Very nice walk through this historic site which is well labeled with descriptions in the trail map. 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. read more

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

Lapakahi State Historical Park - Office - Parks Near Me - North Kohala, Hawaii

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I made a list of all the sights we want to fit in while on our long flight in. We packed our rugged shoes and water bottles to venture out. It's beautiful and clean with fresh smells. read more

Sweet and very knowledgeable staff attending the small visitor center. The grounds are well kept. read more

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What a cool little spot to come and hike and watch wails. There is a marked trail with information that you can obtain at the visitor center. When we were there it was pretty hot and there was not a lot of shade so come prepared. Parking was ample on a Tuesday at around 11am. Restroom is a large portapotty so if that's not your thing you'll wanna make other bathroom plans. read more

It's an interesting place to stop in and check out. A former port site during sugar cane days, it's got a lot of history. Cool waves crashing on the rocks, so pretty! read more

Lapakahi State Historical Park - Huge old tree - Parks Near Me - North Kohala, Hawaii

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We stumbled across this spot while driving to Hilo. This place was very pretty and quiet, and even has a hiking trail. When we got here there was going one other car. This place is a hidden gem for a quick stop or to go hiking. read more

So according to the 101 Things to Do in Hawaii, this was THE place to go to do some whale watching. No such luck. We also saw a sign to be careful of the monk seal, but no monk seal sighting either. Fail! First off, be careful when using your GPS to find this place. GPS took us in a circle for a little bit. As long as you stay on Highway 270 you'll be fine. Just follow it until you get to mile marker 14. You'll see the big sign for the park. Despite the high winds, it was nice to find this small hidden park, though. It's a one mile walk through this place (which the sign says takes 45 to walk through). I think there's supposed to be some kind of guided tour because there are number markers throughout the path, but we had no idea what they were there for. When we parked, there was a small office looking place that was closed. We went on a Sunday, so maybe they're closed? Not sure. We just followed along the path in hopes of seeing something cool. Definitely a nice place to check out the ocean if you're not from Hawaii, but if you are, there are definitely nicer places to visit for an ocean view. Plus, we saw no whales as the book promised, so that was disappointing. Can't blame the book, though...whales were just playing somewhere else at the time. We did catch some whales popping their flippers and tails out of the water on our way back home, though. Just keep your eyes open along Highway 270 and pull over to the side when you see them for a fun view! read more

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Located off Hwy. 270 along the Kohala Coast, my brother took me to this 265-acre park which is the site of an ancient Hawaiian settlement. It's a pretty easy walk with paved trails. It was founded back in the 1300s and amazingly, the village was well-preserved. The land was very fertile but it was also rocky and windy. If you have time, this is a great place to learn about some of the first settlements on the Big Island. read more

Lapakahi State Historical Park - Parks Near Me - North Kohala, Hawaii

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So beautiful! We loved stopping here on our explorations of the island. It's a bit off the beaten path so it was quiet. The information in the park map is very good and showcases the park and it's history well. We enjoyed exploring what life might have been like in this village. Highly recommend the stop. read more

Lapakahi State Historical Park - Parks Near Me - North Kohala, Hawaii

A quick stop while exploring the north-side of Big Island~ Pretty interesting to see an old Hawaiian Fishing Village i presume or an old Hawaiian village. So take a quick stroll around the place but be-careful things are old and the houses may collapse on you! There are parking spot here so take some time to walk around !!! : ) There is nothing much but since you are up there just take some time to sight see read more

Lapakahi State Historical Park - historical state park~ - Parks Near Me - North Kohala, Hawaii

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This is a very nice place to walk around. It was once a village that got converted to a national park. Be prepared to spend about an hour here for this easy trail. Now both times I have been here I have seen migrating whales when I passed by trail marker #5. It is probably a coincidence but I am convinced that this park is a great place for whale watching, BRING YOUR BINOCULARS. There is also a bench shaded by a tree by trail marker #5 where you can sit and observe those whales. I love come here and will definitely be back again! read more

This is a nice stop to check out how Hawaiians used to live. There are old houses and areas that show you how people went about their daily lives in the past. The walking loop takes about 45 minutes-1 hour (depending on how quickly you walk) and it can get very hot outside. The setting is next to the water, which adds to the beauty and charm of the park. read more

Not sure why this place hasn't been reviewed yet, but considering it only takes about a half and hour or so to walk around the interpretive trail, it was definitely worth my time to stop and check it out. It's the site of an old Hawaiian fishing village, so there are a bunch of historical structures to check out. Sure, this part of the island is dry and hot, but like I said, it doesn't take long to cruise around. I felt like a stumbled upon a hidden gem when I went there. If you look north, you can also see a white statue on the coast (Kamehameha?), which, as far as I could tell, is completely inaccessible by car, which made it somewhat mysterious. Stop here for 30 minutes and be happy that you did. read more

ONE-LINE: Well maintained (with Aloha!) and a chance to see whales (no guarantee though haha) PARK: We were in the area so we stopped by just to see--this is a really cute park. There's a short, little windy trail with number markers (take a pic of the info board before you start your walk) that brings you near a beach and up a small hill for a great view. The groundskeeping staff does a great job of maintaining this place. The beach and the historical village are off-limits but I don't think it took away from the trail. The trail itself is over dirt, gravel, and rocks but the incline wasn't steep--it was a great way to stretch your legs after a long car ride. SIGHTS: I *heard* that this is a great spot for whale-watching, IF you're there during the right type of year, since the park is located at the edge of a marine reserve. There are little benches all over this park that would make great places to take a break. P.S. There's no bathroom--just a porta-a-potty. The parking lot was relatively small but we didn't have a problem finding a stall. This park is in range of Waikoloa but idk about waiting for sunset--the sign says that the parking lot closes for incoming traffic at 3:30 and the gates close entirely at 4:00 PM. read more

We really enjoyed our time here. There is a trail that offers beautiful views of the Koai'e Cove. If you stop in to the Information building, you can get a pamphlet to take with you on the trail. It will point out certain landmarks along the trail about the 600 year old fishing village. read more

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Warning! They lock the gates at 4pm sharp whether cars are in the parking lot or not. They will not unlock them for any reason until 8am the next morning. Police are not given keys to free people. We arrived at 3:15 and finished at 4:15. There were three other cars in the lot with us, and three elderly people. Park personnel locked us in. We had to call 911 to get police to help us, and were informed they are not allowed to have keys to rescue people. The police officers told us we were the third call that week. Our only option was to call a taxi to get a ride to our hotel and we would need to come back the next morning to get our cars. Totally not cool or inline with the normal Hawaii Hospitality we have received. read more

Great stop, glad that I did. A site of an over 600 year old village. If you like to learn some history it's a great place, peaceful but hot. Bring some water with you if you want to do the trails. It will take about 30 min to 1 hour. After you are done try to imagine how the village looked like. read more

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We just stumbled upon this great place to see historical sights while heading back from a day exploring Kohala and Waimea. It's a short .5 mile circuit walk but wear good shoes to navigate the rocky paths! The view of the bay at the shoreline is worth the trek down (and back up) the hill! Interesting ruins and a recreated house so you can imagine life 600 years ago. read more

A very special place. I went with part of a group studying Hawaiian healing. We expected to tour on our own, but ended up getting a guided tour with Dane, one of the guides at the park. He offered an oli (chant) as well as lots of cultural and spiritual information. The scenery was stunning and it was a deeply moving experience. I highly recommend, especially if you can have Dane as a tour guide! read more