Love Turltes? There is a magical place on the Big Island where you can get up-close and personal with the sea turtles. But BEWARE! It is a $10,000 fine if you touch or harass a turtle. This is for their protection. Don’t let that scare you off. This place is tops and a must do if you have landed yourself on the Big I.Adjacent Mile Marker #82 off Highway 19 is a Scenic Overlook with a terrific view of Kiholo bay. To get closer, you will have to hike about one mile on a trail crossing dried lava fields. The trail is varied with portions passing by underbrush. Towards the end of Fish Pond at Kiholo Baythe trail, the vegetation becomes more dense with twisted trees enveloping the areas off the trail. Keep your eyes open for the wild goats that inhabit this area. Just prior to reaching the coast, you will pass several clear water ponds brimming with small fish, surrounded by palm trees.

Kiholo BayKiholo Bay is beautiful. The waters are painted a dozen different shades of blue and the ocean is very inviting after the hike. Turtles frequent the shallow waters here and will venture into the fish ponds at night. The huge, spring-fed Luahinewai Pond Blue waters of Kiholo Bayanchors the south end of the bay, and the three black-pebble beaches are fine for swimming in calm weather. At the northern end, Wainanali'i Pond (a 5-acre lagoon) is a feeding site for green sea turtles. The two ponds are off-limits to swimmers. There is a well-stocked fishpond here that was destroyed by lava in 1859. You'll find good swimming here but no facilities.

Kiholo Bay Directions: Take Highway 19 north from Kohala Resort Area. Hwy. 19, Mile Marker 81. The public access road is on the right between Mile Marker #82 and 83. The gate is usually open during the week between 8am-4pm.