The garage sale capital, with sales every weekend
Most of Big Island doesn't have pavements but Waikoloa does, along the main drag as well as several other areas of town. This makes it a great place to explore on foot. If you're into golf try the excellent Waikloloa Village Golf Course, an 18 holer by Robert Trent Jones complete with tricky water holes, beautiful ocean views and a lower price tag than resort courses.
Take a dizzying helicopter ride over massive active volcanoes and verdant, lush mountain-scapes.
When it snows high up on Mauna Kea, the locals head up their with trucks and bring a load of snow down for the kids to make short-lived snowmen in town.
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Enjoy an interactive dolphin encounter
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The water's lovely! Go snorkeling, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding
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Choose from various resort swimming pools and water slides
Book a trip on a canal boat. Explore by tram. Wander the museum walkway, get the best pampering in town at the Kohala Spa or get busy on the seafront golf-putting course, fun for all the family.
Discover nearby Kona with its famous coffee, one of the world's rarest. You'll also find farmer's markets, wonderful fresh produce and macadamia nut factory tours.
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The kids will adore Dolphin Quest with its expert, friendly staff, playful dolphins and clean, clear tropical lagoon
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Black Sand Beach is extraordinary, with its dark volcanic sand a dramatic contrast against the pure white foam of the waves. Plus glorious views, peace, quiet and a protected turtle community
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Relax on the golden sands at Anaehoomalu beach, a lovely public beach away from the hustle and bustle of the resorts
Explore the famously-friendly Genesis art galleries in Waikoloa, one in the King's Village and another in the Queen's Village, both great places to buy an unusual artistic souvenir.
The Mauna Lani shops are your destination for a handful of good restaurants. There's an excellent free hula dancing show, worth a visit on its own, and live outdoor music at night.
Adventure boat tours are big here, no surprise when the waters are so clear and so many amazing, exotic sea creatures live here. Take an ocean tour on a glass bottomed boat to see the sea life up close and personal, with amazing clarity. Choose an ocean sports cruise or pick a romantic sunset champagne sail. A lava boat tour is the best way to get a vivid picture of the island's remarkable coastline, rugged and sharp with all sorts of strange volcanic rock formations. Epic views of the sea and the incredibly green mounatins. Colourful beaches. Great golf and plenty of entertainment. That's Waikoloa.
Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish designed the fabulous Kings’ Course, which opened in 1990 and transformed Waikoloa into a major golf resort with two challenging 18 hole courses. The Beach Course is the easier, the Kings’ Course comes with interesting challenges bearing in mind the famous prevailing trade winds. The Kona Marathon, every June, is a popular draw for runners and tourists alike. There's also a half marathon, quarter marathon and 5K run, all with prizes, and the money raised goes to charity. The fun starts and ends at sandy Waikoloa beach.