The sign on the building actually says "Kohala Welcome Center", and it was a most welcome sight indeed when we required a family pit stop after an hour of driving, including 30 miles of arid nothingness on Hwy 270. By the time we got here, in the town of Hawi, the surroundings had started to become lush again.
The bathrooms in back were brand-new and spotless. Up in front were a set of displays outlining the history of the area. The staff were super friendly and ready to answer our questions. When they asked us where we were headed, we had to button our lips, admitting it was a surprise for the kids, who were standing next to us. The staff figured it our pretty quickly on their own.
Note: Despite my best efforts, Yelp continues to show the location as the middle of a cow pasture and 5 miles from the nearest town. In reality, it is on the main highway (270) in the small town of Hawi, near the intersection with Hoea Rd. read more