The Hamakua Coast

 Took a drive up the Hamakua Coast today. The scenery along this stretch of coastline is breathtaking.


There is a side road (Scenic Drive) that takes you down along Onomea Bay. There used to be a road that took you all the way to the bottom, but it has been damaged by storms and the walk down was a little too steep for us to try.



Vines of these white flowers climbed all over the trees here


Next Stop Akaka and Kahuna Falls


Stream coming down from the falls


Walking to the Falls the flowers are abundant



Akaka Falls


Akaka Falls


This guy tried to sell us Car Insurance


These vines climb the trees and the leaves get gigger the higher they climb


This magnificent Banyan Tree is about 20 Yards wide, it drops vines from its branches that, 
when they reach the ground root and become another trunk


Cecile near one of the small trunks


After leaving the falls we drove on up the coast to Kaupahoehoe. A tidal wave on April first 1946 almost destroyed the town killing 24 residents.


The bay here is beautiful






Taking a rest



Monument to those who died in the Tidal wave


Final stop of the day before heading back was the Waipio Valley Overlook.  We wanted to drive down the road which requires a 4 wheel drive vehicle (we had one) but they have restricted the road to native Hawaiian local traffic only.



They are trying to restore the valley with the taro plants that were grown their by their ancestors


From there we drove on into Waimea and down the saddle road between Mauna Kea 
and Mauna Loa to Hilo.

Hawaii Trip 2023 Hilo Day 5

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