Opihikao Vacation Houses For Rent in Hawaii’s Big Island
Tucked away along the rugged Puna coastline, Opihikao is a beautiful and wild residential area along the Kapoho-Kalapana Red Road (so called because it used to be paved with red volcanic cinders). Huge mango trees line the road, and little organic farms and retreat centers seem to be down every dirt road. If you like remote peace and quiet by the sea, consider one of these great vacation homes to rent in Hawaii!
This is one of the most remote parts of Puna (accessible by car, anyway), so if you stay in Opihikao, expect to drive quite a bit to explore various attractions, unless you plan to just stay put and enjoy the fascinating vibe of lower Puna. This part of the island has over the years attracted a large number of alternative, eco-living, hippie types of people, and they’ve created an interesting variety of spiritual and health-based retreat centers. The most notable is Kalani Honua Oceanside Retreat, which offers a variety of yoga classes weekly, as well as excellent local/organic/vegetarian meals. There are no other restaurants in the area, so you’ll want to stock up on produce at area farmers’ markets.
Though it’s right on the coast, don’t expect Opihikao and surrounding areas to have sandy beaches! Puna is very young land, and most of it has not yet eroded significantly. Most coastal areas are unswimmable cliffs. There are a few spots near Opihikao where you’ll find small tide pools which are great for kids. Nearby Kehena Beach is the largest beach in Puna; it’s a small black sand beach popular with nudists. Visit on a weekday morning if you want to avoid the party crowd; access is via a short and steep rocky trail. MacKenzie State Park is another nice stop, though there’s definitely no swimming here; waves pound the rocky sea cliffs. Some say this scenic park is haunted by the ghosts of the prison laborers who built it and planted the ironwood trees in the 1850s. The windblown trees, twisted in fascinating ways, make for an interesting photography opportunity.
Book one of these vacation homes to rent in Hawaii, and plan your visit to the scenic and rugged Opihikao today!
