The Place
There’s simply no place on earth like the Big Island of Hawai’i.
Larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined, this tropical mini-continent with an area of 4,028 square miles – and still growing – boasts the world’s tallest sea mountain (Mauna Kea), its most voluminous mountain (Mauna Loa), and the dramatic Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, plus nearly all of the world’s distinct climatic zones.
An exotic mix of white, black, and green sand beaches and lush rainforests co-exist with active volcanoes, the blackest lava fields, and the whitest snow-crowned mountains that truly must be seen to be believed.
Situated just two miles south of the Kona International Airport and five miles north of Kailua-Kona, on 450 acres of oceanfront property with a 1½ mile beach and famed fishing and surfing waters, Kohanaiki is ideally situated as your island home, and as a basecamp to Big Island adventure. Beyond Kohanaiki’s 450 acres, there’s a wide array of natural wonders, cultural experiences, world-class deep sea fishing, and spectacular beaches just waiting to be discovered.
Best of all, Kohanaiki’s Adventure Team is here as your outfitters and personal guides to everything the Big Island has to offer.
The Big Island of Hawai’i is the youngest of the Hawaiian islands, yet it possesses some of Hawai`i’s most treasured places and artifacts. Once the retreat of Hawaiian royalty, Kohanaiki—which takes its name from its traditional land division, the Kohanaiki ahupua‘a – is nestled among ancient lava flows, carefully preserved anchialine ponds, and cultural sites along the Kona coastline.
Kohanaiki was a sacred land, highly valued by early families as a bountiful, peaceful gathering place. For new and future generations of fortunate islanders, the tradition is destined to continue.
Discover ancient heiau (temples), paena wa‘a (canoe landings), ki‘i pōhaku (petroglyphs) ,and kū‘ula (fishing shrines) that still remain from a culture that spanned 1,200 years prior to Western contact. Literally steps away from Kohanaiki, along the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, is the 1,160-acre Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
Along the shore, watch for honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) grazing in the shallows of ‘Ai‘ōpio, waterbirds such as the endangered ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt), and the ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot) and Hawaiian monk seals sprawled out on the beach under the warm Kona sun.
Cultural Sites
The Kohanaiki team, as the modern caretaker of the Makai (oceanfront) portion of the Kohanaiki ahupua‘a, has preserved and restored many historic sites, including home sites that date back to AD 1020, ceremonial sites, ahu, more than 200 anchialine ponds and two ancient trails – Ala Māmalahoa, and Ala Kahakai.
More details on these cultural sites is available below and in the Kohanaiki Nature Guide.

AHU
SHRINES/ALTARS

LOKO I'A
FISH PONDS

ALA KAHAKAI
TRAIL BY THE SEA
Traditionally this trail was a foot trail, but sections of the trail were widened to accommodate horse and mule travel by the 1840s.

PĀ KĒKAKE
DONKEY CORRAL

KA HALE WA'A
CANOE HOUSE

KI‘I PŌHAKU
PETROGLYPH

PAPAKŌNANE
KŌNANE BOARD

ALA MĀMALAHOA
MĀMALAHOA TRAIL