The entrance to this lava tube is easy to find along Kaumana Drive. The large parking area, comfort station and picnic tables are the first glimpse of what is the entrance to a two mile lava tube. Those brave enough to explore the dark and damp cave will be rewarded with a skylight and numerous […]
This wonderful upland state park is a gathering spot for campers, hikers and more. A drive to the end of Kalaniai Road will fill the visitor with spectacular views of ancient Hawaiian old growth forest, sounds of birds along with hiking trails and comfort stations.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is gigantic. It’s over 200,000 acres, and half of that lies in the park’s Kahuku unit accessible from the South Point/Ocean View area, currently only open from 9:00am-3:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays due to park budgetary restrictions. If you’re passing through on a weekend, or are staying in the Ka’u area […]
Just up the mountain from Hilo town sits one of the lesser-visited geological formations of the area. Kaumana cave is a 25 mile long lava tube that is accessed via a skylight created when part of the cave ceiling collapsed more than a hundred years ago, leaving two gaping cave doorways exposed to the outside […]
Fifteen miles northwest of Hilo, tucked away in the heart of Hamakua is the most accessible large waterfall found on the island: Akaka Falls. Far from being the largest in the state, (that title goes to the 2,953ft Olo’upena Falls on Molokai) Akaka falls is still a massively grandiose sight with a plunge of 442 […]
“Kipuka” is a Hawaiian word that has become a commonly used volcanic term. It refers to an area of vegetation surrounded but spared by lava. An island of forest in a sea of lifeless rock. Often these areas contain life not found in the surrounding area, and trees found here may be hundreds of years […]
Far away from everything except Ocean View, Manuka State Wayside is an area that’s rather secluded. It offers a nice hike through lava forest and a great view of a large forest pit crater. Manuka (pronounced “manu-KAH”) is located just west of mile 81 on highway 11. There is no advance signage so keep an […]
The southernmost point of the United States of America is Big Island’s South Point. It’s believed that it was here approximately 1200 years ago that Polynesian voyagers first landed in Hawaii upon discovering the untouched islands. You may be surprised at how many guidebooks skip over this place, but south point has a lot to […]
