Hamakua Coast

Cascading streams and waterfalls. Fertile valleys and mountains of lush greenery. Spellbinding seascapes. Take a drive down the more than forty miles of the breathtaking Hamakua Coast and be sure to bring your camera.

The Hamakua Coast Highway begins in charming old-town Hilo and ends at the very edge of the Waipio Valley. Sugar, the king of Big Island agriculture, thrived in this area until about 10 years ago. Today the sugar plantations are gone - what remains is a spectacular landscape.

Breathtaking ocean vistas, quaint old plantation towns, towering waterfalls, deep gulches, and the most beautiful valley in the world. Waipio, the Valley of the Kings!

Located on the northern Hamakua Coast, the sacred Waipio Valley was the boyhood home of King Kamehameha I and an important center for political and religious life in Hawaii. Not only is "The Valley of the Kings" an important site for Hawaiian history and culture, it's also a place of dramatic tropical beauty.

This fertile valley is about one mile across and over five-miles deep, and surrounded by cliffs up to 2000-feet high. Waipio Valley was once the home for thousands of native Hawaiians. Today, there are less than 100 residents living amongst the waterfalls, taro fields, and rivers permeating the valley. The Big Island's tallest waterfall, Hiilawe Falls cascades down 1,300 feet in the back of Waipio.

You can view the valley from the coastal Waipio Valley Overlook, or you can take a guided van tour, hike, or horseback ride to explore the hidden wonders within. Tour guides will happily share the stories and legends of this special place. The road into the valley is extremely steep so driving isn't recommended.

Our exploration starts on Hilo's beautiful bayfront and then heads north to the Onomea Bay scenic drive, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens,often acclaimed as the most beautiful area in Hawaii, this garden is a photographer’s and nature lover’s paradise. Featuring over 2,500 species of tropical plants from around the globe, an orchid garden, macaw aviary and oceanfront walk.

Akaka and Kahuna Falls:At Akaka Falls State Park, located along the northeastern Hamakua Coast, you can see two gorgeous waterfalls on one short hike. The pleasant 0.4-mile uphill hike will take you through a lush rainforest filled with wild orchids, bamboo groves, and draping ferns.

As you follow the footpath, you'll first see 100-foot Kahuna Falls. Continue to follow the loop around the bend, and you'll discover towering Akaka Falls which plummets 442-feet into a stream-eroded gorge. Beautiful Akaka Falls is perhaps the Big Island's most famous waterfall. Easily accessible, this hike takes less than an hour.