Hamakua Coast Scenic Tour:
5 hours plus 30 minutes for Lunch
Easy to Moderate hike
-Black Sand Beach (with turtles)
-Lili'uokalani Gardens
-Hilo Bayfront and Surroundings
-Akaka Falls
-Private Coffee and Cacao Plantation visit (some restrictionsmay apply)
Let's start our tour at the Carlsmith, Kealoha Beach Park (a.k.a. Four Mile)
We then drive past the Ice Pond (55 degrees,) it’s freezing for us locals! We continue along the magnificent Banyan Circle Drive and enter into the unique Liliuokalani “Japanese Gardens” and the sacred Moku Ola.
We pass the canoe clubs on the Hilo Bayfront Black Sand Beach, then stop and pay homage to the man who unified all the islands King Kamehameha, and around the corner is the awesome Tsunami Memorial. After, we stop for a moment of silence at the Vietnam Memorial's Eternal Flame...
Old downtown Hilo is a conglomeration of vintage wood frame and stucco finished buildings. We suggest a short stroll through the interesting collection of “Mom and Pop” shops, cafes and Farmer's Market. Hilo is slow to change and this has helped keep its hometown charm and bayside personality.
We then enter the beautiful and tropical Hamakua Coast. Turning off onto the Scenic Route we experience the breathtaking old highway, the Onomea Bay and the “Sleeping Lady” are a treat.
The view from the cliffs of the old railroad and the Hakalau Bay is beautiful.
Passing through the tiny town of Wailea we encounter a true vintage sugar cane village. The Kolekole Park provides the uniqueness of a waterfall meeting the ocean waves with local fisherman and surfers at the bay.
Finally the famous Akaka Falls is a 420 foot free-fall plunge... the largest in Hawaii viewable by land. The waterfall trail goes through a coastal tropical rain forest where rich flora and exotic birds live.
We return through a private coffee and cacao plantation for the taste of a favorite local drink and homemade chocolate.
Relaxing and reminiscing, we drive back to Hilo
