En route to the birthplace and home of Kamehameha, the shoreline of North Kohala is etched with historical sites and beach parks that tourists rarely visit. Like Anaehoomalu and Hapuna beaches, spacious Spencer Beach Park at the base of the Kohala Mountains is another wide swath of white sand beach.

Mahukona Beach Park and Kapaa Beach Park, 13 and 14 miles respectively along the Kohala Coast north of Kawaihae offer marvelous views of Maui across the Alenuihaha Channel, unusual privacy for campers and good fishing, but little more than that.

Puukohala Hieau, a National Historic Site next to Spencer Park. This sacred site was rebuilt and rededicated in 1791 by King Kamehameha in honor of the war god Ku. Reconstruction of the hieau resulted from a prophecy that this action would lead to control of the islands. Thousands of workers built the structure under Kamehameha's personal super vision. After inviting his main rival to the rededication ceremony, Kamehameha ordered him killed and then offered him Ku and a sacrifice. Kamehameha went on to conquer the Big Island and all of Hawaii.

The desolation of the area in which Laurance Rockefeller chose to build the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in 1965 shows very clearly on the drive from keahole Airport north to a string of North Kona and South Kohala Coast resorts.