When you hear people say that Hawaii is “a nature lover’s paradise” don’t think of it as hyperbole. Each island is home to unique geologic wonders. I was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, home to the state’s only active volcano and a place where you can ski (the peaks of Mauna Kea) and scuba in the same day. But, a slightly less taxing activity is a trip to the Big Island’s most spectacular waterfalls.
Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls
Bring your camera when you visit Akaka and Kahuna Falls. Both are located in Akaka Falls State Park, a short 20-minute drive north of Hilo, which takes you through what’s left of the Big Island’s old sugar-cane fields. Once there, you’ll take a self-guided, 0.4-mile hike through dense tropical vegetation to see the two towering waterfalls. The hike takes about 35 minutes (longer if you take advantage of all of the photo opportunities that exist along the way). I would rate the difficulty of the hike as moderate for those with compromised mobility. While the path is paved and shady, there are some steep hills that at times are wet and slippery (remember you are in a rainforest and it does rain). If you take it slow and use the railings provided you’ll be fine. Another advantage of taking it slow is that it gives you the opportunity to view hundreds of native plants, including huge ferns that tower over you, fragrant flowers and other vegetation indigenous to the islands. The hike also takes you over wooden footbridges where you can watch bamboo leaves hitch rides along currents on their way to the ocean. Mid-way through your hike the path forks… the path to your left takes you to the lookout point for Kahuna Falls, the lesser of the two waterfalls at 400 ft. This amazing waterfall only whets your appetite for the majestic Akaka Falls, which drops 442 ft. into a pool of water below. You will hear the roar of the falls well before you see a drop of water. When you arrive you will be treated to an unobstructed view of a magnificent sight that will stay with you well after you leave the islands.
Rainbow Falls
The falls is located in Hilo. Drive up Wainuenue, turn right on Rainbow Drive, and the parking lot will be on your right. The walk to the lookout is very short, about 50 feet. The 80-foot Rainbow Falls is renowned for the rainbow formed by its mist (usually in the morning). A note of caution: many overzealous tourists looking to get the “perfect” photo of this breathtaking natural wonder have perished doing so. The latest incident occurred just two months ago. Whereas, the lookout to the falls is bordered with a stone and steel railing and MANY signs clearly discouraging visitors from climbing over, some do not heed the warning. The results are almost always deadly. The lush vegetation surrounding the falls gives the illusion that there are sturdy areas that will support the weight of an eager photographer. This is not the case. My advice: stay within the confines of the path and lookout point (this is the optimal photo spot), arrive early and you will be rewarded with a frame-worthy shot of Rainbow Falls.
Hi’ilawe Falls
Hi’ilawe Falls is located in Waipi`o Valley (learn more in my blog: “Adventure Travel–A Trip to the Valley of the Kings”) located along the Hamakua Coast on the northeast shore of the Big Island of Hawaii. Waipi`o Valley is the largest and most southern of the seven valleys on the windward side of the Kohala Mountains. Hi’ilawe is the tallest waterfall in Hawaii, and one of the tallest in the world. Falling more than 1,000 feet, a fly-by of the falls is included in every helicopter tour of the Big Island. If a helicopter tour is not on your itinerary, you can get to the falls by hiking or riding down (four-wheel-drive vehicles only) to the floor of the valley. An interesting side note: Hi’ilawe wasn’t always a gusher; in 1989, a sugar company diverted headwaters toward the falls for irrigation purposes. In doing so visitors are treated to what’s known island-wide as “a sky-high faucet rushing over plant-covered black lava.”
Whether you choose to visit one or all of these spectacular waterfalls, just remember, getting there is half the adventure.