Kohala

• King Kamehameha I's birthplace in Kapaau. The king's actual birthplace is further afield and less accessible at the Kohala Historical Sites State Monument near Upolu but Kapaau holds the original bronze statue, situated in the town's Kamehameha Park, right on the main road. Each June 11, Kamehameha Day, the statue is festooned with beautiful leis.
• 🌍 Lapakahi State Historical Park. A partially-restored fishing village dating back 600 years but abandoned in the 1800s. The self-guided tour around the two 0.5 mile loops is pretty good. Located on Highway 270. Free. 
• Pua Mau Place an early-stage, nonprofit arboretum and botanical garden in Kawaihae, on the dry slopes of the Kohala Mountain Range.
• Pololù Valley Lookout and Trail. The trailhead is at the very end of Highway 270, descending to the beach in a series of hairpin twists along the cliffs before heading up the lush valley along the Pololù Stream. The area was once cultivated with taro and rice but with the decline in farming, nature has reclaimed the land with thick vegetation.

This portion of the Big Island is home to many large resorts that lie outside of city limits, with two large neighboring resort areas, Mauna Lani and Waikoloa Beach, which feature hotels and condo/townhome rentals. There are also great bed and breakfasts, vacation rental homes and small hotels in the area.