From a dark and hot volcano to a peaceful and serene waterfall seems like a nice transition to me. Even though that is not exactly the way our trip happened, but at this next location in my blog posts we got to see two water falls at the Akaka Falls State Park on the Big Island.
The Falls are located along the northeastern Hamakua Coast, you can see two gorgeous waterfalls on one short hike. You'll have a very pleasant 0.4-mile uphill hike that will take you through a lush rain-forest filled with wild orchids, bamboo groves and lovely draping ferns.
As you follow the paved footpath, you'll first see 100-foot Kahuna Falls which is also impressive even if not as large as the Akaka Falls is. Then you can continue to follow the loop around the bend, and you'll discover towering Akaka Falls which plummets 442-feet into a stream-eroded gorge. Beautiful Akaka Falls is perhaps the Big Island's most famous waterfall. It is also easily accessible (if you don't miss either of the two signs to it). This hike takes less than an hour and it is just breathtaking. Maybe even more so as I get older, but truly the sights are just awesome and around every corner is something else to make you stop and ponder for a while at the beauty that God has created here.
The falls are on the northeastern side of Hawaii’s Big Island, just north of Hilo, in an area called the Hamakua Coast. This area has 84 inches of rainfall a year, this area is mostly known for the Hamakua Heritage Corridor drive, a road trip along the coastline that passes by lush tropical rain-forests, waterfalls and lovely seaside views. In my humble opinion, this was one of the more gorgeous sights on the island of Hawaii. And it gets the LZ approval for whatever that is worth to you.
"As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can." — John Muir
