Kawaihae Harbor, Island of Hawaii
Kawaihae Harbor is on the Kohala Coast north of the Waikaloa Resorts on the Island of Hawaii. It is the home of Kawaihae Canoe Club.
Kawaihae Harbor includes a fuel depot, shipping terminal and military landing site. Outside of the man-made breakwall of the harbor is a popular surf spot and the Pua Kailima o Kawaihae Cultural Surf Park.
The small town features a handful of restaurants and art galleries. To the north of the harbor is the Kawaihae Canoe Club and a small boat ramp. To the south is Puʻukoholā Heiau national historic site, built by King Kamehameha I in 1791. Also to the south is the smaller Mailekini Heiau and the Hale o Kapuni Heiau, which is submerged.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers dredged the harbor and built the breakwall between 1957 and 1959. In 1970, construction of a small boat harbor began to the south of the main harbor entrance by several institutions under the name of Project Tugboat. Over 100 tons of conventional explosives were buried in the Kawaihae reef and detonated to clear the basin and the entrance.
It also served as the launching point for the film Waterworld with Kevin Costner. The artificial reef or floating island was just off the coast with headquarters for the movie at the harbor.
Sunny Hale Kephart vacation rental on the beautiful Kohala coast on the Big Island of Hawaii!
This 5-bedroom, 3-bath house sits on 5 acres of land in the North Kohala district of the Big Island. We specifically designed it as a family vacation gathering spot, and we built it ourselves in 1989. At about 300 feet elevation, it has terrific 180-degree ocean views. You can also see Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and most of the Kohala Gold Coast. With luck and timing, you can also spot humpback whales (in winter) and the occasional green flash (at sunset).
Because the house sits in the rain shadow of the Kohala Mountains, days are typically sunny and breezy compared to Kona's humid overcast. We even have some regulars who come over from Hilo to enjoy long weekends in the sun when available! With high ceilings, 13 ceiling fans, and over 750 square feet of windows, the house has a very open and airy feeling.
The surrounding area is fairly rural in character, so you will find this a quiet place to relax after a day of sightseeing or reading a novel at the beach. (Dedicated party animals will probably prefer something closer to Kona.) However, several excellent restaurants are only 5 minutes away by car in Kawaihae, along with diving, sportfishing, and fine art galleries. Spencer Beach State Park (great for little kids, with shade and very gentle surf) is only 5 minutes from the house, and Hapuna Beach State Park (great for teenagers, with beautiful white coral sand and impressive waves) is only 10 minutes from the house.
You will find this to be a very comfortable home away from home; many of our guests come back for repeat visits. This video features the song Kohala Mountain Road by Big Island musician John Keawe. Visit his website at:
To book your next vacation or for more information, visit:
Aloha!
Kohala Coast Diving 2015
SCUBA diving of the Big Island of Hawaii
Kohala Coast Family Fun Hawaii
Family vacation fun on the Kohala Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii that all ages can enjoy include snorkeling, outrigger, fishing, delicious food at Norio's Steak House, mountain views on Mauna Kea and a one of a kind local cultural experience at Mauna Lani with Danny Akaka.
Puako, Big Island, HI
Snorkeling off the beach at Puako, Big Island, Hawaii on 22 October 2014
The Big Island of Hawaii
The Big Island is the youngest Island of Hawaii, twice the size of all the other major Islands combined, covering over 4,000 square miles.
There are Twelve distinct climate zones, ranging from East Hawaii’s tropical rain forests to Mauna Kea’s frozen tundra
The Kona Coast lies immediately next to a huge ocean drop-off which descends thousands of feet to the ocean bottom. Kona is the home of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. Wether fishing from charter boats or piers, Kona gets fishermen hooked.
The Big Island, with her Crystal clear blue waters reveals a plethora of fish, sea turtles, dolphins and manta rays. Many snorkeling and scuba expeditions are open to every level of expertise. A unique experience for the advanced scuba diver is to swim into underwater lava tubes where eels, octopus and lobsters may be discovered.
The coffee plant was brought to Kona in 1828 by Samuel Ruggles. Today Kona coffee is one of the most expensive and prized coffees in the world.
Volcano is a subtropical highland community bordering Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is near the active volcano Kilauea.
Kilauea Caldera is the longest continuously erupting volcano in the world, its present eruptive phase dates back to 1983
Driving over the new saddle highway between the Mauna Loa and The Mauna Kea is impressive. The Mauna Kea is the tallest sea-mountain in the world and, if measured from the ocean bottom, is 4000 feet taller than Mt. Everest
Cafe Pesto first opened in Kawaihae harbor in 1988 and their popular pizzas caught on and they opened their second restaurant in Hilo in 1992.
Hilo is a peaceful city with an airport, orchid farms and the recently renovated Double Tree Grand Naniloa Hotel. It was also where, in 1946 a 56-foot tsunami swept into Hilo Bay and caused 159 deaths and tore apart downtown Hilo.
Hilo had a second devastating tsunami 14 years later which destroyed downtown again.
The Pacific Tsunami Museum has exhibits which show how tsunamis have actually shaped the appearance and development of Hilo.
Nearby is the Mokupapapa Discovery Museum which explains the region’s coral reef ecosystem. A stunning 2500 gallon sea water aquarium shows some of the local reef fish.
Hawi in North Kohala is known as the bicycle turnaround point for the Ironman Triathlon each October. But it is also know for Bamboo - a Restaurant, bar and store. One of the island’s oldest restaurants, the Pacific Rim menu with fresh island fish and organic local produce is ono (delicious). The store has Hawaiian handicrafts and one of the largest selections of Aloha shirts from Torrie Richards and Avanti on the island.
King Kamehameha, believed to have been born in the North Kohala area, conquered most of the Hawaiian Islands unifying them into the Kingdom of Hawaii.
Today the Big Island is more like the Kingdom of Golf. With 22 golf courses, the region has some of the top rated courses in the world. At the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Golf Course, is a new addition for getting around the course called golfboards. You can surf the course on a GolfBoard which is a core workout attuned to snowboarding or surfing. It also speeds up the pace of play making an average round of 18 holes on the GolfBoard in only 2 hours and 37 minutes.
The Mauna Lani Resort features two championship courses, the Francis H. I’i Brown North and South Courses. There are some unique features on Mauna Lani’s courses Including the Hawaiian Goose or Nēnē which is a species of goose endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is the official state bird of Hawaii
There are also goats, dozens of them which help keep the brush and grasses down. They are nature’s natural lawnmower. Most of the putting greens are Bermuda grass and balls tend to roll faster towards the ocean.
Cats are king at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, where ferrel kitties roam the sprawling property for treats and to help keep the rodent population at bay. The Mauna Kea was the brainchild of Laurence Rockefeller and was the most expensive hotel ever built in 1966 when it opened. The Kaunaoa beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii and in the winter offers exciting opportunities for boogie boarders and surfers.
Lava Lava also has some cottages that can be rented for those who want a spot where you can roll right from the bed to the beach.
Hawaii Island 5BR Vacation Home with 180 degree ocean views in sunny Kohala
This 5-bedroom, 3-bath house sits on 5 acres of land in the North Kohala district of the Big Island. We specifically designed it as a family vacation gathering spot, and we built it ourselves in 1989. At about 300 feet elevation, it has terrific 180-degree ocean views. You can also see Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and most of the Kohala Gold Coast. With luck and timing, you can also spot humpback whales (in winter) and the occasional green flash (at sunset).
Because the house sits in the rain shadow of the Kohala Mountains, days are typically sunny and breezy compared to Kona's humid overcast. We even have some regulars who come over from Hilo to enjoy long weekends in the sun when available! With high ceilings, 13 ceiling fans, and over 750 square feet of windows, the house has a very open and airy feeling.
The surrounding area is fairly rural in character, so you will find this a quiet place to relax after a day of sightseeing or reading a novel at the beach. (Dedicated party animals will probably prefer something closer to Kona.) However, several excellent restaurants are only 5 minutes away by car in Kawaihae, along with diving, sportfishing, and fine art galleries. Spencer Beach State Park (great for little kids, with shade and very gentle surf) is only 5 minutes from the house, and Hapuna Beach State Park (great for teenagers, with beautiful white coral sand and impressive waves) is only 10 minutes from the house.
You will find this to be a very comfortable home away from home; many of our guests come back for repeat visits.
For more information or to book your stay, visit:
This video features music by renown Big Island slack key guitarist John Keawe ~ hear more of his music at
Beach Day
Taking my Better 1/2 & her son's to the beach...Kawaihae Harbor...LST Landing...
All Rights Reserved (C) Kohala Iron Works 2013
Whales off of the Kohala Coast, Big Island Hawaii
Aboard the Sea Smoke with Capt. Jake, Nate (Sergio), and Tori.
Puako diving
April diving at Puako
Kawaihae Fishing
Kawaihae, Big Island, HI
Fishermen: Greg Smith and John Barth
Hawaii Sharks 3 (December 3, 2011)
Get a closeup view of some of Hawaii's sharks! Today was an unusual day at Pelekane Bay (@ Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kawaihae, HI). Instead of the small blacktip reef sharks that we normally see, about a dozen larger sharks came very close to shore.
Flood waters Waipio Valley Hawaii March 2014
Hawaii County Hears Detailed Climate Change Presentation (Nov. 19, 2019)
Puʻukohola Heiau National Historic Site – Big Island, Hawaii (TRAVEL GUIDE) | Episode# 5
Puʻukohola Heiau National Historic Site travel guide by Hipfig for visitors to Hawaii Island (the Big Island) in Hawaii.
Pu'ukohola Heiau travel guide covers –
- Introduction to Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site on the Big Island in Hawaii,
- how to get to Pu'ukohola Heiau historic site on Big Island (also called Island of Hawaii or Hawaii Island),
- Parking, Entrance and hours of Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site,
- things to do and see at Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic site with travel tips, and
- Visit to Spencer Beach near Pu'ukohola Heiau site on the Big Island, Hawaii
Pu'ukohola Heiau is located on the Hawaii Island (also called Island of Hawaii or Big Island) and is designated as a National Historical site in Hawaii.
Details on topics covered in this Pu'ukohola Heiau travel guide video are below:
1). Introduction Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site to new visitors to Big Island in Hawaii,
2). Information on how to get to Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site by Car on Big Island Hawaii,
3). Detailed information on Pu'ukohola Heiau –- like location, Car Parking, Entrance fee, Hours, visitor center, structures, temples and trails in the Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site,
4). Things to see and do at this Hawaii Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site like trail walk, historical structures to see, royal grounds, Sharks in water etc.,
5). Travel tips for first time visitors visiting Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site on the Hawaii Island (also called Island of Hawaii or Big Island).
S U B S C R I B E:
Official Hipfig Travel-Channel Website:
F A C E B O O K:
T W I T T E R:
#Hipfig #travel #Hawaii #Pu'ukoholaHeiau #BigIsland #Vacation #ilovehawaii #NationalHistoricSite
Repairing the Reef: West Hawai’i Focuses on Habitat
On Hawai’i Island, NOAA is partnering with The Nature Conservancy, local communities, government agencies, non-profit organizations and businesses to restore habitat and improve coral reef health along with other natural and cultural resources.
State wants to add new fishing restrictions to keep coral reefs healthy
The areas considered priority locations are Kaneohe Bay, West Hawaii, West Maui, and North Kauai.
Puako dive
Fish out of Water Studios presents...
The adventures of Big Island Explorer
140123 Why Hapuna Beach is Closed today... One More
How To Set-Up Hawaii's Favorite Fishing Rig! (Whipping/Casting)
Whipping Hawaii is the most popular way of fishing here in the 808 state! Today we are learning how to tie a whipping rig, so that you can try it out yourself!
I hope you enjoy this video, and don't forget to subscribe and leave a like!!!
Link to Scuba Chris's awesome video!
Link to Campania Lures website! Go check them out!