A beautiful hike to such a peaceful reward at the end!…read more As an avid hiker, this hike was doable. It took us only about half an hour going down and up. When you arrive, parking for hikers is recommended not at the valley parking lot but on the side road leading to the parking lot as the valley parking lot is for those who are just visiting the lookout and not hiking. Once you walk towards the trail entrance, there are a couple of people waiting to assist hikers. They discuss the safety protocol and warnings when visiting. There is no time limit to how long you can be down there but because no swimming is allowed, i have found people stay only about half an hour before heading back up. We recommend wearing hiking shoes because the ascend is not easy and have seen people struggling.

Great short hike with excellent views as you descend. We tried this ~ 30 years ago and the trail…read morewas narrow and not well developed plus very muddy the day we originally tried it, so had to turn around. Now, the trail is nicely improved with some strategic rock "steps" though it is still slippery, even on a dry day. We saw a number of people doing it ( Very cautiously) in inappropriate shoes and that is not at all recommended. It is steep. The pond and beach at the bottom is nice for contemplation and wave watching.

Growing up, I often got excited when I heard my family would go going to a party at Keokea Park…read more Folks would rent the shelter, music would play, food would be plentiful and I would run and play like children should. Recently, I stopped by while I was in Kohala. It was a perfect day. The sun was shining, there was a slight breeze, and the park was nearly empty. I could sit in the car or on the rocks and watch the waves crash for hours. After I get my fill of that, I walk up to the smaller shelter where I can get some elevation and take a few more photos, sigh, and smile about the lovely day I'm having. If you're looking for a sandy beach with recreational swimming, this isn't a place for you. But, if you want to watch the waves, gaze at the mountains, and enjoy nature, it's as good a place as any.

Love this small private-like native beach. Nice place for a quiet family picnic and Kids' wading…read morebeach.

Very nice walk through this historic site which is well labeled with descriptions in the trail map…read more The park ranger was very friendly and informative. Good ocean watching half way around and several other trail walkers saw whales, but we did not manage to see any.

This was a strange outpost. Out of nowhere with no staff. The views were amazing however, so it was…read morenice to look out onto the ocean, hoping to see migrating whales. No luck today, but a nice vantage point anyway.

Pretty wonderful park. It even has an area for 2-5 year old kids. My daughter loved it…read more Weather was nice and there is plenty of seating for parents. Clean, but it does have some graffiti.

Awesome clean and very well made park for the kids. Also has bathrooms nearby but they close at…read more2pm, there are more bathrooms nearby the tennis courts that stay open but it a bit of a walk. So much to climb and run through and explore, kept them busy for a couple hours and tired them out for an easy car ride home. Fully fenced with one entrance so you don't have to worry about kids running off. Will bring the kids back again.

This is a NPS managed site that protects the ancient fish traps and fish catch ponds. centuries old…read more, all by hand to catch fish that come in on the tides to feed. One Way traps. A marvel to imagine

Great location to visit not too many tourists and the beach is nice. The hike is not the easiest on…read moreunimproved path with a lot of lava rocks and it very exposed to the sun. Need to bring water and wear sturdy shoes. Came during the gov shut down so the parking lot, visitor center, and restrooms were all closed but at the turn around you can fit ~10 cars along the shoulder.

Whoa, this is a pretty epic little park. Not well known. If you're making the drive up north on…read morethe Kohala Coast to Hawi, pick up some lunch in Kawihae at the popular poke shack or even some yummy fried chicken at the MinuteStop and have yourself a picnic here. At Māhukona Beach Park, the shoreline is rocky and lacks a sandy beach. There is a swimmers ladder in the old harbor. Fishing, snorkeling, picnic areas, and camping are available. At the south end of the park you'll find an unmarked trail that leads to a view of the old Mahukona Lighthouse. Next time we'll plan on snorkeling here. If you do snorkel/swim, remember to use reef-safe sunscreen.

Wow. This view was breathtaking!…read more I visited in April and we definitely got lucky. I hear that all the tour busses come by and parking is often difficult to find. There is a slight hike so if you aren't physically able, this might be inaccessible for you. Tourists used to be able to access the property below the valley but that has changed since the pandemic (unfortunately). Still, nonetheless it doesn't cost a penny and it's a stunning view.

This was such an epic view. The lookout is a short but steep walk from the parking lot and had…read morebathroom facilities. This is definitely worth a stop if on the big island. The day we went, was right after rain and there was a waterfall falling onto a black sand beach. Where else in the world can you see that?

This is a very pretty park with nice picnic grounds and an ~ 2 mile walking path along the river…read morewhere there are nice, small waterfalls. We ate a picnic lunch then took a walk along the full trail. There do not seem to be bathrooms or trash receptacles, so pack your waste out.

Also known as Ulu La'au, this is a nice and beautiful 10-acre gem and peaceful nature park in the…read morecenter of Waimea Town (Kamuela). It's operated and maintained by the local volunteer group, Waimea Outdoor Circle. There is a nice stream coming through along with a walking trail nearby. The park also has covered picnic areas, and many of the benches are located beneath shade trees or along the stream. You'll also find a native plant garden and various memorials dedicated to past gardeners. There is on-site parking but it is very limited. Great nature park overall!

Lovely, peaceful trails at this park. In this visit we only had time for the nature trail which was…read morewell maintained and had a number of interpretive signs describing the various trees and shrubs. Also near the nature trail is the arboretum of native plants with additional interpretive signs, be sure to visit both areas. If you have more time, do the jeep trail to gulch trail as a loop.

This place is pretty confusing and also empty so we were afraid to explore too much. We checked out…read morethe garden but it seemed a bit under maintained and dead. Seems pretty easy to get lost and no reception so come prepared. Plenty of parking but for some reason gave kind of eerie vibes.