If you’re planning a family trip to the Big Island and staying near Mauna Lani, you’re in one of the best-positioned spots on the entire island. Everything that makes the Kohala Coast special — calm, protected bays, ancient cultural sites, world-class beaches, and natural playgrounds — is within a short drive or golf cart ride. We see it with our guests all the time: once they realize how much is right outside the door, the only challenge becomes choosing where to start.
Here’s our honest guide to the best things to do near Mauna Lani Resort for families — written from experience, not from a tourism brochure.
Pauoa Bay — Sea Turtles and Calm Water Snorkeling
If we had to pick one spot to send a family with young kids on their first morning, Pauoa Bay would be it. The bay sits just along the Fairmont Orchid shoreline within Mauna Lani’s resort area, protected by natural lava rock walls that keep the water calm even when the outer coast picks up a little chop.
The snorkeling here is genuinely good. Pauoa Bay is home to one of the healthiest coral reefs on the Kohala Coast — a result of long-running conservation efforts by the University of Hawaii. You’ll find reef fish like butterflyfish, puffer fish, eels, and rays moving around the coral. And the honu — the Hawaiian green sea turtle — are a regular presence. Spotting one while snorkeling, or watching one surface slowly near the shore, is the kind of moment that stays with people long after the trip ends.
No lifeguards are on duty, so keep an eye on little ones near the reef edges. Water shoes help on the rocky entry points. Go in the morning for the calmest conditions.
Mauna Lani Aqua Park / Makaiwa Bay — Great Reef Snorkeling for All Ages
The Mauna Lani Beach Club area near Makaiwa Bay is another easy win for families. The bay is very sheltered, which makes it forgiving for newer snorkelers or kids who haven’t spent much time in the ocean. The reef is active and interesting — yellow tangs, Moorish idols, parrotfish, and occasionally a spotted eagle ray.
Access is easy. You can drive to the Beach Club parking area via South Kaniku Drive when the gate is open, or walk in from the Pauoa Road side. Either way, the walk is short and the reward is worth it.
One note from people who know this area well: winds tend to pick up along this stretch by mid-morning, which can cloud the water and make the surface less pleasant. Arriving early — think 8 or 9 AM — makes a real difference in visibility and comfort.
Puakō Petroglyph Preserve — A Short Walk Through Deep History
The Puakō Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve is the kind of place that surprises people. They expect a history lesson; they get something that actually feels alive.
The preserve contains more than 3,000 ancient carvings — ki’i pōhaku — etched into lava rock, with some dating back to around 1200 AD. Depictions of humans, canoes, turtles, and ceremonial symbols cover the field. The true meanings behind many of the carvings remain unknown, which somehow makes them more compelling. Kids tend to spend a lot of time trying to decode them.
The preserve is located just north of the Mauna Lani resort hotels, near Holoholokai Beach Park. A paved path leads to the petroglyph viewing area, but the ground is uneven through parts of the kiawe forest and the thorns underfoot are real — wear sturdy shoes, not flip-flops. The walk takes about 10 to 15 minutes each way and is appropriate for families with older kids. A free guided tour operates from nearby Kings’ Shops on Thursday and Friday mornings at 9:30 AM.
Stay on the marked paths. Do not touch the carvings. This is one of the most significant petroglyph fields in the entire Pacific, and the care visitors show now protects it for everyone who comes after.
Kalāhuipuaʻa Historic Park and Fishponds Trail — A Quiet Coastal Walk
Not far from the petroglyph preserve, the Kalāhuipuaʻa Historic Park offers a completely different pace. This easy 1.7-mile loop follows a paved path through ancient lava fields, past a lava tube shelter that dates to somewhere between 1200 and 1700 AD (bring a flashlight — you can actually step inside), and around a series of remarkable fishponds that are still in use today.
The fishponds were engineered by Native Hawaiians to raise mullet and other fish using a combination of natural freshwater springs and seawater. Walking the retaining wall that edges the largest pond — Lahuipuaʻa Fishpond — with fish jumping and birds working the surface is one of those genuinely peaceful experiences you don’t expect to find on a family beach vacation.
The trail ends near Makaiwa Beach, a calm, protected pocket of shoreline that’s well-suited for families. The combination of cultural learning and easy outdoor movement makes this a great half-morning activity, especially on a day when the ocean is a little rough.
Trailhead parking is limited to about 12 spaces and fills early. Go in the morning.
Hapuna Beach — One of Hawaii’s Best White Sand Beaches
About 10 minutes north of Mauna Lani, Hāpuna Beach is often included in international rankings of the finest beaches in the Hawaiian Islands. It earns its reputation. The beach is wide, the white sand is soft, and the water is clear and open.
For families, Hapuna works best on calm-water days, particularly in summer. The shore break can be significant when swells are running, so check conditions before you let younger kids wade in. On calm mornings, the swimming is excellent, and there’s good snorkeling at the rocky points on either end of the bay.
Facilities are well-kept: restrooms, showers, picnic areas, lifeguards on duty most days, and a large parking lot. Arrive early — parking fills up quickly in peak season. There is a small entrance fee per person and a per-vehicle parking fee; bring a credit card as cash is not accepted.
If you want one big beach day during your stay, Hapuna is the one to plan it around.
Golf Cart Access from Hale Mele — Getting Around Made Easy
One of the things our guests mention most often is how easy it is to get around the Mauna Lani area without constantly loading and unloading the car. Hale Mele comes with golf cart access, and for a family staying here, that changes the texture of the whole trip.
The petroglyph preserve, the fishponds trail, the Beach Club, and the aqua park are all within easy reach by cart. It’s the kind of thing that sounds like a small detail until you’re actually using it every morning, dropping beach bags at the car drop-off point and cruising back at sunset without the usual parking shuffle. Kids love it, parents appreciate it, and it makes the neighborhood feel like yours for the week.
A Word on Timing
For most of the outdoor activities near Mauna Lani, mornings are the sweet spot. The water is calmest, visibility is best for snorkeling, the parking is more manageable, and the heat is gentler. Planning beach and snorkeling time before noon, and keeping afternoons for the trails or a pool day, tends to produce the best rhythm for families traveling with kids.
Ready to Start Planning?
Our guests often tell us the hardest part of staying at Hale Mele is deciding what to do first. We’ve put together a full experiences guide to help — covering everything from snorkeling and cultural sites to local dining and day trips across the island.
Explore our full
Experiences Guide at halemele.com/experiences/
or
book your stay directly and let us help you plan from there.
Photo by Simon Hurry on Unsplash
