Guidebook for Pāhoa
Food Scene
Great ambience and delicious meals, including several local Hawaiian dishes and fresh fish.
240 locals recommend
Kaleo's Bar & Grill
15-2969 Pahoa Village RdGreat ambience and delicious meals, including several local Hawaiian dishes and fresh fish.
Local events like farmer's markets, live music, and hikes to a black sand beach and recent lava flows.
59 locals recommend
Kalapana
Local events like farmer's markets, live music, and hikes to a black sand beach and recent lava flows.
Ning's Thai Cuisine
15-2955 Pahoa Village RdGood Thai food in downtown Pahoa.
Beautiful traditional thached roof structure creates a great spot to sip kava with friends. Also coffee, smoothies, and other restaurants in this little area of old Kalapana. Quite a scene on Wednesday nights for the Market.
171 locals recommend
Uncle Robert's Awa Bar and Farmers Market
12-5038 Kalapana Kapoho Beach RdBeautiful traditional thached roof structure creates a great spot to sip kava with friends. Also coffee, smoothies, and other restaurants in this little area of old Kalapana. Quite a scene on Wednesday nights for the Market.
Great buffet-style meals for Breakfast, Lunch and dinner. Less than a mile away from Absolute Paradise.
30 locals recommend
Kalani
12-6870 Kalapana - Kapoho RdGreat buffet-style meals for Breakfast, Lunch and dinner. Less than a mile away from Absolute Paradise.
Great fresh sourdough breads, nice breakfast and lunch, rustic ambiance.
130 locals recommend
Tin Shack Bakery
15-1500 Akeakamai LoopGreat fresh sourdough breads, nice breakfast and lunch, rustic ambiance.
Drinks & Nightlife
Good mexican food and a nice bar with many types of margaritas and other mixed drinks.
77 locals recommend
Luquins Mexican Restaurant
151448 Kahakai BlvdGood mexican food and a nice bar with many types of margaritas and other mixed drinks.
Black Rock Cafe
15-2872 Government Main RdGood food, decent selection of local beers.
Lava Shack
15-2929 Pahoa Village RdLive music, karaoke, billiards.
Parks & Nature
Unbelievable scenery of active and dormant volcanoes, fern forests, steam vents, lava flows, ancient ruins and petroglyphs, and much more. This park is good for driving trips, and also has many hiking and camping trails.
880 locals recommend
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Unbelievable scenery of active and dormant volcanoes, fern forests, steam vents, lava flows, ancient ruins and petroglyphs, and much more. This park is good for driving trips, and also has many hiking and camping trails.
A must for the adrenaline enthusiast. Ziplining over beautiful waterfalls and tropical jungle.
55 locals recommend
Umauma Falls Zipline & Rappel Experience
31-313 Old Mamalahoa HwyA must for the adrenaline enthusiast. Ziplining over beautiful waterfalls and tropical jungle.
A beautiful botanical garden set in a beautiful setting right on the coastline, with creeks running through it. I've often seen whales jumping and playing here in Onomea bay in the winter.
192 locals recommend
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
27-717 Mamalahoa HwyA beautiful botanical garden set in a beautiful setting right on the coastline, with creeks running through it. I've often seen whales jumping and playing here in Onomea bay in the winter.
A nice hike to an amazing waterfall. The name isn't pronounced like you might think. There are also the "Boiling Pots" along the trail, which are a popular spot for swimming in the river.
7 locals recommend
Peepee Falls
A nice hike to an amazing waterfall. The name isn't pronounced like you might think. There are also the "Boiling Pots" along the trail, which are a popular spot for swimming in the river.
Akaka Falls State Park
875 Akaka Falls RdA nice trail to an incredible waterfall.
One of the best beaches in the area, and a short 5-10 minute walk from Absolute Paradise. There are often sea turtles, and spinner dolphins also frequently visit. Sundays are usually quite busy. It is a clothing optional beach, so be prepared if you are bringing kids. The trail is a bit steep to access it, so I would recommend going while there is plenty of light to see, and having your hands free to support yourself on the trail.
177 locals recommend
Kehena Black Sand Beach
One of the best beaches in the area, and a short 5-10 minute walk from Absolute Paradise. There are often sea turtles, and spinner dolphins also frequently visit. Sundays are usually quite busy. It is a clothing optional beach, so be prepared if you are bringing kids. The trail is a bit steep to access it, so I would recommend going while there is plenty of light to see, and having your hands free to support yourself on the trail.
A short but impressive trail through some beautiful terrain, where you can see the lava tubes created when the lava flowed around living trees.
109 locals recommend
Lava Tree State Monument
Hawaii 132A short but impressive trail through some beautiful terrain, where you can see the lava tubes created when the lava flowed around living trees.
Sightseeing
This is one of the most photographed waterfalls on the Big Island. It is quite impressive, although it is often very touristy.
337 locals recommend
Rainbow Falls
This is one of the most photographed waterfalls on the Big Island. It is quite impressive, although it is often very touristy.
One of the most surreal places I have been. There is a beautiful restuarant and lodge perched on the side of the Kilauea volcano. The views are amazing in the evening at night, as the entire volcano is glowing.
79 locals recommend
Volcano House
1 Crater Rim DriveOne of the most surreal places I have been. There is a beautiful restuarant and lodge perched on the side of the Kilauea volcano. The views are amazing in the evening at night, as the entire volcano is glowing.
Seeing the lava flow is a once in a lifetime experience. There is a 2-3 mile hike to the lava flow, or you can rent a bike at the trailhead to make the trip faster. There are also several boat tours to see the lava flow from the ocean.
15 locals recommend
Lava Viewing Area
Seeing the lava flow is a once in a lifetime experience. There is a 2-3 mile hike to the lava flow, or you can rent a bike at the trailhead to make the trip faster. There are also several boat tours to see the lava flow from the ocean.
Arts & Culture
Interesting place to learn about the impacts of Tsunamis on the city of Hilo.
115 locals recommend
Pacific Tsunami Museum
130 Kamehameha AveInteresting place to learn about the impacts of Tsunamis on the city of Hilo.
Good museum to learn about Hawaiian culture and history.
71 locals recommend
Lyman Museum & Mission House
276 Haili StGood museum to learn about Hawaiian culture and history.
Kilauea Visitor Center
1 Crater Rim DriveA nice museum with lots of Hawaiian history.
Shopping
The biggest and best farmer's market on the island. Every Sunday, from 8 AM til 2 PM or so.
10 locals recommend
Keaau Village Market
16-550 Old Volcano RoadThe biggest and best farmer's market on the island. Every Sunday, from 8 AM til 2 PM or so.
Some vendors are here every day, although Saturdays and Wednesdays are the biggest.
246 locals recommend
Hilo Farmers Market
Mamo StreetSome vendors are here every day, although Saturdays and Wednesdays are the biggest.
Essentials
local laundromat. They will also clean and fold your laundry for you, for an additional fee. Located behind the Black Rock Cafe in Pahoa.
20 locals recommend
Suds 'n Duds Laundromat
15-2866 Pahoa Village Rdlocal laundromat. They will also clean and fold your laundry for you, for an additional fee. Located behind the Black Rock Cafe in Pahoa.
Mālama Market
15-2714 Pahoa Village RdGood selection of groceries
Good selection of organic and local produce and other groceries.
116 locals recommend
Island Naturals Pahoa Market & Deli
15 -1870 Akeakamai LoopGood selection of organic and local produce and other groceries.