Hawaii vacation rentals - Kohala Coast properties

Hawai’i Island is a great place to explore cruising by car. You don’t have to go too far to find something unique and completely different from your home base! Traveling north up the coast from the Kohala Coast resorts, you watch the terrain change from lava landscape to dry hills that grow gradually greener the farther you go. The ocean becomes a deeper blue color, and the views are amazing.

The trip will take about half a day or so, and the best way to go there is to take the Akoni Pule Highway, which goes along the coast. At the very top of the island, just before the road ends, you’ll find two former sugar cane plantation towns that might capture your heart, Hawi and Kapa’au. But first, on the way there, stop by Lapakahi State Park, an old fishing village and an important historical site.

Lapakahi State Park

Lapakahi State Historical Park is a large area of ruins from an ancient Hawaiian fishing village in North Kohala. Visitors can learn about traditional Hawaiian culture through the partially restored remains of this ancient Hawaiian coastal settlement.

The park offers numerous historical sites and artifacts within a short distance. Lapa kahi means “single ridge” and refers to the ancient ahupua’a (land subdivision) that existed here some 600 years ago. The offshore area is a Marine Life Conservation District. There are many kinds of ancient structures and artifacts along the short 1-mile hike, including several house sites, canoe storage houses, salt-making pans, kukui nut lampstands, and even a few kōnane games. Lapakahi is open daily from 8 am – 4 pm (no entry after 3:30 pm). It is closed for state holidays.

Hawi

After a scenic cruise up Akoni Pule Highway, the first stop is Hāwī. This is a walking town. Find a place to park and enjoy cruising down a street lined with colorful shops, galleries, eateries, and other businesses to explore.

Bamboo Restaurant and Gallery is a local favorite, catering to local residents and welcoming the many visitors who cruise through town on their way to Pololū Valley. The restaurant is known for serving delicious fresh fish, locally sourced produce for salads, a great burger, sandwiches, and various dishes with Hawaiian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai flavors. In addition, the Gallery features art, gifts, and various treasures, made by Hawai’i artists and shared with aloha.

Across the street is Kohala Coffee Mill. Open Monday-Friday, 7 am-5 pm, and 7 am-4 pm on weekends, this local landmark is a must for coffees, Tropical Dreams Ice Cream, and a variety of bakery items, wraps, and snacks. Ingredients are from Hawai’i Island as much as possible, with organic, vegetarian, non-GMO, and gluten-free options.

If you happen to be there on Saturday, visit the Hāwī Farmers Market, 8 am-12:30 pm. In addition to just-picked fruits and veggies from nearby farms, they offer an excellent selection of artisan items, fresh lemonade, eggs, honey, bread, and prepared food items. They also feature live music by local entertainers.

Kapa’au

The journey continues to Kapa’au town, 2.5 miles away. Similar in feel to Hāwī, Kapa’au is another sugar cane plantation town that reinvented itself into a business community with a variety of shopping and dining venues. If you’re visiting at lunchtime, check out Minnie’s Ohana Lim Style cafe. Have a seat on the front porch and dig into a generous shrimp Caesar Salad, hot roast beef, or turkey sandwich, catch of the day. Minnie’s is open 11 am-4 pm Monday and Tuesday, till 6 pm on Wednesday and 7 pm on Friday, and closed on Thursday and weekends.

Another good choice for lunch is Gill’s Lanai. A covered lanai adjacent to a classic Kohala home, Gill’s is a shady, backyard-style retreat for uniquely great food. Their sign offers Fresh Fish, Tacos, Gourmet Dogs, and Vegetarian, but the specials could include dishes like Lobster or Shrimp Tacos, Pumpkin Curry Soup, or Banh Mi. Gill’s is open 11 am-5 pm Monday through Saturday.

Kapaʻau’s most famous resident may be the larger-than-life, 18-foot bronze statue of King Kamehameha I at the north end of town. Kamehameha is well known for unifying the islands into one kingdom. What’s lesser known is that he was born in the North Kohala District, raised in hiding, and trained to be a warrior and a leader until the time came for him to take his place in history.

Kings View Cafe, just across the street from the statue, is a small but tasty place to enjoy Hawaiian ice cream with a specialty coffee or a gourmet hand-tossed pizza with a cold beer. Next door, explore the treasures in Ackerman Gallery, featuring Hawai’i-inspired fine art and photography, jewelry, unique gifts, hand-painted silks, and much more. They’re open daily from 10:30 am-7 pm, till 8 pm on weekends.

At the end of the road is the beautiful overlook into Pololu Valley. Spectacular though it is, this site is one of our island’s most popular spots, where parking is limited, and viewing may be crowded. You can get a glimpse of almost the same view as you approach the valley without having to navigate the U-turn at the overlook. Slow down, take it in, park for your photo op if you like, and save the trip to the end of the road for the off-season.

Enjoy your North Kohala road trip!

Save on your Hawaii vacation rental

Remember, you can always save 10% on your vacation rental when you book direct with us and mention “Aloha escape” in your reservation.

We hope to see you soon – a hui hou!

Golf may not first come to mind when you think of Hawaii; however, you might be surprised to know that some of the most world-renowned golf courses are located here. There are 75 golf courses in Hawaii, 17 on the Big Island, and 11 of those are along the ever sunny Kohala Coast, within about 20 miles of each other, and surrounded by some of the most spectacular ocean views on the planet.

If you are a golfer staying in one of the Kohala Coast resorts (Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, Hapuna, or Mauna Kea), you may as well welcome yourself to a golfer’s paradise. Many courses here are created by famous golf course designers and present a lot of fun and challenges for professionals and beginners alike. This blog post features the best Kohala Coast golf courses for you to enjoy while on your Hawaiian vacation.

Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf

Waikoloa Beach Resort is situated in the heart of the Kohala Coast and boasts not one but three world-class golf courses. Home of “Hawaii’s Premiere 27-Hole Golf Experience,” Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf is comprised of the Beach Nine, Lakes Nine, and Kings’ Nine. It presents a unique opportunity for golfers to design their own golf experience.

Beach Nine
The Beach Nine is a must-play, featuring generous landing areas from the tee boxes and large greens surrounded by low-lipped bunkers to reward the social golfer. Skilled and avid players can be aggressive and be rewarded with multiple birdie opportunities. Hole #6 is the highlight of this loop. This par-five plays on an emerald ribbon of fairway between black lava fields down to the ocean then takes a hard dogleg-left to a putting surfaced ringed by swaying palm trees and backed by Pacific waves, creating one of the most beautiful and memorable holes in Hawaii.

Lakes Nine
The Lakes Nine winds its way through the heart of the resort, taking its name from the bodies of water that come into play on five of the nine holes. This classic resort-style layout, part of the original Beach Course built back in 1980, will not beat you up with length, but does require strategic shots to avoid lava and water trouble. The lava beds in this resort area created some natural elevation changes incorporated into the design. Hole #8 is a fun and scenic par-three hole with water carry to reach the receptive green and a towering wall of lava as a backdrop.

Kings’ Nine
The Kings’ Nine provides an entirely different playing experience. A Scottish links-style layout, the Kings’ Nine features wide fairways and broader views of Mauna Kea in the background. Native grasses and pot bunkers add a degree of drama and strategy to shot-making. The signature hole on this loop is #5, a risk/reward par-four of only 277 yards. Better players might consider going for the green, but trouble lurks left and short in the form of a fairway-long sand bunker and massive lava boulders – a truly memorable hole on a truly great course.

Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf Course Lakes Nine

Many of our vacation rental properties are located in Waikoloa Beach Resort, right on the above-mentioned golf courses! Fantastic golf course views, perfect location, special discounts, and quality accommodations will contribute to every golfer’s dream vacation. Browse our vacation rentals for details.

Mauna Kea Golf Course

Located along the rugged coast of Mauna Kea Resort, this historic award-winning, 18-hole championship golf course has set the standard for Hawaii golf for generations. Created in 1964 by Robert Trent Jones Sr. on what was once a barren black lava field, today’s lush fairways tumble across seaside cliffs with unfolding ocean and coastal views. Elevated, undulating greens and prevailing coastal winds demand accuracy, while an epic over-the-ocean 3rd hole guarantees an unforgettable day of play.

Modern improvements to Mauna Kea Golf Course by the original designer’s son, Rees Jones, have kept the original character intact while opening up challenging, memorable play on the Big Island of Hawaii to all player levels.

Learn more about the course and booking tee times here if you are up to the challenge.

Hapuna Golf Course

The Hapuna Golf Course is a stunning 18-hole oceanfront course that is a part of the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, which also happens to be a part of Mauna Kea Resort. The course was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay and opened to the public in 1992. It has a total yardage of 6,875, a slope rating of 136, and a USPGA rating of 73.3. The signature holes on this stunning course are the 3rd, 9th, and 18th holes.

The Hapuna Golf Course has a driving range, putting greens, and practice bunkers for you to sharpen your strokes before you start on your first official round. There are also locker rooms and shower facilities for your convenience and a full-service pro shop that supplies everything you need for your first round of golf. The pro shop stocks golf clubs, shoes, and other memorabilia. The Hapuna Course also allows public guests to play on the course. The course hosts several tournaments and is regarded as Hawaii’s best-kept secret.

Mauna Lani Golf Course

Mauna Lani Resort is located in-between Waikoloa Beach and Hapuna resorts and, you guessed it, has two beautiful golf courses with breathtaking ocean views.

The South Course is an iconic championship ocean course that has challenged golf legends including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Lee Trevino. It snakes through the stark, rugged a’a lava of the prehistoric Kaniku lava flow. This challenging 18 hole course offers the golfer a panorama of mountain and ocean views. It is also home to No. 15, one of the world’s most photographed over-the-water golf course holes. In addition, it was the host venue for the annual Senior Skins Game from 1990 – 2000.

The North Course offers a quintessential Hawaiian golf experience characterized by rolling terrain, lava rock, and Kiawe forests. A 230-acre protected archaeological district lies on the northern boundary of the golf course. No.17, a par three tucked into a natural lava amphitheater, is the resort’s signature hole and a favorite “I was here” photo spot. This course has become one of the most popular tournament venues on the Island.

Golfers at Hapuna Golf Course

The best thing is that all of these golf courses are located within just a few minutes’ ride from each other, so you can try most of them, if not all, during a single trip! So enjoy time together with family and friends, making fun memories, getting out in the Hawaiian sunshine, and taking in some of the most beautiful scenery nature can offer. Let time escape you as you golf across Big Island’s best golf courses with those you care about.