Located
along the Hamakua Coast on the northeastern coast of the Big Island of Hawai'i, Waipi'o Valley is the largest and southernmost of the seven
valleys on the windward
side of the Kohala Mountains. Waipi'o is a mile
wide at
the coast and almost six miles deep. At the coast there is a
beautiful black sand beach constantly pounded by the Pacific Ocean waves. On either side of the valley are cliffs
reaching almost 2000 feet in elevation with numerous cascading waterfalls.
Hiking in the Waipio Valley is amazing.
Waipio Valley Lookout Unless you have a
4-wheel drive vehicle, your drive will end at the Waipio Valley
Lookout. Here the view of the valley and beach is
spectacular. For an even better experience, hike down the
trail to the edge of the valley and discover the wonders of Waipio.
Once you descend into the valley, the direction of your hike is up to you; the valley is wide open and
wonderful jungle trees, rivers, and Hawaiian animals stretch in all
directions. Another unforgettable adventure is the
Waipio Valley by Horseback tour.
We recently drove our SUV deep into the Waipio
Valley - check out our
Waipio Valley 4x4 Adventure blog post for our story and photos.
Stop for Food
Before you hike into the Waipio Valley or after as you leave the
overlook, make sure you stop at
Tex Drive In restaurant in Honokaa. Since 1969, this
restaurant has served local plate lunch-style food, snacks, coffee, and
a full service breakfast.
It specializes in Portuguese Malasadas - a delicious deep-fried donut.
Located on Highway 19 at Honokaa (view
map). (808) 775-0598.
Hiking into the Waipio Valley The
road from the Waipio lookout is very steep (25% grade), this is
significant on the hike back up! This road descends 1000 feet in a
mere mile to the bottom of
the valley. Much of the valley is private
property,
so please be respectful.
Any hikers should ask permission to cross
private property, and should not ever pick fruit, walk into gardens or
explore what look like "abandoned" homes. The valley itself has no electricity,
running water or phone service and is sparsely populated with mostly
farmers tending their taro fields. You will see a few primitive
buildings, many overcome by vegetative growth. The river winds its
way through the center of the valley and can be difficult to cross after heavy
rainfall. The farmers use a system of ditches, low-walled fields,
and PVC pipes to irrigate their crops.
From the
bottom of the paved road, hiking to the right (east) takes you to
the black sand beach on the coast - this strip of black sand is often pounded by violent surf
(especially in Winter months). Just prior to reaching the beach is
a forest setting with wild
horses grazing in the grass. Continuing to
the East of the beach along the coast, you will see two spectacular
waterfalls Kaluahine Falls, and further
along, Waiulili Falls. To the left (west) of the paved road, your hike will
take you
within view of Hi'ilawe
Falls - a breath-taking waterfall more
than 1,400
feet high, the highest in Hawaii! As you walk along this road, you
are surrounded by ferns, exotic flowers, and fruit trees, their branches
heavy with over-ripened fruit. This road can be washed out be
the
swollen river, fed by torrential rains. If you are able to
continue along this road to the west, you can hike deep into the Waipio
and eventually reach its remote northwest wall. Mosquitoes can be
nasty down here, so bring your bug repellant. Camping is not
allowed in the Waipio valley, however several bed and breakfasts also exist near the valley.
Are you ready? Read our
Hawaii Hiking Tips.
View from the parking area.
You can see the Waipio Valley lookout below. From here
you can see splendid views of the valley and black sand
beach.
View looking back up the
winding road. This road is barely paved and a very
steep grade.
View of the valley floor
from the road while hiking down into Waipio. You can
see the unspoiled land and farmers' taro fields below.
View of the back side of the
Waipio Valley, the valley floor a vertigo-inducing 2,000'
below!
View from the back side of
the Waipio looking east towards the mouth of the valley
(Pacific Ocean in background)
View of the black sand beach
at the mouth of the Waipio Valley. Except in a short
period in the summer, the waves here are extremely rough
(potentially life-ending!)
Panoramic view of the green
Waipio Valley.
Hiking Gear
Portable GPS
Backpacks
Camelbak
Challenge: Waimanu Valley Hike
Looking for a challenge? The Muliwai Trail takes you on a tough, winding
route up the valley wall on the far side (West
side) of Waipi'o Valley leads up and over into the next remote valley,
Waimanu. Upon reaching the valley floor, take the road to the
right, then follow the beach to Wailoa Stream. The road ends at the
stream. Ford the stream and follow the horse trail on the dunes to the
west side of Waipio Valley and the beginning of the trail.
The trail zigzags up the
western wall of Waipio Valley, climbing approximately 1,200` to the
plateau. It then leads across the plateau area to Waimanu, crossing 12
gulches that are up to 500` deep, then descends another 1,200` into
Waimanu Valley. It is minimally maintained, steep, deeply eroded in
places, rocky, muddy, and slippery when wet. Only experienced hikers in
good physical condition should attempt it. Heavy rains in the uplands
often cause dangerous flash flooding in stream beds and can submerge low
lying campsites. Never attempt to ford rain swollen streams.
Waiilikahi Falls is one of Waimanu Valley’s impressive waterfalls and
is accessible by foot - not by trail, but by more of a bushwhacking
adventure. The best view of this waterfall is not from its base
but from the ford of Waimanu Stream. Watch out for wild pigs on
this hike. To get to Waiilikahi Falls, be patient and look
carefully for tags—colored plastic ribbon tied to trees or shrubs—and
follow them on this route. There is no trail— not even a beaten path.
Hiking to Waimanu is no cake-walk! The hike will take
you 9 hours to hike in and more than 10 hours to hike out. Be
prepared for clouds of mosquitoes. Check the weather before
starting, if it is raining, the more than 12 streams you have to cross
will be swollen deep! Although this trail is lengthy (18 miles), the views are
breath-taking. Camping is allowed in Waimanu - you must call Forestry
& Wildlife (808) 974-4221 for a permit.
Want to be adventurous? For more adventures and info, check out the
Big Island Adventure Guide.
For additional photos of the Muliwai Trail and the Waimanu Valley, check
out this
photo journal.
Attractions:
scenic drive, scenic lookout, tropical valley Activities: hiking, picnicking, swimming, fishing Extras: parking lot
and bathrooms at the scenic lookout
Waipio
Valley Horseback Riding Tour
Take a horseback ride in a lush tropical paradise with jungle trails,
taro patches, magnificent waterfalls and historical and spiritual sites!
This 2 hour guided ride will take you deep into Waipio Valley, a
wonderland of natural Hawaiian beauty. Enjoy responsive, well-trained,
healthy horses. Your individual riding ability will be catered to.
Big
Island Helicopter Tours Witness the picturesque beauty of the
Kohala Mountains! Climb up steep ocean cliffs and sink down into
deep winding valleys such as Waimanu, Pololu and Waipio.
Witness the power of Kilauea Volcano and the glorious waterfalls of the
Big Island, offering you a superior tour with friendly, knowledgeable
and personal service.
