About · The Area
A wild and welcoming coast.
Lower Puna is rural, lush, and unhurried. Here's what's worth the slow drive — and we'll always point you to what's alive that week.
The Red Road (Hwy 137)
A jungle-and-lava coastal drive past hidden beaches and ʻōhiʻa forest — one of the most beautiful roads in Hawaiʻi. Slow down and look for the ocean between the trees.
Kehena Beach
A black-sand cove with a Sunday drum circle and a free, easygoing spirit. Dolphins offshore on lucky mornings. Clothing-optional and beloved by locals.
Pohoiki (Isaac Hale Beach Park)
A new black-sand beach and warm geothermal pond created by the 2018 eruption — the coast remaking itself in real time. One of the most extraordinary places on the island.
Lava Fields
The 2018 Kīlauea eruption reshaped this entire coastline — acres of new lava stretching to the sea. Walking the fields at dawn or dusk is an encounter with the living planet. Wear closed shoes and bring water.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
About an hour up the mountain: Kīlauea, lava tubes, steam vents, and world-class stargazing above the clouds. Worth a full day. The Thurston Lava Tube and Chain of Craters Road are unmissable.
Hilo Town
Thirty minutes north — a real town with a farmer's market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, independent restaurants, and the kind of character that tourist towns forget. The bay and the botanical gardens are lovely.
Want the full local map? Read Things to Do in Puna in the Journal — or just ask us when you arrive.