Hakalau & Hamakua Coast Guidebook

Karla
Hakalau & Hamakua Coast Guidebook

Sightseeing

Umauma falls is just up the road - 5 minutes away. There is ziplining over waterfalls, horseback riding, kayaking in waterfall pools ...
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Umauma Falls Zipline & Rappel Experience
31-313 Old Mamalahoa Hwy
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Umauma falls is just up the road - 5 minutes away. There is ziplining over waterfalls, horseback riding, kayaking in waterfall pools ...
This is a beautiful walk through the forest on a nicely paved pathway up to the waterfall lookout. Only 10 minutes away.
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Parque Estatal de las Cataratas de Akaka
875 Akaka Falls Rd
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This is a beautiful walk through the forest on a nicely paved pathway up to the waterfall lookout. Only 10 minutes away.
Less than 2 miles down the road. You can drive all the way down and there's a good sized parking lot. There is a waterfall near the river mouth and it's a beautiful place to watch the waves crashing on the rocks.
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Kolekole Beach Park
Mamalahoa Highway
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Less than 2 miles down the road. You can drive all the way down and there's a good sized parking lot. There is a waterfall near the river mouth and it's a beautiful place to watch the waves crashing on the rocks.
About 30 minutes south of us. Beautiful beach park with a picnic area, many crystal clear lagoons for swimming and snorkeling. And there are often plenty of sea-turtles to watch.
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Carlsmith Beach Park
1815 Kalanianaole St
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About 30 minutes south of us. Beautiful beach park with a picnic area, many crystal clear lagoons for swimming and snorkeling. And there are often plenty of sea-turtles to watch.
A beautiful park setting right in Hilo Bay. 20 minutes south of us. It's right on the water and has beautiful pathways to walk around or sit by the water and have a picnic.
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Parque y Jardines Liliuokalani
189 Lihiwai St
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A beautiful park setting right in Hilo Bay. 20 minutes south of us. It's right on the water and has beautiful pathways to walk around or sit by the water and have a picnic.
This is a waterfall pretty much right in Historic Hilo town. Easy to get to and see a pretty waterfall! The parking is close by and there is not much walking involved.
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Rainbow Falls
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This is a waterfall pretty much right in Historic Hilo town. Easy to get to and see a pretty waterfall! The parking is close by and there is not much walking involved.
Pretty park environment with a viewing area for the boiling pots and waterfalls upstream. These are the pools upstream that feed the Rainbow falls so it makes sense to see Boiling Pots and Rainbow Falls in the same outing.
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Boiling Pots
1766 Wailuku Dr
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Pretty park environment with a viewing area for the boiling pots and waterfalls upstream. These are the pools upstream that feed the Rainbow falls so it makes sense to see Boiling Pots and Rainbow Falls in the same outing.
This is the tallest mountain on earth - if you include the portion that's under water. It's snowcapped most of the winter. One a clear day the views are spectacular. I recommend doing a tour like the 'Mauna Kea Sunset and Stars tour'. If you want to drive up to the summit yourself, you need to rent a 4-wheel drive and plan your trip accordingly. To my knowledge, Harpers truck rentals is the only rental company that has 4-wheel drives that you can take to the summit. https://harpershawaii.com/maunakea.html
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Mauna Kea
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This is the tallest mountain on earth - if you include the portion that's under water. It's snowcapped most of the winter. One a clear day the views are spectacular. I recommend doing a tour like the 'Mauna Kea Sunset and Stars tour'. If you want to drive up to the summit yourself, you need to rent a 4-wheel drive and plan your trip accordingly. To my knowledge, Harpers truck rentals is the only rental company that has 4-wheel drives that you can take to the summit. https://harpershawaii.com/maunakea.html
Yet another beautiful beach park. 13 miles /20 minutes north of us. Not a beach park for swimming, the ocean is pretty rough here. But it has a large grassy area, pine trees, palm trees, plenty of places to park right next to the water and have a picnic, watch the wild surf as it hits the lava rocks.
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Laupāhoehoe Beach Park
Hawaii 19
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Yet another beautiful beach park. 13 miles /20 minutes north of us. Not a beach park for swimming, the ocean is pretty rough here. But it has a large grassy area, pine trees, palm trees, plenty of places to park right next to the water and have a picnic, watch the wild surf as it hits the lava rocks.
Also about 20 minutes away, Richardson is a great beach for surfing (when the swell is right), snorkeling, paddleboarding, swimming and generally hanging out for fun in the sun. It's along about a 4 mile stretch of several beaches and Carlsmith (listed above) is in this same area.
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Parque Oceánico Richardson
2355 Kalanianaole St
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Also about 20 minutes away, Richardson is a great beach for surfing (when the swell is right), snorkeling, paddleboarding, swimming and generally hanging out for fun in the sun. It's along about a 4 mile stretch of several beaches and Carlsmith (listed above) is in this same area.
Coconut Island is right near Lilioukalani Park & Gardens. It's also a fun place to go and hang out for a while, picnic, watch the water and swim.
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Coconut Island
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Coconut Island is right near Lilioukalani Park & Gardens. It's also a fun place to go and hang out for a while, picnic, watch the water and swim.
15 minutes down the road toward Hilo, this Botanical Garden experience is very beautiful. They have a great website so I recommend checking that for all pertinent information if you plan to go. Definitely worth it.
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Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
27-717 Mamalahoa Hwy
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15 minutes down the road toward Hilo, this Botanical Garden experience is very beautiful. They have a great website so I recommend checking that for all pertinent information if you plan to go. Definitely worth it.
The entrance to this trail is easy to miss as there is not much in the way of signage and no parking lot (just park on the side of the road) but it's a pretty trail down to the coast and the pathway intertwines in several places with the pathways of the Botanical Gardens listed above.
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Onomea Bay Trail
27-547 Mamalahoa Hwy
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The entrance to this trail is easy to miss as there is not much in the way of signage and no parking lot (just park on the side of the road) but it's a pretty trail down to the coast and the pathway intertwines in several places with the pathways of the Botanical Gardens listed above.

Food scene

This is one of the closest stores for some groceries and the restaurant is open for take out. The eat-in, restaurant & bar (with live music) are temporarily closed due to Covid-19. Papa'aloa is also great little town to check out.
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Pāpaʻaloa Country Store and Cafe
35-2032 Papa Aloa Ave
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This is one of the closest stores for some groceries and the restaurant is open for take out. The eat-in, restaurant & bar (with live music) are temporarily closed due to Covid-19. Papa'aloa is also great little town to check out.
Very good Japanese food.
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Miyo's
564 Hinano St
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Very good Japanese food.
My husband LOVES sushi, and Sakura has become his favorite place.
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Sakura Sushi & Grill
200 Kanoelehua Ave
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My husband LOVES sushi, and Sakura has become his favorite place.
This is a local place for great pizza, right in Hilo Bay.
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Cafe Pesto - Hilo
308 Kamehameha Ave
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This is a local place for great pizza, right in Hilo Bay.
This is actually called 'The Booch Bar' per their sign. It's in downtown Hilo. It's a small place with not much seating but the food is delicious and very healthy.
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Conscious Culture Cafe
110 Keawe St
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This is actually called 'The Booch Bar' per their sign. It's in downtown Hilo. It's a small place with not much seating but the food is delicious and very healthy.
Ola Brew Pub is near downtown Hilo, and opened this summer. It has trendy decor, local brews and the food is yummy.
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Ola Brew - Hilo
1177 Kilauea Avenue
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Ola Brew Pub is near downtown Hilo, and opened this summer. It has trendy decor, local brews and the food is yummy.
Another local favorite in downtown Hilo, Pineapples is all open air seating, full bar and of course the food is delicious. It's usually a good idea to make a reservation.
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Pineapples Restaurant
332 Keawe St
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Another local favorite in downtown Hilo, Pineapples is all open air seating, full bar and of course the food is delicious. It's usually a good idea to make a reservation.
5 minutes down the road, Surf Break Cafe is a small place in Old Honomu village, great for a good coffee and quick healthy breakfast. A few tables indoors but mostly outdoor seating. It's the closest restaurant we have from the house.
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Surf Break Cafe
28-1690 Old Mamalahoa Highway
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5 minutes down the road, Surf Break Cafe is a small place in Old Honomu village, great for a good coffee and quick healthy breakfast. A few tables indoors but mostly outdoor seating. It's the closest restaurant we have from the house.
In Hilo near the water, the Coconut Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I've eaten there for breakfast many times and the large servings taste great and definitely fill you up!
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Coconut Grill
136 Banyan Way
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In Hilo near the water, the Coconut Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I've eaten there for breakfast many times and the large servings taste great and definitely fill you up!
According to some of my neighbors, this is the best restaurant in town. It certainly has some of the best views, right on the edge of Hilo Bay. It's all in the same area as Coconut Island, Lilioukalani gardens. Check the website and make a reservation. Be sure to sit outside to get the most of the view!
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Hilo Bay Cafe
123 Lihiwai St
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According to some of my neighbors, this is the best restaurant in town. It certainly has some of the best views, right on the edge of Hilo Bay. It's all in the same area as Coconut Island, Lilioukalani gardens. Check the website and make a reservation. Be sure to sit outside to get the most of the view!
Jackie Ray's is right in downtown Hilo. A pretty trendy restaurant with a full bar and a nice menu. The Baby Back Ribs are the best in my opinion. Definitely call for a reservation if you plan a dinner here.
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Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill Hilo
64 Keawe St
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Jackie Ray's is right in downtown Hilo. A pretty trendy restaurant with a full bar and a nice menu. The Baby Back Ribs are the best in my opinion. Definitely call for a reservation if you plan a dinner here.
Hula Hula's is the restaurant inside the Grand Naniloa Hotel on the south side of Hilo Bay. It has a full bar and a good menu. The hotel grounds and the seaside view from the restaurant are worth exploring and having a meal here.
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Hula Hula's
93 Banyan Dr
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Hula Hula's is the restaurant inside the Grand Naniloa Hotel on the south side of Hilo Bay. It has a full bar and a good menu. The hotel grounds and the seaside view from the restaurant are worth exploring and having a meal here.
Yummy Burgers and local fare, full bar, cool vibe, indoor or outdoor seating, live music.
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Hilo Burger Joint
776 Kilauea Ave
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Yummy Burgers and local fare, full bar, cool vibe, indoor or outdoor seating, live music.
In the same area as the Surf Break Cafe, you can get fresh baked goods as well as a very large variety of homemade jams & jelly's.
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Mr. Ed's Bakery
28-1672 Old Mamalahoa Hwy
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In the same area as the Surf Break Cafe, you can get fresh baked goods as well as a very large variety of homemade jams & jelly's.

City/town information

Honokaa is a town up the Hamakua coast about 35 minutes from us. They have a farmers market in a beautiful setting 'Hamakua Harvest Farmers Market' on Sundays, and a cute downtown area with shops and restaurants.
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Honokaa
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Honokaa is a town up the Hamakua coast about 35 minutes from us. They have a farmers market in a beautiful setting 'Hamakua Harvest Farmers Market' on Sundays, and a cute downtown area with shops and restaurants.