The Big Island of Hawaii – Waterfalls & Gardens

Day 3 of our trip, we decided to visit Akaka Falls which is north of Hilo, approx. a 25-30 min drive. We started driving and the light rain quickly turned into a deluge. We almost had to pull over to the side of the road due to visibility concerns. We finally made it to the Falls. There is a $5 fee to park. The path to view the falls is approx. .4 miles. It is a relatively easy walk down to view the falls, however, there is a short uphill climb back to the parking lot.

There was only two other couples the morning we visited the falls, so we felt as if we had the place all to ourselves. The walk through the tropical lush forest is relaxing and beautiful to view. Due to all the rain, the 442 foot Akaka Falls plummeted down the cliffs in all its glory. After taking numerous photos, we decided to visit Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.

My husband questioned my sanity when he heard the entry fee to the garden is $20 per person. Any qualms about the fee was quickly assuaged as we entered the garden. Yes, it was still raining. The wooden pathway down into the garden can be quite slick, especially if it’s raining. There are numerous signs recommending that visitors employ the use of the hand rail. I was thankful for my Olukai sandals that gripped the surface on the way down.

 

Even my normally blasé husband was impressed with the array of tropical plants. To see blooming orchids springing from tree trunks, instead of bursting from planters, is a rare treat.

Just when we thought we discovered all the surprises the garden had to offer, we found a colorful friend and a view of the ocean. This “Garden of the Valley on the Ocean” certainly lives up to its name. Akaka Falls and Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden were definitely two of the highlights on the big island of Hawaii. I definitely recommend visiting both of these locations.

The last waterfall we visited was Rainbow Falls, about 10 min outside of Hilo. This waterfall is not as impressive as Akaka Falls, still if you love waterfalls, which I do, you might want to visit this one. There is no parking fee. The parking lot is a few steps from the parking lot. You can gain a different perspective of the falls by making a short climb up a nearby trail. You might want to visit this waterfall before viewing Akaka Falls.

The Big Island – Day 1-2

The week of Apr. 10-18, my husband and I visited the big island of Hawaii. We’ve visited Oahu, Maui and Kaui, but this was our first time on the big island. Since we allocated 8 days for the trip, we divided the time equally between the east side of the island, Hilo and the west side of the island, the Hapuna beach area.

The east side of the island is definitely the rainy side. It rained almost continuously the first four days we were in Hilo. Not a problem for island travelers who came equipped with umbrellas and light rain jackets.

Thursday the 11th, our first day of exploration we visited Volcano National Park. It’s approximately a 40 min drive from Hilo. We opted to rent a 4 wheel drive SUV and explore on our own. We arrived at the entrance to the park at 7:00 am (we were still on central time) and my first expectation was squashed, there has been no active lava flow since August 2018.

With map in hand (I’m old fashioned) we headed toward the steam vents. I was amazed at the amount of heat the steam emits. It was especially appreciated since the temperatures were hovering around the upper 50’s with intermittent rain and strong winds.

 

Next we followed the road down to the sea arch which is located at the end of the chain of craters road. It took us approx. 3 hours with frequent stops and short trails to explore along the way. Previous eruptions inundate the landscape interspersed with new vegetation peeking through.

The sea arch is a 90 foot high natural arch formed from the waves of the Pacific Ocean pounding on the lava cliffs. The arch is made of basalt.

When we arrived back at the Visitor Center, at approx. 11:00 am, the hoards of tourists had arrived. The Visitor Center has maps, videos to view, and rangers to answer your questions. The Visitor Center is interesting, but when it is packed full of people, it is a challenge to see anything.  I would recommend visiting first thing in the morning.

After our volcano filled morning, we headed back to Hilo. Along the way, we stopped at Akatsuka Orchid Gardens. Guests are welcome to wander freely in the showroom and purchase orchids that can be mailed to the states. We purchased 7 of the beautiful plants and they already arrived. The people that work there are more than willing to answer any questions you may have about these beautiful plants. There are tours available for a price, if you’re interested you can visit their website at akatsukaorchid.com