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Big Island of Hawaii Sights
Location: North Hamakua Coast
Near mile marker 16 turn mauka onto Leopolino Road, there will be large sign marking the World Botanical Gardens. In a few more years this will be a truly spectacular garden, but now it is still too young to offer the same variety of mature plants that other gardens have to offer. Admission is a steep $11, but it does include an exclusive view of the triple-tiered Uma Uma Falls.
The drive to the falls begins across the street from the ticket booth and is a bit bumpy as it passes through marked native trees. You will reach a small parking lot and the lookout for Uma Uma Falls. The three levels which Uma Uma Falls flows down resemble great lava stone steps with recesses that create tranquil little pools surrounded by tropical plants and trees.
Near mile marker 16 turn mauka onto Leopolino Road, there will be large sign marking the World Botanical Gardens. In a few more years this will be a truly spectacular garden, but now it is still too young to offer the same variety of mature plants that other gardens have to offer. Admission is a steep $11, but it does include an exclusive view of the triple-tiered Uma Uma Falls.
The drive to the falls begins across the street from the ticket booth and is a bit bumpy as it passes through marked native trees. You will reach a small parking lot and the lookout for Uma Uma Falls. The three levels which Uma Uma Falls flows down resemble great lava stone steps with recesses that create tranquil little pools surrounded by tropical plants and trees.
Location: Kona
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau (poo-oo-ho-noo-ah o hoe-now-now), formerly known as Place of Refuge at Honaunau, is an incredibly beautiful and educational experience that no trip to the Big Island should be without. After you pay your $5 per vehicle fee and walk past the educational displays, you round a corner and are transplanted into the world of the ancient Hawaiians. You are walking on the grounds were generations of ali'i (ruling class) Hawaiians lived and worked.
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau (poo-oo-ho-noo-ah o hoe-now-now), formerly known as Place of Refuge at Honaunau, is an incredibly beautiful and educational experience that no trip to the Big Island should be without. After you pay your $5 per vehicle fee and walk past the educational displays, you round a corner and are transplanted into the world of the ancient Hawaiians. You are walking on the grounds were generations of ali'i (ruling class) Hawaiians lived and worked.
Location: North Hamakua Coast
Onomea Falls is located inside of the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (Admission required). Onomea Falls is set amidst the natural forest of palms and ferns and is located along the pathway inside the garden. Exotic mosses grow on the surrounding rocks, trees and the small bridge in front of the falls allows for an even better view of the falls and stream, plus it makes for a great photo opportunity.
According to the HTBG website, the falls was discovered far by Dan Lutkenhouse, years after work on the lower Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden began. One day he decided to hack his way through the jungle alongside the stream, and much to his delight he found the magnificent waterfall.
Onomea Falls is located inside of the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (Admission required). Onomea Falls is set amidst the natural forest of palms and ferns and is located along the pathway inside the garden. Exotic mosses grow on the surrounding rocks, trees and the small bridge in front of the falls allows for an even better view of the falls and stream, plus it makes for a great photo opportunity.
According to the HTBG website, the falls was discovered far by Dan Lutkenhouse, years after work on the lower Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden began. One day he decided to hack his way through the jungle alongside the stream, and much to his delight he found the magnificent waterfall.
Location: Puna District
Sometimes it is very easy to forget amid the vast beauty of the Big Island that deep below the surface a primal force is at work. A force so powerful that it can create new land and new life while simultaneously destroying what humans have so carefully built. Unfortunately for the residents of Kalapana and its neighboring villages in the Puna district, this was a very painful realization. In 1990, Pu’u O’o began sending rivers of molten earth their way until eventually the area was buried in 50-75 feet of lava, leaving only small pockets of land “kipukas” untouched. What used to be neighborhoods, schools, businesses and sacred places are now just a sea of jagged black lava.
Sometimes it is very easy to forget amid the vast beauty of the Big Island that deep below the surface a primal force is at work. A force so powerful that it can create new land and new life while simultaneously destroying what humans have so carefully built. Unfortunately for the residents of Kalapana and its neighboring villages in the Puna district, this was a very painful realization. In 1990, Pu’u O’o began sending rivers of molten earth their way until eventually the area was buried in 50-75 feet of lava, leaving only small pockets of land “kipukas” untouched. What used to be neighborhoods, schools, businesses and sacred places are now just a sea of jagged black lava.
Location: Puna District
If you would like to explore the easternmost point of Hawaii, continue on the dirt road portion of Highway 132 in Puna for approximately two miles. Built in 1934 this is not a picturesque lighthouse. The 125-foot steal beacon is a reminder of the fickle nature of Pele and her lava flows. One night in 1960 the town of Kapoho was completely smothered in a lava flow. As if by design, the flow split and encircled the beacon, sparing it from destruction.
If you would like to explore the easternmost point of Hawaii, continue on the dirt road portion of Highway 132 in Puna for approximately two miles. Built in 1934 this is not a picturesque lighthouse. The 125-foot steal beacon is a reminder of the fickle nature of Pele and her lava flows. One night in 1960 the town of Kapoho was completely smothered in a lava flow. As if by design, the flow split and encircled the beacon, sparing it from destruction.
Location: Kona
Kiholo Bay is a little puddle of blue and green from this vantage point. The mixture of sea and fresh water gives it this interesting blend. The hike to see this lava-rimmed bay is long and hot, so this is a good way to cheat and see it without all the extra work.
The lava around the bay dates to the 1859 Mauna Loa lava flow.
Kiholo Bay is a little puddle of blue and green from this vantage point. The mixture of sea and fresh water gives it this interesting blend. The hike to see this lava-rimmed bay is long and hot, so this is a good way to cheat and see it without all the extra work.
The lava around the bay dates to the 1859 Mauna Loa lava flow.
Location: Puna District
Just outside Pahoa take a left onto Highway 132 (Pahoa-Kapoho Road) to head to our next stop. As you get closer to the park the road will become gradually more enclosed by a majestic tree tunnel that shades the road in jungle beauty. Take a left into the park just past mile marker two. The parking lot will be on your right. A loop trail will guide you through an impressive jungle of vining plants, orchids, and bamboo. Along the trail are bulbous black stumps partially covered in small green plants. These are the lava trees. In 1790 a lava flow from Kilauea engulfed this rainforest with pahoehoe (smooth) lava over 10 feet deep.
Just outside Pahoa take a left onto Highway 132 (Pahoa-Kapoho Road) to head to our next stop. As you get closer to the park the road will become gradually more enclosed by a majestic tree tunnel that shades the road in jungle beauty. Take a left into the park just past mile marker two. The parking lot will be on your right. A loop trail will guide you through an impressive jungle of vining plants, orchids, and bamboo. Along the trail are bulbous black stumps partially covered in small green plants. These are the lava trees. In 1790 a lava flow from Kilauea engulfed this rainforest with pahoehoe (smooth) lava over 10 feet deep.
Location: Kohala
As you approach the junction of Highway 19 and 270 heading north, look makai and you should see a majestic stone structure atop a hill. This is Pu'ukohola Heiau. When you reach the junction with 270 you will go left. This heiau, a sacred place of worship, has a particularly interesting history. Built between 1790-91, Pu'ukohola was the project of the great King Kamehameha. Legend says that King Kamehameha was unable to fully complete his mission to conquer and unite all the islands. In search of an answer, he sent his mother to speak with the prophet Kapoukahi who told her that Kamehameha would rule the islands if he built a large heiau in honor of his family god, Ku, on Pu'ukohola (Whale Hill). Taking these words to heart, Kamehameha enlisted the help of many "volunteer" workers to complete the 224 by 100 foot structure that reaches 16-20 feet into the sky.
As you approach the junction of Highway 19 and 270 heading north, look makai and you should see a majestic stone structure atop a hill. This is Pu'ukohola Heiau. When you reach the junction with 270 you will go left. This heiau, a sacred place of worship, has a particularly interesting history. Built between 1790-91, Pu'ukohola was the project of the great King Kamehameha. Legend says that King Kamehameha was unable to fully complete his mission to conquer and unite all the islands. In search of an answer, he sent his mother to speak with the prophet Kapoukahi who told her that Kamehameha would rule the islands if he built a large heiau in honor of his family god, Ku, on Pu'ukohola (Whale Hill). Taking these words to heart, Kamehameha enlisted the help of many "volunteer" workers to complete the 224 by 100 foot structure that reaches 16-20 feet into the sky.
Location: Volcano
Lava trees are created when fast-flowing lava moves through a forest completely surrounding the moist trees. The lava cools on the outside as the tree is incinerated on the inside, leaving a lava shell in the shape of the tree. While some molds will reach several feet high, others will be merely stumps or even depressions.
Sometimes lava trees will preserve the texture of the original bark. They are most often formed by smooth pahoehoe but occasionally a'a will create the same form. You can find these tree molds in HVNP up on Mauna Loa Road. Take a left out of the park and near mile marker 30.5 you'll find Mauna Loa Road which snakes uphill for 11.5 miles.
Lava trees are created when fast-flowing lava moves through a forest completely surrounding the moist trees. The lava cools on the outside as the tree is incinerated on the inside, leaving a lava shell in the shape of the tree. While some molds will reach several feet high, others will be merely stumps or even depressions.
Sometimes lava trees will preserve the texture of the original bark. They are most often formed by smooth pahoehoe but occasionally a'a will create the same form. You can find these tree molds in HVNP up on Mauna Loa Road. Take a left out of the park and near mile marker 30.5 you'll find Mauna Loa Road which snakes uphill for 11.5 miles.
Location: South Kau
Pali O Ha`uki`uki is often referred to as 'Broken Road'. It is located just north and west of Ka Lae (South Point) in the Ka'u district of the Big Island.
So why do many visitors call it broken road? In the 1950's, the Army Corp of Engineers demolished the Pali (cliff face) to make a road that led down to a ramp for launching boats. It wasn't six months before a Kona storm came and removed everything they had engineered. Today it's a broken road, abruptly ending on the cliff face.
You should not attempt to drive down any portion of this road. Instead, you can park at the beginning of the road, and hike up and over see where it terminates at the ocean. Use caution near the end of the road of course. The twisted pavement and concrete below won't break your fall. The views from here are quite scenic and is one of the few places near Ka Lae where you can escape the wind on a windy day.
Pali O Ha`uki`uki is often referred to as 'Broken Road'. It is located just north and west of Ka Lae (South Point) in the Ka'u district of the Big Island.
So why do many visitors call it broken road? In the 1950's, the Army Corp of Engineers demolished the Pali (cliff face) to make a road that led down to a ramp for launching boats. It wasn't six months before a Kona storm came and removed everything they had engineered. Today it's a broken road, abruptly ending on the cliff face.
You should not attempt to drive down any portion of this road. Instead, you can park at the beginning of the road, and hike up and over see where it terminates at the ocean. Use caution near the end of the road of course. The twisted pavement and concrete below won't break your fall. The views from here are quite scenic and is one of the few places near Ka Lae where you can escape the wind on a windy day.
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