NEW Route: Black Sand Beach

Tucked into the farthest reaches of the Mauna Lani Resort (only 2 miles from our shop) is a great black sand beach perfect for sunbathing, snorkeling, and relaxing Hawaiian style. Want to get there? Follow this great route:

Via Motorcycle or Moped:
     - From Big Island Motorcycle Co. follow Waikoloa Beach Drive to the traffic signal and take a left heading north.
     - After 2 miles take a left into the Mauna Lani Resort.
     - At the round-about take the road farthest to the left going south. Follow this road about a mile, looking out for the (small) residential looking sign that says "49 Black Sand Beach" on your left. This is a gated community but also a public beach access point.
     - Tell the guard you wish to go to the beach. He will have you sign in and you are free to access the beach.
     - Follow the main road inside all the way to the end where you will find the beach parking lot.
     - There are bathrooms and fresh water showers. Don't forget your snorkel gear!

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Via Bicycle:
     - There are two ways to get to the Black Sand Beach via bicycle. The first is to follow the route above. If you are not comfortable riding a bicycle along the highway, you may access the beach via the Kings' Trail.
     - To get to the Kings' Trail from Big Island Motorcycle Co. take Waikoloa Beach Dr. until you reach the Waikoloa Colony Villas condo complex. Just to the east of the complex is the Kings' Trail which takes you across and into the Mauna Lani Resort area.
     - Please note, the Kings' Trail is extremely rough and you must walk the bikes along the trail due to loose lava rock conditions. It is highly recommended you wear sturdy shoes. Be aware that there are places along the trail where you will need to lift the biked over rocks.
     - That said, it takes about 15 minutes to walk the bikes over this section of the trail and back onto pavement.
     - You may cross back over onto pavement just before the little bridge on your left.
     - After crossing the little bridge, take a right onto the road.
     - At the T intersection, take a left.
     - Follow this road, looking out for the (small) residential looking sign that says "49 Black Sand Beach" on your left. This is a gated community but also a public beach access point.
     - Tell the guard you wish to go to the beach. He will have you sign in and you are free to access the beach.
     - Follow the main road inside all the way to the end where you will find the beach parking lot.
     - There are bathrooms and fresh water showers. Don't forget your snorkel gear!

Fun is Easy, Rent Yours Today!

Big Island Motorcycle Co.

808-886-2011

BigIslandMotorcycleCo [at] yahoo.com

Please click on the "rentals" tab above for more information.

Hawaiian History Route

This route can be completed on a motorcycle, moped, or bicycle. Time varies depending on which vehicle you choose.

Starting at Big Island Motorcycle Co. at the Kings' Shops, head north on Hwy 11 about 2 miles until you reach the Mauna Lani Resort where you will make a left hand turn to enter the resort. At the roundabout take the first right towards the Fairmont Orchid. Look for the sign that says "Holoholo Beach Park & Puako Petroglyph Park" and make a right.

Park in the beach parking lot and look for the signs directing you toward the petroglyph trail.

The trail takes about 15 minutes to get to the petroglyph viewing area. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes as the kiawe thorns along the trail are nasty and will go right through your slippers (flip flops).

Petroglyphs are Hawaiian rock carvings. They are typically found on flat lava rock surfaces and the significance of many of the carvings is still unknown but you will see carvings of figures like warriors and pregnant women. There is some information along the trail which provides further explanations. The Big Island has the largest concentration of petroglyphs in all of the Hawaiian islands and this particular site is the best I've visited so far. More info: Petroglyphs

Once you are back in the parking lot you can head back the way you came to get back to the highway, or if you are on a bicycle you can head toward the beach and take a right on the shoreline trail. This will eventually lead you to the town of Puako. Ride straight through Puako and up the hill and you will be back on the highway.

Travelling north on Hwy 11 (take a left) you will reach a T intersection after about 5 miles. Take a left toward Kawaihae. After about a quarter mile you will see Spencer Beach Park, make a left into the park. Inside the park is the Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. This heiau (temple) is one of the largest ever constructed and was built around 1790 by King Kamehameha. There is loads of historical information as well as knowledgeable guides at the site. Visit any day of the week from 7:45am-5pm (entrance gates close at 4:30pm).

Once you've had your fill of interesting Hawaiian history continue heading north on Akoni Pule Hwy (a left out of Spencer Beach Park) to the town of Kawaihae, less than one mile, where you can get a cold drink or good grub at one of the several eateries there.

To get back to Big Island Motorcycle Co. simply head south on Akoni Puly Hwy, make a right onto Hwy 11 towards Kona, travel about 10 miles, and take a right onto Waikoloa Beach Dr.

Can't wait to try out this route? Give us a call to reserve your vehicle of choice at 808-886-2011 or email BigIslandMotorcycleCo [at] yahoo.com.

 Pricing information can be found by clicking the "rentals" tab above.

What is a wedding without scooters?

Well I guess we do weddings, too! Check out these fun pics from a wedding held at one of the hotels nearby. While the bride is the star, I gotta say those scooters look pretty darn cute, too!

How can we make your special day more fun?

 Call us at 808-886-2011 or write to

 bigislandmotorcycleco (at) yahoo.com

The Best Sunset Viewing Spots

Below is a list of a few of the best spots to catch the sunset here on the Big Island whether you are on iron horseback, cruising on a moped, or pushing pedals. If you are lucky, you might even spot the Green Flash!
If you are on a Motorcycle:

1. Mauna Kea visitor center
    To get here from Big Island Motorcycle Co. make a left at the light onto Hwy 19. Make a right at the next light onto Waikoloa Road. Take this road all the way until you reach the T and make a left onto Hawaii Belt Road. After about 11 miles make a right onto Saddle Road. Continue east about 17 miles on Saddle Road making a left onto Mauna Kea Access Road (look for the signs to the visitor center). Do not ride past the visitor center as the road becomes unpaved and unsuitable for motorcycle travel past this point.
     Once you are at the visitor center you will see a trail across the road (ask if you can't find it) which will take you to an amazing sunset viewing area. You will be able to see all the way down the mountain and beyond. Go on a clear day or you won't see much. More info on Mauna Kea: Mauna Kea Visitor Center
     Be prepared for cold temperatures at this elevation. Also be prepared for some challenging riding on the way back as there are no street lights and it gets very dark out there. There are also some tricky one lane portions to navigate. At the time of writing, we do not recommend taking Saddle Road all the way into Hilo as there are still some unpaved/unimproved portions.

Mauna Kea summit descent (in a truck:)

2. Mile Marker 81 Scenic Lookout
     From Big Island Motorcycle Co. make a right at the light onto Hwy 19. Look for the "Scenic Point" signs and the pullout on your right near mile marker 81.

If you are on a Moped:

1. Mile Marker 81 Scenic Lookout

     From Big Island Motorcycle Co. make a right at the light onto Hwy 19. Look for the "Scenic Point" signs and the pullout on your right near mile marker 81. Be sure to yield to traffic around you especially as you make a left back onto the highway from the scenic point.

2. Puako Shoreline Access
     Find your own private sunset spot in the town of Puako. To get there make a left onto Hwy 19 from Big Island Motorcycle Co. After about 6 miles make a left toward Puako onto Puako Beach Drive. This will take you into the quaint town where, on your right, you will see several "Shoreline Access" points. You will likely be able to find a great spot all to yourself. You will want to head back before it gets too dark and, as always, yield to all traffic around you.

If you are riding a Bicycle:

1. Buddha's Point inside the Hilton hotel.
     From Big Island Motorcycle Co. make a right out of the parking lot toward the Hilton hotel. After passing the main entrance and side entrance on your left, you will see a service entrance. Take this road toward a grassy knoll with a large Buddha statue and enjoy a lovely sunset view. Not a Hilton hotel guest? Not a problem, the Hilton people are nice and share their property with everyone.

2. Meditation Point inside the Mauna Lani Resort
     To get to the Mauna Lani take Highway 19 north 2 miles and turn left into the resort. You may also take the Kings' Trail to get to the Mauna Lani described here: Mauna Lani Adventure. Once inside the Mauna Lani resort you will want to find the beach access area on the south end of the resort. It has a cafe, a small white sand beach, and a boat moored near shore. There are signs that say "beach access" or "beach" to guide you.
     Once you find the beach look for a paved trail on the south end of the beach that follows the shoreline. This is Meditation Point which offers breathtaking shoreline views.
    

Please forgive the lack of pictures in this post. If you have some shots of the spots I've mentioned here email them to BigIslandMotorcycleCo (at) yahoo.com and I'll post them.

Please refer to the reservations tab for pricing and booking information.

More moped routes!

Snorkel and Scoot

(minimum 2 hours)

      - Gear up with snorkel gear and mopeds at Big Island Motorcycle Co. in the Kings' Shops in Waikoloa. Yes, we will give you a "bundle" deal for the rentals, just mention this route posting!

      -  From the shop make a left out onto Highway 19 heading north. 

      - Mopeds have a speed threshold of 30 mph so you must ride on the shoulder! Be sure to yield to all traffic, assuming that they do not see you. Also, please obey all traffic laws including traffic lights and stop signs. 

      - Proceed about 4.5 miles north on Hwy 19, turning left onto Puako Beach Dr., look for the signs that say Puako. This left turn will take you out into a turn lane (not a traffic signal) so please yield to all traffic in both directions. 

      - Make a right onto Kohola Way (not marked but is the first right) after about .5 miles then left into the beach parking lot (this will be obvious). The short road to the parking lot is not paved. We do not allow you to ride the mopeds off-road so please walk the mopeds to the parking lot and lock them to something, or to each other. Those little tires can't handle gravel, so you might get a flat or end up flat on your back if you decide to ride them off-road.

      - This beach is called "69's" or Waialea Bay and is great for snorkeling and swimming. A sandy bottom, lots of shade and space to spread out makes this spot one of our favorites. There are fresh water showers and bathrooms at this beach as well as a few picnic tables. Provisions can be purchased at a small grocery store in Puako proper, about a mile south of the beach. When snorkeling you will want to enter on the south end of the beach area where there is more coral and less cloudiness due to waves. 

      - When snorkeling be sure to follow the "look but don't touch rule," to avoid damage to coral and other wildlife. Be mindful of your fins and never stand on the coral as simply touching the coral can kill it. 

      - This could easily be an all day adventure, so relax and enjoy some of the best snorkeling on the island. Fun is easy!

      - To get back to Big Island Motorcycle Co., simply come back the way you came. 

    
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