Hawaii: Wood Valley and Pahala Communities

Wood Valley on the Island of Hawaii is approximately 65 miles from Hilo and 76 miles from Kona. Car rentals are available at both airports. Closest town is colorful Pahala, 6 miles away, a small village with a bank, post office, cafe, store, laundro-mat, a small hospital, etc. Originally it was the site of a sugar mill. The sugar plantation is long gone and its fields are now macademia nut and coffee groves, flower and tea farms, and some of the land has reverted to the original lush tropical vegetation topped by large trees.

Wood Valley is in the Kau district of The Big Island, which is on the southeastern side of the island. This is just minutes away from Volcanoes National Park and the Olaa Forest Reserve, and near South Point, which is the southern most tip of the island.

Wood Valley is a horseshoe shaped region that lies at the foot of Mauna Loa, the Earth’s largest volcano. The fertile soils and mild climate create a lush tropical forest of exotic plants and flowers, surrounded by coffee and macadamia nut farms. Wood Valley is also home to the Wood Valley Buddhist Temple and Retreat Center, where visitors are welcome to visit.

Other nearby things to see and do in the area include swimming with sea turtles at exotic black and green sand beaches, swimming and snorkeling, and exploring the small, old villages of the Kau and Puna regions of the Big Island that are the “real” Hawaii. Camping and hiking are available in Volcanoes National Park, and guided tours are also available where you can get a close up view of the lava beds. Wood Valley is a dramatically diverse area of Hawaii that offers visitors a chance to experience the true “flavor” of the island, without the tourist traps and crowds.

Special Interest
1. South Point (Ka Lae) and Green Sand Beach
Black Sand Beach at Punaluu,15 minutes
2. Public Golf Course, 15 minutes
3. Historic Hawaii Volcano National Park 35 mins away
4. Historic Hilo, 65 miles
5. Historic Kailua Kona, 75 miles
6, Punaluu Beach Park