16 Things to Do in and around Waikoloa (Big Island)
Written by: Boutique Hawaiʻi
↺ Last updated: October 20, 2026
On the Big Island, there are many places to explore, and Waikoloa is one of the most popular places to stay.
This is a list of all the best things to do in Waikoloa (and the surrounding area).
Waikoloa is located just north of Kona and the Kona Airport, and it makes a good base, with lots to do nearby.
Things to do in Waikoloa. Photo by mana5280 on Unsplash
There are numerous natural attractions in the vicinity, including plenty of beaches.
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Things to Do in Waikoloa
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The best way to enjoy the ponds is by taking a walk along the beach. Although the ponds look like a good spot to swim, they are made of spiky lava rock, making them uncomfortable to swim in.
Visit the Lava Light Galleries
CJ Kale and Nick Selway founded Lava Light Galleries to show their photographs. Don and Linda Hurzeler later joined the gallery, and it opened a second location in Waikoloa’s Queens’ MarketPlace.
Visitors to the marketplace can see the photographs and buy prints. Pictures of the lava and Mauna Kea, as well as other nature photographs from Hawaii and throughout the world, are among the most popular in the gallery.
Kalahuipuaʻa Historic Park
The Kalahuipuaʻa Historic Park, which is located along the paved pathways of the Mauna Lani resort just north of Waikoloa, contains petroglyphs, lava tubes, and fishponds.
Back in the day the fishponds were kept full of mullet and milkfish, and the fish were reserved for Hawaiian royalty. The six ponds cover about 15 acres.
Kalahuipuaʻa fishponds | Image: Troy Mckaskle | CC
Those planning to visit should bring suitable hiking equipment, as well as water and sun protection. When you arrive at the Mauna Lani resort, look for the trailhead parking area, which is next to the park’s trail.
Anaehoʻomalu Beach (A Bay)
Anaehoʻomalu Beach is one of Waikoloa’s most popular spots to unwind on a hot day. Swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, boating, hiking, and sunset watching are just a few of the activities that are available.
For those interested in history, it is also close to the Kuʻualiʻi and Kahapapa fishponds and the Waikoloa Petroglyph Reserve.
The beach is a good spot for families: it is next to a few resorts, so there are plenty of services nearby.
The beach is home to a variety of sea life that you can see when snorkeling, and you can rent gear right at Anaehoʻomalu Beach.
Golf at Mauna Lani
Do you enjoy golfing? Then try the Mauna Lani golf courses, just north of Waikoloa.
The name Mauna Lani means “mountain reaching heaven” in Hawaiian.
There are 45 holes in all: the 18-hole North and South courses, plus the 9-hole WikiWiki course for a shorter round.
If you plan on staying for an extended period of time, you can look into the various packages available, or simply book a single round.
Waiʻālea Beach / Beach 69
Waiʻālea Beach, a white-sand beach, is another popular beach in the vicinity. Because of the heat, shade, and good snorkeling options, the beach is especially popular during the summer months.
Because of utility pole #69 near the parking area, it is commonly referred to as 69 Beach by locals. There are plenty of trees for shade.
You can snorkel or dive here, or hike the fairly tough stretch of the Ala Kahakai trail that follows the shoreline through the area.
Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative
The Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative is best known for its ancient wiliwili trees, some of them an estimated 300 years old. It also plants hundreds of uhiuhi trees each year; fewer than 100 wild uhiuhi are left in the world.
By visiting you’ll be able to learn more about the forest that once covered the land, as well as several ways you may contribute to its preservation. For those interested in learning more about conservation initiatives, the program provides a variety of volunteer opportunities, field trips, and guided walks.
For those who wish to get away from the heat, guided treks are also available at 5 p.m. (4:30 p.m. November through January) on the first Friday of each month.
49 Black Sand Beach
Close to the Mauna Lani Resort is 49 Black Sand Beach, which has black sand, coastal cliffs, and a clear ocean.
Because of its black sand, which is made out of fine grains of lava, this beach stands out among the many white sand beaches in the area. To get to the beach, you must first stop at the guard shack near the entrance and ask for a beach pass.
Although there are rarely more than a dozen people at the beach at any given time, you should still strive to be there early in the morning due to the restricted number of beach passes available.
The walk along the sea cliffs also passes tide pools and sea caves.
The Shops at Mauna Lani is an open-air mall at the Mauna Lani Resort, with a mix of restaurants and local shops.
Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar, Island Hopper Taproom and Mauna Lani Coffee Co. are among the places to eat and drink, and there is a Foodland Farms grocery store.
You can also visit local businesses such as Hawaiian Island Creations, as well as art galleries.
Hāpuna Beach
Hāpuna Beach is one of Hawaiʻi’s largest white-sand beaches, on the Kohala Coast. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Non-residents pay $5 per person to enter and $10 per car to park; Hawaiʻi residents get in free.
Some of the most popular activities at the beach are swimming, bodyboarding, sunbathing, and snorkeling. You may also be able to spot some migrating whales if you visit during whale season (December – April).
There are picnic areas and other amenities, so it works well for families. If you want to cool off, go for a swim.
Oceanfront fine dining at Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club
Napua is the restaurant at the Mauna Lani Beach Club. Here, you can eat while looking out over Makaiwa Bay and listening to Hawaiian music. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner every day.
Most of their ingredients come from Big Island producers, and the menu changes often.
This is a great restaurant for a sunset dinner.
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Waikoloa Petroglyph Reserve
In the Waikoloa Petroglyph Reserve you can see many petroglyphs that are strewn across the trail, making it one of Hawaiʻi’s best-preserved petroglyph sites.
The reserve is located roughly a quarter-mile north of Kings’ Shops, about a 25-minute drive from Kailua-Kona.
The petroglyphs, which include drawings of humans, birds, and canoes, as well as more cryptic images with dots and lines, are a record of Hawaiʻi’s history. Some of the petroglyphs date back to the sixteenth century.
When visiting, stay on the established walkways and avoid touching the petroglyphs.
Kings’ Shops
Kings’ Shops has local boutiques, name-brand stores such as lululemon and Tori Richard, and restaurants including Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill.
There is also a weekly farmers market, and for local shops try Hulakai and Kohala Coast Fine Art.
Kohala Spa @ Hilton Waikoloa Village
After a long day, the Kohala Spa at the Hilton is a place to unwind. You can buy spa products there as well as book treatments.
Kohala Spa @ Hilton Waikoloa Village | Image: Zane Persaud
Body massages and scrubs are among the spa’s most popular offerings. You can book an appointment online.
Sailing Boat trips
Going on a boat trip provides visitors with all kinds of different opportunities for ocean activities, other than going snorkeling or taking a fun day at the beach.
If you want to check out the diverse marine life in Hawaii, boat tours are the way to go.
Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaiʻi. Check out our 26 activities for first-time visitors to Oʻahu.
