A turn onto Puako Beach Drive, between mile markers 70 and 71 on Queen Kaahamanu Highway, leads residents and visitors down a winding road toward the coast and into this relaxed tropical haven that gracefully retains a distinct sense of Old Hawaii.

As you enter Puako, you will pass the Puako Small Boat Ramp and then the Hokuloa Church on the right. After two years of construction, this historic church was dedicated on March 21, 1860.  Still home to an active congregation, the church was renovated in 1990 and represents the residents’ commitment to preserving a history of the local community.

Down the road just a bit is the M’s Puako General Store, which opened in 1987. Owned by Narand and Urmila Patel, the General Store is a low-key gathering place where residents and guests of Puako’s vacation rentals are able to pick up a variety of supplies, relax with an ice cream after a walk to the beach, or borrow a book from the exchange shelf on the lanai.

Click here to view all Puako Beach Lots listings.

Beyond the General Store, Puako Beach Drive leads past many architecturally significant modern homes, several cottages and even a few remaining classic plantation-style homes, reminders of Puako’s varied history. Once accessible only by boat, the area surrounding Puako has been home to a sugar plantation, as well as “a charcoal making-operation, a honey-bee operation where bees were being shipped to Sweden, a hog farm, and a salt operation with salt sold to whalers and for meat.” (Mary Morrision, North Hawaii News, Nov. 30, 2000)

Known for family-friendly tide pools and beautiful views of Maui (across the Alenuihaha Channel to Haleakala), and of the Kohala mountains and Mauna Kea sunrises, Puako is also located near some of the Kohala coast’s most treasured natural and historic attractions.

The Puako Petroglyph Archaeological District is nearby, as well as Hapuna Beach State Park and miles of dive and snorkeling spots. Green sea turtles, a protected species, make themselves comfortable on Puako shores and humpback whales make their way from Alaska through the channel each year to breed in Hawaii’s warm waters.

With all this beauty and natural diversity comes responsibility to promote conservation efforts, so the Puako community has organized the Makai (Sea) Watch Program. Near beach access points, signs from the State of Hawaii provide reminders of the protected status of much of the wildlife found in this delicate ecosystem. The area is part of the Puako Bay and Puako Reef Marine Fisheries Management Area managed by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The rich history and natural beauty of Puako set this small Kohala coast neighborhood apart and make it one of the Big Island’s most sought-after oceanfront communities.

If you are searching for a luxury permanent residence, a property where fractional ownership may be an option, or if you want to be alerted when there is a listing available in the Puako Beach Apartments, we value the opportunity to answer your questions about the real estate market in Puako.

Please contact us for more information about real estate opportunities on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island.