Details
Features
About this place
Waipi'o Valley is about one mile across, over five-miles deep, and surrounded by cliffs up to 2000-feet high. The Valley was once home to thousands of Native Hawaiians. The Big Island's tallest waterfall, Hiilawe Falls cascades down approximately 1,300 feet down at the back of Waipio Valley. You can view the valley from the coastal Waipi'o Valley Overlook at the end of the Hamakua Heritage Corridor drive, or you can hike down into the valley to experience the true beauty of this stunning location.
From the parking area, walk down the narrow, crazy steep four-wheel drive road for 0.75 mile until the road levels. A few 4WD vehicles, either foolhardy (tourist) or knowledgable (local) may be inching up and down. Head to the right toward the beach for 0.45 mile and arrive on the black sand beach. This is the beginning of the Muliwai Trail. To visit Kaluahine Falls, which are located below the parking area and not visible from above, walk east along the coastal boulders for 0.42 mile. This section of the shore can be very dangerous if the tide is high, so use common sense! The intensity of the falls varies greatly with the weather. Return to the black sand beach.
The best view of Hi’ilawe Falls (if they are running) and of the entire valley is from the Muliwai trail, about halfway up the sea cliffs on the other side of Waipi’o Valley. You can see the Muliwai trail zigzagging up the opposite side of the valley from the lookout and the beach!
You can also walk along the road back into Waipi’o Valley to explore. The area is absolutely beautiful and with some difficulty you can hike all the way back to Hi'ilawe Falls. However, property rights are complicated and often disputed in Waipi'o Valley, so if you try and make the trek along one of the small footpaths through the forest along the river to the falls, make sure to respect the locals and their private property.
Leave No Trace
