The Most Romantic Spots on the Kohala Coast

In Hawai’i, everywhere you look there’s a couple celebrating an important milestone. From honeymoons to babymoons, anniversaries to retirement, Hawai’i is synonymous with romance and Mauna Lani Resort community residents live within minutes of some of the Big Island’s most romantic destinations.

The North Kohala Coast is filled with romantic spots for couples searching for a secluded beach, a romantic oceanside dinner, or those looking for adventure.

Kohala means cherished land in Hawaiian and the North Kohala Coast has plenty of romantic gems where couples can enjoy each other’s company while taking in a sunset on a secluded beach, having a romantic oceanside dinner, or for adrenaline junkies seeking to mix adventure with passion.

Here’s a guide for Mauna Lani Resort community residents looking to escape to their own sandy paradise, foodie discovery, or embark on a romantic adventure.

Quiet and Secluded Beaches

The North Kohala Coast has more white powder-sand beaches than any other part of the Big Island. With more hours of sunshine than anywhere else on the island, it’s the ultimate locale to plan the perfect beach day with your significant other, not to mention a highly desirable area for buyers and residents.

Mauna Lani Beach is one of the most dazzling beaches on the island that’s fantastic for an afternoon of snorkeling with your partner.

Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area is a landmark white-sand beach that’s considered one of the most dazzling on the island, even in the world. It’s rated the 17th best beach in the United States for its picture perfect white sand and ideal conditions for swimming. It’s located in Puako, which is a short drive from the Mauna Lani Resort community.

Hapuna is known for its glassy blue waters, white sand and tide pools filled with marine life, making it a fantastic spot for an afternoon of snorkeling with your partner. It stretches a half mile and has excellent facilities, including ample parking, food vendors, picnic areas, restrooms, and showers.

Romantic Seaside Dinners

From oceanside farm-to-table restaurants to roadside grills and food trucks, the North Kohala coast is brimming with charming eateries that will excite foodie couples searching for local ingredients, including fresh seafood and produce grown in the island’s rich, volcanic soil.

Brown’s Beach House
Kohala Coast | 808-885-2000

Located in the Fairmont Orchid Hotel, Brown’s Beach House is the perfect fine dining restaurant to enjoy a sunset dinner steps from the ocean with soft, live music playing in the background. It’s known for innovative Hawaii Regional Cuisine that features locally grown vegetables and fresh seafood. Try the sumptuous king crab crusted kampachi with your loved one in this beautiful outdoor setting.

Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club
Waimea | 808-885-5910

Napua Restaurant at Mauna Lani Beach Club offers an eclectic and adventurous menu that fuses Hawaiian, European, Asian and Polynesian cuisine in a contemporary way. It’s located inside a private ocean cove and after dinner you can enjoy a short walk along the beachfront and historic fishponds of Kalahuipua‘a. It serves local food for lunch and dinner with ingredients from within 50 miles of the plate, including fresh fish, farm produce, ripe fruits, and beef from cows raised on Big Island grass.

Hiking and Adventure

Photo courtesy of Ian Lindsey Photography

Grab your loved one, a pair of hiking shoes, a four-wheel drive vehicle, and prepare for a day of hiking and adventure at two of the island’s most romantic spots that capture the rugged beauty and dazzling heights of the striking North Kohala Coast.

Pololu Valley Lookout can be found at the end of Highway 270 and is one of the best places to experience the majesty of the Big Island’s dramatic Kohala coastline. From the lookout, enjoy sweeping views of lush green forest where waves crash onto jet black lava cliffs, and couples craving a thrill can hike down to the black-sand beach at the base of the cliffs.

Mauna Kea Summit is a dormant volcano located near the center of the island that’s one of the best places for couples looking for a peaceful moment to share under a remarkable starry sky. Even for residents who didn’t major in astronomy, Mauna Kea is truly a sunset chaser and stargazer’s paradise — and it’s only an hour and 15 minutes from the Mauna Lani Resort community.

Standing close to 14,000 feet above sea level, the Mauna Kea summit is the highest point in Hawai‘i and is one of the only places in the state that sees snowfall. If you’re feeling brave, hike to the summit, have a snowball fight with your partner, catch a sunset and then gaze at the stars while being surrounded by clouds in a moon-like landscape.

The Mauna Kea summit is the highest point in Hawai‘i where you and your partner can catch a sunset and gaze at the stars surrounded by clouds in a moon-like landscape. Photo courtesy of: Ian Lindsey Photography