’ve hiked as I write this post – just shy of Mt Whitney. Interestingly, more than half of the mountain lays below the ocean’s surface. This adds 18,900ft to Mauna Kea’s heigh...