$20 coffee farm tour that has no coffee tastings. Go to another farm that provides tastings, which would pretty much be any other farm in the area, and it’d cost less/be free too. I went to Heavenly Hawaiian the day before and it was so much better. Come here only if you like history and don’t want to try any coffee

My wife and I visited the Kona Coffee Living History Farm earlier this week and had a wonderful time! We learned a lot about the lives of the Japanese immigrants who came to Kona in the early 20th century and their coffee farms. Pauline provided us with a wealth of knowledge about family life on the farm, and Barry taught us a lot about how coffee is grown, harvested, and processed. The farm itself is fascinating, with it's historic buildings and artifacts, and the complexity of raising food and other cash crops alongside the coffee trees was eye-opening. We spent a couple of hours at the farm, and will definitely return next time we visit Kona.

Learned so much during this tour. I love how they tell a story along with it and free samples never hurt !

Really interesting tour of what it was like for the original Kona coffee farmers. The lady guiding the family’s home was phenomenal and taught us so so much. Great context for anyone visiting the active farms in Kona.

Interesting history behind the family and coffee and the ingenuity of people to extract the beans and dry them, as well as info on maintaining the trees. Got to try the equipment and taste a freshly extracted coffee bean which was a surprising taste. You'll have to go and try it yourself!

As museums go, this is a rather laid back affair, with limited hours. Essentially there are two subject matter experts--a homemaker and a farmer, describing the life of an ethnically Japanese tenant coffee farmer. The Greenwell farm coffee tour (free) up the hill gives the other side of the history. The absolute highlight is that a daughter of a (different, contemporary) Japanese tenant coffee farmer gives the household tour. It is personal, accurate, detailed, and totally fascinating. This all takes place in a preserved/restored small house where a family actually lived, including sequel generations up to the 1990's. Frankly, someone should professionally video the tour before it disappears as it is hard to imagine a subsequent guide being able to bring the same personal quality to the lifestyle description. Imagine you hear a description of going to school, and then can ask where the school was, what the teachers were like, or whatever other details you are curious about, or look at the pot of rice she has cooked that morning over the fire and ask how she knows when it is done.... Having lived in a similar climate zone also with Japanese influence, the authenticity was palpable.

This is more of an encounter, than a "museum"... And I mean that in a good way. It's easy to find and to park (which is free). You can clearly see the people working here love this farm and are dedicated to teaching visitors about the history of this coffee farm and the amazing immigrants from Japan who established it. It was interesting to me to learn about the difference in the method of harvesting and processing coffee beans that is used in Hawaii as opposed to in South America. This is a great place for visitors of all ages... Young children will find it engaging. It's also a beautiful location and they offer free samples of their Kona coffee, which is delicious, and expensive, but you might not be able to resist the temptation of indulging in a purchase.

Note - and educational and learning tour. If you are looking for taste/sample tour this likely not the one for you. If you want to learn about history and background of "real" Kona coffee this is the place. Pauline and Joe who were the interpreters did a great job and have real knowledge and experience they enjoy sharing. Mahalo

Lots of interesting information and things to see. We learned a lot about growing, harvesting and processing coffee as well as about the experience of coffee farmers in the mid 20th century. The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly.

Definitely worth the stop even if it’s a little expensive. Can’t put a price on knowledge and experience though (well I guess the entry fee does but…I digress). Learned a TON about traditional coffee making and growing, Japanese and Hawaiian culture, and even mail order brides. Even learned that the Japanese invented catfishing. Ask the tour guide about “picture brides” and you’ll see what I mean.

I got here not knowing it was $20 Admission. So I did not experience the museum. But the really nice lady at the gate gave a brochure and let me crack a few macadamia nuts. They're tasty!

We loved our visit and tour here. We learned a lot about the growing and processing of coffee beans. We also learned about the lives of an early Japanese family on the island, their experience from 1913, through WWII and beyond.

Loved our tour here at the history farm. Just the loveliest guides, Jim and Pauline (sorry I didn’t get the name of the hostess at the front), plentiful with stories and knowledge about coffee and history on the island. A very self sufficient farm with a glimpse of the past of how Japanese people used to live on the island. Even got to pick our own orange off the tree and crack open fresh macadamia nuts to eat. Would most definitely come back here! Thanks very much

I can’t say enough about how much my kids (13 & 15) enjoyed this museum. The speakers were very knowledgeable & interesting. They brought the farm to life. The docent who helped us crack macadamia nuts was helpful & answered all questions we had. One of our favorite things in Kona!

I absolutely loved touring the farm. There is a $15 fee but it is completely worth it. Listening to the stories of the farmer and learning from the lady of the house is the best part of the tour. The lady of the house taught us how to make a traditional Japanese meal and write in Japanese calligraphy. This tour is an amazing cultural experience and a great way to learn about the farm and how coffee is made.

Visited in April 2024. This farm is so much fun!! Jim and Pauline are incredible storytellers and simply delightful. While the tour is advertised as self-guided, there were two hosts in specific areas when we went. First we made our way to the coffee processing part of the farm, where we found Jim. Jim assigned us roles on the coffee farm as it would have been run in the late 1800s-1920s. He walked us through what our daily chores would have been, and how certain technological advances would have impacted our lives as coffee farmers, and was simply hilarious! Next we made our way to the house, which is a restored family home that has been staged as it would have been in the 1920s. Pauline explained how the food would be prepared, with a real-time demonstration, and explained the Japanese heritage that influenced their lives. She described how the house was constructed and maintained, as well as the challenges of maintaining the structure. As a lifelong member of the community, she was able to tell us personal stories of life on a coffee farm through the years. She’s a treasure! This was truly a highlight of our trip and I would strongly recommend this to all!

A very educational tour of authentic Hawaiian Kona coffee producing history

Worth visiting this farm if you are a coffee lover and history buff.There were people in the farm who walked us thru the ancient times (may be 100 yrs ago) and told us the history of the family who owned this farm and how they used to do chores on this farm. There are many coffee and macadamia trees.We cracked some fresh macadamia nuts and they were so yummy. We were offered some oranges that grow on that property and they were so juicy and sweet. We really had a good time visiting this farm and learning the history of the farm.

Very interesting to learn about the way of life of a Japanese family living on a coffee plantation. The guides were friendly and helpful.

It’s a great place for snorkeling, however I have a help request, since I am a rookie, I lost my snorkeling mask nearby the water of captain cook monument. I’m worried that it will impact the ecosystem of the ocean lives, if anyone who is expert comes later on and noticed my lost equipment, could you help to take it back to the land so that no making pollutions to the ocean？Thank you so much for the potential help！

Great Bay, the very Rocky beach is not easily enjoyable since there is no sand but it's all big rocks. But the view is worth the drive i. Oh by the way the phone map takes you through a private one lane road, very narrow, so please don't follow the road of the main highway if you're going north on hwy 11 don't take the first exit to 160 but the second exit. The Bay water was really clear we could see fish from the dock/stone wall barrier. It is absolutely a beautiful place/Bay, I enjoyed the little time I spent in there.

It's exotic bay that you could watch Captain cook! It takes about 15-20 minutes from the two step beach. Very peaceful and calm place. If you need to take a break with the sound the wave crush to the stones, you may need to consider this spot to visit.

The best snorkeling place at big island. It’s only reachable through foot (a nice hike to see the lava and the bay view), boat or kayaking. We hiked down and it’s totally worth it. One can even see the fishes from the shore. Things to take: water to drink, snorkeling set. Recommend to take: water shoes, hammock, reef safe sun protection.

This is a must if you snorkel! The drive in from the main road is worth it even if you aren’t going in the water. You’re descending 1500 feet, winding down the terrain admiring amazing houses with incredible views. As you get close, you’ll pass a small roadside fruit stand. Turn right and this is where you should try to park. There are about 6-8 parking spots at the beach itself. Parking is very difficult. Park on the road side and plan to walk the 5 minutes down to Manini Beach. Use Manini beach in your GPS. There is not beach to lay on but there is a grass park overlooking the bay. That is where you lay towels etc.

Went on snorkel cruise here. Very dirty on top of water with leaves and bark. Saw alot of great fish and an octopus but were covered in dirty stuff

Clear water, you could see the bottom of 40 feet. Not very crowded for a Friday morning. Lots of fish, coral and sea anemone. The caves were really cool. Premium snorkeling. Great background for selfies!

Beautiful beach. We didn’t snorkel here but others were out and said there were lots of fish!! Wanted to rent a kayak but we arrived just as they closed. Looks like a great area though! Saw dolphins jumping!!

Amazing place, definitely deserves a visit or two while on Big Island. Plan on losing track of time exploring the Galaxy Garden with all the abundance of hibiscus and other tropical flowers and plants!

My husband and I decided to take it easy after several days of hikes on the Big Island. After a leisurely breakfast in Captain Cook I looked at Google Maps for something relaxing in the area. I found Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary, and it seemed like it would fit the bill. The driving directions were clear and easy to follow, and the drive from the main road to the garden has a stunning view of the ocean. Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary has nice, easily accessible parking that is clearly marked. There is no parking fee, only a $10 admission charge to the garden. Once inside Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary you will be treated to an amazing, peaceful, tropical botanical garden with amazing plants, the smells of tropical flowers in the air, and the sound of birds all around. Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary has some very basic rules, basically just be quiet and respectful, don't ruin the peace for anyone else. Children are welcome, but are to be supervised as it's "not a playground." There are a variety of religions represented in this space, but as that wasn't my purpose I really can't comment on the representation. I highly recommend visiting Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary as one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I have seen in my many visits to the Big Island.

This place is a magical place I really love taking my wife up here to look at all the beautiful plants. And they have a parrot there named Harry. He is a wonderful soul.

Nice garden with a spiritual theme. Can spend 1-2 hours there on a leisurely walk with wonderful views. Some signs need replacing. Bug spray will help in a couple of sections.

This was such an absolutely beautiful place to visit if your in Hawaii. From Kona, it was about a 30-ish minute drive & well worth the drive! It says this is a handicap friendly place, but be cautious. Ìt was very difficult to push our fathers wheelchair because the peace gardens go downhill & getting back up was very difficult. A walker would probably do much better. Also, you should stop at the 'Banana Bread' stand & get the BEST Banana Bread ever! Seriously the best I've ever had! ❤️

This is such a beautiful and creatively designed place. It requires paid admission and is very worth it. Throughout the complex, there are so many varieties of plant life with placards that identify the species and their origination, while many of them being intertwined within a unique display or format. It's really fun learning about all the different tropical plants this way. There's also interesting displays that portray most, if not all, of the religions from around the globe.

A luscious and relaxing garden with something for adults and children. Easy to access for people with reduced mobility, mostly wheelchair friendly. The garden has several vistas and “rooms” with different focus there’s a mandala room för contemplating. A galaxy garden modeled after Milky Way. Several Buddhist stupas and rock labyrinths invites to meditation. We easily spend a few hours here smelling the flowers and enjoying the shade.

This is my favorite place on the whole island. It’s super peaceful and incredibly beautiful. It is a great place to just sit and breathe. The garden hosts representation of many statues and icons from various faith beliefs. It’s very educational and the galaxy garden is quite remarkable. Little kids love playing hide and seek in it. I especially love the newest addition, the butterfly garden. The views throughout the garden are fabulous and they also have their own lava tube which you can view.

Beautiful gardens. Would have spent a lot more time there, but I forgot bug spray and the mosquitos decided I was a prime snack for the afternoon. The gift shop is a bit dated but I did find some yummy cookies to nosh on, on the drive home. Would be a peaceful place to sit and have lunch, do some art, it6 just "be". If you want to spend a lot of time here, I'm not sure I would recommend kids-unless they are really into plants and nature.... Like I said, I could have spent much longer here, but my kids wouldn't have lasted more than an hour or so at the most.

The laminated descriptor page was fraught with errors and misspellings, lacking numerical info. Not the easiest to follow. Pics were too small to match up with what one was standing in front of. For $10/head, one would think this would be a top notch presentation. Lady taking payment wasn't flowing with "Aloha", nor info, nor friendliness. She seemed to be just doing her job. Perhaps The good is that this was still more informational than asking a person, who could easily tire of someone constantly asking, "What's that, what's this...". Also, the wide variety of flora in one place is great. Except for the Tibetan Sand Mandala, I couldn't care less about the different religions on display here. But the sand mandala is something I've not seen before, therefore, it's neat and impressive. I liked the fact that the book, Planets in Composite by Robert Hand is on their bookshelf. I liked the Galaxy layout of plants and flowers with a black hole at the center. Cool to see flocks of saffron finches in the garden. Also Harry the parrot said HI back to me when I took his pic. The ancient, very vocal cat was friendly.

Come here for a truly private experience on the south coast of Hawaii. $10 each to enter - spend about 30-45 mins around. There are a variety of plants, trees and wildlife.🪷🦭🦎

All the plants, the view and statues were beautiful. It was cheap to get in, $10. I enjoyed my time there. Very worth my time. I will go here again next time I visit the Big Island.

Lovely peaceful immersive experience in nature surrounded by so much abundance. Pretty sure we were the only ones there on a Tuesday early afternoon. Self guided tour maps perfect for the kids. We had two hours of fun and learning about different religions, so plants and fruits. If you wish to meditate in a peaceful place this is the place to see the beautify of Kona.

An incredibly beautiful Catholic church that sits on a hill. If you're a visitor, like myself, they give you a handmade yarn lei upon entry before the church service for you to keep. The view when you step outside of the church is breathtaking. The inside is painted beautifully. One mass on Saturday evening and one mass on Sunday morning. Everyone was so nice. So happy to be able to visit this church.

I love this church. It's peaceful and the paintings inside are beautiful. There's also an old cemetery on the grounds and a quiet prayer spot.

This was a great stop to see the painted church! So nice inside.

St. Benedict Catholic Church is a beautiful church located in Hawaii. It is known as The Painted Church. The scenes depict Holy images from early days. Well worth a visit.

A beautiful place to visit. Take a walk , the peace all around you.

Little nice church in a very nice location with views and it is recommended to visit it!!!

What a serene place to be in! Please do visit the Church and bask in it's beauty surrounded by nature all around. The paintings around the walls are wonderful and you'd get insights from them. You'll also find the locally produced fruits and vegetables kept for you so that you experience the warm hospitality of Hawaii!!

The Painted Church is very pretty. Sitting a top a hill with views of the ocean. Stop in and make a donation, you will be happy you did! The donations help in ensuring the paintings are properly maintained.

A beautiful and historic church. The priest at the time of the construction of the current building was a Belgian missionary, Fr. John Velghe. Fr. Velghe was also a self-taught artist who painted beautiful frescoes on the church’s interior. Scenes on the inside of the church include Cain’s murder of Abel, The Writing on the Wall from the Book of Daniel, the Temptation of Christ and the damned in Hell.

A beautiful peaceful place to visit, amazing views! Small church, glad this man’s work has been preserved!

Beautiful church on a hill. Cool frescoes and pretty landscaping and garden cemetery. Worth a visit!

Went there for two masses. Was greeted by very nice people who welcomed me and gave me a beautiful handknitted lei. The church is beautifully painted inside. Definitely a place to go.

Also known as the painted church, pretty faded but still worth the stop. It's free but they ask for a donation and its worth a few bucks. I can only imagine what it was like when the paint was fresh.

Beautiful church and the Art is amazing. So much history in this beautiful place.

This is ‘the Painted Church’. It is lovely and a wonderful piece of history. The inside walls and ceiling hosts original paintings. Outside is a cemetery and gardens. It all overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

Beautiful small church with a lot of history. Hand painted biblical passages cover the inside walls, Pilar, and ceiling. You can find a small cemetery next to it.

What a lovely place. It is what you want in a place of refuge. Beauty and serenity. The grounds are also not to be missed. The building is getting a bit worn which is sad but also adds to the experience.

I can't tell that this is the best place for the tourists since this church is still active church and not intended to build for serving a tour purpose. In other words, if you visit this church because of just your small curiosity, you may be disappointed by this church. However, if you love the history of the Hawaii including the Christian history in this island, you will not miss this church on your bucket list. The church is small, and you also need to take a small path to arrive this church. The interior of the church tells you how the church father dedicated to serve and teach the Hawaiian with the Bible. The spots on the church location will inspire you many things, such as a thinking why the missionary came here or a thinking how they served the natives in this island. If you want to be inspired by the historical site of this island, I highly recommend you to visit this church.

Disclaimer: Just rating the site and not the trail down. Monument to Captain Cook is cool to see; you can easily find the large obelisk when you continue down the path to your left and then there is a smaller engraved stone in the water, if you were to head straight to the rocky shore from the trail. Snorkeling is absolutely incredible! You can see so many fish, coral, and urchin species! The water was so clear, making the experience really enjoyable. You have to walk across lava rocks to get into the water, and climb out of the water over these rocks, so just be prepared since it isn't just a beach snorkel. I recommend getting there before mid-morning to try to beat the snorkeling crowds that arrive by boat. By 11 in the morning, there were at least a hundred + people snorkeling in the bay with 4-5 boats. It felt a little chaotic in the water at times. They cleared out around noon, though, so you have a midday gap when it would also be a good time to snorkel. The snorkeling here is definitely worth the nearly 4 mile round trip hike!

I had the opportunity to snorkel in several places in Hawaii, and I must say, this particular spot stood out as the best. Accessible through two routes, the first being a challenging hike and the second through guided tours, my recommendation is to opt for the unforgettable kayak journey to Captain Cook. Not only does this offer a unique experience of kayaking in the ocean, but it also leads to the ultimate snorkeling location. What made this adventure exceptional was the flexibility it provided. If you're fortunate, you might even witness a captivating dolphin show, as we did on both the kayak trip there and back. The beauty of this option is that there are fewer kayakers, allowing you to relish the serene ocean kayaking experience. While guided tours have their perks, such as providing snorkeling accessories and a set time limit, embarking on the hike independently requires you to bring your own necessary gear. However, the freedom and sense of accomplishment make it entirely worth it. This hidden gem will undoubtedly be a must-visit for me on my next trip. The combination of the challenging journey, breathtaking snorkeling, and the possibility of encountering dolphins makes it an unparalleled adventure in Hawaii.

Excellent snorkeling: lots of fish, huge variety of beautiful fish, some nice coral, but it's more about the fish. Easy snorkeling. If you come by boat access is easier (car then walk involves step climb), but you can't go ashore. There were other small boats there with us, but it wasn't crowded at all. Very historic site: the captain was a great but flawed man.... And he had a pretty bad day here.

HIKING BEWARE!!! This is a beautiful place to go snorkeling. The fish, coral, and water is GREAT. But please beware this is best for an experienced hiker. 3.8 difficult miles to the water and over 700 feet of steep elevation change. The best advice is wear hiking shoes and bring lots of water. Give yourself plenty of time to return. You don't want to get stuck returning in the dark.

Fabulous snorkeling!! The yellow tangs were brilliant in front of the Captain Cook Monument! The water was a bit shallow in places but it was possible to keep snorkeling. There were moray eels too! And we saw spinner dolphins on our kayak trip across the bay. We highly recommend renting kayaks and paddling to the monument for snorkeling!

Amazing snorkeling experience! This is one of several bays on the big island of Hawaii to snorkel and see coral reefs along with the multitude of beautiful fish and aquatic species. We saw rainbow fish, eels, and the dolphins put on an amazing show for us. Wild dolphins, no one trained them, and I am pretty sure they did it to poke fun at us humans. Highly recommend you take the snorkeling adventure of a lifetime.

Awesome hike and amazing snorkelling just remember to wear your proper shoes! We saw goats, pigs and chickens on this hike, took about an hour to go down and 45 minutes to get back up. The snorkelling was amazing, huge schools of yellow Tang and other fish which would swim right up to you sooner even nibbled my toes! I would have given 5 stars if there was a ladder or better way to get in the water, we got rashed up pretty bad by the lava rocks.

Monument was cool, but you come here for the amazing snorkelling! There were so many fish, loads of different species, beautiful sea landscape. Definitely worth that extremely hardcore hike. Loads of water, snacks/food and hat/glasses

The trip across the bay is beautiful and the clarity of the water in front of the monument is amazing, you almost don't need snorkel gear. We had a great day kayaking across, though tourist were crawling all over the monument when we arrived.

Great spot for snorkeling open to public via a hike or to boat tour companies. Great colorful coral reefs with many fishes around! Must recommend this spot for snorkeling.

One of the best snorkeling destinations in the world! The reef is healthy and the fish are abundant! Getting to this secluded spot is the real adventure. You have three options, pay for a tour boat, kayak across the harbor or take a grueling 4-mile (round trip) hike to the monument. We decided to take the hike and we were not disappointed. It was worth it, but the hike is very hard. It is probably a 1,500 foot elevation climb from the cliffs to the shore. Going down is an easy 45-minute hike. But going back up is almost straight up. It took us almost 2 hours to get back up and we were dripping sweat and very exhausted. Much of the path is rocky and ankle-breaking rubble. Especially between trail markers 5-7. And there are NO restrooms. So plan on bringing lots of water, hiking shoes and toilet paper (just in case). The monument is beautiful and the ancient Hawaiin village is so cool to see. We snorkeled for many hours and still didn't see it all. From 6-foot eels, the size of my leg, to thousands of fish, this had it all. The coral looks happy and healthy. Getting in and out of the water is a little tricky, but doable. Just be careful of the spikes of the 1-foot-long urchin spikes. You wouldn't want one of those stuck in your foot. LOL! The bottom line: the hike was hard, but doable. Just take your time and enjoy the views along the way. We are two 45-year-olds that exercise daily. Yes, we are overweight a bit, but we hike a lot. And we made it, but my wife and I were pretty exhausted by the end. Parking: just park off the road. Trail is not marked, but there is a sign you will see.

Wonderful place to snorkel! Hike is challenging 3.8 Miles with 1,200ft gain. Bring plenty of water. It gets the most crowded between 10-3pm. Come earlier or later to see the most fish and have the place to yourself.

Beautiful hike, but that return trip is something else! Waters were crystal clear in the bay and you can see so much!

This is one of the must see spots if you ever come down to big island! I highly recommend to do the hike instead of doing the boat tours. It makes the experience lot more rewarding! It’s about an hour hike which can definitely be painful if your not in decent shape but well worth enjoying the view walking down to the beach and definitely make sure to bring your snorkeling gear and water shoes. It’s just this massive magical pool with thousands of fish just roaming around you living their best lives. It’s definitely a must see spot. I also highly recommend reading up on the story of captain cook and how he was massacred and hence the monument.

Awesome place to visit. Please read up on the history - both sides of the story! Fun fact, we visited British soil without a passport...do your homework to find out what I'm talking about 🙂 Also, it's incredibly rude to block the whole steps by sunbathing at the top. Be kind, people!

This has been one of our fave days out! It's a 2 mile hike downhill and the same back up again. I struggled with the uphill and my husband had to carry my bag :-) BUT it is amazing at the bottom. Excellent snorkeling spot, so many different fish. Take snorkeling gear and 2 bottles of water each. Also wear beach shoes or similar in the water as the coral and rocks are sharp. Enjoy!!

Relatively straightforward trail (roughly 2 miles each way, took about an hour each way ). There are goats along the trail who are pretty timid, so try not to scare them. Once you get to the beach, the water is pretty shallow but there is an abundance of sea life — just keep an eye out for sea urchins and pufferfish! Be very careful on the slippery lava rocks, I fell and scraped my knee pretty bad and that was not fun on the hike back (which is a gradual ascent). Bring proper shoes for this hike, I contemplated just wearing my usual sandals but was so glad I wore my trail runners. There’s quite a lot of loose rocks so be careful