Day 2: Pololu Valley Hike + Lunch + Browsing in Hawi (Northern most point in the US)

Morning Practice, 1/2 Day Adventure
The Pololu Valley forms a deep cut in Kohala Mountain, around 300 feet deep near the lookout.  The secluded nature of this area make it a favorite among hiking enthusiasts.You should expect incredible views, steep terrain, switchbacks, rugged trails, and slippery lava rocks along this hike. It’s about a quarter of a mile to the beach and it takes around 20 minutes to hike down, depending on your hiking ability and fitness level.
We will spend a few hours browsing the peaceful haven of Hāwī, North Kohala's quaint little town, best known as the bicycle turnaround for the annual IRONMAN™ World Championship held every October. This historic town, set in the green northern tip of the island, was once the busy hub of North Kohala’s now defunct sugar industry.Today, Hāwī is home to a handful of charming art galleries, boutiques and restaurants set in colorful and lively plantation buildings. You’ll find everything here from handmade jewelry and crafts to homemade fudge and 100% Kona coffee. The Bamboo Restaurant & Gallery was once voted best restaurant on island of Hawaiʻi and is a great stop for a fresh island style meal.

Day 3: Bake Shop at The Southern Most Point of the US, Black Sand + Sea Turtles, Volcano National Parks + Kilauea Lodge Dinner

Morning Practice, Full Day Adventure

Punaluʻu Bake Shop Next stop: the southernmost bakery in the U.S.! You arrive at the quaint and colorful roadside bakery, ready to see and taste some of the most delicious baked goods Hawaiʻi has to offer. 

Bakers buzz around as locals and travelers alike peer into the glass cases, pointing at Hawaiian sweetbreads and Portuguese-inspired malasadas — both of which your guide will have pre-ordered for you so you can skip the line. The luscious grounds are the perfect setting for this mid-morning snack. Time permitting, grab extra baked goods for our next stop to a black sand beach (own expense).

Appreciate the majestic sea turtles: Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach You can feel all your troubles and stress melt away as you arrive at this unique beach where the black sand provides a striking contrast to the turquoise waters of the Pacific. Breathe in the salty air mixed with the tropical flora and get lost in the rhythmic and soothing sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline.

This stunning beach is home to many nesting Hawaiian sea turtles, also known as honu. 

Though we cannot guarantee sightings, your guide will show you where the sea turtles bask in the sun while communicating an appropriate viewing point that ensures no disruption of the turtles natural habitat while giving you an optimum vantage point. These sacred island dwellers represent good luck, protection, endurance and long life to Hawaiians.

It’s a sensory paradise that leaves you feeling alive and connected to the beauty of nature.

Witness the mighty volcanoes: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park  For many visitors, seeing the Big Island volcanoes is a highlight of this tour. You can expect a visit that lasts over an hour at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park which contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. 

During your visit you can choose to take a short hike through Thurston Lava Tube. This educational experience will leave you with a sense of curiosity and understanding of the natural world. 

Please note: In the event of an active lava flow, or an eruption, we will not be able to access certain parts of the park. 

*Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park officials have been known to restrict and/or close access to certain parts of the park without prior notice to visitors or tour providers. Kailani Tours will not refund a tour booking caused by park restrictions. 

Savor a Three-Course Dinner: Kilauea Lodge  End your day of adventure and awe-inspiring sights with a well-deserved dinner and drinks at the Kilauea Lodge’s acclaimed restaurant located in the town of Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. 

At Kilauea Lodge, a three-course dinner is an exceptional culinary experience. The dishes are expertly prepared using fresh, local ingredients and creative flavor combinations that delight the taste buds. The presentation of each dish is beautiful and artistic, enhancing the dining experience.  The ambiance is cozy and intimate, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere paired with attentive service , making it a memorable and satisfying end to a full-day experience of the Big Island’s highlights.  

After dinner, hop back on a luxury Mercedes Sprinter for a relaxing ride back to your accommodations. Let the lulling sounds of traditional Hawaiian music be your soundtrack to remember this special day as your driver pulls up to your doorstep — a memory you can now cherish for the rest of your life.  

Day 4 :PAPAKŌLEA BEACH HIKE

GREEN SAND BEACH ROUND TRIP MILEAGE: 5.5 MILES ELEVATION GAIN: 275 FEETPAPAKŌLEA

Papakōlea beach is a geologic oddity among few in the world. It means 'plover flats,' after the Pacific golden plover. This hike travels to a green sand beach located in a bay cut into a side of Puʻu Mahana, a cinder cone that erupted about 50,000 years ago. The green sand is created by a common mineral in Big Island lava called olivine, which stays deposited on this beach because it is heavier than the other components of the lava.

There are only 4 Green Sand Beaches in THE WORLD!

Talofofo Beach on Guam

Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island

Hornindalsvatnet in Norway

Papakolea on the Big Island of Hawaii

Day 5 : After our Morning Practice, we will travel to Volcano Art Center Gallery is located in the historic 1877 Volcano House Hotel in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and operates under a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service. Centered at Kilauea, home to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of the volcano, of creativity, of Fire, Volcano Art Center Gallery has been a mecca for visual artists since 1974. Here, we will learn the Native Chant to The Goddess and practice The Sacred Art of Hulu!

After our adventure at Volcano Arts Center we will head back to The Resort (with some time to spare) to have our final Dinner Luau Style! With spectacular food, steel guitars, hula dancing, and even a fire dance, the Mauna Kea Luau is a “ The Best Luau Experience on The Big Island” .