After a few relaxing days, we decided it was time to venture out to some more areas of the Big Island. Today's trip took us to the east side of the Island...
Rainbow Falls
Our first stop was at Rainbow Falls in Hilo. Hilo is located on the East side of the Island. We were staying on the Kohala Coast on the West side of the Island. It was about an hour and 45 minute drive across the Island. Hilo is a nice sized town, lots of cruise ships dock in that area and it had lots of stores and restaurants to choose from. Just a short drive from all of this civilization is a beautiful waterfall. It isn't huge but it is extremely easy to access. The thing about waterfalls is many times it takes quite a hike to get to them! This one is just a short walk from the parking lot and the view is unobstructed. The path is concrete so there isn't any worry of uneven ground trying to get to a place to view the waterfall.
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| Rainbow Falls (Hilo) |
There were several tour buses and shuttles that made a stop in this area but there appeared to be ample parking and it isn't a long stop so the turnover of traffic was pretty quick. If you are in Hilo this is definitely a worthwhile stop to make.
Onamea Bay
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| Onomea Bay |
Just a little bit north of Hilo, we made a stop at Onomea Bay. This again was just a quick stop but well worth the time. This was a beautiful bay. There is a little parking along side the roadway and you have to walk a little bit to get to the viewpoint but it is not a difficult walk at all. There is a small walkway where you can walk down to the beach area if you would like to take a swim in the bay.
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| The beach area at Onomea Bay |
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
Our next stop along the way was the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. It was just a little drive north of Hilo and just past the pull off to Onomea Bay. It was a great place to stop and take a look around. It offers waterfalls, tropical foliage and even better views of Onomea Bay.
This was a really unexpected gem that we ended up absolutely loving. My husband and I had visited a botanical garden in Maui and were not overly impressed so our expectations were not that high when we stopped here. That opinion quickly changed as we entered this tropical paradise.
There is a $15.00 charge for adults and a $5.00 charge for children 6-16 for admission. The walking distance is just over a mile but it feels like you are lost in a tropical paradise.
Pathways are paved and are are easy to maneuver except for the first hill that you encounter as you enter the park. This is a very steep grade. It's not so bad on the way down but it can be difficult on the way up. There is golf cart assistance for those who can't make the climb back up the hill for a $5.00 charge. There are also several benches lining the pathway and there isn't any rush so feel free to stop and rest for however long you need to on your way back up. Don't let this hill stop you from seeing the park...it is definitely worth overcoming this small obstacle. Just plan ahead!
Akaka Falls State Park
As we left the Botanical Garden, we hopped in the car in search of more waterfalls. Our next stop was Akaka Falls State Park. There is a parking lot at the State Park and there is a $5.00 fee to park there. Personally I don't think this is outrageous but if you wish to avoid the charge there is parking just before the park that is a very short walk away from the entrance to the park that is free of charge. Point being....don't let the $5.00 parking fee keep you from stopping to see the falls.
When we first entered the park, there is a path that goes to the left and to the right. We turned to the right and headed to Kahuna Falls. The walk was a bit steep and had quite a few steps but it was paved and had railings. When we got to the end of the walkway we found that the view of the falls was "OK" but not spectacular by any means. The falls were quite a distance away and at a bit of an angle. If you have time to visit both falls while you are here, it is definitely worth a look at both. If you have a limited time frame....turn to the left and visit Akaka Falls.
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| Kahuna Falls |
The more spectacular view at this park is that of Akaka Falls. The walk is much shorter and is pretty easy to do for people of most physical ability. There are steps however so it really isn't handicapped accessible.
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| Akaka Falls |
There are also a few smaller falls that you will see as you take the short walk back to the parking area.
We were here for about 45 minutes and were able to see both falls during that time. It's definitely worth a stop. Again, there are many waterfalls that are not so easily accessed. If you love waterfalls it will be a worthwhile stop.
Waipio Valley Overlook
Our last stop for the day was the Waipio Valley Overlook. We really didn't know what to expect here but our Fodor's travel guide listed it as a "must do" so we headed toward the overlook. What we found was an absolutely stunning view from the overlook area down into the Waipio Valley.
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| View of the overlook area from the parking lot
The parking area is a little bit above the actual overlook. This means that you have to walk down a bit of a hill to get down to the overlook. It's not a difficult walk and there are railings along the ramp....it is definitely worth getting down a little closer to get the full effect of the view.
Once you take a look at the Valley from the overlook area, it's time to start the climb back up the the parking area. I shot this photo so you could get an idea of the walkway.
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This was a highlight of our trip so please make sure you take the time out to visit this area if at all possible when you are visiting the Big Island.
The End of the Day
This was a long travel day. Lots of stops and the drive took us most of a day to complete. We made it back to the resort just in time for another beautiful Hawaiian Sunset to end the day!
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