The Best Family-Friendly Places to Learn About Big Island History
The Big Island may be the youngest island in the archipelago, but it’s chock-full of historic sites and family-friendly places to soak up Big Island history.
You won’t be able to see the entire island in a day. It’s over 4,000 square miles and bigger than all of the other Hawaiian islands combined. The Big Island can be divided up into six distinct districts — Hilo, Hamākua, Kohala, Kona, Ka‘ū and Puna. Each district has its own unique history that is important to the story of the Big Island of Hawai’i.
Explore the historic spots closest to you and put the rest on your bucket list! And most of all — have fun!
HILO
Hilo is a historic waterfront town lying at the base of volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. It is estimated that the first humans settled in Hilo about 900 years ago. Before the breakwater wall was erected in Hilo Bay to minimize damage from tidal waves and tsunamis, Hilo was known for good surfing. There are stories of Kamehameha I visiting Hilo in the 19th century and surfing in Hilo Bay.
- Banyan Drive — This oceanfront street lined by huge banyan trees is known for its string of hotels. But if you get out of your car, you’ll realize that each tree has a nameplate of the famous person who planted it beginning in 1933. Can you find the tree planted by Senator Richard Nixon, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, or American aviator Amelia Earhart? How about baseball slugger Babe Ruth? Some trees have been lost to tsunamis that have inundated Hilo over the years, but there’s still a lot of mature banyans forming a canopy over Banyan Drive.
2) Tsunami Clock — Two devastating tsunamis inundated Hilo in the last century. The 1946 wave killed 159 people and leveled much of downtown Hilo and beachfront communities. The 1960 wave came ashore in the middle of the night and killed 61 people and destroyed 500 buildings. This clock with a green metal base stands on Kamehameha Hwy in front of the Naniloa Golf Course. Its hands are frozen at 1:04am when a 20 ft wave hit it in 1960.
3) Old Downtown Hilo — You could spend a whole day in this historic part of Hilo with its art deco architecture, boutiques, restaurants, small family businesses and galleries. Walk over to the Pacific Tsunami Museum to learn about the tsunamis that have hit Hilo. Check out the Palace Theater built in 1925 on a scale that had not been seen outside of the capital city of Honolulu. Or walk up a few blocks to the Lyman Museum. It’s best to go online & book an advance reservation so you won’t miss any of their special exhibits or tours about Big Island history.
4) Hawaii Plantation Museum — in Papaikou. This is a great repository of sugar plantation memorabilia and docents will explain how the plantation lifestyle evolved as a way of life on the Big Island.
HAMĀKUA
This stretch of coast on the Big Island’s northeast shore is known for its lush rainforest jungles, hidden waterfalls and vast green valleys. One of these valleys, Waipi‘o, is where King Kamehameha I was secretly raised as a boy.
- Laupahoehoe Train Museum — on Highway 19 between Hilo and Honoka‘a at the 25 mile marker. Look for the railroad crossing signs and big red caboose on the front lawn. If you’re a train-lover, you’ll want to stop in and learn about the history of the railroad on the Big Island.
2) Honoka‘a Town — If you love small towns, you’ll love Honoka‘a. Take time to visit the antique and thrift shops that Honoka‘a is known for. On the main street running through town, stop in at the Honoka‘a People’s Theatre built in 1930. And spend some time at the Honokaa Heritage Center, the best source to learn about the history of Honoka‘a and the surrounding area.
3) Waipi‘o Valley, also known as Valley of the Kings, is sacred land to Native Hawaiians. This was where Kamehameha I was secretly raised as a boy. At one time, thousands of Native Hawaiians lived and farmed in the valley. But today there are barely 100 living in the valley, and at this writing the County of Hawai‘i has prohibited anyone not living in the valley from using the access road to enter unless they are on an approved Waipi’o Valley tour. No private vehicles or pedestrian access allowed because of safety concerns of rock falls. You can see the splendor of the valley from the Waipi‘o Valley Lookout which is about 8 miles from Honokaa Town. Follow the signs. It’s worth the drive.
KOHALA
This diverse district has white sand beaches and luxury resorts in southern Kohala. Rolling green pastures and small towns dot the landscape in northern Kohala. Kohala is historically significant as the birthplace of Kamehameha I, also known as Kamehameha the Great.
- Anna Ranch Heritage Center — Nestled in the rolling hills of Waimea, this working ranch shares the history of Hawai‘i’s First Lady of Ranching, Anna Lindsey Perry-Fiske. Born in 1900, Anna took over the family ranch at a young age and introduced innovative ranching methods and new breeds of cattle to Hawai‘i.
2) Original Kamehameha Statue — in the small town of Kapa‘au. Standing in front of the old county courthouse on Akoni Pule Hwy. This is the original statue cast in 1880 and installed in 1883. All other statues are copies including the one standing in Honolulu, in Hilo, and in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC.
3) Mo‘okini Heiau & Kamehameha I birthsite (Kohala Historical Sites State Monument — This is pretty remote, accessible by hiking or 4 wheel drive.
4) Lapakahi State Historical Park — Rugged and barren 262-acre oceanside park with ruins of an ancient fishing village. Relatively easy to hike down to the ocean. Please do not sit or walk on the ancient stone walls.
5) Pu‘ukoholā Heiau — A stone temple built by Kamehameha I in his effort to unite chiefs on the Big Island. Historic site operated by National Park Service. Please do not walk on the flat stone platform.
KONA
The Kona district’s sunny weather and turquoise blue ocean is a favorite with visitors, and was also popular as a vacation spot for ancient Hawaiian royalty.
- Puakō Petroglyphs -This 223 acre preserve has more than 3,000 petroglyphs, ancient rock carvings. Kids will love interpreting what the ancients have drawn. There are thorns in the kiawe forest around the preserve, so wear good closed-toe shoes.
2) Kailua-Kona — This town with Alii Drive running through it near the water’s edge, has a lot of historic significance mixed in with the galleries, restaurants and boutiques. At the northern end of Alii Drive on the grounds of the King Kamehameha Hotel is the Kamakahonu National Historic Landmark, which marks where King Kamehameha lived and reigned during most of his adult life. Hulihe‘e Palace was the summer palace for Hawaiian royalty, and Mokuaikaua Church was the first Christian church founded by American missionaries in Hawai‘i.
3) Kona Coffee Living History Farm is the only living history coffee farm in the U.S. You’ll see what life was like with the early 20th century coffee pioneers in Kona. Call before going, as their hours may vary.
4) Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park — This was the bay where Captain James Cook landed in 1779, the first recorded European contact with Hawaiians. The Cook Monument marking the spot where he was killed is accessible by a 4 mile in-and-out hike or by kayak.
5) Puuhonua o Honaunau (City of Refuge) — In ancient times, this was a sanctuary for people fleeing punishment — defeated warriors and lawbreaking civilians. Now operated by the National Park Service. A self-guided tour through ancient royal grounds and cultural demonstrations.
KA‘Ū
The largest district with the fewest people. A history of fiercely independent descendants of those who defied Kamehameha I in battle.
- Ka Lae (South Point) –The southernmost point in the U.S. believed to be the first landing spot for Polynesian explorers as early as 750 AD. It’s a 12 mile drive from the main highway to the ocean. The area is very windy and the oceans are rough. Do not swim here. There isn’t much at South Point except the magnificent view of the open ocean to the south. For some people, that is all they want to see.
2) 1790 Footprints — More than a century ago, scientists found fossilized human footprints in the Ka’ū desert. Although there are theories of who the footprints belonged to — warriors or women and children who lived in the area — the eerie mystery remains today.
PUNA
The Puna district has been the Big Island district most affected by volcanic eruptions from Kilauea Volcano. Hardened lava flows, new black sand beaches and thermally heated springs dot the unique landscape of Puna.
- Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park — This gem of the Big Island is the perfect place for a family outing. Lava tubes, hiking trails, cultural & sacred sites — it’s all here. Check the website for lava viewing areas that are accessible.
2) Pahoa Village — A unique historic town with wooden sidewalks and a bohemian feel. Take a walk down the one street through town, browse the shops, and stay for lunch or a snack.
3) Lava Tree State Monument — We can bet you’ve never seen this before. What was once a forest of trees are now petrified lava molds that flowed over the trees and hardened.
4) Isaac Hale Beach Park aka Pohoiki — You will be able to view a beach park changed by the 2018 lava flow. It remains a favorite with locals. Picnic tables and portable restroom facilities. Lifeguard on duty.
I hope you enjoy visiting historic sites on the Big Island!
