Paradise Meadows Hawaii is a 75-acre family orchard and bee farm on South Point Road in Naalehu, on the Big Island’s Ka’u coast, and it is one of the best free stops in South Hawaii.
Paradise Meadows Orchard & Bee Farm is a working family farm in Naalehu, Hawaii, where visitors taste award-winning Ka’u coffee, dehydrated macadamia nuts, Hawaiian honey and shortbread for free.
Great Hawaii Tour brings you this Paradise Meadows guide, with what to taste, what to see on the farm, and how to fit it into a South Point day.
Key Points
- Paradise Meadows is a 75-acre orchard and bee farm at 93-2199 South Point Road in Naalehu, about a mile off Highway 11 on the road to South Point.
- Every tasting is free: award-winning Ka’u coffee, dehydrated macadamia nuts, several Hawaiian honeys, shortbread and chocolate-covered treats.
- The free self-guided tour covers the gardens, the aquaponics greenhouse, four parrots, free-range ducks and Penny, the farm’s pet pig.
- Paradise Meadows is home to Hawaii’s Local Buzz, and Yelp named it the Best Chocolate Shop in the entire state of Hawaii.
- The farm is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and most visits take under an hour.
- Paradise Meadows pairs perfectly with South Point (Ka Lae), 12 miles south, and Papakolea Green Sand Beach on the same drive.
What Is Paradise Meadows?
Paradise Meadows Orchard & Bee Farm is a family farm in the South Point area of the Ka’u district, on the southern coast of the Island of Hawaii.
The story starts in 2004, when Scott Buske bought 75 acres of overgrown orchard land in Naalehu and moved his family to the Big Island for good.
The farm began with the bees, then grew into coffee, macadamia nuts and an aquaponics greenhouse where the family grows leafy greens and vegetables.
Today more than 60 acres are planted in Ka’u coffee, and the farm sells everything under its own Hawaii’s Local Buzz brand.
Great Hawaii Tour recommends Paradise Meadows as the single best free tasting stop on the Big Island for travellers who love coffee, honey and chocolate.
Free Tastings — Coffee, Macadamia Nuts, Honey & Shortbread
The farm stand is the heart of a Paradise Meadows visit, and every product on the shelf is free to taste before you buy.
The Ka’u coffee is the star: estate-grown, roasted on site, and award-winning, with a smooth, low-acid cup that coffee lovers rate above Kona.
The macadamia nuts are dehydrated rather than roasted, which keeps their buttery flavour and gives them a snappier crunch than roasted nuts.
Several varieties of all-natural Hawaiian honey are on offer, and tasting them side by side shows how much the flavour changes from flower to flower.
Tropical Shortbread cookies, chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and chocolate-covered coffee beans round out the shelf, and the chocolate is why Yelp named Paradise Meadows the Best Chocolate Shop in Hawaii.
Cash is preferred at the farm stand, but credit cards are accepted, so bring a few dollars and leave room in your bag for treats.
The Free Self-Guided Farm Tour
After tasting, take the free self-guided tour around the front acres of the farm, where a map from the stand points out what to see.
The walk passes banana and citrus trees, flower gardens and vegetable beds, and the aquaponics greenhouse where greens grow in a closed-loop system.
You will almost certainly meet the farm’s four parrots, three of them rescued or re-homed birds, and a flock of free-range Muscovy ducks.
Guinea fowl wander the grounds too, and Penny, the farm’s pet pig and official mascot, is usually happy to say hello.
Resident artist Megan Collins shows her work in the farmhouse art gallery, so the tour ends with local art as well as local food.
Great Hawaii Tour tip: look for the red tractor on South Point Road — it marks the farm entrance, and it is easy to drive past if you are watching the road instead.
The Behind the Scenes Tour
If you have two hours, book the farm’s guided Behind the Scenes tour for a deeper look than the self-guided walk allows.
The guided tour covers much more of the farm, including a sample of the 40-plus acres of coffee plantings and the areas where the crops grow.
With extra time you can extend the tour to the beehives at the back of the property, where the farm’s honey story begins.
Guided tours run on most days and should be booked ahead on the farm’s own website, since group sizes are small.
How to Reach, Hours & Practical Information
Paradise Meadows sits on the road to South Point, so it works best as a stop on a Ka’u day trip, not as a destination on its own.
Hours
| Day | Timing |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Hours come from the farm’s own website, and they can shift after storms, so check paradisemeadows.com before you drive down.
By Road
Drive south from Kailua-Kona on Highway 11 (the Hawaii Belt Road) through Captain Cook and Punalu’u to Naalehu, the southernmost town in the United States.
Turn onto South Point Road at Naalehu and drive about a mile, watching for the red tractor that marks the farm entrance on your left.
South Point (Ka Lae) itself is 12 miles further south on the same road, so the farm is a natural stop on the way there or back.
By Air
Fly into Kona International Airport (KOA) and drive south on Highway 11, or fly into Hilo International Airport (ITO) and drive around the island’s south side.
There is no public transport to the farm, so a rental car is the practical way to reach Paradise Meadows.
Facilities
The farm has clean bathrooms, beach showers for rinsing off sand after Green Sand Beach, free WiFi and USB charging stations for visitors.
Most visits take under an hour, including tasting and the self-guided walk, so plan it as a morning or afternoon stop.
Nearby Attractions
South Point (Ka Lae), the southernmost point of the United States, is 12 miles south, with its historic heiau and cliff views.
Papakolea Green Sand Beach sits a short drive south on South Point Road, and Punalu’u Black Sand Beach is north on Highway 11.
Location Map
Open Paradise Meadows in Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paradise Meadows free to visit?
Yes, Paradise Meadows is free to visit, and every tasting at the farm stand is free too, including Ka’u coffee, macadamia nuts, honey and shortbread.
Where is Paradise Meadows in Hawaii?
Paradise Meadows is at 93-2199 South Point Road in Naalehu, on the Big Island’s Ka’u coast, about a mile off Highway 11 on the road to South Point.
What can you taste at Paradise Meadows?
At Paradise Meadows you can taste award-winning Ka’u coffee, dehydrated macadamia nuts, several Hawaiian honeys, Tropical Shortbread cookies and chocolate-covered treats.
How long should I spend at Paradise Meadows?
Most visitors spend under an hour at Paradise Meadows, including tasting and the free self-guided farm tour, while the guided Behind the Scenes tour takes about two hours.
Is Paradise Meadows good for kids?
Yes, Paradise Meadows is good for kids, who enjoy the free tastings, the four parrots, the free-range ducks and Penny, the farm’s pet pig.
What else is near Paradise Meadows?
Near Paradise Meadows you will find South Point (Ka Lae) 12 miles south, Papakolea Green Sand Beach on the same road, and Punalu’u Black Sand Beach north on Highway 11.
Conclusion
Paradise Meadows is a small, honest stop that rewards the detour: free tastings of real Ka’u coffee and honey, a walk through a working farm, and animals that make kids smile.
Pair it with South Point Complex (Ka Lae), Papakolea Green Sand Beach and Naalehu for a full Ka’u day, then read our Island of Hawaii guide and Kilauea Volcano guide to plan the rest of the Big Island.
Great Hawaii Tour recommends stopping at Paradise Meadows on your way to South Point, when the coffee is fresh and the farm is at its friendliest.
