Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
eye out for quail, northern and red-crested cardinals, saffron finches and Japanese white-
eyes.
The trail then skirts ancient
fishponds
lined with coconut palms and continues out to
the beach, where you'll find a thatched shelter with an outrigger canoe and a
historic
cottage
with a few Hawaiian artifacts on display. If you continue southwest past the cot-
tage, you can loop around the fishpond and back to your starting point (for a round-trip
of about 1.5 miles).
Kalahuipuaʻa Fishponds
HISTORIC SITE
MAP
These ancient fishponds are among the island's few remaining working fishponds
and, as in ancient times, they're stocked with
ʻawa
(Hawaiian milk fish). Water circulates
from the ocean through traditional
makaha
(sluice gates), which allow small fish to enter,
but keep mature, fattened catch from escaping.
To access the fishponds directly (without taking the trail), exit the hotel lobby and go
south toward the beach. They lie partly under a shady grove of coconut palms and milo
(native hardwood) trees.
Activities
Mauna Lani Sea Adventures
WATERSPORTS
MAP
(
885-7883;
www.hawaiiseaadventures.com
;
68-1400 Mauna Lani Dr, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel &
Bungalows; snorkeling tour adult & child/child 3-12 Wed & Sun $99/45, whale-watching cruise $85/
45)
This outfit offers three-hour morning snorkeling cruises five mornings per week; the
fee applies to all, but kids pay half price on Sundays and Wednesdays. From mid-Decem-
ber to mid-April, 1½-hour whale-watching cruises run five afternoons per week.
Mauna Lani Sea Adventures is also the main dive operator (two-tank dive $160) here.
Although Kailua-Kona is the Big Island's hub for scuba diving, the waters off Mauna
Lani are perhaps even better (and also much less crowded). Divemasters are competent,
friendly and flexible. Well-regarded certification courses also offered.
Francis Iʻi Brown North & South Golf Courses
GOLF
MAP
(
885-6655; 68-1400 Mauna Lani Dr, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows; guest/nonguest $160/
265)
The two Mauna Lani courses are among the island's top world-class golf courses.
