Aloha Vacation Cottages

Big Island Visitors' Information - Big Island Hiking

Hiking on the Big Island is one of the favorite island activities our guests at Aloha Vacation Cottages love to do when not relaxing, sunbathing, boogie boarding or snorkeling on the Kohala Coast beaches. Pololu Valley (North Kohala) and Waipio Valley (Hamakua Coast) are in short driving distances and offer moderate and challenging hikes.

There will be hiking books in your vacation cottages. However, we intend to develop this page in order to give our guests or other Big Island visitors to the Kohala Coast already a taste of a few easy hiking adventures. Those hikes or walks can also be managed with children and one doesn't need a permit. If you want to go for the more 'challenging' hikes, you'd better join for your own safety one of the guided tours from Hawaiian Walkways Find more info below.

Waipio Valley Rim Hike (also known as White Rd Hike) - about 2 hr round trip
Follow Hwy 19 through Waimea town in the direction of Honokaa. About 3 miles out of town, look for White Rd and turn left. Proceed to end of White Rd where you see cars parked on right hand side. Walk through cattle gate and follow trail past water reservoir, through 'singing' bamboo forest, blooming impatients, rainforest ferns...till the view suddenly opens up to a panoramic vista of the back end of Waipio Valley, waterfalls (if it had rained recently) and pacific ocean views. Leave your flipflops at home and put on some sturdy shoes instead. The passionate hiker can keep following the rim trail (gets quite narrow and slippery - caution advised!) and experience many more hours of continuous hiking. Take a good supply of sunscreen, water and snacks on your way. Choose a clear day and start your hike early. Have fun hiking the Big Island.

White Rd parking	Water reservoir along trail	Cattle or horses on meadows
Mauna Kea with snow in winter	Lehua blossoms everywhere	'Singing' bamboo forest
See waterfalls running after rain	Glimpse of the Pacific Ocean	On trail back to car

Kohala Coast Beach walk - one way about 45 minutes
from Holoholokai Beach Park, next to Mauna Lani Orchid Fairmont, to the Beach Club at Mauna Lani Resort. Park your car at the Park. before going on your beach walk, check out the Hawaiian petroglyphs located near the parking area. Bring your hat, plenty of sunscreen, water and your camera. If you want to swim or snorkel at the end of your walk, bring appropriate equipment...the water is full of tropical fish. Restrooms and outdoor showers are available.

On your beach walk, you will see sunbathing sea turtles at Orchid at Mauna Lani. If you are interested in learning more about tropical fish and how the ancient Hawaiians lived in this area, plan your beach walk on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday and join the 10:30 a.m. fish tour at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel.

Holoholokai beach park	Whale watch boats	Coastline looking south
white coral beach	Mauna Lani golf course	Palm tree tiki (Hawaiian carving)
Fish ponds at Canoe House	Mauna Lani Bay Hotel 'fish tour'	Palm trees dancing on the beach
Eva Parker cottage at Mauna Lani	Meditating at the Hawaiian fish ponds	Destination - Mauna Lani Beach Club

Spectacular Big Island Hiking Tours - Find more details and photos on Big Island hiking.

Written by Dr.Hugh Montgomery, Owner Hawaiian Walkways
808.775.0372

Waterfall Pools Above Waipi`o Valley
"Two minutes of agony, then ecstasy." That's the description Dr. Hugh Montgomery uses, both to warn and to encourage hikers on Hawaiian Walkways' historic trail who are contemplating a dip in the pool below the falls in Lakakea stream. The water always feels cold, he observes, especially when the day is sunny and bodies have been warmed by the exercise of walking through forests and meadows. Though hikers vary in their approach to immersion, some plunging in (his personal preference) and others easing gradually into the water, they all ultimately shout, laugh, and urge their companions to “Come on in! “
Along the Waipi`o Waterfall Adventure trail there are several waterfalls with pools below them. A newly developed side-trail leads to the water below the highest of the falls. The pool and the small island below it have become one of the favorite "memory-maker" spots on the hiking adventure along the lands high above Waipi`o Valley. Some prefer simply to enjoy their picnic lunch on the boulders among the ginger plants surrounded by the water as it ripples past, while others find irresistible the draw of the shimmering pool. And there's no telling in advance who will prefer which: In one family recently visiting Hawai`i, the parents had used the prospect of a swim to persuade their teen-age sons to accompany them on the hike. As it turned out, the boys sat quietly at water’s edge while their mom and dad played – yes, like kids – at the base of the rushing falls.