The town of ocean view is located in the far southern region of the Big Island at elevations ranging from 1,500 feet (460 m) to 5,000 feet (1,500 m) above sea level on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano.
Ocean View began as a subdivision-village on the pasturelands of the Kahuku Ranch. As more homes were built many businesses became established. Today Ocean View has all of the amenities of a small, modern town including two shopping centers, gas stations and a town center. There are even botanical gardens.
Subdivisions of the town include Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, Kahuku Country Gardens, Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos, Kona View Estates, Keone’s Ranchos and Kula Kai View Estates.
The higher areas of Ocean View extend into the upland woods reaching elevations of about 5,000 feet above sea level. Some areas of Ocean View have views of nearby South Point, the southernmost spot in the United States.
Other nearby towns are Naalehu and Waiohinu. Also close by is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Ocean View is home to about 2,500 people and is located along the Mamalahoa Hwy. (Hwy. 11).