Laupahoehoe offers serene coastal living on the Hamakua Coast
A small town on the Hamakua Coast, Laupahoehoe is an idyllic waterfront community with serene ocean views and temperate weather. “It’s a ranching and farming community, primarily,” says Jen McGeehan, a local Realtor at Coldwell Banker Island Properties with over 8 years of experience. “The weather is a big factor. There’s enough rain and enough sun to make it really desirable, and it’s not a super windy area.” The community’s peaceful vibe is one of the biggest draws to the area, and locals still maintain basic amenities like a post office, community school and grocery market. Located roughly halfway between Hilo and Honokaa, more stores and businesses are within driving distance.
A variety of housing with large lots and ocean views
Housing includes a unique array of custom-built properties, often single-story builds and ranch-style homes with overhanging roofs and solar panels. Lots typically start at a quarter-acre, surrounded by palm trees and lush tropical greenery with panoramic views of the ocean. Larger properties with more acreage provide room for small farms or additional structures like cabins and sheds. Prices generally range from $600,000 to $1 million. Homes situated nearest the bluffs and properties with more than 5 acres of land can range from $1.3 million to $1.9 million, depending on a variety of factors. “The bluff properties are always going to have a premium; properties with 180-degree ocean views will have a premium,” McGeehan says. “Usually when people move to Laupahoehoe or the Hamakua Coast in general, they want some privacy, so the properties that are closer to the highway, where you can see or hear the traffic, are not going to command as high a price.”
Public park on the bluffs and other community spaces
Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park is situated on the edge of the bluffs, with views of crashing waves and stunning scenery. “Laupahoehoe Point is not great for swimming. It’s very choppy down there,” McGeehan says, although she adds that it has a popular green space. “This is a park where you can have a picnic, and if there’s no wind, you can get in and out from the boat ramp.” The Laupahoehoe Public and School Library is also a central gathering place, located right next to the Laupahoehoe Swimming Pool. Construction began on a new park in May 2025, and it is expected to finish around the end of 2026. Dubbed Papaaloa Park, the facility will include a covered multipurpose sports court and walking paths. Farther inland, the Laupahoehoe Natural Area Reserve is open for hiking and hunting, with its highest points reaching an elevation of over 4,600 feet.
A handful of local businesses and small-town amenities
Laupahoehoe has more amenities than many of the smaller surrounding communities, including a gas station and post office, along with headquarters for the fire and police departments. Papaaloa Country Store & Café is the area’s main grocery store and bakery, also housing a restaurant that serves pizza and burgers on Thursdays through Saturdays. The Laupahoehoe Train Museum is a unique community asset, housed in a former train depot with historical exhibits about the sugarcane industry and the 1946 tsunami, which famously devastated much of the town’s infrastructure. Aside from local businesses and amenities, locals can drive 25 miles to Hilo for big-box stores and shopping centers, or 20 miles to Honokaa for more locally owned restaurants like Harmoni Foods, which serves Korean.
Connected to larger towns on the Hawaii Belt Road
Hawaii state Route 19, also known as the Hawaii Belt Road or Mamalahoa Highway, is the primary roadway along the Hamakua Coast. Laupahoehoe is situated at the midpoint between several larger towns; Hilo is less than 25 miles away in one direction, home to Hilo Benioff Medical Center and Hilo International Airport, while Honokaa is 20 miles away and Waimea is about 30 miles away in the opposite direction. Hele-On has intercity bus routes that run along the highway, connecting Laupahoehoe with the rest of the island.
Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School serves local families
Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School serves all grade levels and earns a C-plus rating from Niche. The school offers athletic programs for middle and high school students, including air riflery in the fall, canoe paddling in the winter and water polo in the spring. Students can also join the competitive esports team or the Interact Club, which is a community service club formed in partnership with the Rotary Club of Hilo.
Annual music festival held near the coast
The annual Laupahoehoe Music Festival is held at Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park in March, organized by grassroots community volunteers, with proceeds benefiting the Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School. The lineup often includes a mix of traditional Hawaiian music, reggae, folk and halau hula performances, alongside food and artisan vendors.
