'Akaka Falls State Park - Honomu, Hawaii

Our February 2014 trip to Hawaii continued with a stop at 'Akaka Falls State Park.  This little jewel is slightly off the beaten path near the town of Honomu on the Big Island.  From Hilo, drive about 11 miles north on Hawaii route 19, Hawaii Belt Road.  Turn left on route 220, Honomu Road, and follow the signs through another left turn, Old Mamalahoa Highway, and a right turn, Akaka Falls Road, before reaching the park in about 4 miles.  From the turnoff on Route 19, the road averages a 5% grade as it climbs over 1000 feet to the park.  Restrooms and drinking water are available at the park.

Once at the park, a concrete loop trail complete with handrails and steps provides views of the two large waterfalls in the park.  Signage indicates that visitors interested in seeing both falls should proceed in a counterclockwise direction, so we did.  The path led down a series of steps through the rain forest before crossing a small creek and climbing up to an obstructed overlook of Kahūnā Falls on the far side of the gorge.  Kahūnā Falls is a cascading 417 feet on a tributary to Kolekole Stream downstream of 'Akaka Falls.

First glimpse of the top of 'Akaka Falls

Rainforest along the path

More rainforest covers an unnamed stream

Bamboo growing along the trail

The trail crosses this small stream on a sturdy bridge

Looking back up the trail from the bridge

An obstructed view of Kahūnā Falls

Another view of Kahūnā Falls

A closer view of a portion of Kahūnā Falls

After leaving the overlook, we turned right and followed the pathway up stairs, past a banyan tree and through more rainforest before arriving at the edge of the gorge and a direct view of 'Akaka Falls.  This is a free-falling 422 foot tall plunge on Kolekole Stream.

The upper portion of 'Akaka Falls

'Akaka Falls

A slightly different view of 'Akaka Falls

Once we left the 'Akaka Falls view point, we continued along the trail passing more rain forest and re-crossing the small creek we had crossed earlier.  Just upstream from the bridge, the creek provided two small waterfalls of its own.

A banana flower along the trail

Two waterfalls on an unnamed stream

There is a $5 entrance fee per vehicle or $1 each for pedestrians.  Hawaii residents are admitted free.

The park website is http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/hawaii/index.cfm?park_id=2.