January 15, 2015
SADDLE ROAD (Route 200) cuts across the high valley, or saddle, between the island’s two massive volcanic mountains, MAUNA KEA AND MAUNA LOA . It is the shortest route from Kailua-Kona to Hilo, accessible from Route 190 near Waimea. Once…
January 15, 2015
WAILUKU RIVER is an 18-mile path of bubbling, cascading water that is particularly fearsome during heavy rains. Wailuku means “WATERS OF DESTRUCTION,” an apt moniker for this dangerous river where CONCEALED LAVA TUBES are known to create hazardous swimming conditions.…
January 15, 2015
There’s a pot of gold at the end of one of Hilo’s major thoroughfares. It’s called RAINBOW FALLS, named for the rainbows that appear when the morning sun shines through the mist. Take WAIĀNUENUE DRIVE through Hilo and bear right…
January 15, 2015
Situated on bluffs high above the ocean on the island’s east coast, HONOKA‘A once was the hub of the Hamakua Coast sugar industry. Today, it is a little gem better known as the GATEWAY TO WAIPI‘O VALLEY, a popular VISITOR…
January 15, 2015
Known as the ONLY TROPICAL RAINFOREST ZOO IN THE UNITED STATES , Hilo’s PANA‘EWA RAINFOREST ZOO & GARDENS is a 12-acre habitat and botanical garden, where numerous animals, reptiles, monarch butterflies and birds, some of which are native only to…
January 15, 2015
The sparsely populated KA‘Ū DISTRICT , at the southern tip of the island, is known for its rich environmental diversity A large chunk of HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK is located in this district, as are wind farms, highland forests, the…
January 15, 2015
Just because you’re on the seat of a Harley doesn’t mean you’re ready to go everywhere. Even the most-seasoned BIKERS need to plan their Hawai‘i Island trips carefully. Think of the island as circular in shape with a few zig-zagging…
January 15, 2015
Travelers are finding that one of the best ways to discover the “real” Hawai‘i Island is to sign up for a VOLUNTEER PROJECT and get their hands dirty working with local residents on CONSERVATION ASSIGNMENTS. Register for afternoon or multi-day…