Coconut Cottage Bed & Breakfast is located just seven miles from a live lava flow where you will have easy access to rivers of molten lava that flow from the summit of the Kilauea volcano.
At Volcanoes National Park, you can enjoy and explore numerous hiking trails, see rainforest wildflowers, steam vents, giant scenic vistas and lava tubes both inside and outside the park. 2008 marked the 25th consecutive year of eruption of this volcano which is the world’s most active. For the latest information on the volcano's activity, see the USGS Hawaii Volcano Website or the Big Island Visitors Bureau website which are both updated regularly.
Night viewing of the fiery orange glow from the molten lava can be seen only seven miles from our bed and breakfast without having to enter the National Park where viewing there can take upwards to 90 minutes, one way.
Another favorite of many visitors is getting a bird's-eye view by taking a helicopter tour. You will be able to see breathtaking panoramic views from the blue skies. For more information on helicopter tours, please visit http://www.bluehawaiian.com
"The Big Island has so many things to do. I also found the accommodations at Coconut Cottage to be phenomenal."
Stevan Miller, Manhattan, New York
Ten minutes away enjoy a scenic ocean drive considered by many to be the most beautiful in the entire state. The Red Road is not accessible to tour buses and is a must see by any island visitor. Many areas of the road are nearly completely covered by a canopy of trees and jungle foliage—some have compared portions of the road to rural Tahiti. Many of the beaches, snorkeling areas and thermal pools mentioned in this section of our website are accessed along the Red Road.
Lava Tree State Park has some of the most fascinating lava rock formations in the entire Hawaiian Islands. The ancient lava flow left a thick coating as it flowed through old forests encasing the larger trees and burning them to ashes, but not before creating free standing tubes in the shape of the trees. Many have compared these formations to those of Easter Island; however, with Hawaiian Volcano Goddess Pele being the creator in this case.
Be sure to check out our very own rare lava tree formation at the entrance to Coconut Cottage B&B. It’s a great place for a picture!.
The Big Island is considered the orchid capital of the world. See thousands of blooming orchids at one of several local orchid farms open to the public, and even ship an orchid home from Hawaii. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a 40 acre botanical garden jewel to the islands. It has waterfalls, scenic ocean views, and enormous mango and coconut palm trees that are over 100 years old. You will find orchids, anthuriums and native Hawaiian plants throughout the sun dappled paths.
The Puna area is a beautiful natural artists’ canvas where many of the local artists have expressed their talents. You will find a number of unique art galleries and visiting artists from time to time including, Nanette Newbry and Sherry Goodloe who offer workshops at our retreat. Also be sure to check out innkeeper Todd's Hawaiian artwork displayed throughout our home.
Volcano Garden Arts offers monthly-classes, workshops, poetry readings and presentations at the Volcano Art Center and an assortment of film, theatre, calligraphy, lei-making, writer's retreats, glass making, pottery, Hawaiian crafts, language and native plant workshops are featured. Catch a live hula performance in the Art Center and witness the magic of authentic native Hawaiian dance and storytelling.
Take a 15 minute drive to the Nation’s only natural tropical rainforest zoo where you will find more than 80 animal species, including a White Bengal Tiger. You are welcome to enjoy a picnic in the shade of more than 100 varieties of palm trees or take a leisurely walk with peacocks in the extensive collection of orchids, clumping bamboos and tropical rhododendrons. For more information on the zoo, click here.
You will want to treat yourself to a wine tasting in paradise at nearby Volcano Winery. Taste local wines inspired by the unique elements of the Big Island. Tropical fruits like yellow guava are used to transform traditional wine grapes into vibrant island creations. For more traditional palates, they offer two award-winning wines made from the Symphony grape.
One of the most popular attractions in the area, world famous Mauna Loa Macadamia Visitor Center, is located approximately 10 minutes away. Drive though beautiful macadamia nut orchards, see the nut and chocolate processing plant, view chocolate demonstrations and be sure to visit the gift shop where they offer free samples.
Twenty minutes away is the enchanting city of Hilo. This quaint city with an enormous heart is built around the crescent-shaped Hilo Bay. Often described as the "Honolulu before the jets came", Hilo is a visit back in time to "Old Hawaii". The downtown area captures a glimpse of pre WWII Hawaiiana with its art deco and old Hawaii architecture. Shop at many of the interesting boutiques and antique stores, plus a wide variety of ethnic restaurants and a fabulous farmers market are also yours to enjoy.
Make sure to visit Coconut Island, also known as the Healing Island and is a favorite of locals for fishing, swimming, or picnicking and its shallow sandy pools make it an ideal place for families. Besides Hilo’s beautiful sandy beaches, a must for the traveler is Rainbow Falls, a spectacular waterfall just outside the town.
Visit the Pacific Tsunami Museum and learn about the remarkable power of tidal waves and a glimpse into early Hawaii history. Tour the Lyman House, an 1800's mission-house affiliated with the Smithsonian. Here you can learn about the natural history and culture of Hawaii. The museums collections feature works of 19th and early 20th century artists, an interactive astronomy center, and the Shipman Collection of rare Chinese art and artifacts.
Take a drive down Banyan Drive, the road itself is lined with huge banyan trees, many of which were originally planted by such famous visitors as Amelia Earhart, King George V, Babe Ruth and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Experience hula dancing at its finest with the annual Merrie Monarch Festival and Competition held annually the week following Easter, this is the ultimate Hawaiian cultural event. It features an internationally acclaimed hula competition, crafts and other special events. Lodging is scarce at this time and sells out early.
Hilo is also a port for many majestic cruise lines including Holland America, Celebrity, Carnival and Caribbean Cruises.
Though Hilo has a quaint feeling, it is actually the second biggest city in the state behind Honolulu and is home to many metropolitan venues including shopping centers, movie theatres, museums, state of the art Hilo Medical Center, the University of Hawaii-Hilo and the Hilo International Airport. Several beautiful parks, such as Lili’uokalani and Wailoa Park can introduce you to exotic flowers and vegetation. In March of 2006, the Imiloa Astronomy Center, one of the world’s leading astronomy centers and planetariums opened. It expands and deepens the visitor’s understanding of Hawaii cultural traditions and modern astronomy.
A short 25 minutes away is the amazing Akaka Falls State Park. This is the waterfall that you almost always see in Hawaiian travel photos and movies. This 442 foot tall waterfall offers a glimpse into the wonders that Hawaii has to offer. On your short walk to the falls (about ¼ mile) you will enjoy the fragrance of tropical jungle flowers. You will see a large variety of palm trees, banyan trees, banana trees, bamboo groves, and gigantic impatiens.
Enjoy views of the steep coastline from this scenic park forested by iron wood trees. Catch a glimpse of the old King’s Highway, a horse road built by convict labor under King Kamehameha III in 1840. This park is also a favorite place for fisherman casting off the cliffs and is only a few miles away from our home.
If you are a star-gazer you will not want to miss a visit to the Big Island's tallest volcano, Mauna Kea (which means "white mountain" in Hawaiian). The 4,200 meter high summit houses the world's largest observatory for optical, infrared, and submillimeter astronomy. Believe it or not, winter skiing is done on the north slope into the "Poi Bowl", which is the depression area around all the observatories. A sunrise is quite a sight here as the sun rises from the ocean far below and the volcano casts a shadow some fifty miles out to sea.
Take a journey into the intriguing world of the dolphin through amazing face-to-face encounters in which you can touch, feed, play, learn and swim with dolphins. Dolphin Quest at the Hilton Waikoloa Village offers this extraordinary experience that you and your family will not forget.
