Kamakana Playground — Attraction in Hawaii

Best playground on the Big Island.

This was the perfect place to take our ocean-nervous toddler during vacation. It sports the typical playground essentials, as well as multiple massive wooden structures and large climbable sea life. It was also very well maintained, with one or two indications of what I assume were paintball games past. There are even a few shady spots for parents to sit and watch the kids play.

If you have littles on the big island, take a stop here. Let them loose or chase after them yourself. (Remember your sunscreen and plenty of water - there is both lots of shade...

Would have made Frederick Law Olmsted proud! I've visited a ton of playgrounds in multiple states, and very few of the ones in hot locations make adequate provision for children's shade. Kamakana is very much in the opposite camp. Beautiful spreading trees shade nearly all of the equipment, and there is even a roofed pavilion for parents to sit and chat. Some of the wood has seen better days, though with the climate of the Big Island, that's inevitable. An excellent break from the hustle and bustle of downtown Kona or just a change of pace from...

If you live Hilo it will be about a 2 1/2 hour drive. Great place to take the keiki. I took our children here it is huge and there's shaded pavillion areas along with clean restrooms. No shame I went down the big slide, kinda creepy cuz going down the slide it's totally covered and is dark, for tots I'd slide down with them. The playground area has places to sit and have a picnic however when the sun is high no shade. Also it's creepy that there are faces on the wall that surround the main shaded area that connects to the castle, I've attached...