Lava-washed Pahoa
Pahoa vacation rentals are a ticket to the hippie capital of Big Island. You'll be sharing the surf shacks and reggae bars with long-haired New Agers and yogis, munching organic foods and discussing the best way to align your chakras or master that sourdough. Back in 2014, Pahoa was flung into the headlines when the lava flows of Kilauea volcano narrowly missed it. Evidence of earlier eruptions can be seen at the striking Lava Tree State Park, home to petrified palms. The Kapoho Tide Pools are also down the road, a place to bathe in volcanic plugs and surf challenging reef breaks.
Pahoa is shrouded by volcanos
While the laid-back nature of Hawaii's locals has never been in doubt, that of the volcanos that shroud Pahoa town certainly is. These smoke-belching, lava-spewing craters are contained within the metamorphic Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, just to the west. It's a place of truly otherworldly landscapes, carved by lava flows and steam-issuing vents, all spilling down into the Pacific Ocean. The Kilauea Visitor Center has science exhibits and displays that chronicle past eruptions and the movements of the Aloha State's tectonic plates.
Pahoa's offbeat vibes
The New Age vibes are strong in Pahoa. Yoga studios pepper the streets and chakra-aligning treatments are the mainstay of the spas. Holistic ashrams – a la Kerala – make an appearance in the surrounding countryside, while there are more organic eateries and health food shops than you can shake a healing Himalayan rock crystal at. When you're not pulling downward dogs on the volcanic cliffs, how about some wild swimming in rock pools, surfing on the reefs or hiking up lava chutes in the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park?
Pahoa – forged in fire
The landscapes around Pahoa were forged by the volcanos of Big Island. You won't have to go far to see the metamorphic changes they wreak on the jungles. Lava Tree State Monument sprouts rock-encased trees that were covered in magma during an eruption in the 1700s, while Pahoa vacation rentals by the sea overlook black-rock cliffs and sands and plug-hole tide pools that are all the result of lava flows. The amazing Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is a must. It covers a duo of active craters and loads of vents that occasionally spew sulfur and magma into the ocean.
Transportation to and around Pahoa
The nearest airport is in Hilo Intl. Airport (ITO), located 16.1 mi (25.9 km) from the city center.
