Akaka Falls State Park

Akaka Falls State Park

The state park is located just north of Hilo, on the east side of the island. The park has two stunning waterfalls, Akaka falls and Kahuna falls. Akaka falls is a 422 ft waterfall located among the most beautiful, lush rainforest. Kahuna falls is nearly as tall as Akaka Falls at 400 ft, but it is a bit harder to see from the park. A trip to this park is a must for anyone wanting to experience the majestic beauty of the island.

Pololū Valley (the end of the road)

Pololū Valley

Pololu Valley is the northern most of seven valleys on the east coast of the Kohala Mountain. The valley was once a common place to live for native Hawaiians, and the constant supply of water from the Pololu stream made it a great place for farming taro. From the view point at the end of the road you can hike about a half mile to the base of the valley and the black sand beach. You can continue the hike even further up the opposite side to view the Honokane Nui Valley and part of Honokane Ski Valley.

Kaimū Black Sand Beach

Being one of the newest black sand beaches on the island, Kaimū Beach is a great place to see the dramatic transformation an eruption can cause. The former beach now lays 50 ft below the lava flow, and the new coast line is almost 1000 ft further than it was just thirty years ago. Prior to the lava flow, the beach was lined with groves of palm trees and a calm bay. In hopes of restoring the area, hundreds of palm trees have been planted through the lava field.

The End of the World

The End of the World was a battlefield and burial ground where King Kamehameha II fought to put an end to the kapu system. This system had a few practical laws, but many that were vastly disagreed upon. For example, women and men were not allowed to eat together because men were considered sacred while women were not, and if a commoner's shadow fell on anything that belonged to an ali'i he would be put to death.

Not only does this place have interesting history, but it is also a great place to watch the waves crash into the thirty foot cliffs or even jump off the cliffs in some places.

Hapuna Beach

Hapuna is a beautiful sandy beach on the Kohala coast. It is the largest white sand beach on the island, and stretches out over half a mile. There are also some beautiful trails that you can take if you are feeling like exploring.