Akaka Falls, Dec 15 2013

The Akaka Falla State Park is about 11 miles north from Hilo!  off the Hawai Belt Road (route 19) at the end of Hawaii Route 220. It includes 'Akaka Falls'ʻ a 422 feet (129 m) tall waterfall.  The accessible portion of the park lies high on the right shoulder of the deep gorge into which the waterfall plunges, and the falls can be viewed from several points along a loop trail through the park. 

A view of the tiny Akaka Falls visible from this point

Majestic falls, with gorgeous view full of flora and fauna!

With a drop of 442 feet, the falls is more than two and a half times higher than Niagara Falls. Views of the falls are from a couple of different locations, both accessible via paved footpaths through lush green forests filled with bamboo trees. 

What a nice treasure on the way to Hilo.  Akaka Falls State Park is in Honomu, not too far outside Hilo.  There are actually two falls.  The 100 ft Kahuna Falls, and the larger 442 ft Akaka Falls for which the park is named.  The hike is 0.4 miles, but it does include some steps.  Shoes are recommended, but not required.  

The trails are concrete, but quite narrow.  People have to pass in a single file in both directions.  However, there is more to see than the falls because there is a lot of flora, and grasshoppers if you look closely enough.  

The entire hike will take one hour or less, depending upon how many stops you want to make along the way.  There are two directions, so you can see either fall first and the other second.   Akaka Falls is a nice break from driving from the Kohala Coast (on the Kona side - western, and sunny side of the Big island), to Hilo on the eastern side.  The entire drive takes almost 2 hours, and Akaka Falls is 1/2 hour outside of Hilo which will break up the trip nicely.

This local resident is making baskets and sells them to the tourists

Gorgeous view at the top of the hill where the Park starts.

Akaka Falls is typically listed as a "not to be missed" stop by all the guidebooks. The Lonely Planet guide calls it " the Big Island's most impressive drive-up waterfall". And for good reason—with such easy access and impressive views, checking out these falls is a no-brainer. In addition to the obvious appeal of the falls itself, it's also a nice place to get a taste of what the Big Island of Hawaii's rainforests are like without a bushwhacking trek that requires a machete. And, if you're spending most of your time on the drier Kona side, it is certainly a nice change of scenery. For another accessible waterfall nearby with its own charms, also check out Rainbow Falls.

On the way to see live Volcano on the other end of the Big Island, it was a wonderful surprise to Harvinder as I had not disclosed the location before the start of the day. 

And it also reminded us of a hot and sultry conditions of a tropical place back home in India.