The town of Kapoho, Hawaii sits on the Big Island’s eastern tip. It’s surrounded by mountains, black sand beaches, and the area’s famous tide pools. The quiet community of Kapoho vacation rentals mingles with private homes in a semi-secluded area of the island. However, neighboring areas such as Pahoa are a bit more populated. The area offers a variety of activities and attractions that are perfect for the whole family. Things to do range from paddle boarding in the North Pacific Ocean to touring volcanoes. Take a look at a few kid-friendly activities in and around Kapoho.
1. Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the area’s most popular natural attractions. Located approximately seven miles away from your vacation home in Pahoa, the park houses two active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, which is truly an amazing sight. Explore the 1.5-mile trail through the park on your own, or sign your family up for a private guided tour with Lavaland Hawaii to learn more about the natural wonder of these incredible volcanoes.
2. Learn About Local History at the Pahoa Village Museum
For a little Hawaiian history, visit the Pahoa Village Museum in the Puna District of Pahoa. Stroll through the small, historic town to see unique architecture dating back to the early 1900s. Then, take a tour of the museum to view intriguing pieces of art made by local artists, as well as artifacts from the area’s early sugar plantations. When you’re done with the tour, pop over to Boogie Woogie Pizza in the village for a tasty slice.
3. Check Out the Black Sand Beach
For an interesting day along the water, visit the Kehena black sand beach in Pahoa. While it may look unusual, this beach is open to the public, and completely breathtaking when viewed up close. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy under one of the small trees that surround the beach, or go exploring for interesting shells and stones in the black sand. While this is a public beach, the surf can be quite rough in this area, so swimming is not recommended, especially for younger children.
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4. Visit the Pahoa Lava Farms
Volcanoes are common in Hawaii, but the Pahoa Lava Farm is extremely unique due to its history. The Kilauea volcano began erupting in the 1980s, and its lava typically flowed south. However, in 2014, an eruption caused the lava to flow northeast. When the lava flow changed directions, lava covered 45 acres of property. Luckily, nobody was injured, and the owners of the land turned the situation into a positive one by opening the area for tourists. Visit the farm to view the power of nature up close, and be sure to bring your camera along to snap some memorable photos. The farm schedules tours by appointment only, so make sure to call ahead.
5. Enjoy a Beach Day
For some relaxing fun in the sun, spend the entire day with your family at Kapoho Beach. Swim in the waves, enjoy a picnic lunch, build sandcastles, and search for shells while taking in the natural beauty of your surroundings. If you have adventurous kids, rent some surfboards or boogie boards for them to play with for the afternoon.
6. Go Snorkeling
For a close encounter with marine life, go on a snorkeling adventure with the family in Pahoa. Four Mile Beach offers sheltered snorkeling areas where you can dive into the water right from the rocks, and in addition to amazing underwater scenes, you might spot a few local fishermen who fish using traditional Hawaiian methods.
7. Explore the Tide Pools
For a fun adventure just minutes from your vacation rental, visit the Kapoho tide pools. This area of pools and spring-fed ponds is unusual due to its six-mile stretch, and many people believe the water has healing properties. Stroll around the pools at your leisure, but don’t forget to dip your toes in the warm, soothing water, or if you prefer, take a relaxing dip in the public swimming area.
8. Take a Lava Boat Tour
Explore the Big Island’s volcanoes in one fun trip by signing the family up for a Lava Boat Tour. The tour travels by boat along the coastline of the Hawaii Volcano National Park, making sunrise, daytime, sunset, and twilight tours. Be prepared to get up close and personal with the area’s active volcanoes — so close in fact, you might even feel some heat from where you’re seated. The boat tours are captained by members of the U.S. Coast Guard, so all passengers are safe and in good hands.
9. Go Paddleboarding
For a memorable day of leisurely fun, use rented stand-up paddle boards to go exploring the waters of Pahoa Bay. If you’re new to paddle boarding, sign up for a guided tour with Island Jane Eco-Tours, where you’ll learn the basic boarding skills and absorb some useful information about the surrounding environment. Paddleboarding is considered one of the easiest sports to learn, so you’ll be on the water in no time.
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