Hakalau & Hamakua Coast Guidebook
Sightseeing
Umauma falls is just up the road - 5 minutes away. There is ziplining over waterfalls, horseback riding, kayaking in waterfall pools ...
55 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Umauma Falls Zipline & Rappel Experience
31-313 Old Mamalahoa HwyUmauma falls is just up the road - 5 minutes away. There is ziplining over waterfalls, horseback riding, kayaking in waterfall pools ...
This is a beautiful walk through the forest on a nicely paved pathway up to the waterfall lookout. Only 10 minutes away.
341 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Akaka Falls State Park
875 Akaka Falls RdThis is a beautiful walk through the forest on a nicely paved pathway up to the waterfall lookout. Only 10 minutes away.
Less than 2 miles down the road. You can drive all the way down and there's a good sized parking lot. There is a waterfall near the river mouth and it's a beautiful place to watch the waves crashing on the rocks.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kolekole Beach Park
Mamalahoa HighwayLess than 2 miles down the road. You can drive all the way down and there's a good sized parking lot. There is a waterfall near the river mouth and it's a beautiful place to watch the waves crashing on the rocks.
About 30 minutes south of us. Beautiful beach park with a picnic area, many crystal clear lagoons for swimming and snorkeling. And there are often plenty of sea-turtles to watch.
140 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Carlsmith Beach Park
1815 Kalanianaole StAbout 30 minutes south of us. Beautiful beach park with a picnic area, many crystal clear lagoons for swimming and snorkeling. And there are often plenty of sea-turtles to watch.
A beautiful park setting right in Hilo Bay. 20 minutes south of us. It's right on the water and has beautiful pathways to walk around or sit by the water and have a picnic.
103 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Liliuokalani Park nezihlahla
189 Lihiwai StA beautiful park setting right in Hilo Bay. 20 minutes south of us. It's right on the water and has beautiful pathways to walk around or sit by the water and have a picnic.
This is a waterfall pretty much right in Historic Hilo town. Easy to get to and see a pretty waterfall! The parking is close by and there is not much walking involved.
337 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rainbow Falls
This is a waterfall pretty much right in Historic Hilo town. Easy to get to and see a pretty waterfall! The parking is close by and there is not much walking involved.
Pretty park environment with a viewing area for the boiling pots and waterfalls upstream. These are the pools upstream that feed the Rainbow falls so it makes sense to see Boiling Pots and Rainbow Falls in the same outing.
54 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Boiling Pots
1766 Wailuku DrPretty park environment with a viewing area for the boiling pots and waterfalls upstream. These are the pools upstream that feed the Rainbow falls so it makes sense to see Boiling Pots and Rainbow Falls in the same outing.
This is the tallest mountain on earth - if you include the portion that's under water. It's snowcapped most of the winter. One a clear day the views are spectacular. I recommend doing a tour like the 'Mauna Kea Sunset and Stars tour'. If you want to drive up to the summit yourself, you need to rent a 4-wheel drive and plan your trip accordingly.
To my knowledge, Harpers truck rentals is the only rental company that has 4-wheel drives that you can take to the summit.
https://harpershawaii.com/maunakea.html
161 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mauna Kea
This is the tallest mountain on earth - if you include the portion that's under water. It's snowcapped most of the winter. One a clear day the views are spectacular. I recommend doing a tour like the 'Mauna Kea Sunset and Stars tour'. If you want to drive up to the summit yourself, you need to rent a 4-wheel drive and plan your trip accordingly.
To my knowledge, Harpers truck rentals is the only rental company that has 4-wheel drives that you can take to the summit.
https://harpershawaii.com/maunakea.html
Yet another beautiful beach park. 13 miles /20 minutes north of us. Not a beach park for swimming, the ocean is pretty rough here. But it has a large grassy area, pine trees, palm trees, plenty of places to park right next to the water and have a picnic, watch the wild surf as it hits the lava rocks.
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Laupāhoehoe Beach Park
Hawaii 19Yet another beautiful beach park. 13 miles /20 minutes north of us. Not a beach park for swimming, the ocean is pretty rough here. But it has a large grassy area, pine trees, palm trees, plenty of places to park right next to the water and have a picnic, watch the wild surf as it hits the lava rocks.
Also about 20 minutes away, Richardson is a great beach for surfing (when the swell is right), snorkeling, paddleboarding, swimming and generally hanging out for fun in the sun. It's along about a 4 mile stretch of several beaches and Carlsmith (listed above) is in this same area.
176 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Richardson Ocean Park
2355 Kalanianaole StAlso about 20 minutes away, Richardson is a great beach for surfing (when the swell is right), snorkeling, paddleboarding, swimming and generally hanging out for fun in the sun. It's along about a 4 mile stretch of several beaches and Carlsmith (listed above) is in this same area.
Coconut Island is right near Lilioukalani Park & Gardens. It's also a fun place to go and hang out for a while, picnic, watch the water and swim.
67 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Coconut Island
Coconut Island is right near Lilioukalani Park & Gardens. It's also a fun place to go and hang out for a while, picnic, watch the water and swim.
15 minutes down the road toward Hilo, this Botanical Garden experience is very beautiful. They have a great website so I recommend checking that for all pertinent information if you plan to go. Definitely worth it.
192 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Isithole saseHawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
27-717 Mamalahoa Hwy15 minutes down the road toward Hilo, this Botanical Garden experience is very beautiful. They have a great website so I recommend checking that for all pertinent information if you plan to go. Definitely worth it.
The entrance to this trail is easy to miss as there is not much in the way of signage and no parking lot (just park on the side of the road) but it's a pretty trail down to the coast and the pathway intertwines in several places with the pathways of the Botanical Gardens listed above.
48 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Onomea Bay Trail
27-547 Mamalahoa HwyThe entrance to this trail is easy to miss as there is not much in the way of signage and no parking lot (just park on the side of the road) but it's a pretty trail down to the coast and the pathway intertwines in several places with the pathways of the Botanical Gardens listed above.
Food scene
This is one of the closest stores for some groceries and the restaurant is open for take out. The eat-in, restaurant & bar (with live music) are temporarily closed due to Covid-19. Papa'aloa is also great little town to check out.
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pāpaʻaloa Country Store and Cafe
35-2032 Papa Aloa AveThis is one of the closest stores for some groceries and the restaurant is open for take out. The eat-in, restaurant & bar (with live music) are temporarily closed due to Covid-19. Papa'aloa is also great little town to check out.
Miyo's
564 Hinano StVery good Japanese food.
My husband LOVES sushi, and Sakura has become his favorite place.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sakura Sushi & Grill
200 Kanoelehua AveMy husband LOVES sushi, and Sakura has become his favorite place.
This is a local place for great pizza, right in Hilo Bay.
139 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe Pesto - Hilo
308 Kamehameha AveThis is a local place for great pizza, right in Hilo Bay.
This is actually called 'The Booch Bar' per their sign. It's in downtown Hilo. It's a small place with not much seating but the food is delicious and very healthy.
34 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Conscious Culture Cafe
110 Keawe StThis is actually called 'The Booch Bar' per their sign. It's in downtown Hilo. It's a small place with not much seating but the food is delicious and very healthy.
Ola Brew Pub is near downtown Hilo, and opened this summer. It has trendy decor, local brews and the food is yummy.
21 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ola Brew - Hilo
1177 Kilauea AvenueOla Brew Pub is near downtown Hilo, and opened this summer. It has trendy decor, local brews and the food is yummy.
Another local favorite in downtown Hilo, Pineapples is all open air seating, full bar and of course the food is delicious. It's usually a good idea to make a reservation.
128 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pineapples Restaurant
332 Keawe StAnother local favorite in downtown Hilo, Pineapples is all open air seating, full bar and of course the food is delicious. It's usually a good idea to make a reservation.
5 minutes down the road, Surf Break Cafe is a small place in Old Honomu village, great for a good coffee and quick healthy breakfast. A few tables indoors but mostly outdoor seating. It's the closest restaurant we have from the house.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Surf Break Cafe
28-1690 Old Mamalahoa Highway5 minutes down the road, Surf Break Cafe is a small place in Old Honomu village, great for a good coffee and quick healthy breakfast. A few tables indoors but mostly outdoor seating. It's the closest restaurant we have from the house.
In Hilo near the water, the Coconut Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I've eaten there for breakfast many times and the large servings taste great and definitely fill you up!
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Coconut Grill
136 Banyan WayIn Hilo near the water, the Coconut Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I've eaten there for breakfast many times and the large servings taste great and definitely fill you up!
According to some of my neighbors, this is the best restaurant in town. It certainly has some of the best views, right on the edge of Hilo Bay. It's all in the same area as Coconut Island, Lilioukalani gardens. Check the website and make a reservation. Be sure to sit outside to get the most of the view!
137 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hilo Bay Cafe
123 Lihiwai StAccording to some of my neighbors, this is the best restaurant in town. It certainly has some of the best views, right on the edge of Hilo Bay. It's all in the same area as Coconut Island, Lilioukalani gardens. Check the website and make a reservation. Be sure to sit outside to get the most of the view!
Jackie Ray's is right in downtown Hilo. A pretty trendy restaurant with a full bar and a nice menu. The Baby Back Ribs are the best in my opinion. Definitely call for a reservation if you plan a dinner here.
55 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill Hilo
64 Keawe StJackie Ray's is right in downtown Hilo. A pretty trendy restaurant with a full bar and a nice menu. The Baby Back Ribs are the best in my opinion. Definitely call for a reservation if you plan a dinner here.
Hula Hula's is the restaurant inside the Grand Naniloa Hotel on the south side of Hilo Bay. It has a full bar and a good menu. The hotel grounds and the seaside view from the restaurant are worth exploring and having a meal here.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hula Hula's
93 Banyan DrHula Hula's is the restaurant inside the Grand Naniloa Hotel on the south side of Hilo Bay. It has a full bar and a good menu. The hotel grounds and the seaside view from the restaurant are worth exploring and having a meal here.
Yummy Burgers and local fare, full bar, cool vibe, indoor or outdoor seating, live music.
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hilo Burger Joint
776 Kilauea AveYummy Burgers and local fare, full bar, cool vibe, indoor or outdoor seating, live music.
In the same area as the Surf Break Cafe, you can get fresh baked goods as well as a very large variety of homemade jams & jelly's.
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mr. Ed's Bakery
28-1672 Old Mamalahoa HwyIn the same area as the Surf Break Cafe, you can get fresh baked goods as well as a very large variety of homemade jams & jelly's.
City/town information
Honokaa is a town up the Hamakua coast about 35 minutes from us. They have a farmers market in a beautiful setting 'Hamakua Harvest Farmers Market' on Sundays, and a cute downtown area with shops and restaurants.
39 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Honokaa
Honokaa is a town up the Hamakua coast about 35 minutes from us. They have a farmers market in a beautiful setting 'Hamakua Harvest Farmers Market' on Sundays, and a cute downtown area with shops and restaurants.