Begin your visit at the Kohala Welcome Center to learn about the region’s sugar plantation days and see artifacts from the old Kohala Sugar Mill. Plan to spend a few hours browsing the produce stands, quaint shops, and galleries in downtown Hawi.
To ensure you see all of Hawi’s top sights, opt for a full-day tour of the Big Island’s North Coast and visit such sights as the Kohala waterfalls, Kohala Historical Sites State Monument, and the old Kohala Mule Station.
Hawi is the northernmost town on the Big Island of Hawaii, located about an hour’s drive north of Kailua-Kona and a 40-minute drive from Waimea via the Kohala Mountain Road. Public transportation service is infrequent to Hawi so plan to arrive by car or via a tour from Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa, or Waimea.
The Kohala Welcome Center is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm with opening hours varying on the weekend. Hawi is not as busy as other Big Island attractions like Volcanoes National Park and the Kona area beaches, so it is a great place to visit even during the busy summer and holiday tourist season.
Just west of Kawi is the birthplace of King Kamehameha and many visitors are drawn to the area to see the original Kamehameha statue, which stands outside the Kohala Welcome Center. Another popular historic site is the ruins of Mo’okini Heiau, Hawaii’s first ever temple and an important archaeological site. Outside the ruins lies an interesting boulder with ancient markings thought to have been used in human sacrifice.
