Pu`uhonua o Honaunau - City of Refuge
		Go Here! End of story. This is one treasures of the Big Island. The story goes like this. When someone committed a crime in ancient Polynesian culture, the penalty was death. It did not matter if you were Man, Woman or Child! But if you could make it to Pu`uhonua o Honaunau and stay with the priest, your life was spared. The trick was to out run those that were trying to catch and kill you. Also, you had to swin here hecause the city is surrounded by the kings property and you were killed if you stepped on his land. Learn more at the visitors center. This is a truly beautiful place. Take Highway 11 south from Kailua-Kona. Before Mile Marker #110 bear right on Nap'opo'o Road. At the intersection with Middle Keei Road, go left for 5 miles to Pu`uhonua o Honaunau.
Hapuna Beach State Park
		Take Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway (Highway 19) north from Kona to 2.3 miles south of Kawaihae. Hapuna Beach is one of the longest and widest sandy beaches on the Big Island and by far one of the most popular beaches. A few years back, Hapuna Beach was ranked in the top 10 for the most beautiful beaches in the world. The Park has excellent public facilities and lifeguards on duty every day. The high surf period is winter months. Be forewarned, Every 1st day of the month at Noon, the tsunami warning sirens are tested. I found out the hard way that this was a test after I evacuated the water like a madman and asked the lifeguard why nobody was concerned. Live and Learn! This is a great beach to relax, swim, snorkel, body surf, surf or just soak up that warm Hawaiian sunshine. While you are there, give the Fish Taco's a try at Three Frogs Restaurant just up the hill from the lifeguard shack, They are delicious! Enjoy!
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
		Punalu'u black sand beach is easily accessible along highway 11 about 45 minutes south of the Volcano National park entrance. Punalu'u is truly a sight to behold. There are plenty of activities here and complete facilities for your convenience. A word of warning though, there are no lifeguards. A typical day at Punalu'u would entail many hours swimming or snorkeling with Giant Green sea turtles, Golfing at the Punalu'u resort and watching the waves crash onto the jagged shoreline. This is a special place and you can spend hours here. There are also campgrounds available for spending the night if you really want to rough it. Punalu'u is one of the last black sand beaches that are easily accessible. Its something you don’t want to miss.
Volcano Ntnl Park - Chain of Craters Road
		Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution -- processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with complex and unique ecosystems and a distinct human culture. The park encompasses diverse environments that range from sea level to the summit of the earth's most massive volcano, Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet. Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, offers scientists insights on the birth of the Hawaiian Islands and visitors views of dramatic volcanic landscapes. Chain of Craters Road originally connected Crater Rim Drive to Makaopuhi Crater and was completed in 1928. In 1964, the road was extended to Kalapana. Lava flows from the Mauna Ulu eruption closed Chain of Craters Road in 1969. The road was reopened to 1979. In 1986, lava from the current eruption of Kilauea closed the road. At the present time, Chain of Craters Road is about 20 miles (32 km) long and 7.5 miles (12 km) of the road has been buried by lava. Written by Steve Mattox. http://volcano.und.nodak.edu
Puna District Drive and Kalapana
		Step back in time and take the drive from Hilo to Kalapana. Its worth every second that you will spend there. The road to Kalapana ends where Pele took her land back with the eruption of the Kalapana shield in the early 1990's. To get there; take Hwy 130 south off Hwy 11 just 12 miles south of Hilo at Keaau and follow Hwy 130 through Pahoe in the Puna district for approx 29 miles or until the road ends. You will drive thru a lush rain-forest to discover the barren rock lava of the Kalapana Area. There are hot springs to soak in, a black sand beach, some nice B&B's. After visiting the Kalapana area, then treat yourself to a drive along the shoreline. Take it slow and head east on any small road. Just follow the shore, you can't get lost. Make sure you have Gas and water because there are very few places to stop in the rain forest here. There are several roads in the southeastern part of the Puna District that will take you back to civilization and they are well marked. The Puna district is for the adventurer in all of us. Beware, many roads here narrow to one lane in places and you should take it slow and enjoy the forest and ocean.
St. Benedict's Painted Church
		This small Catholic church was built and decorated between 1899 and 1904 by Father John Velge, a Belgian priest. The interior trompe-l'oeil painting is after a Gothic cathedral in Burgos, Spain. The columns are decorated with Hawaiian texts. Take Hwy 11 south from Kailua to Hwy 160 at the Honaunau post office down to the Pu'uhonua City of Refuge National Park and go right on by the turn off for the painted church. A little more than a mile from the post office is a turnoff on the right side of the road that parallels the main road for a short distance. Less than mile down that road on the right is the Painted Church!
Kona Park Beach
		The beach here runs from ok to wow. Located a few miles north of the airport take the partially finished road to the end to find the beach. It's big and uncrowded, but it isn't the finest sand available within 5 minutes. If you want to visit the nicer beach just walk down the beach to the north and you'll find it...or... park your car at the wide spot in the road a hundred yards before the end of the road near some outhouses and take the trail to the beach. This is one of my favorite beaches, and it's fairly close to town. On the north end of the beach is an old house. Go up to it and look for a small trail through the bushes leading to some small brackish water ponds and the old "King's Trail" across the lava. A 15 minute walk will take you to Makalawena beach- TAKE WATER, the lava field gets you hot and thirsty.