Hidden gems on the Big Island are often where the island’s most memorable experiences unfold. Most visitors to the Kohala Coast spend their days at the main resort beaches or on bus tours to the volcano. We completely understand — there is a lot to see on this island, and the obvious spots are obvious for a reason. But if you have a few extra hours (and you will, because Hale Mele is the kind of place that makes it easy to slow down), some of the most memorable moments on the Big Island happen just beyond the tourist trail.
These are a few of our favorite hidden gems on the Big Island within easy reach of home.
Puakō Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve
Start here if you want to see something genuinely ancient. The Puakō Petroglyph Preserve protects one of the largest collections of Hawaiian rock carvings in the islands — thousands of images etched into pahoehoe lava, depicting people, canoes, sea turtles, and symbols that speak to a way of life that existed here long before the resorts were built.
The trail is short, free, and quiet in the early morning. You access it from Holoholokai Beach Park, just inside the Mauna Lani resort. Plan to go around sunrise or in the late afternoon — the light is better for spotting the carvings, and the heat is far more manageable. Bring water and good shoes. This one stays with you.
Kalāhuipuaʻa Fishponds Trail
A short walk from the same trailhead area, the Kalāhuipuaʻa Historic Park and Fishpond Preserve is one of those places that feels like the island sharing a secret with you. The easy, mostly paved loop (about 1.7 miles) winds through an ancient lava field — you can even duck into a small lava tube shelter used by Hawaiians from roughly 1200 to 1700 — and then opens into a series of palm-lined fishponds that have been continuously managed in the traditional Hawaiian way for centuries.
The fishponds are brackish and fed by underground freshwater springs. Fish enter through historic stone gates, and some ponds still produce mullet and milkfish the same way they did for the aliʻi (royalty) of Kamehameha’s time. Walking along the sea wall with the ocean on one side and a living fishpond on the other is a genuinely peaceful experience. Dogs and bikes are not allowed, which keeps it quiet.
Pauoa Bay
Pauoa Bay sits just in front of the Fairmont Orchid within the Mauna Lani resort, and while it is technically a resort beach, it is publicly accessible via the shoreline path. What makes it worth seeking out is its calm, protected water and the regular visits from Hawaiian green sea turtles that come ashore to rest on the dark sand and rocks along the shoreline.
Early morning is the best time to spot them. Keep a respectful distance — it is a federal requirement, not just a suggestion — and you will have an experience that stays in the memory long after the trip ends. The water here is also excellent for snorkeling when conditions are calm. We love this spot because it is peaceful and genuinely beautiful without the crowds you find at the more well-known beaches.
Keawaiki Bay (Lone Palm Beach)
If your group is up for a bit more adventure, Keawaiki Bay is worth the effort. Accessed via a short but rugged hike over ʻaʻā lava from a pull-off near Highway 19, this remote cove rewards you with calm turquoise water, a solitary palm tree standing watch at the water’s edge, and the quiet that comes with having earned your destination.
The bay sits north of where most day-trippers venture, and the combination of snorkeling, tidepools, and the otherworldly lava landscape makes it feel like a different island altogether. Wear sturdy shoes, bring plenty of water, and go when the weather is calm. It is not a beach for rough days.
Mauna Lani’s Coastal Trail System
One of the things guests often tell us they love most about staying at Hale Mele is how much is accessible on foot or by golf cart. The Mauna Lani coastal trail network connects Holoholokai Beach Park, the fishponds, the petroglyph preserve, and several quiet cove beaches in a single connected route. You do not need a car for any of it. Grab coffee, hop on the golf cart, and you can be watching the sun rise over the lava fields within minutes of leaving the front door.
A Word About the Holualoaʻā Area and Local Coffee
If you head inland even a little, the upcountry Holualoaʻā area is home to a cluster of small working coffee farms where you can see, smell, and taste what Kona coffee actually looks like before it ends up in a bag. Many farms welcome visitors for informal tours and tastings. It is an easy half-day detour and a completely different side of the island.
The Best Way to Explore These Spots
Our honest advice: do not try to hit all of these in one day. Pick one or two, move slowly, and let the experiences settle. The petroglyphs in the morning, a quiet afternoon at Pauoa Bay with the turtles, and dinner back at home — that is a perfect day on the Kohala Coast.
When you stay at Hale Mele, you have the golf cart, the time, and the location to make this kind of unhurried exploration your default mode. That is exactly how we designed the experience.
→ Browse our full local guide at
halemele.com/experiences/ for more recommendations around the Kohala Coast.
