Here’s a good article on Waipio Beach by Megan McDonald for Only In Your State. Our Big Island Circle Tour offers many stops around the Hamakua Coast and is a great way to take in the scenery of the Big Island in comfort and style.
There’s a Hawaiʻi beach with a waterfall in the Waipio Valley that you have to visit if you’re on the Big Island. This breathtaking area is an important historic and cultural site and filled with breathtaking scenery everywhere you look. If you’re in the area, Waipio Valley and this stunning coastal waterfall should be at the very top of your list of places to visit.
There are few places on this planet that can strike the sort of awe that the Waipio Valley offers.
Mountain sides drop steeply into the green and lush valley and opens up to the ocean. This incredible area has drawn people to the special sort of beauty that Hawaiʻi is known for.
Waipio Valley is known as the “Valley of the Kings,” because it was the childhood home of King Kamehameha I.
The area has historical and cultural importance to Hawaiʻi, so make sure to be respectful while visiting. It will be hard to be anything but reverential when you spot the 2,000-foot cliffs rising above you!
This coastal waterfall is one you won’t soon forget.
Heading straight off a cliff to the beach and ocean below, this waterfall is a great turnaround spot for your hike from the parking lot above. Make sure you bring a camera because this beach waterfall will take your breath away.
If you look closely, there’s actually a second waterfall within viewing distance.
These waterfalls are Kaluahine Falls and Waiulili Falls, both amazing falls to see. You’re also within view of the famous 1,400-foot Hiilawe Falls, which is the highest waterfall in the entire state of Hawaiʻi. Hiilawe Falls is to the left of the paved road. Bring some sturdy shoes if you plan on exploring, and try not to go too far out, because the area is a mixture of rugged jungle and private property.
There are two ways to get to this waterfall.
The first is by car, but you need a 4×4, and the road is so steep and difficult that rental car companies won’t allow you to take the rentals down to the beach. You’ll be descending 800 feet in just .6 miles, which is a combination that’s bound for trouble if you’re not familiar with your vehicle or the road.
The best way to get there is to hike down from the viewpoint above the beach.
There’s a great parking lot there, and the hike itself is only 1.5 miles down to the beach. But bring plenty of water and take your time coming back because the hike up can be difficult.
The next time you have a spare morning or afternoon, make sure to check out this stunning waterfall.
It’s the perfect place to have a picnic, enjoy the sights, and soak up all the beauty that Hawaiʻi has to offer. This is one spot that should make it to the top of your to-do list!
